Todd J Fischer

US Patent:

6375423, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Dec 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/746480

Inventors:

Dennis William Roberts - Schenectady NY
Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY
Kevin Brian DeWan - Warwick NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F01D 530

US Classification:

416 2, 416222, 298891

Abstract:

A method has been developed for removing turbine buckets that have become stuck to a turbine rotor wheel. This method includes making two or more first cuts to the base of a female dovetail of the turbine bucket. Two or more second cuts are also made to a lower neck of the female dovetail. The blade of the bucket is broken off at the first cut, which breakage also splits the base of the dovetail into two sections. These sections are pressed down along the second cuts so that they may be removed from the wheel.

US Patent:

6509539, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Jun 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/681884

Inventors:

Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY
David John Grubish - Maplewood MN
Nick Scott - Norcross GA
John Matthew Sassatelli - St. Paul MN

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23H 914

US Classification:

219 6917, 294264, 298891

Abstract:

A method of removing a pin from a hole including a) drilling a first hole of a first diameter in the pin a selected fraction of a length dimension of the pin and attempting removal of the pin; b) if the pin cannot be removed, drilling a second hole of a second diameter smaller than the first diameter an extended fraction of the length dimension of the pin; and c) removing the pin.

US Patent:

6526657, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

May 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849438

Inventors:

Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY
Jeffrey Philip Fregoe - Churchville NY
Dennis W. Roberts - Schenectady NY
John Francis VanNest - Schenectady NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

2988921, 2988922, 29505, 295221

Abstract:

An automatic machine for peening the tenons on bucket cover plates to secure the cover plates and adjacent buckets of a turbine wheel to one another is provided. The machine includes a fixture having stepped surfaces for locating the freely suspended fixture and peening tool relative to the bucket tips and cover plates and clamping the tips and cover plates to the fixture surfaces. After peening a first tenon, the fixture and tool head are displaced relative to the fixed cover plate and bucket tip to register the tool with a second tenon. An actuator displaces the suspended system to compensate for the movement of the fixture and tool relative to the turbine wheel. A counterbalance is provided to accommodate fixtures of different weights when peening the tenons of covers in different turbine wheels.

US Patent:

6551032, Apr 22, 2003

Filed:

Nov 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/986125

Inventors:

John F. Nolan - Latham NY
Ralph A. Pollock - Ballston Lake NY
Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23D 3700

US Classification:

407 13, 407 19

Abstract:

The broach assembly includes alternate spacers and cutters arranged in a sub-assembly having a lead at a leading end and a lag at a trailing end. The cutters have side margins in excess of the margins of the spacers for cutting material from the dovetail slots of the turbine wheel as the broach assembly passes through the slots. The bottom or apices of each spacer is tapered and extends beyond the corresponding surface of the cutter to progressively displace the assembly in a radial outward direction to progressively cut the active dovetail slot surfaces. Shims may be disposed in the bottom of the slot to further displace the broach assembly radially outwardly in multiple passes.

US Patent:

6606892, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

Jul 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/193254

Inventors:

Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY
Jeffrey Philip Fregoe - Churchville NY
Dennis W. Roberts - Schenectady NY
John Francis VanNest - Schenectady NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B21J 100

US Classification:

72 53, 29 907, 29 2351, 2988921, 2988922

Abstract:

An automatic machine for peening the tenons on bucket cover plates to secure the cover plates and adjacent buckets of a turbine wheel to one another is provided. The machine includes a fixture having stepped surfaces for locating the freely suspended fixture and peening tool relative to the bucket tips and cover plates and clamping the tips and cover plates to the fixture surfaces. After peening a first tenon, the fixture and tool head are displaced relative to the fixed cover plate and bucket tip to register the tool with a second tenon. An actuator displaces the suspended system to compensate for the movement of the fixture and tool relative to the turbine wheel. A counterbalance is provided to accommodate fixtures of different weights when peening the tenons of covers in different turbine wheels.

US Patent:

6634836, Oct 21, 2003

Filed:

Nov 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/987235

Inventors:

John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Ralph Arnold Pollock - Ballston Lake NY
Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23D 3700

US Classification:

407 13, 407 19

Abstract:

A broach assembly includes an elongated base having a central upward projection and a pair of side flanges and a tapered undersurface. Releasably mounted on the projection are multiple tool holders spaced along the length of the base. The tool holders mount cutters for engaging active surfaces of the wedge slot as the broach assembly is passed through the wedge slot. Shims may be interposed between the tool holders and base to increase the elevation of the cutting surfaces relative to the undersurface of the base to progressively increase the bearing pressure of the cutting surfaces against the active surfaces of the slot during multiple passes of the broach assembly through the wedge slot.

US Patent:

6676336, Jan 13, 2004

Filed:

Nov 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/986986

Inventors:

John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Ralph Arnold Pollock - Ballston Lake NY
Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23D 3700

US Classification:

407 13, 407 19, 407 15

Abstract:

The broach assembly includes alternate spacers and cutters arranged in a sub-assembly having a lead at a leading end and a lag at a trailing end. The cutters have side margins in excess of the margins of the spacers for cutting material from the dovetail slots of the turbine wheel as the broach assembly passes through the slots. The bottom or apices of each spacer and cutter are tapered to form a continuously tapered surface along the bottom of the broach assembly. Upon passing the broach assembly through the slot, the assembly is progressively displaced in a radial outward direction to progressively cut the active dovetail slot surfaces. Shims may be disposed in the bottom of the slot to further displace the broach assembly radially outwardly in multiple passes.

US Patent:

6754955, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Jan 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/354116

Inventors:

John Francis Nolan - Latham NY
Bin Wei - Mechanicville NY
Todd Joseph Fischer - Ballston Spa NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B23P 1500

US Classification:

298891, 2940208, 2940213, 2940216, 205640, 219 6911, 219 6917

Abstract:

Using sinker electrode discharge machining tools, damaged portions of partitions of the turbine which have been removed and replaced with weld material of increased thickness may be shaped and contoured to blend with the suction and pressure sides of the partitions. The diaphragm containing the partitions is located in a tank containing dielectric material. A numerically controlled EDM machine directs first and second sinker EDM tools having surfaces corresponding to designed surfaces of the trailing edge portions of the partitions applied to contour and shape the opposite surfaces of the weld material to blend with the pressure and suction sides of the partitions. A third EDM tool is used to shape the juncture at opposite ends of each partition with the arcuate surfaces of the inner and outer bands.