Brian S Albin

US Patent:

20130173043, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Jan 4, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/343411

Inventors:

Todd George KUDAS - Elizabeth PA, US
Brian David ALBIN - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B25J 9/02
B25J 13/08

US Classification:

700160, 700174, 901 9, 901 10, 901 41, 901 47

Abstract:

A robotic apparatus for machining tenons on turbine buckets of a steam turbine machine is disclosed. The robotic apparatus includes a machining device having a spindle head. A robotic arm is coupled to the machining device and a base member is coupled to the robotic arm. The base member is mounted independently of the machine element. A vision system is provided for locating the tenon on the turbine bucket. A control system is coupled to the vision system, the machining device and the robotic apparatus. The control system is configured to control movement of the robotic apparatus and the machining device based upon vision system data and spatial information about the tenon and the turbine bucket.

US Patent:

20130189903, Jul 25, 2013

Filed:

Jan 23, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/356038

Inventors:

Todd George KUDAS - Elizabeth PA, US
Brian David ALBIN - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

B24B 51/00

US Classification:

451 5, 451 28

Abstract:

A method system and apparatus for cutting turbine bucket covers on a turbine rotor includes marking a cut path on a surface of the turbine bucket cover. The cut path includes a plurality of finite lines defined by a pair of end points, then directing a laser at each end point of each line of the cut path, storing a set of position coordinates of each end point for every line of the cut path; generating the cut path based on the respective end points; and following the cut path on the turbine bucket cover with a grinding machine attached to a robotic device; and cutting the turbine bucket cover according to the cut path.