The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 02, 2013
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2010
Weston Blaine Griffin, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Douglas Glenn Wildes, Ballston Lake, NY (US);
David Martin Mills, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Christopher Robert Hazard, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Warren Lee, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Reinhold Bruestle, Zipf, AT;
Weston Blaine Griffin, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Douglas Glenn Wildes, Ballston Lake, NY (US);
David Martin Mills, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Christopher Robert Hazard, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Warren Lee, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Reinhold Bruestle, Zipf, AT;
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
A multi-focus probe that includes a motor communicatively coupled with a lead screw and configured to turn the lead screw about a lengthwise axis of the lead screw, wherein the lead screw includes a length having threads. The probe also includes a lead-screw nut positioned about the lead screw such that the lead-screw nut engages the threads and such that the lead-screw nut and the lead screw can move relative to one another via the threads, a transducer configured to move vertically with the lead screw, and an enclosure surrounding the transducer, wherein the enclosure includes a probe face configured to hold fluid and engage a wave emission target such that waves from the transducer can enter the target. Further, the probe includes a capture feature capable of engaging the lead-screw nut such that the lead-screw nut is vertically fixed relative to the probe face and such that the lead screw moves away from the probe face when rotating within the lead-screw nut in a first direction and moves toward the probe face when rotating within the lead-screw nut in a second direction opposite to the first direction while the lead-screw nut is engaged by the capture feature.