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:
May. 07, 2013
Filed:
Jan. 08, 2008
Waheed Tony Mall, Halfmoon, NY (US);
Robert Martin Roney, Jr., Schoharie, NY (US);
Roderick Mark Lusted, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Eric Buskirk, Guilderland, NY (US);
James Thaddeus Henley, Saratoga Springs, NY (US);
Paul C. Bagley, Middleburgh, NY (US);
Gary Lindsey Stewart, Monroeville, PA (US);
Kenneth John Hatley, Madison, NJ (US);
Richard Michael Hatley, Convent Station, NJ (US);
Peter John Mcgrath, Fairlawn, NJ (US);
Waheed Tony Mall, Halfmoon, NY (US);
Robert Martin Roney, Jr., Schoharie, NY (US);
Roderick Mark Lusted, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Eric Buskirk, Guilderland, NY (US);
James Thaddeus Henley, Saratoga Springs, NY (US);
Paul C. Bagley, Middleburgh, NY (US);
Gary Lindsey Stewart, Monroeville, PA (US);
Kenneth John Hatley, Madison, NJ (US);
Richard Michael Hatley, Convent Station, NJ (US);
Peter John McGrath, Fairlawn, NJ (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
Methods and systems for maintaining a machine using an in-situ vehicle (IV) is provided. The IV may be used with a machine that includes a work-piece and an interference body positioned proximate a surface of the work-piece such that a relatively small gap extends between the work-piece and the interference body. The method includes transporting the IV from external to the machine into the gap, positioning the IV in the gap such that at least a portion of the IV circumscribes a work area of the work-piece, locking the IV between the work-piece and the interference body, and manipulating a tool coupled to the IV from external to the machine, the tool configured to transfer a component between the work-piece and a storage cassette on the IV.