Systems and method for use in servicing a machine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsDeepak Trivedi, Todd William Danko, Mark John Zajkowski, Don Mark Lipkin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for use in servicing a machine. The system includes a tubular body including a longitudinal axis, a tip end, a dispensing nozzle defined at the tip end, and an interior channel in flow communication with the dispensing nozzle. The tubular body is configured to be flexible. An actuator is configured to selectively modify an orientation of the tubular body, and a reservoir is in flow communication with the interior channel. The reservoir is configured to supply a maintenance fluid to the tubular body for discharge from the dispensing nozzle.
Claims22
A system for use in servicing a machine having rotating blades, the system comprising:
- a tubular body comprising a longitudinal axis, a tip end, a dispensing nozzle defined at the tip end, and an interior channel in flow communication with the dispensing nozzle, wherein the tubular body is configured to be flexible;
- an actuator configured to selectively modify an orientation of the tubular body;
- an anchor coupled to a portion of the tubular body and configured to couple the tubular body to an attachment point within the machine and to allow the actuator to selectively modify an orientation of the tip end downstream of the anchor after the anchor couples the tubular body to the attachment point, wherein the attachment point is between two of the rotating blades to enable the rotating blades to move the tip end;
- and
- a reservoir in flow communication with the interior channel, wherein the reservoir is configured to supply a maintenance fluid to the tubular body for discharge from the dispensing nozzle,
- wherein the actuator comprises at least one control channel extending along a length of the tubular body,
- wherein the at least one control channel is selectively pressurized to selectively adjust the orientation of the tubular body.
A system for use in servicing a machine, the system comprising:
- a tubular assembly comprising:
- a guide tube comprising an interior;
- a tubular body sized for insertion within, and deployable from, the interior of the guide tube, the tubular body comprising a longitudinal axis, a tip end, a dispensing nozzle defined at the tip end, and an interior channel in flow communication with the dispensing nozzle, wherein the tubular body is configured to be flexible;
- an actuator configured to selectively modify an orientation of the tubular body, wherein movement of the tubular body is restricted when positioned within the guide tube, and is unrestricted when deployed from the guide tube;
- and
- an anchoring mechanism coupled to a portion of the tubular body, wherein the anchoring mechanism includes a first state enabling positioning entirely within the machine and a second state coupling the tubular body to an attachment point within the machine and configured to allow the actuator to selectively modify an orientation of the tip end downstream of the anchoring mechanism after the anchoring mechanism anchors the tubular body to the attachment point.
A system for use in servicing a machine, the system comprising:
- a tubular body comprising a longitudinal axis, a tip end, a dispensing nozzle defined at the tip end, and an interior channel in flow communication with the dispensing nozzle, wherein the tubular body is configured to be flexible;
- an actuator configured to selectively modify an orientation of the tubular body;
- and
- a reservoir in flow communication with the interior channel, wherein the reservoir is configured to supply a maintenance fluid to the tubular body for discharge from the dispensing nozzle;
- and
- a wedge or clamp being positioned on the tubular body to be moved by the tubular body entirely within the machine to anchor a portion of the tubular body to the machine,
- wherein the actuator comprises at least one wireless control channel extending along a length of the tubular body, wherein the at least one wireless control channel is selectively actuatable to adjust the orientation of the tubular body,
- wherein the tubular body includes an inner surface and an outer surface, flexible material extending from the inner surface to the outer surface along the tubular body, and the flexible material defining the at least one wireless control channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.