Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Ernest G. Cusick
  • Patent number: 8172543
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances can be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Griffin Delvernois, Jeremy Peter Latimer
  • Patent number: 8161749
    Abstract: Cooled exhaust hood plates are provided in areas of high velocity steam flow within an exhaust steam flow of a steam turbine. Coolant is directed within double walled exhaust hood plates to cool plate surfaces adjacent to the high velocity exhaust steam flow. The cooled exhaust hood plates cool and condense the exhaust steam in proximity. Condensation will occur in low velocity area near the exhaust hood plate to reduce the boundary layer and improve the flow through the hood, improving overall turbine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Boss, William T. Parry
  • Patent number: 8157620
    Abstract: A system and method for cleaning receiver slots with hook-fits for stator blade ring segments. A first cleaning tool with an abrasive coating and sideward projection in the shape of the hook is slid through the slot using the hook-fit as a guide. A second cleaning tool with an abrasive coating and a formed/machined hook-fit used as a guide while cleaning the receiver slots as it is pushed through the receiver slots. The tools remove trash, oil rust/oxidation, and other foreign materials from receiving slot. Both tools may attach to a metal rod with two knuckles as part of the handle that connects to and uses the hook-fit as a guide enabling the operator to reach deep into the radius of the compressor case receiver slots and hook-fits located adjacent to and beneath the rotor and rotor blades so that the hook-fit and receiver slot can be thoroughly cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Randall S. Corn, Douglas A. Serieno
  • Patent number: 8154142
    Abstract: An integrated system of communicating energy storage devices for supplying an alternate power source to operating systems for a wind turbine connected to an electrical grid, is provided. The integrated system includes at least one wind turbine with a rotor, the wind turbine being connected to an electrical grid. At least one operating system of the at least one wind turbine requires an alternate power source during a wind turbine operating condition. Further included are a plurality of energy storage devices capable of supplying the alternate power source. Communication of energy storage between at least two of energy storage devices is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob J. Nies
  • Patent number: 8146250
    Abstract: A method of replacing a portion of a composite airfoil in a turbine. The method comprises the steps of providing a turbine with a plurality of composite airfoils mounted on a wheel. At least one of the composite airfoils has a core made of a non-plastic material and a plastic airfoil portion to envelope at least a portion of the core. A composite airfoil having an airfoil portion in need of replacement is accessed. The plastic airfoil portion is removed to expose the core while the core is mounted on the wheel. A plastic airfoil portion is molded to envelope the core while the core is mounted on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joseph L. Moroso
  • Patent number: 8133030
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a table. The table selected from the TABLE. Wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew D. Grafitti, Louis Veltre, Thomas W. Vandeputte
  • Patent number: 8117727
    Abstract: An apparatus and method adapted to facilitate removal of stator vane segments in a slot of a casing of a rotating machine with stator vanes segments and rotating blades. The apparatus includes a compression device adapted to apply a pushing force on a rear surface of a stator vane segment, a clearing element adapted to free adhesion materials holding the stator vane segment to the dovetailed slot of the lower casing of the rotating machine with stator vanes segments and rotating blades, and a tension device adapted to apply a pulling force on a forward part of the stator vane segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John R. McCarvill
  • Patent number: 8113773
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances can be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Hudson, Le T. Tran
  • Patent number: 8087565
    Abstract: A process for filling openings, including blind holes, through-holes, and cavities, in high temperature components. The process entails forming a powder mixture by mixing particles of at least a base alloy and a second alloy that contains a sufficient amount of a melting point depressant to have a lower melting temperature than the base alloy. The powder mixture is combined with a binder and compacted to form a compacted preform, which is then heated to remove the binder and form a rigid sintered preform. The sintered preform is produced, or optionally is further shaped, to have a cross-sectional shape and dimensions to achieve a clearance of up to 200 micrometers with the opening, after which the preform is placed in the opening and diffusion bonded within the opening to form a brazement comprising the particles of the base alloy dispersed in a matrix formed by the second alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Charles Gitahi Mukira, Warren Martin Miglietti, Arthur S. Peck, Christopher Penny, Yan Cui, Steven Rauch
  • Patent number: 8070428
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a table. Wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Bielek, Donald O. Brock, Gerald K. Blow
  • Patent number: 8067098
    Abstract: A coating system and process for protecting component surfaces exposed to sulfur-containing environments at elevated temperatures. The coating system includes a sulfidation-resistant overlay coating that is predominantly niobium or molybdenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David A. Helmick, Yuk-Chiu Lau, David Vincent Bucci
  • Patent number: 8061999
    Abstract: A simple and safe means is provided to gain entry into the rotor hub of a wind turbine for maintenance operations within the hub. A ladder-like structure is mounted onto the rotor hub using the same bolts attaching a fixed outer race of the pitch bearing for the rotor blades. The ladder-like structure has integral with it a protective cage to the front, forming a basket. Structural elements for grasping are provided to a worker over the full path traversed from the nacelle to the entry hatch of the hub. An expanded area between rungs may be provided to facilitate entry by a service worker into the safety cage area. Lifting ears made also be formed with tubular sections integrated into the ladder-like structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bharat S. Bagepalli, Dustin Jon Wambeke, Scott G. Riddell
  • Patent number: 8052074
    Abstract: A spray coating process and apparatus suitable for depositing coatings on surfaces of components, and particularly surfaces that are difficult to access with conventional cold spraying equipment. The process and apparatus employ a spray gun having a tubular body with a longitudinal axis and an exit at one end thereof. The body has a first portion defining a converging passage, a second portion defining a diverging passage that defines the exit of the body, and a throat portion therebetween that defines a throat between and connecting the converging and diverging passages. The gun is further equipped with at least one gas inlet for introducing a gas upstream of the converging passage, and at least one feedstock inlet for introducing a feedstock at or immediately upstream of the throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Viswanathan Venkatachalapathy, Yuk-Chiu Lau, Eklavya Calla
  • Patent number: 8046886
    Abstract: A fixture and method for assembling axial entry buckets with complex geometry to a rotor wheel is provided. The fixture features an inner and an outer split ring shaft clamp, which is bolted together around the rotor wheel packing diameter and provides a mounting base. The transfer ring mounts around and abutting the rotor wheel. The transfer ring includes a circumferential slot to accept bucket-holders. The bucket holders loaded with turbine buckets, inserted onto the transfer ring and moved circumferentially around the transfer ring to align the turbine buckets to slots on the rotor wheel. Pressure is applied to spiral the buckets from the bucket-holders into final position in slots on the rotor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan R. DeMania, Thomas J. Farineau, Keith A. Schoonmaker
  • Patent number: 8038390
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE 1. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Hudson, Marc E. Blohm
  • Patent number: 7997873
    Abstract: A turbine bucket including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape is provided. The airfoil shape has a nominal profile according to the tables set forth in the specification. The X and Y coordinate are smoothly joined by an arc of radius R defining airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The airfoil profile results in improved efficiency and airfoil loading capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathon E. Slepski, Timothy S. McMurray
  • Patent number: 7997861
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE 1. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Hudson, Marc E. Blohm
  • Patent number: 7997083
    Abstract: A method and controller for identifying lean blowout conditions in a Dry Low NOx (DLN) combustor during a premix mode. An effective approach to quickly and reliably identify a blowout during operation in the premix mode is by the effect on fuel normalized power (FNP). FNP is a useful signal, in that a power reduction from a blowout may be distinguished much slower changes in power resulting from global fuel demand (changing load request). A difference between the FNP and a filtered FNP parameter may be compared against a predetermined threshold. If the difference exceeds the threshold, a lean blowout is identified and a signal may be transmitted to the turbine controller to reposition combustor operation away from blowout conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher T. Meadows, Douglas E. Dean, Jason D. Fuller, William F. Seely
  • Patent number: 7993100
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE 1. X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches. The profile sections at the Z distances are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Bonini, Christopher E. LaMaster
  • Patent number: 7994658
    Abstract: A windfarm system is provided that is optimized for minimizing electrical loss. The windfarm system includes a plurality of wind turbine generators and a collector system including a conductor or network of conductors. The collector system also including a plurality of transformers with one or more transformers connected between each wind turbine generator and the conductors, and a substation transformer connecting the windfarm collector system to the electrical grid. The windfarm system also includes a monitoring system for monitoring the windfarm system electrical output and thermal condition, and outputs of the individual wind turbine generators. A control function may include voltage and real and reactive power commands to the individual wind turbine generators. The control function incorporates an algorithm whose technical effect is minimizing electrical losses for the windfarm system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Cardinal, Robert W. Delmerico, Nicholas W. Miller, Reigh A. Walling