Patents Assigned to The General Electric Company
  • Patent number: 11982236
    Abstract: A titanium-based component having a high heat capacity surface. The high heat capacity surface prevents or inhibits titanium fires. The component is titanium-based, forming the substrate, and includes a high heat capacity surface overlying the titanium substrate. A diffusion barrier is intermediate the titanium-based substrate and the high heat capacity surface. The diffusion barrier is non-reactive with both the titanium-based substrate and the high heat capacity surface. The system eliminates the formation of detrimental phases due to diffusion between the applied high heat capacity surface and the titanium substrate. The high heat capacity material has a coefficient of thermal expansion compatible with the coefficient of thermal expansion of the titanium-based substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Glenn Turner, Andrew Philip Woodfield, Leonardo Ajdelsztajn, Laura Cerully Dial
  • Patent number: 11980965
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a build platform and at least two laser heads. Each laser head includes at least one laser device, an optical sensor, and a computing device. The build platform includes a plurality of calibration marks. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam. The laser beam is directed toward the plurality of calibration marks and the build platform. The optical sensor is configured to detect a scattering signal of the laser beam generated by reflecting off of the plurality of calibration marks and the build platform. The computing device is configured to receive the scattering signal from the optical sensor. The computing device is configured to align the laser heads such that the scattering signal aligns with the plurality of calibration marks and such that the laser heads align with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Xiaolei Shi
  • Patent number: 11981419
    Abstract: The variable pitch propeller assembly includes a hub. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a plurality of propeller blade assemblies spaced circumferentially about the hub. Each of the plurality of propeller blade assemblies configured to rotate a respective propeller blade. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a hydraulic fluid port assembly integrally formed and including at least three hydraulic fluid ports configured to receive respective flows of hydraulic fluid from a stationary hydraulic fluid transfer sleeve. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a pitch actuator assembly coupled in flow communication with at least three hydraulic fluid ports through respective hydraulic fluid transfer tubes. The pitch actuator coupled to the plurality of propeller blade assemblies to selectively control a pitch of the propeller blades. The pitch actuator assembly includes a travel stop configured to limit a rotation of at least one of the pitch actuator assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Christopher James Kroger
  • Patent number: 11982497
    Abstract: A system for heat exchange and leak detection is generally provided, the system including a heat exchanger including a first wall defining a first passage containing a first fluid. A leak detection enclosure containing a leak detection medium is defined between the first wall and a second wall surrounding the first wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler
  • Patent number: 11982645
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor comprising a sensor bonding layer disposed on a surface of the sensor, wherein the sensor bonding layer is a metallic alloy. An inlay includes a planar outer surface, wherein the inlay may be disposed on a curved surface of a structure. A structure bonding layer may be disposed on the planar outer surface of the inlay, wherein the structure bonding layer is a metallic alloy. The sensor bonding layer is coupled to the structure bonding layer via a metallic joint, and the sensor is configured to sense data of the structure through the metallic joint, the structure bonding layer, and the sensor bonding layer. The inlay comprises at least one of a modulus of elasticity, a shape, a thickness, and a size configured to reduce strain transmitted to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Alfred Iannotti, Christopher James Kapusta, David Richard Esler
  • Patent number: 11981081
    Abstract: A powder removal assembly includes a build module comprising module sidewalls and a moveable build plate slidably coupled to the module sidewalls, and an extraction housing removably engaged with the module sidewalls of the build module and defining a turbulence chamber between the build module and the extraction housing. The extraction housing includes one or more sidewalls comprising one or more sidewall fluid flow channels extending through the one or more sidewalls and a top wall coupled to the one or more sidewalls, wherein the one or more sidewall fluid flow channels extend from a position proximate a base of the one or more sidewalls to the top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stefaan Van Nieuwenhove, Sultan Shair, Thomas Kluge, Alexander Hofmann, Rene Hertha, Alex W. Ariapad, Hojjat Nasr, Johannes Hornof, Nikolaus Mroncz
  • Patent number: 11982205
    Abstract: An airfoil for a turbine engine having a spar assembly. The spar assembly including a composite spar, a metallic hub, and a composite body. The metallic hub can receive a portion of the composite spar at an interior surface to define an overlapping region. The composite body is located at the overlapping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nitesh Jain, Abhijeet Jayshingrao Yadav, Balaraju Suresh, Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Publication number: 20240151185
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan, a core turbine engine coupled to the fan, a fan case housing the fan and the core turbine engine, a plurality of outlet guide vanes extending between the core turbine engine and the fan case, and an acoustic spacing. The fan comprises a plurality of fan blades that define a fan diameter and a BEAL. The fan case comprises an inlet and an inlet length between the inlet and the fan. The acoustic spacing comprises a distance between the fan and the plurality of outlet guide vanes, and in combination with the BEAL determines an acoustic spacing ratio of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Egbert Geertsema, Arthur W. Sibbach, Andrew Hudecki, Timothy Richard DePuy, John C. Schilling, Frank Worthoff, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Patent number: 11976367
    Abstract: A dual phase magnetic component, along with methods of its formation, is provided. The dual phase magnetic component may include an intermixed first region and second region formed from a single material, with the first region having a magnetic area and a diffused metal therein, and with the second region having a non-magnetic area. The second region generally has greater than 0.1 weight % of nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shenyan Huang, Steve John Buresh, Min Zou, Wanming Zhang, Pazhayannur Ramanathan Subramanian, Deborah D. Whitis
  • Patent number: 11977217
    Abstract: A tool system for inserting into a cavity, the tool system including a first continuum having a flexible body defining a connection interface; and a second continuum having a flexible body defining a connection interface; and an engagement mechanism configured to couple the connection interfaces of the first and second continua together to form the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: General Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, Todd William Danko
  • Patent number: 11978934
    Abstract: An integrated fuel cell and combustor assembly, and a related method. The assembly includes a combustor having a combustor geometry and a combustor exit temperature. The assembly further includes multiple fuel cells fluidly coupled to the combustor, the multiple fuel cells being configured to generate a fuel cell power output using fuel and air directed into the multiple fuel cells and to direct a fuel and air exhaust from the multiple fuel cells into the combustor. The multiple fuel cells include multiple fuel cell control groups arranged in a predetermined electrical configuration about the combustor geometry. Each of the multiple fuel cell control groups has an adjustable electrical current bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Honggang Wang, Michael A. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11975847
    Abstract: An ice protection system for an external surface for an aircraft. The external surface is configured to have air flow over the external surface and has a plurality of zones. At least one heat source is thermally coupled to the external surface in each zone of the plurality of zones. A controller is configured to selectively control the at least one heat source in each zone of the plurality of zones based on an operating condition related to the air flowing over the external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon C. Clarke, Scott Alan Schimmels
  • Patent number: 11976593
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a rotating shaft and a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly is configured to support the rotating shaft. The bearing assembly has a first bearing and a second bearing. The first bearing is configured to support an axial load of the rotating shaft when a forward thrust of the rotating shaft is greater than ten percent. The second bearing is configured to support the axial load of the rotating shaft when a thrust of the rotating shaft is between ten percent forward thrust and ten percent aft thrust, inclusive of the end points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Kudum Shinde, Surender Reddy Bhavanam, Weize Kang
  • Patent number: 11976562
    Abstract: A system for controlling blade clearances within a gas turbine engine includes a rotor disk and a rotor blade coupled to the rotor disk. Additionally, the system includes an outer turbine component positioned outward of the rotor blade such that a clearance is defined between the rotor blade and the outer turbine component. Furthermore, the system includes a heat exchanger configured to receive a flow of cooling air bled from the gas turbine engine and transfer heat from the received flow of the cooling air to a flow of coolant to generate cooled cooling air. Moreover, the system includes a valve configured to control the flow of the coolant to the heat exchanger. In this respect, the cooled cooling air is supplied to at least one of the rotor disk or the rotor blade to adjust the clearance between the rotor blade and the outer turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Julius John Montgomery, Brandon Wayne Miller, Robert Proctor, Bradley W. Fintel, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo
  • Publication number: 20240146125
    Abstract: An electric machine with a low profile retention assembly for retention of a stator core is disclosed. A first housing houses the stator core. The first housing has an axial end face with a circumferentially extending, shaped profile having recessed portions that project axially inward alternating with non-recessed portions. A portion of the stator core extends axially out from the recessed portions. A core retention spring is disposed circumferentially at the axial end face of the first housing. The core retention spring has direct contact with the portion of the stator core that extends axially out from the recessed portions of the first housing and the shaped profile of the housing. The core retention spring pushes against the portion of the stator core that extends that extends axially out from the first housing, imparting one or more of an axial load and radial load into the stator core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: MATTHEW ROBERT MARTIN, PHILIP MICHAEL CIOFFI, JOHN RUSSELL YAGIELSKI, WEI ZHANG
  • Patent number: 11971054
    Abstract: Damping devices, turbomachines, and methods of damping vibration are provided. For example, a damping device for damping vibration of a shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation is provided. The damping device defines radial and axial directions. The damping device comprises a bearing, a housing, and a damper element. The housing and damper element define a cavity therebetween for receipt of a damping fluid. The cavity has a length along the axial direction that is curved away from the axis of rotation. As another example, a turbomachine comprising a shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation includes a damping device positioned annularly about the shaft. The damping device comprises a housing and a damper element defining a cavity therebetween for receipt of a damping fluid that has a curved shape. The cavity is curved in a plane extending along the radial and axial directions and including the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narayanan Payyoor, Peeyush Pankaj
  • Patent number: 11970946
    Abstract: A clearance control assembly for a gas turbine engine that defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a stage of rotor blades and a shroud hanger. The assembly includes a case configured to be positioned outward along the radial direction from the stage of rotor blades when installed in the gas turbine engine. The case is further configured to be engaged with the shroud hanger at a first location when installed in the gas turbine engine. The assembly also includes a baffle positioned outward along the radial direction from the case to define a chamber therebetween. The baffle has a forward end and an aft end. The forward end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a first seal and the aft end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a second seal. The baffle, the case, or both define an inlet to allow a fluid to enter the chamber and the case defines an outlet to allow the fluid to exit the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Travis J. Packer, James Hamilton Grooms, David Fasig, Richard William Jendrix, Scott Alan Schimmels, Bradford Alan Tracey, Michael Alan Hile, Thomas Ryan Wallace
  • Patent number: 11970956
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including: a turbomachine having a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order; a fan defining a fan axis and comprising a plurality of fan blades rotatable about the fan axis; and a pitch change mechanism operable with the plurality of fan blades, the pitch change mechanism including a plurality of linkages, the plurality of linkages including a first linkage coupled to a first fan blade of the plurality of fan blades and a second linkage coupled to a second fan blade of the plurality of fan blades; and a non-uniform blade actuator system operable with one or more of the plurality of linkages to control a pitch of the first fan blade relative to a pitch of the second fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abhijeet Jayshingrao Yadav, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Nitesh Jain, Ricardo Hernandez Pandeli
  • Patent number: 11970282
    Abstract: Systems and methods of aircraft thrust management are provided. For example, a propulsion system for an aircraft comprises a fuel cell assembly comprising a fuel cell, a turbomachine, and a controller comprising memory and one or more processors. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the propulsion system to perform operations including receiving data indicative of a propulsion system thrust discrepancy and modifying an output of the fuel cell in response to receiving data indicative of the propulsion system thrust discrepancy. Modifying the fuel cell output may include modifying output products, an electrical power output, or both of the fuel cell to balance the thrust provided by the propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Honggang Wang, Kum Kang Huh, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Koji Asari
  • Patent number: 11971329
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to autonomously detect thermal anomalies. Disclosed examples include an example apparatus to detect engine anomalies comprising: at least one memory; instructions in the apparatus; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: control a plurality of infrared cameras to capture a baseline image set, the baseline image set including at least two thermal images; generate emissivity data based on the baseline image set; provide the baseline image set and the emissivity data to an artificial intelligence model, the artificial intelligence model to generate a reconstructed image set; determine a difference between the baseline image set and the reconstructed image set; and in response to the difference exceeding a threshold, generate an alert indicating detection of an engine anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon S. Good, Bijan Chitsaz, Guanghua Wang, Bernard P. Bewlay, Gyeong Woo Cheon, Alberto Santamaria-Pang