Patents by Inventor Benjamin Paul Lacy
Benjamin Paul Lacy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230399959Abstract: A turbine component includes a first structure exposed to a hot gas path and a second structure integral with the first structure but isolated from the hot gas path. A first fluid passage in the first structure delivers a thermal transfer fluid, e.g., air, through the first structure to cool the first structure. A second fluid passage is defined within the second structure and is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage. After heat transfer in the first structure, the thermal transfer fluid is hotter than a temperature of the second structure and thus increases the temperature of the second structure. The heat transfer to the second structure reduces a temperature difference between the first structure and the second structure that would, without heating, cause thermal stress between the structures. The heating of the second structure reduces the need for early maintenance and lengthens the lifespan of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2022Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Brandon Lee Cox, Brad Wilson VanTassel, Benjamin Paul Lacy
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Patent number: 11572803Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes a body including a wall defining pressure and suction sides, and a leading edge extending between the pressure and suction sides. A cooling circuit inside the wall of the body includes at least one of: a) a suction side to pressure side cooling sub-circuit including a first cooling passage(s) extending from the suction side to the pressure side around the leading edge to a first plenum, and a plurality of first film cooling holes communicating with the first plenum and extending through the wall on the pressure side; and b) a pressure side to suction side cooling sub-circuit including second cooling passage(s) extending from the pressure side to the suction side around the leading edge to a second plenum, and a plurality of second film cooling holes communicating with the second plenum and extending through the wall on the suction side.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2022Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ibrahim Sezer, Brad Wilson VanTassel
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Patent number: 11519281Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a turbomachine that includes a hot gas path component having an inner surface and defining a hot gas path component cavity. An impingement insert is positioned within the hot gas path component cavity. The impingement insert includes an inner surface and an outer surface and defines an impingement insert cavity and a plurality of impingement apertures fluidly coupling the impingement insert cavity and the hot gas path component cavity. A plurality of pins extends from the outer surface of the impingement insert to the inner surface of the hot gas path component.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sandip Dutta, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gary Michael Itzel, Zachary John Snider
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Patent number: 11434767Abstract: An embodiment of an independent cooling circuit for selectively delivering cooling fluid to a component of a gas turbine system includes: at least one coolant feed channel fluidly coupled to a supply of cooling fluid; and an interconnected circuit of cooling channels, including: an interconnected circuit of cooling channels embedded within an exterior wall of the component; an impingement plate; and a plurality of feed tubes connecting the impingement plate to the exterior wall of the component and fluidly coupling a supply of cooling fluid to the interconnected circuit of cooling channels; wherein the cooling fluid flows through the plurality of feed tubes into the interconnected circuit of cooling channels only in response to a formation of a breach in the exterior wall of the component that exposes at least one of the cooling channels.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Lyndsay Marie Kibler, Brad Wilson VanTassel, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Zachary John Snider, Christopher Donald Porter, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam
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Publication number: 20210270141Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a turbomachine that includes a hot gas path component having an inner surface and defining a hot gas path component cavity. An impingement insert is positioned within the hot gas path component cavity. The impingement insert includes an inner surface and an outer surface and defines an impingement insert cavity and a plurality of impingement apertures fluidly coupling the impingement insert cavity and the hot gas path component cavity. A plurality of pins extends from the outer surface of the impingement insert to the inner surface of the hot gas path component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2020Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Sandip Dutta, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gary Michael Itzel, Zachary John Snider
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Patent number: 11041389Abstract: A hot gas path component of an industrial machine includes an adaptive cover for a cooling pathway. The component and adaptive cover are made by additive manufacturing. The component includes an outer surface exposed to a working fluid having a high temperature; an internal cooling circuit; and a cooling pathway in communication with the internal cooling circuit and extending towards the outer surface. The adaptive cover is positioned in the cooling pathway at the outer surface. The adaptive cover may include a heat transfer enhancing surface at the outer surface causing the adaptive cover to absorb heat faster than the outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Victor John Morgan
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Patent number: 11015481Abstract: A cooled structure has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side portion orthogonal to each of the leading and trailing edge, and a second side portion opposite the first side portion and substantially orthogonal to each of the leading and trailing edge. The cooled structure includes a substrate surface defined by boundaries including the leading edge, trailing edge, first side and second side portion. A first set of cooling channels beneath the substrate surface extends from a first set of inlets proximate to the first side portion to a first set of exits proximate to the second side portion. A second set of cooling channels beneath the substrate surface extends from a second set of inlets proximate to the second side portion to a second set of exits proximate to the first side portion. Each first inlet overlaps with an exit of the second set of exits.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Benjamin Paul Lacy
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Publication number: 20210123348Abstract: An embodiment of an independent cooling circuit for selectively delivering cooling fluid to a component of a gas turbine system includes: at least one coolant feed channel fluidly coupled to a supply of cooling fluid; and an interconnected circuit of cooling channels, including: an interconnected circuit of cooling channels embedded within an exterior wall of the component; an impingement plate; and a plurality of feed tubes connecting the impingement plate to the exterior wall of the component and fluidly coupling a supply of cooling fluid to the interconnected circuit of cooling channels; wherein the cooling fluid flows through the plurality of feed tubes into the interconnected circuit of cooling channels only in response to a formation of a breach in the exterior wall of the component that exposes at least one of the cooling channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: April 29, 2021Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Lyndsay Marie Kibler, Brad Wilson VanTassel, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Zachary John Snider, Christopher Donald Porter, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam
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Patent number: 10987736Abstract: An article includes a substrate and a structure including direct metal laser melted material of predetermined thickness attached to the substrate, the structure formed by providing and depositing a metal alloy powder to form an initial layer having a preselected thickness and shape including at least one aperture, melting the metal alloy powder with a focused energy source, transforming the powder layer to a sheet of metal alloy, sequentially depositing an additional layer of the metal alloy powder over the sheet of metal alloy, the additional preselected shape including an aperture corresponding to the aperture in the initial layer, and melting each additional layer of the metal alloy powder with the focused energy source, increasing the thickness of the sheet and forming at least one aperture having a predetermined profile, the article further including a passageway through the structure including the aperture and a corresponding metering hole.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, David Edward Schick, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam
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Patent number: 10987900Abstract: An article includes a substrate and a structure of additive manufacturing material of predetermined thickness attached to the substrate, the structure of additive manufacturing material formed by providing a metal alloy powder, forming an initial layer having a preselected thickness and a preselected shape including at least one aperture, with the metal alloy powder, sequentially forming an additional layer with the metal alloy powder over the initial layer, each of additional layers having an additional preselected thickness and an additional preselected shape including an aperture corresponding to the aperture in the initial layer, and joining each of the additional layers to the initial layer or any previously joined additional layers, forming a structure having a predetermined thickness and shape, and an aperture having a predetermined profile. The article includes a passageway through the structure including the aperture and a corresponding metering hole.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, David Edward Schick, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam
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Patent number: 10989068Abstract: Turbine shrouds for turbine systems are disclosed. The turbine shrouds may include a unitary body including a forward and aft end, an outer surface facing a cooling chamber formed between the unitary body and a turbine casing of the turbine system, and an inner surface facing a hot gas flow path. The shrouds may also include a first cooling passage extending within the unitary body, and a plurality of impingement openings formed through the outer surface of the unitary body to fluidly couple the first cooling passage to the cooling chamber. Additionally, the shrouds may include a second cooling passage and/or a third cooling passage. The second cooling passage may extend adjacent the forward end and may be in fluid communication with the first cooling passage. The third cooling passage may extend adjacent the aft end, and may be in fluid communication with the first cooling passage.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Travis J Packer, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ibrahim Sezer, Zachary John Snider, Brad Wilson VanTassel
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Patent number: 10975724Abstract: A rotary machine includes a rotatable member and a casing extending circumferentially over the rotatable member. The casing includes first and second target impingement surfaces. The cooling system includes first and second impingement plates. The first impingement plate is positioned over the first target impingement surface and at least a portion of the second target impingement surface. The first impingement plate defines a plurality of first impingement holes configured to channel a first flow of cooling fluid toward the first target impingement surface. The second impingement plate is positioned over the second target impingement surface. The second impingement plate defines a plurality of second impingement holes configured to channel a second flow of cooling fluid toward the second target impingement surface. A thickness of the casing in the first target impingement surface is different than a thickness of the casing in the second target impingement surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ibrahim Sezer, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Thomas James Brunt, Jason Ray Gregg
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Patent number: 10927680Abstract: A hot gas path component of an industrial machine includes an adaptive cover for a cooling pathway. The component and adaptive cover are made by additive manufacturing. The component includes an outer surface exposed to a working fluid having a high temperature; a thermal barrier coating over the outer surface; an internal cooling circuit; and a cooling pathway in communication with the internal cooling circuit and extending towards the outer surface. The adaptive cover is positioned in the cooling pathway at the outer surface. The adaptive cover includes a heat transfer enhancing surface at the outer surface causing the adaptive cover to absorb heat faster than the outer surface, e.g., when a spall in a thermal barrier coating thereover occurs.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Victor John Morgan
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Publication number: 20200392853Abstract: A hot gas path component may include a body, and a passage for delivering a coolant extending through at least a part of the body to an exit area of the body and an end of each passage includes a loop. A metering structure may be in fluid communication with the passage and disposed upstream of the exit area. The metering structure may include a converging passage portion followed by a diverging passage portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Christopher Donald Porter, Ibrahim Sezer, James William Vehr
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Patent number: 10837315Abstract: Turbine shrouds for turbine systems are disclosed. The turbine shrouds may include a forward end, an aft end, a first and second side, an outer surface facing a cooling chamber formed between the body and the turbine casing, and an inner surface facing a hot gas flow path for the turbine system. The turbine shroud may also include at least one collection plenum extending within the body between the forward end and the aft end. Additionally, the turbine shroud may include set of cooling passage(s) extending within the body. Each of the cooling passages of the set of cooling passage(s) may include an inlet portion in fluid communication with the cooling chamber, an outlet portion in fluid communication with the at least one collection plenum, and an intermediate portion fluidly coupling the inlet portion and the outlet portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Matthew Scott Lutz, Ibrahim Sezer, Stephen Paul Wassynger
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Patent number: 10760430Abstract: A hot gas path (HGP) component of an industrial machine includes primary and secondary cooling pathways. A body includes an internal cooling circuit carrying a cooling medium. A primary cooling pathway is spaced internally in the body and carries a primary flow of a cooling medium from an internal cooling circuit. A secondary cooling pathway is in the body and in fluid communication with an internal cooling circuit. The secondary cooling pathway is fluidly incommunicative and spaced internally from the primary cooling pathway. In response to an overheating event occurring, the secondary cooling pathway opens to allow a secondary flow of cooling medium through to the outer surface of the body and/or the primary cooling pathway. The primary flow flows in the primary cooling pathway prior to the overheating event, and the secondary flow of cooling medium does not flow until after an opening of the secondary cooling pathway.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Brian Peter Arness, Victor John Morgan, Stephen William Tesh
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Patent number: 10739087Abstract: An article and method of forming an article are provided. The article includes a body portion separating an inner region and an outer region, an aperture in the body portion, the aperture fluidly connecting the inner region and the outer region, and a baffle extending along at least a portion of an inner surface of the article, the baffle dividing the inner region into a plurality of sub-regions. The method of forming an article includes forming a body portion defining an inner region and an outer region, forming an aperture in the body portion, the aperture fluidly connecting the inner region to the outer region, and forming at least one baffle extending along at least a portion of an inner surface of the body portion, the at least one baffle dividing the inner region into a plurality of sub-regions. Also provided is a component including a cooling article disposed therein.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2015Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Sandip Dutta, David Edward Schick
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Patent number: 10704399Abstract: A hot gas path component of an industrial machine includes a cooling pathway. The component includes a body including an outer surface; a thermal barrier coating (TBC) over the outer surface, the TBC exposed to a working fluid having a high temperature; and an internal cooling circuit in the body carrying a cooling medium. A cooling pathway is in the body and in fluid communication with the internal cooling circuit. The cooling pathway includes a terminating end in the body and a length extending along and spaced internally from the outer surface by a first spacing. In response to a spall in the TBC occurring at a location over the cooling pathway and the high temperature reaching or exceeding a predetermined temperature of the body, the cooling pathway opens at the location through the first spacing to allow a flow of the cooling medium therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Brian Peter Arness, Victor John Morgan, Stephen William Tesh
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Patent number: 10655477Abstract: Turbine components are disclosed including a component wall defining a constrained portion, a manifold having an impingement wall, and a post-impingement cavity disposed between the manifold and the component wall. The impingement wall includes a wall thickness and defines a plenum and a tapered portion. The tapered portion tapers toward the constrained portion and includes a plurality of impingement apertures and a wall inflection. The wall inflection is disposed proximal to the constrained portion, and the tapered portion is integrally formed as a single, continuous object. The wall inflection may include an inflection radius of less than about 3 times the wall thickness of the impingement wall, or the tapered portion may include a consolidated portion with the impingement wall extending across the plenum. A method for forming the turbine component is also disclosed, including forming the tapered portion as a single, continuous tapered portion by an additive manufacturing technique.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Sandip Dutta, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gary Michael Itzel, Joseph Anthony Weber, David Edward Schick
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Publication number: 20200131932Abstract: A rotary machine includes a rotatable member and a casing extending circumferentially over the rotatable member. The casing includes first and second target impingement surfaces. The cooling system includes first and second impingement plates. The first impingement plate is positioned over the first target impingement surface and at least a portion of the second target impingement surface. The first impingement plate defines a plurality of first impingement holes configured to channel a first flow of cooling fluid toward the first target impingement surface. The second impingement plate is positioned over the second target impingement surface. The second impingement plate defines a plurality of second impingement holes configured to channel a second flow of cooling fluid toward the second target impingement surface. A thickness of the casing in the first target impingement surface is different than a thickness of the casing in the second target impingement surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2018Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Ibrahim Sezer, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Thomas James Brunt, Jason Ray Gregg