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).

  • Publication number: 20200131929
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Matthew Scott Lutz, Ibrahim Sezer, Stephen Paul Wassynger
  • Publication number: 20200025026
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Travis J Packer, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ibrahim Sezer, Zachary John Snider, Brad Wilson VanTassel
  • Patent number: 10539041
    Abstract: A cooled article and a method of forming a cooled article are disclosed. The cooled article includes a component, a porous material incorporated into the component, and a cooling medium within the porous material. Another cooled article is formed by a process includes the steps of forming a porous material from a pre-sintered preform, providing a component, and incorporating the porous material into the component. The porous material is in fluid communication with a cooling medium. The method of forming a cooled article includes providing a metal felt material infused with braze filler material, pre-sintering the metal felt material to form a porous material, providing a component, and incorporating the porous material into the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Brian Gene Brzek, David Edward Schick
  • Publication number: 20190390568
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Patent number: 10493532
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and tooling for additive manufacturing on a build surface of a pre-existing component. An additive manufacturing tool successively positions layers of powdered materials and selectively fuses the layers of powdered materials to create an additive component on the build surface of the pre-existing component. The pre-existing component is secured in a build plate by a thermal expansion fit during the additive manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kassy Moy Hart, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10494948
    Abstract: An airfoil including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, a suction side, and an internal impingement cavity. An impingement insert is located within the impingement cavity. The impingement insert includes at least one impingement cooling hole spaced along a first face of the impingement insert and at least one impingement fin, having a base and a tip opposite the base, spaced along the first face of the impingement insert. The at least one impingement fin is spaced apart from the at least one impingement cooling hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, Joseph Anthony Weber, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Patent number: 10487660
    Abstract: This disclosure provides components and methods for blade extensions with internal features. An airfoil extends from a root connector and includes an airfoil body defining at least one air channel enclosed within the airfoil body. The air channel extends to a build surface. An additive extension extends from the build surface of the airfoil body. The additive extension includes an additive structure extending the air channel from the build surface to an external surface of the additive extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Kassy Moy Hart, Xiuzhang James Zhang
  • Patent number: 10465533
    Abstract: A process of producing a hot gas path turbine component. The process includes forming a void in a first ceramic matrix composite ply and forming a void in a second ceramic matrix composite ply. The second ceramic matrix composite ply is positioned on the first ceramic matrix composite ply such that the positioning aligns the voids to at least partially define a cavity in the component. A third ceramic matrix composite ply is positioned on the first ceramic matrix composite ply and the first ceramic matrix composite ply, the second ceramic matrix composite ply and the third ceramic matrix composite ply are densified to form a densified body. The cavity is present in the densified body. A ceramic matrix composite having cavities therein is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor John Morgan, Jacob John Kittleson, Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Patent number: 10443437
    Abstract: A cooled structure of a gas turbine engine has a main body with a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side portion, a second side portion, and a cavity. A first set of cooling air micro-channels extends from the cavity and is arranged along the first side portion. A second set of cooling air micro-channels extends from the cavity and is arranged along the second side portion. The first and second set of cooling air micro-channels have turning portions positioned adjacent each other and interwoven exhaust ends originating from each opposing side micro-channel. Each interwoven exhaust end extends around the opposing turning portion and is configured to exhaust cooling air from a plurality of exhaust ports positioned generally radially outward from the turning portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Christopher Donald Porter, David Edward Schick, Lyndsay Marie Kibler
  • Patent number: 10385727
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes an airfoil that extends in span from an inner band to an outer band where the inner band and the outer band define inner and outer flow boundaries of the turbine nozzle. At least one of the inner band and the outer band define a first set of cooling channels and a second set of cooling channels formed beneath a gas side surface of the corresponding inner band or outer band. The inner band or the outer band further define a coolant distribution plenum that is in fluid communication with the first and second sets of cooling channels. The coolant distribution plenum provides a stream of coolant to at least one of the first set of cooling channels and the second set of cooling channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gary Michael Itzel, James William Vehr
  • Patent number: 10378380
    Abstract: A system includes a shroud segment for use in a turbine and includes a body having a leading and trailing edge, first and second side edge, and a pair of opposed lateral sides between the leading and trailing edges and the first and second side edges. A first lateral side interfaces with a cavity having a cooling fluid. A first channel includes a first and second end portion. A second channel includes a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The first and second channels receive the cooling fluid from the cavity to cool the body. The second end portion includes a first segmented channel with first metering feature and the third end portion includes a second segmented channel with second exit feature. The first and second exit features meter a flow of the cooling fluid within the first and second channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Marc Lionel Benjamin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Luis Alfonso Gonzalez, Michael Scott Soden
  • Patent number: 10337343
    Abstract: A system according to various embodiments includes: a cooling network within a turbine component, the cooling network including at least one passageway fluidly connected with a surface of the turbine component; a cooling fluid source for providing a cooling fluid to the cooling network; and a temperature-actuated flow modulating device fluidly connected with the cooling fluid source and the cooling network, the temperature-actuated flow modulating device configured to: detect an ambient air temperature proximate the turbine component; and control a flow of the cooling fluid to the cooling network based upon the detected ambient air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carlos Miguel Miranda, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Slawomir Rubinsztajn
  • Patent number: 10322575
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosure include a turbomachine component. and methods of forming such a component. Some embodiments include a turbomachine component including: a first portion including at least one of a stainless steel or an alloy steel; and a second portion joined with the first portion, the second portion including a nickel alloy including an arced cooling feature extending therethrough, the second portion having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially similar to a thermal expansion coefficient of the first portion, wherein the arced cooling feature is located within the second portion to direct a portion of a coolant to a leakage area of the turbomachine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Christopher Donald Porter, David Edward Schick
  • Patent number: 10309252
    Abstract: A shroud segment that includes a body including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side edge, a second side, and a pair of opposed lateral sides. A first lateral side is configured to interface with a cavity having a cooling fluid, and a second lateral side is oriented toward a hot gas flow path. The shroud segment includes at least one channel disposed within the body, wherein the at least one channel includes a first portion extending from upstream of the trailing edge towards the trailing edge in a first direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge, a second portion extending from the trailing edge to upstream of the trailing edge in a second direction from the trailing edge to the leading edge, and a third portion extending from upstream of the trailing edge towards the trailing edge in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marc Lionel Benjamin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Dipankar Pal, San Jason Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10253986
    Abstract: A cooling article and method of forming a cooling article are provided. The cooling 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 to the outer region, and a cooling feature extending away from an outer surface of the body portion. The cooling feature disturbs fluid flow in the outer region. The method of forming a cooling 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 a cooling feature extending away from an outer surface of the body portion. The cooling article is arranged and disposed for insertion within a hot gas path component of a turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Sandip Dutta, David Edward Schick
  • Patent number: 10221719
    Abstract: A shroud segment that includes a body including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side edge, a second side, and a pair of opposed lateral sides. A first lateral side is configured to interface with a cavity having a cooling fluid, and a second lateral side is oriented toward a hot gas flow path. The shroud segment includes a first channel disposed within the body having a first end portion and a second end portion and a second channel disposed within the body having a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The first and second channels are configured to receive the cooling fluid from the cavity to cool the body. The first end portion and the fourth end portion each include a hook-shaped portion having a free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Marc Lionel Benjamin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gregory Thomas Foster, San Jason Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10184343
    Abstract: A system having an impingement sleeve configured to receive a cooling flow is provided. The impingement sleeve includes a column of ports extending from an outer surface of the impingement sleeve, wherein each port of the column of ports is configured to direct an impingement stream toward a heated structure, and each impingement stream includes a portion of the cooling flow. Further, one or more pins are disposed outside the outer surface relative to the cooling flow, wherein each pin of the one or more pins is coupled between pairs of ports of the column of ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, David Edward Schick, Sandip Dutta
  • Publication number: 20180347442
    Abstract: A hot gas path component of an industrial machine includes a cooling pathway with a lattice structure therein. The component and lattice structure 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. A lattice structure is in the cooling pathway at the outer surface. The lattice structure is configured to support the thermal barrier coating over the cooling pathway and in response to a spall in the thermal barrier coating occurring over the cooling pathway, allow a cooling medium from the internal cooling circuit to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Victor John Morgan
  • Publication number: 20180347378
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Brian Peter Arness, Victor John Morgan, Stephen William Tesh
  • Publication number: 20180347370
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Victor John Morgan