Patents by Inventor Branden R. ELAM

Branden R. ELAM 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).

  • Internally cooled turbine tip shroud component
    Patent number: 11814974
    Abstract: A tip shroud, comprising a plurality of tip shoes encircling a rotor assembly, in a turbine may deform due to thermal gradients experienced during operation of the turbine. Accordingly, a tip shoe is disclosed that utilizes an internal cooling cavity to supply coolant throughout the interior of the tip shoe, as well as to the slash faces of the tip shoe. In addition, features are described that increase the surface area exposed to the coolant, while remaining suitable for additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Sudhakar Bollapragada, Xiaoqiang Zeng, Michael D. Fox, Branden R. Elam, Daniel Ryan, Karen A. Thole, Thomas M. Corbett
  • INTERNALLY COOLED TURBINE TIP SHROUD COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20230035029
    Abstract: A tip shroud, comprising a plurality of tip shoes encircling a rotor assembly, in a turbine may deform due to thermal gradients experienced during operation of the turbine. Accordingly, a tip shoe is disclosed that utilizes an internal cooling cavity to supply coolant throughout the interior of the tip shoe, as well as to the slash faces of the tip shoe. In addition, features are described that increase the surface area exposed to the coolant, while remaining suitable for additive manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Sudhakar BOLLAPRAGADA, Xiaoqiang ZENG, Michael D. FOX, Branden R. ELAM, Daniel RYAN