Patents by Inventor Christopher Conrad

Christopher Conrad 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: 20240075523
    Abstract: A method of forming a directionally-solidified casting component using a casting system is provided. The casting system includes a chamber having a heating zone and a cooling zone separated by a baffle plate. The method includes pouring an alloy in a liquid state into a mold shell. The mold shell is positioned on a chill plate within the heating zone. The method further includes moving the mold shell from the heating zone into the cooling zone. The alloy transfers from the liquid state to a solid state within the mold shell while moving the mold shell from the heating zone to the cooling zone. The method further includes contacting the mold shell with a heat transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Shenyan Huang, Christopher Raymond Hanslits, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, Jared Micheal Iverson, Jon Conrad Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20240052704
    Abstract: A system including an instrumented sub for supporting subterranean operations, the instrumented sub can include an upper and lower portion with a flow passage extending therethrough, and a valve that selectively permits or restricts fluid flow through the flow passage, and a rotary interface coupled to the upper portion and including a rotary portion and a stationary portion, where the rotary portion is rotationally fixed to the upper portion and rotates with the upper portion, where the stationary portion is rotationally coupled to the rotary portion, and where the rotary interface transfers communication signals between the stationary portion and the rotary portion to transmit commands or data to or receive the commands or data from one or more components of the instrumented sub. Can also include a method of using the instrumented sub to determine a vertical position or movement of a top drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Sergei KNIZHNIK, Scott BOONE, Christopher CONRAD, Maciej PANEK, Edward J. HARRIS, III
  • Patent number: 11209017
    Abstract: A system includes an inlet duct disposed about an inlet axis, wherein the inlet duct is configured to direct an airflow along the inlet axis to a compressor inlet. The inlet includes an inlet heating system and a heating portion having a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the inlet axis. The inlet heating system includes a first conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis that is configured to distribute a heated fluid directly to the airflow via a first set of openings of a first end zone of the first conduit and a second set of openings of a second zone of the first conduit. The first end zone is configured to receive the heated fluid from a heating source, the second zone is coupled to the first end zone, and the second zone is configured to receive the heated fluid from the first end zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Eskandar, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Hua Zhang, Christopher Conrad Frese
  • Patent number: 10905193
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a bladder having a first side formed from a first polymeric sheet and a second side formed from a second polymeric sheet. The first and second polymeric sheets define a closed volume between the first side and the second side. The second polymeric sheet at least partially defines an outsole at the second side of the bladder. The outsole includes a ground-contacting surface and a plurality of lugs. The first polymeric sheet includes a portion that extends from the first side of the bladder and is fused to the second polymeric sheet opposite the ground-contacting surface at the one of the plurality of lugs, and further defines the one of the plurality of lugs. A method of manufacturing the sole structure comprises forming the bladder and fusing the portion of the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Conrad Rehagen
  • Publication number: 20210001257
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an intake section including a filter and one or more strain gauges. The system also includes a processor configured to receive strain information for the filter from the one or more strain gauges and determine an operating condition of the filter based at least in part on the strain information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Bradly Aaron Kippel, Christopher Conrad Frese
  • Patent number: 10780385
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an intake section including a filter and one or more strain gauges. The system also includes a processor configured to receive strain information for the filter from the one or more strain gauges and determine an operating condition of the filter based at least in part on the strain information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradly Aaron Kippel, Christopher Conrad Frese
  • Publication number: 20200063757
    Abstract: A system includes an inlet duct disposed about an inlet axis, wherein the inlet duct is configured to direct an airflow along the inlet axis to a compressor inlet. The inlet includes an inlet heating system and a heating portion having a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to the inlet axis. The inlet heating system includes a first conduit substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis that is configured to distribute a heated fluid directly to the airflow via a first set of openings of a first end zone of the first conduit and a second set of openings of a second zone of the first conduit. The first end zone is configured to receive the heated fluid from a heating source, the second zone is coupled to the first end zone, and the second zone is configured to receive the heated fluid from the first end zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Alan Eskandar, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Hua Zhang, Christopher Conrad Frese
  • Patent number: 10495000
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor and an inlet air system positioned upstream of the compressor. The inlet air system may include a wetted media pad for evaporative cooling. The wetted media pad may include a contoured configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Naveen Ghattadhahalli Parmeshwar, Christopher Conrad Frese, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel
  • Publication number: 20190254382
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a bladder having a first side formed from a first polymeric sheet and a second side formed from a second polymeric sheet. The first and second polymeric sheets define a closed volume between the first side and the second side. The second polymeric sheet at least partially defines an outsole at the second side of the bladder. The outsole includes a ground-contacting surface and a plurality of lugs. The first polymeric sheet includes a portion that extends from the first side of the bladder and is fused to the second polymeric sheet opposite the ground-contacting surface at the one of the plurality of lugs, and further defines the one of the plurality of lugs. A method of manufacturing the sole structure comprises forming the bladder and fusing the portion of the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Conrad Rehagen
  • Patent number: 10327504
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a bladder having a first side formed from a first polymeric sheet and a second side formed from a second polymeric sheet. The first and second polymeric sheets define a closed volume between the first side and the second side. The second polymeric sheet at least partially defines an outsole at the second side of the bladder. The outsole includes a ground-contacting surface and a plurality of lugs. The first polymeric sheet includes a portion that extends from the first side of the bladder and is fused to the second polymeric sheet opposite the ground-contacting surface at the one of the plurality of lugs, and further defines the one of the plurality of lugs. A method of manufacturing the sole structure comprises forming the bladder and fusing the portion of the first polymeric sheet to the second polymeric sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Conrad Rehagen
  • Patent number: 10260421
    Abstract: The present application provides an inlet air system for cooling an inlet air flow to a compressor of a gas turbine engine. The inlet air system may include a wetted media pad and a drift eliminator positioned downstream of the wetted media pad with an air gap therebetween. The drift eliminator may include a fibrous media pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Conrad Frese, Naveen Ghattadhahalli Parmeshwar, Hua Zhang, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel
  • Patent number: 10260418
    Abstract: The present application provides a method of evaluating media effectiveness in a gas turbine engine. The method may include the steps of receiving a baseline media effectiveness rating, receiving a media replacement cost, receiving a number of operating parameters from a number of sensors, based at least in part on the operating parameters and the baseline media effectiveness rating, determining a media effectiveness model, based at least in part of the media effectiveness model, determining a loss in evaporative benefit cost over time, determining a time t when the loss in evaporative benefit cost exceeds the media replacement cost, and scheduling media replacement at time t.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Naveen Ghattadhahalli Parmeshwar, Christopher Conrad Frese, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel
  • Publication number: 20180345198
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an intake section including a filter and one or more strain gauges. The system also includes a processor configured to receive strain information for the filter from the one or more strain gauges and determine an operating condition of the filter based at least in part on the strain information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Bradly Aaron Kippel, Christopher Conrad Frese
  • Patent number: 10124283
    Abstract: A filter assembly for a gas turbine system includes a filter element configured to remove entrained particles from air which passes through the filter element in a first direction toward a central air passageway. A motion generator arranged to rotate the filter element about a longitudinal axis extending in an airflow direction of the air passageway to cause particles accumulated on the filter element to fall downwardly away from the filter element due to gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Conrad Frese, Bradly Kippel
  • Publication number: 20180306112
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for regulating a flow of air into a turbomachine. The system includes an inlet section of the turbomachine and a damper having an actuator and a restriction. The damper is positioned within the inlet section and operable to regulate the flow of air into the turbomachine based on a position of the restriction. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the damper. The controller is configured to control the position of the restriction to regulate the flow of air into the turbomachine based on a current operating condition of the turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Bradly Aaron Kippel, Christopher Conrad Frese
  • Publication number: 20180266317
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor and an inlet air system positioned upstream of the compressor. The inlet air system may include a wetted media pad for evaporative cooling. The wetted media pad may include a number of synthetic media sheets with a number of micro-channels therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Hua ZHANG, Naveen Ghattadhahalli Parmeshwar, Christopher Conrad Frese, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel
  • Publication number: 20180266322
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor and an inlet air system positioned upstream of the compressor. The inlet air system may include a wetted media pad for evaporative cooling. The wetted media pad may include a contoured configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Hua ZHANG, Naveen Ghattadhahalli PARMESHWAR, Christopher Conrad FRESE, Valery lvanovich PONYAVIN, Bradly Aaron KIPPEL
  • Publication number: 20180266321
    Abstract: The present application provides an inlet air system for cooling an inlet air flow to a compressor of a gas turbine engine. The inlet air system may include a wetted media pad and a drift eliminator positioned downstream of the wetted media pad with an air gap therebetween. The drift eliminator may include a fibrous media pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Conrad FRESE, Naveen Ghattadhahalli PARMESHWAR, Hua ZHANG, Valery Ivanovich PONYAVIN, Bradly Aaron KIPPEL
  • Publication number: 20180266325
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine may include a compressor, a turbine, one or more hot gas path components positioned downstream of the turbine, an extraction from the compressor to the one or more hot gas path components, and an extraction cooling system in communication with the extraction. The extraction cooling system may include an evaporative cooling media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Naveen Ghattadhahalli PARMESHWAR, Hua Zhang, Christopher Conrad Frese, Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Bradly Aaron Kippel
  • Publication number: 20180266323
    Abstract: The present application provides a method of evaluating media effectiveness in a gas turbine engine. The method may include the steps of receiving a baseline media effectiveness rating, receiving a media replacement cost, receiving a number of operating parameters from a number of sensors, based at least in part on the operating parameters and the baseline media effectiveness rating, determining a media effectiveness model, based at least in part of the media effectiveness model, determining a loss in evaporative benefit cost over time, determining a time t when the loss in evaporative benefit cost exceeds the media replacement cost, and scheduling media replacement at time t.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Hua ZHANG, Naveen Ghattadhahalli PARMESHWAR, Christopher Conrad FRESE, Valery Ivanovich PONYAVIN, Bradly Aaron KIPPEL