Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Muller

Christopher J. Muller 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).

  • Patent number: 10208612
    Abstract: A sealing band arrangement for a gas turbine including first and second adjoining rotor disks each including a disk arm having a slot. The sealing band arrangement includes at least one first seal strip segment located within the slots, wherein the seal strip segment includes first and second ends. The sealing band arrangement also includes a tab section that extends from the first end in order to form an underlap seal with an adjacent second seal strip segment. The underlap seal enables a thickness of the first and second ends to be substantially equivalent to a thickness of the first seal strip segment in order to improve wear life of the seal strip segment. The sealing band arrangement further includes at least one wide portion formed in the first seal strip segment wherein the wide portion is wider than a remaining portion of the first seal strip segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Olejarski, David J. Mitchell, Christopher J. Muller, Rebecca L. Kendall
  • Patent number: 9808889
    Abstract: A turbine is provided comprising a plurality of stages, each stage comprising a rotatable disk and blades carried thereby, at least one pair of adjacent rotatable disks defining an annular gap therebetween and having respective opposing sealing band receiving slots aligned with the annular gap A sealing band is located in the opposing receiving slots to seal the annular gap Disk engagement structure is defined in the pair of adjacent rotatable disks. A clip member is coupled to the sealing band and engaged with the pair of adjacent rotatable disks through the disk engagement structure The clip member may have an aperture extending only partially through the clip member for alignment with a hole in the sealing band for engagement with a tool To improve weld geometry, the clip member may have angled surfaces and notched areas, and the sealing band may have chamfered edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Mitchell, Michael J. Olejarski, Christopher J. Muller
  • Patent number: 9291065
    Abstract: A turbine including a plurality of stages, each stage including a rotatable disk and blades carried thereby. An annular gap defined between a pair of adjacent rotatable disks. A sealing band is located in opposing sealing band receiving slots formed in the adjacent disks to seal the annular gap, the sealing band including band engagement structure. A disk engagement structure is defined in the pair of adjacent rotatable disks. The disk engagement structure extends axially into the pair of adjacent rotatable disks and circumferentially aligns with the band engagement structure. A clip member is positioned in engagement with the sealing band through the band engagement structure and in engagement with the pair of adjacent rotatable disks through the disk engagement structure. The clip member restricts movement of the sealing band in only a circumferential direction of the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christopher J Muller, David J Mitchell, Michael J Olejarski
  • Publication number: 20160047263
    Abstract: A sealing band arrangement for a gas turbine including first and second adjoining rotor disks each including a disk arm having a slot. The sealing band arrangement includes at least one first seal strip segment located within the slots, wherein the seal strip segment includes first and second ends. The sealing band arrangement also includes a tab section that extends from the first end in order to form an underlap seal with an adjacent second seal strip segment. The underlap seal enables a thickness of the first and second ends to be substantially equivalent to a thickness of the first seal strip segment in order to improve wear life of the seal strip segment. The sealing band arrangement further includes at least one wide portion formed in the first seal strip segment wherein the wide portion is wider than a remaining portion of the first seal strip segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Michael J. Olejarski, David J. Mitchell, Christopher J. Muller, Rebecca L. Kendall
  • Publication number: 20150198055
    Abstract: A turbine is provided comprising a plurality of stages, each stage comprising a rotatable disk and blades carried thereby, at least one pair of adjacent rotatable disks defining an annular gap therebetween and having respective opposing sealing band receiving slots aligned with the annular gap A sealing band is located in the opposing receiving slots to seal the annular gap Disk engagement structure is defined in the pair of adjacent rotatable disks. A clip member is coupled to the sealing band and engaged with the pair of adjacent rotatable disks through the disk engagement structure The clip member may have an aperture extending only partially through the clip member for alignment with a hole in the sealing band for engagement with a tool To improve weld geometry, the clip member may have angled surfaces and notched areas, and the sealing band may have chamfered edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Mitchell, Michael J. Olejarski, Christopher J. Muller
  • Publication number: 20140255169
    Abstract: A turbine including a plurality of stages, each stage including a rotatable disk and blades carried thereby. An annular gap defined between a pair of adjacent rotatable disks. A sealing band is located in opposing sealing band receiving slots formed in the adjacent disks to seal the annular gap, the sealing band including band engagement structure. A disk engagement structure is defined in the pair of adjacent rotatable disks. The disk engagement structure extends axially into the pair of adjacent rotatable disks and circumferentially aligns with the band engagement structure. A clip member is positioned in engagement with the sealing band through the band engagement structure and in engagement with the pair of adjacent rotatable disks through the disk engagement structure. The clip member restricts movement of the sealing band in only a circumferential direction of the slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher J. Muller, David J Mitchell, Michael J Olejarski