Patents by Inventor Christopher Robert Berndt

Christopher Robert Berndt 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: 11193377
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transition from a laminar flow to a turbulent flow for an airfoil of a turbomachine includes forming an airfoil. The airfoil defines a span extending between a root and a tip and a chord extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface, opposite the suction side surface, each extending between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the root, and the tip. The method also includes finishing a majority of the suction and pressure side surfaces in order to form a finished surface. The finished surface defines a first roughness. The method additionally includes leaving at least a portion of the suction side surface and/or pressure side surface unfinished in order to form an unfinished surface. Furthermore, the unfinished surface defines a second roughness greater than the first roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aamir Shabbir, Christopher Robert Berndt, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20210156258
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transition from a laminar flow to a turbulent flow for an airfoil of a turbomachine includes forming an airfoil. The airfoil defines a span extending between a root and a tip and a chord extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface, opposite the suction side surface, each extending between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the root, and the tip. The method also includes finishing a majority of the suction and pressure side surfaces in order to form a finished surface. The finished surface defines a first roughness. The method additionally includes leaving at least a portion of the suction side surface and/or pressure side surface unfinished in order to form an unfinished surface. Furthermore, the unfinished surface defines a second roughness greater than the first roughness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Aamir Shabbir, Christopher Robert Berndt, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow