Patents by Inventor David Wayne Weber

David Wayne Weber 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: 20150118022
    Abstract: In one example, an arcuate segment for a ring-shaped, rotary machine component such as a stator nozzle or bucket shroud, includes a segment body having an end face formed with a circumferentially-facing seal slot adapted to receive a seal extending between the segment body and a corresponding seal slot in an adjacent segment body to seal a radially-extending gap between the adjacent segment bodies. A cooling channel is provided in the segment body in proximity to the seal slot, and is adapted to be supplied with cooling air. A passage extends from the cooling channel into the seal slot, at a location where the cooling air can be supplied to the higher pressure area on the radially-outer side of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne WEBER, Gregory Thomas Foster, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Publication number: 20150118033
    Abstract: A gas turbine stator component includes a composite, segmented ring made up of an annular array of arcuate segments, each having end faces formed with respective seal slots, with radial gaps formed between opposed end faces of adjacent arcuate segments. A seal is located between each pair of opposed seal slots to thereby seal the gaps, and a channel is provided in each of said arcuate segments adapted to be supplied with cooling air, the channel connecting to a passage extending between the channel and a respective one of the seal slots or radial gaps, on a lower-pressure side of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel SMITH, David Wayne WEBER
  • Publication number: 20150098808
    Abstract: A method and system for sealing between components within a gas turbine is provided. A first recess defined in a first component receives a seal member. A second recess defined in a second component adjacent the first component also receives the seal member. The first and second recesses are located proximate a hot gas path defined through the gas turbine, and define circumferential paths about the turbine axis. The seal member includes a sealing face that extends in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis. The seal member also includes a plurality of seal layers, wherein at least one of the seal layers includes at least one stress relief region for facilitating flexing of the first seal member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor John Morgan, Gregory Thomas Foster, Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20150013345
    Abstract: A shroud segment for a casing of gas turbine includes a body configured for attachment to the casing proximate a localized critical process location within the casing. The body has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two side edges. The critical process location is located between the leading edge and the trailing edge when the body is attached to the casing. A cooling passage is defined in the body along one of the side edges with one of an inlet or an outlet proximate the critical process location. The cooling passage is configured large enough to cool the one side edge adjacent the cooling passage to a desired level during operation of the gas turbine. The critical process locations may be related to temperatures, pressures or other measurable features of the gas turbine environment when in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Donald Porter, Gregory Thomas Foster, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, David Wayne Weber, Michelle J. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20140360155
    Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent thus provide a microchannel system for cooling a hot gas path surface of a turbine. The microchannel system may include a turbine component having an outer surface extending along a hot gas path of the turbine, a microchannel defined within the turbine component and extending about the outer surface, and a number of pockets defined within the turbine component and positioned along the microchannel. The present application and the resultant patent further provide a method of forming a microchannel system for cooling a hot gas path surface of a turbine. The method may include the steps of forming a turbine component having an outer surface extending along a hot gas path of the turbine, defining a microchannel within the turbine component and extending about the outer surface, and defining a number of pockets within the turbine component and positioned along the microchannel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Patent number: 8905708
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a first component, a second component circumferentially adjacent to the first component, wherein the first and second components each have a surface proximate a hot gas path and a first side surface of the first component to abut a second side surface of the second component. The assembly also includes a first slot formed longitudinally in the first side surface, a second slot formed longitudinally in the second side surface, wherein the first and second slots are configured to receive a sealing member, and a first groove formed in a hot side surface of the first slot, the first groove extending axially from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Christopher Lee Golden
  • Publication number: 20140341724
    Abstract: A core tie having a varying cross sectional diameter, a component including such a core tie, and a method of casting a hot gas path component for a turbomachine are provided herein. In an embodiment, the core tie includes a tie member having an axial length; and a cross sectional diameter which varies along the axial length of the tie member. A variation in the cross sectional diameter of the tie member positively secures a position of the core tie relative to the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers
  • Publication number: 20140338772
    Abstract: A sealing member, a component including a sealing member, and a method of sealing a hole are disclosed. In an embodiment, the sealing member includes a plug member for occluding a hole in a wall of a passageway. The plug member includes at least one cooling feature disposed on a distal end of the plug member exposed to the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers, David Wayne Weber
  • Patent number: 8845272
    Abstract: A turbine shroud includes a body having a plurality of sides. A first inward facing groove is defined by a first side of the body, and a first seal covers the first inward facing groove to define a first fluid passage in the first inward facing groove along the first side of the body. A first inlet port through the first seal fluid communication through the first seal into the first fluid passage. A method for forming a turbine shroud includes forming an inner surface and forming an outer surface opposed to the inner surface, wherein the outer surface is configured for exposure to a hot gas path. The method further includes defining a first slot in the inner surface and extending a first seal across the first slot to define a first fluid passage in the first slot along the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Patent number: 8845285
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a turbine assembly includes a second component circumferentially adjacent to a first component, wherein the first and second components each have a surface proximate a hot gas path and a first side surface of the first component to be joined to a second side surface of the second component. The assembly also includes a first slot formed longitudinally in the first component which extends from a first slot inner wall to the first side surface and a second slot formed longitudinally in the second component which extends from a second slot inner wall to the second side surface. The assembly also includes a first groove formed in a hot side surface of the first slot, the first groove extending from the first slot inner wall to the first side surface, wherein the first groove comprises a tapered cross-sectional geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Christopher Lee Golden
  • Publication number: 20140154062
    Abstract: A seal for placement in a slot between two turbine components of a gas turbine to seal a gap between the components may include a sealing element sized so as to be capable of placement within the slot and of substantially sealing the gap during operation of the gas turbine. A sacrificial coating may be located on the sealing element. The sacrificial coating may be configured with a size substantially conforming to a size of the slot, the sacrificial coating including a material that is removable from the sealing element via heating to a temperature achieved during operation of the gas turbine. Related gas turbine assemblies and methods of assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Kevin Richard Kirtley, Victor John Morgan, Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate
  • Publication number: 20140091531
    Abstract: The present application provide a seal for use between components engine facing a high pressure cooling air flow and a hot gas path in a gas turbine. The seal may include a first shim, a second shim with an air exit hole, one or more middle layers positioned between the first shim and the second shim, and one or more cooling pathways extending through the middle layers for the high pressure cooling air flow to pass therethrough and exit via the air exit hole into the hot gas path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor John Morgan, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20130287546
    Abstract: A turbine shroud cooling assembly for a gas turbine system includes an outer shroud component disposed within a turbine section of the gas turbine system and proximate a turbine section casing, wherein the outer shroud component includes at least one airway for ingesting an airstream. Also included is an inner shroud component disposed radially inward of, and fixedly connected to, the outer shroud component, wherein the inner shroud component includes a plurality of microchannels extending in at least one of a circumferential direction and an axial direction for cooling the inner shroud component with the airstream from the at least one airway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, David Edward Schick, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20130272870
    Abstract: A gas turbine, a gas turbine shroud, and a method for sealing a gas turbine shroud with a non-metallic seal are provided. The gas turbine shroud includes an inner shroud and an outer shroud. A non-metallic seal is located between the inner shroud and the outer shroud while a shroud retainer clip applies a compression force upon the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The compression force compresses the non-metallic seal to fill a gap space between the inner shroud and the outer shroud to control fluid flow between a flow path and a non-flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Christopher Lee Golden, Victor John Morgan, Stephen William Tesh
  • Publication number: 20130177411
    Abstract: A system for sealing a gas path in a turbine includes a stator ring segment, a shroud segment adjacent to the stator ring segment, and a first load-bearing surface between the stator ring segment and the shroud segment. A first non-metallic gasket is in contact with the first load-bearing surface between the stator ring segment and the shroud segment. A method for sealing a gas path in a turbine includes placing a non-metallic gasket between any two of a stator ring segment, a shroud segment, and a casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Victor John Morgan
  • Publication number: 20130177412
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a turbine assembly includes a second component circumferentially adjacent to a first component, wherein the first and second components each have a surface proximate a hot gas path and a first side surface of the first component to be joined to a second side surface of the second component. The assembly also includes a first slot formed longitudinally in the first component which extends from a first slot inner wall to the first side surface and a second slot formed longitudinally in the second component which extends from a second slot inner wall to the second side surface. The assembly also includes a first groove formed in a hot side surface of the first slot, the first groove extending from the first slot inner wall to the first side surface, wherein the first groove comprises a tapered cross-sectional geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Christopher Lee Golden
  • Publication number: 20130177386
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a first component, a second component circumferentially adjacent to the first component, wherein the first and second components each have a surface proximate a hot gas path and a first side surface of the first component to abut a second side surface of the second component. The assembly also includes a first slot formed longitudinally in the first side surface, a second slot formed longitudinally in the second side surface, wherein the first and second slots are configured to receive a sealing member, and a first groove formed in a hot side surface of the first slot, the first groove extending axially from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Christopher Lee Golden
  • Publication number: 20130161914
    Abstract: The embodiments described herein provide a cloth seal for use with turbine components. The cloth seal includes first and second cloth layers. One or more central shims are positioned between the first and second cloth layers so as to block a leakage flow path. Another shim is positioned on and seals the opposite side of the first cloth layer from the one or more central shims positioned between the first and second cloth layers so as to block another leakage flow path. Yet another sealing shim may be positioned on the opposite side of the second cloth layer from the one or more central shims positioned between the first and second cloth layers to as to seal the opposite side of the second cloth layer and block another leakage flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate, David Wayne Weber, Omprakash Samudrala, Victor John Morgan
  • Publication number: 20130134678
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes a shim seal including multiple seal plates forming a C-shaped shim seal or a box shaped shim seal. The C-shaped shim seal includes a first side portion having a smaller width than that of an opposing second side portion, and the second side portion of the C-shaped shim seal includes a gap between at least two straight faces with an inward angle for allowing positioning within the slot between stator components. The box shaped seal includes a plurality of cuts at two opposing sides or corners for allowing high pressure fluid to occupy the cavity of the box-shaped shim seal. The seal may be inserted within one or more slots between adjacent stator components of the rotary machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate, Victor John Morgan, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20130106066
    Abstract: The present application provides seal assemblies for reducing leakages between adjacent components of turbomachinery. The seal assemblies may include outer shims, and at least a portion of the outer shims may be substantially impervious. At least one of the outer shims may be configured for sealing engagement with seal slots of the adjacent components. The seal assemblies may also include at least one of an inner shim and a filler layer positioned between the outer shims. The at least one inner shim may be substantially solid and the at least one filler layer may be relatively porous. The seal assemblies may be sufficiently flexible to account for misalignment between the adjacent components, sufficiently stiff to meet assembly requirements, and sufficiently robust to operating meet requirements associated with turbomachinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Neelesh Nandkumar SARAWATE, Victor John MORGAN, David Wayne WEBER