Patents by Inventor General Electric Company

General Electric Company 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: 20140137533
    Abstract: An exhaust gas diffuser for a gas turbine generally includes an inner wall that extends along an axial centerline of the exhaust gas diffuser. An outer wall is coaxially aligned with the inner wall. The outer wall is radially separated from the inner wall so as to define a flow passage therebetween. An airfoil shaped strut is disposed in the flow passage. The strut extends between the inner and the outer walls. The strut includes a leading edge and a trailing edge positioned relative to a direction of flow through the flow passage. The leading edge and the trailing edge are tapered from the inner wall to the outer wall in the direction of flow through the passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140137408
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming a hot gas path component is provided. The method includes forming at least one groove in an outer surface of a substrate, wherein the at least one groove has a base and a top. The method further includes filling the at least one groove with a filler. The method also includes applying at least one cover layer over at least a portion of the outer surface of the substrate such that the at least one groove and the at least one cover layer define at least one micro-channel for cooling the component. The filler is automatically removed from the at least one micro-channel during application of the at least one cover layer. Methods for coating a hot gas component and for assembling a turbine engine assembly are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140140805
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is disclosed an inducer assembly for use with a gas turbine engine. The inducer assembly may include a cavity. The inducer assembly may also include an inducer in fluid communication with the cavity. Moreover, the inducer assembly may include at least one guide vane disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140133975
    Abstract: The assembly has a first guide vane having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, and a second guide vane having a first end, a second end opposed to its first end. A first end structure spans between the first guide vane first end and the second guide vane first end. A second end structure spans between the first guide vane second end and the second guide vane second end. The first guide vane, the second guide vane, the first end structure, and the second end structure are integrally formed together to form a double vane with a continuous outer surface, and a continuous inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140109418
    Abstract: The present application provides for feeler gauges. The feeler gauges include a plurality of elongate measuring leaves rotatably coupled on a common axis of rotation with an elongate housing. The leaves may be manually, selectively rotatable between a “home” position wherein the leaves are substantially aligned with the housing and an “extended” position wherein the leaves are spaced from the housing. The leaves may be relatively flexible and substantially flat such that they define a substantially constant thickness. One or more extended leaves may be used to measure the thickness of a clearance or gap. The gauges may be configured to detect, determine or measure the thickness of the leaves that are in the “home” position and/or the “extended” position, and thereby determine the total thickness of a clearance or gap measured by the extended leaves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140112796
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine composite blade includes an airfoil having pressure and suction sides extending outwardly in a spanwise direction from a blade root along a span to a blade tip. A core section of the blade including composite quasi-isotropic plies extends spanwise outwardly through the blade. One or more spars including a stack of uni-tape plies having predominately a 0 degree fiber orientation with respect to the span and extending spanwise outwardly through the root and a portion of the airfoil towards the tip. Spars may include pressure and suction side spars sandwiching a chordwise extending portion of the core section in the airfoil and which be located near or along the pressure and suction sides respectively. Chordwise extending portion may be centered about a maximum thickness location of the airfoil. Spars may have height, width, and thickness that avoids flexural airfoil modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140112793
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a gas turbine engine system. The system may include a rotor wheel having a number of blades mounted about a periphery of the rotor wheel. Further, the system may include a retention device. The retention device may include a number of projections extending from a radial surface of the rotor wheel to form a number of circumferential slots about the rotor wheel. The retention device may also include a number of elongated members positioned within the circumferential slots to impede axial movement of the blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140103820
    Abstract: A circuit for providing thermal compensation for a driver circuit used to drive light emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided. The driver circuit can include a rectifier circuit configured to rectify an AC power source into a DC power source providing a DC source voltage. The driver circuit can further include a boost circuit configured to boost the DC source voltage to provide a drive voltage for driving the light emitting diodes. The boost circuit can include a switching element that is controlled based at least in part on a current sense circuit having a sense transistor. A thermal tracking transistor is provided as part of the reference to the sense circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140096538
    Abstract: A turbine blade generally includes a platform having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side slash face and a suction side slash face. A platform cooling circuit extends within the platform. The platform cooling circuit may extend from the suction side of the platform to the pressure side of the platform. The platform cooling circuit generally defines a fluid flow path that directs a cooling medium from the platform suction side to the platform pressure side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140096529
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor configured to combust a fuel and an oxidant, such as O2 and O2 mixtures. The system also includes an aerodynamic peg disposed in the gas turbine combustor. The aerodynamic peg includes a first passage configured to convey a first fluid into the gas turbine combustor and a second passage configured to convey a second fluid into the gas turbine combustor. The first fluid and second fluid are different from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140099188
    Abstract: Oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for turbine engines are disclosed. An example oil sump seal pressurization apparatus may include a non-rotating oil sump housing a bearing; an oil seal isolating an interior of the oil sump; a passage arranged to supply pressurization air to an outward side of the oil seal; a drain arranged to allow draining of oil and venting of at least some of the pressurization air, the drain being positioned axially between the passage and the oil seal; a wide discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, which may be disposed axially between the passage and the drain, the wide discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a radial direction by a gap, the wide discourager tooth including an upper surface; and/or an adjacent tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward from the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140093878
    Abstract: Provided herein are mutant endonuclease V enzymes that are capable of nicking an inosine-containing DNA sequence. Nucleic acid assays and agents that employ such mutant endonuclease V enzymes to introduce a nick into a target DNA including one or more inosine, and uses a DNA polymerase to generate amplicons of a target DNA are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140090457
    Abstract: A pressure probe includes an elongated cable provided with a sensing tip, a portion of the elongated cable and sensing tip enclosed within a ceramic shroud, the ceramic shroud at least partially formed of a metalized ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140083639
    Abstract: A method of machining a component is provided. The component includes a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, where the inner surface defines at least one interior space. A core is disposed within each interior space. The method includes forming at least one hole in the substrate while the core is disposed within the respective interior space. Each hole extends through the substrate to provide fluid communication with the respective interior space. The method further includes removing the core from the respective interior space. The core may be a casting core or a subsequently formed core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Publication number: 20140083110
    Abstract: A fuel flow passes through a micromixer section of a gas turbine that includes a plurality of mixing tubes for transporting a fuel/air mixture and a distribution plate including a plurality of distribution holes and a plurality of tube holes for accommodating the mixing tubes. Each of the mixing tubes includes a plurality of fuel holes through which fuel enters the mixing tubes. The tube holes and the mixing tubes form a plurality of annulus areas between the distribution plate and the mixing tubes. The distribution holes and the annulus areas are configured to pass the fuel flow through the distribution plate toward the fuel holes. A flow management device modifies an effective size of the annulus areas to control a distribution of the fuel flow through the distribution holes and the annulus areas of the distribution plate to provide a uniform fuel/air composition in each of the mixing tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140072736
    Abstract: A process for producing an internal cavity in a CMC article and mandrels used therewith. The process entails incorporating a mandrel made of a material that is substantially absorbed during thermal treatment of a preform to form the CMC article. The mandrel material is preferably reactive with one or more constituents of the CMC preform during the thermal treatment. The material is preferably silicon or a silicon alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140064937
    Abstract: A fan assembly is provided. The fan assembly includes a rotor having a hub and a plurality of rotor blades extending radially outward from the hub. Each rotor blade includes a blade tip at a radially distal end of each blade. The rotor blade tips define a rotor diameter. The fan assembly also includes a first cylindrical casing substantially axially aligned with the blade tips, the first casing including a first inner diameter that is greater than the rotor diameter. The fan assembly further includes a brush seal assembly coupled to the blade tip of a least one of the plurality of rotor blades, the brush seal assembly configured to contact the casing segment during a first operational mode of the fan assembly, the brush seal assembly configured to avoid contact with the casing segment during a second operational mode of the fan assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140062032
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided. The seal assembly includes a first outer shim and a second outer shim The second outer shim is operably coupled to the first outer shim and comprises at least one substantially impermeable portion that spans across a gap between at least two turbomachine components. The second outer shim further engages the at least two turbomachine components to substantially seal the gap. The substantially impermeable portion is substantially planar at least along a width of the seal assembly. The seal assembly further includes a resilient member that is either coupled to at least a portion of an outer surface of the first outer shim or comprises an integral portion of the first outer shim The resilient member engages the seal assembly to contact bottom surfaces of a cavity defined between the at least two turbomachine components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140060461
    Abstract: A power generation system utilizing a fuel cell is described. The system includes a fuel cell having an anode configured to generate a tail gas. The anode includes an inlet and an outlet. The system further includes a fuel path configured to divert a first portion of the anode tail gas to the inlet of the anode; and a second portion of the anode tail gas to a reciprocating engine. The associated reciprocating engine is at least partially powered by the second portion of the anode tail-gas. Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a power generation system that includes the anode and an external fuel reforming system, along with a gas splitting mechanism to divide the reformed fuel into two streams. One stream is directed back to the fuel cell anode, while another stream is used to completely or partially power an external or internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20130309079
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle segment includes: an arcuate outer band segment; an airfoil-shaped turbine vane extending radially inward from the outer band segment, the turbine vane having a hollow interior; an impingement baffle assembly secured to the outer band so as to define an impingement cavity in cooperation with the outer band segment, wherein the impingement baffle assembly has at least one impingement hole formed therein which is arranged to direct cooling air at the outer band segment; and at least one impingement insert having at least one impingement hole formed therein disposed in the interior of the turbine vane, the impingement insert mating with an opening in the impingement baffle assembly such that the impingement baffle is isolated from direct fluid communication with the impingement cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: General Electric Company