Patents by Inventor Gregory Thomas Foster

Gregory Thomas Foster 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: 10208607
    Abstract: A cooling circuit according to an embodiment includes: a cooling circuit for a multi-wall blade, the cooling circuit including: a pressure side cavity with a surface adjacent a pressure side of the multi-wall blade; a suction side cavity with a surface adjacent a suction side of the multi-wall blade; a central cavity disposed between the pressure side and suction side cavities, the central cavity including no surfaces adjacent the pressure and suction sides of the multi-wall blade; a first leading edge cavity with surfaces adjacent the pressure and suction sides of the multi-wall blade; and at least one impingement opening for fluidly coupling the leading edge cavity with a second leading edge cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Lana Maria Osusky
  • Publication number: 20180363471
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes a turbine component that includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a suction side wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a near wall source cavity disposed within the turbine component, and the near wall source cavity receives cooling air, and a second near wall cooling cavity disposed within the turbine component. The turbine airfoil further includes a first circuit completion plate disposed on a first end of the turbine component, and the first circuit completion plate fluidly couples the near wall source cavity to the second near wall cooling cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, Allison Christine Gose, Daniel Burnos, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Publication number: 20180363470
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a suction side wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a cooling air supply cavity disposed within the turbine airfoil, and a near wall cooling cavity disposed within the turbine airfoil and fluidly coupled to the cooling air supply cavity to receive cooling air. In addition, the near wall cooling cavity partially extends along the suction side wall from adjacent the leading edge to a location more proximal the trailing edge. Moreover, the near wall cooling cavity provides near wall cooling to a high heat load region along the suction side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, Daniel Burnos, Lana Maria Osusky, Brian Gene Brzek, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Publication number: 20180328192
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a leading edge cooling circuit including a pressure side serpentine circuit and a suction side serpentine circuit; a first mid-blade cooling circuit including a suction side serpentine circuit; a second mid-blade cooling circuit including a pressure side serpentine circuit; a trailing edge cooling circuit; and at least one air feed for supplying cooling air to the leading edge cooling circuit, the first mid-blade cooling circuit, the second mid-blade cooling circuit, and the trailing edge cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Patent number: 10119406
    Abstract: A blade includes an airfoil defined by a pressure side outer wall and a suction side outer wall connecting along leading and trailing edges and forming a radially extending coolant receiving chamber. A rib partitions the radially extending chamber into a first passage on a first side of the rib and an adjacent second passage on an opposing second side of the rib. Each passage is enclosed at an end of the radially extending chamber by an end member of the radially extending chamber. A turn opening is defined in an end of the rib through which the coolant passes between the first passage and the second passage within the end member of the radially extending chamber. A bulbous projection extends along the end of the rib and on opposing radially extending sides of the turn opening to reduce stress in the rib and/or connecting fillets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brendon James Leary, Elisabeth Kraus Black, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Jacob Charles Perry, II
  • Patent number: 10107498
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide injection systems for fuel and air. According to one embodiment, an injection system can include a mixing zone embedded within a surface of a turbine nozzle and positioned between a first outlet and a second outlet, the turbine nozzle separating a combustor of a power generation system from a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the first outlet is oriented substantially in opposition to the second outlet; a first injection conduit for delivering a carrier gas to the mixing zone through the first outlet; and a second injection conduit for delivering a fuel to the mixing zone through a second outlet; wherein the carrier gas and the fuel intermix within the mixing zone upon leaving the first injection conduit and the second injection conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10094571
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: a first injector located on a surface of a turbine nozzle of a turbine stage positioned downstream of a reheat combustor, wherein the turbine stage includes the turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a second injector located on a wall of the reheat combustor; and at least one conduit in fluid communication with each of the first injector and the second injector, wherein the at least one conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to an aft section of the reheat combustor through at least one of the first injector and the second injector, and wherein the aft section is positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10094569
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber positioned between a first turbine stage of a power generation system and a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage comprises a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a plurality of injectors positioned on a wall of the reaction chamber; and a conduit in fluid communication with the plurality of injectors, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of fuel from a fuel supply line to the reaction chamber through the plurality of injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10094570
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: an injector in fluid communication with an aft section of a reheat combustor in a power generation system, the aft section being positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor, and positioned upstream of a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage includes a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; and a conduit in fluid communication with the injector, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10060269
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a leading edge cooling circuit including a pressure side serpentine circuit and a suction side serpentine circuit; a first mid-blade cooling circuit including a suction side serpentine circuit; a second mid-blade cooling circuit including a pressure side serpentine circuit; a trailing edge cooling circuit; and at least one air feed for supplying cooling air to the leading edge cooling circuit, the first mid-blade cooling circuit, the second mid-blade cooling circuit, and the trailing edge cooling circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Patent number: 10053989
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a pin fin bank cooling circuit; and an air feed cavity for supplying cooling air to the pin fin bank cooling circuit; wherein the pin fin bank cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers at least one central plenum of a multi-wall blade and a first set of near wall cooling channels of the multi-wall blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Gary Michael Itzel, Brendon James Leary, Joseph Anthony Weber
  • Patent number: 10052683
    Abstract: A core for a turbine airfoil casting according to an embodiment includes: a center plenum section; and a plurality of outer passage sections; wherein the center plenum section includes at least one boss extending outwardly from the center plenum to an outer profile of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, David Wayne Weber, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, Joseph Anthony Weber
  • Patent number: 10053990
    Abstract: An internal rib for a blade airfoil has a concave surface defined to ensure durability and provide desired heat transfer. A concave surface faces a pressure side or suction side outer wall. A width is between a first end and a second end, and a depth is a length of a normal depth line between a midpoint of the concave surface and an intersection point of the depth line with the pressure or suction side outer wall. An irregular arc is defined within an arc angle centered at the intersection point, the irregular arc has a first arc radius equivalent to the depth at the midpoint of the concave surface and a second arc radius where the arc angle intersects the concave surface equivalent to a product of the depth and a shape factor. The shape factor has a substantially linear relationship with the aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, Jacob Charles Perry, II
  • Patent number: 10030526
    Abstract: A cooling system for a turbine bucket including a multi-wall blade and a platform. A cooling circuit for the multi-wall blade includes: an outer cavity circuit and a central cavity for collecting cooling air from the outer cavity circuit; a platform core air feed for receiving the cooling air from the central cavity; and an air passage for fluidly connecting the platform core air feed to a platform core of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Elisabeth Kraus Black, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, Jacob Charles Perry, II, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20180163544
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides for a turbine airfoil. The turbine airfoil may include a trailing edge having: a set of cooling channels having a first cooling channel fluidly connected to a second cooling channel; a first section having a first pin bank cooling arrangement, the first section fluidly connected to the first cooling channel; a second section having a second pin bank cooling arrangement, the second section fluidly connected to the second cooling channel and being radially inward of the first section; and a pressure side panel having a third pin bank cooling arrangement, the pressure side panel fluidly connected to the first cooling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, David Wayne Weber
  • Patent number: 9995149
    Abstract: A turbine blade having an airfoil defined by a concave shaped pressure side outer wall and a convex shaped suction side outer wall that connect along leading and trailing edges and, therebetween, form a radially extending chamber for receiving the flow of a coolant. The turbine blade may further include a rib configuration that partitions the chamber into radially extending flow passages. The rib configuration may include a camber line rib having a wavy profile. The wavy profile may include at least one back-and-forth ā€œSā€ shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Lisa Anne Wichmann, Brian Denver Potter, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Publication number: 20180135430
    Abstract: A core for an airfoil casting, including: a cantilevered core section; and a boss extending from the cantilevered core section to an outer profile of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Robert Peter Hanet
  • Publication number: 20180112547
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil for a rotating blade or stationary nozzle vane includes an airfoil body including a leading edge and a trailing edge. A coolant supply passage extends within the airfoil body, and a coolant return passage extends within the airfoil body. A first trench is in an external surface of the airfoil body, the first trench extending to the trailing edge and being in fluid communication with the coolant supply passage. A second trench is in the external surface of the airfoil body, the second trench extending to the trailing edge and being in fluid communication with the coolant return passage and the first trench. A cover seats in the airfoil body and encloses the trenches to form coolant passages with the airfoil body. In embodiments, two coolant passages to and back from the trailing edge may be used to allow for a recycling flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, Gregory Thomas Foster, Joseph Anthony Weber, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
  • Publication number: 20180112541
    Abstract: A trailing edge cooling system for a multi-wall blade, including: a cooling circuit, including: an outward leg extending toward a trailing edge of the multi-wall blade and fluidly coupled to a coolant feed; a return leg extending away from the trailing edge of the multi-wall blade and fluidly coupled to a coolant collection passage; and a turn for coupling the outward leg and the return leg; wherein the outward leg is radially offset from the return leg along a radial axis of the multi-wall blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Publication number: 20180112539
    Abstract: A trailing edge cooling system for a multi-wall blade, including: a set of outward legs extending toward a trailing edge of the multi-wall blade and fluidly coupled to a coolant feed; a set of return legs extending away from the trailing edge of the multi-wall blade and fluidly coupled to a coolant collection passage; and a connecting system for fluidly coupling the set of outward legs and the set of return legs; wherein the set of outward legs is radially offset from the set of return legs along a radial axis of the multi-wall blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Robert Peter Hanet, Gregory Thomas Foster, Brendon James Leary