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).

  • Publication number: 20130175357
    Abstract: The present application provides an inner nozzle platform. The inner nozzle platform may include a platform cavity, an impingement plenum positioned within the platform cavity, a retention plate positioned on a first side of the impingement plenum, and a compliant seal positioned on a second side of the impingement plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Gregory Winn, Robert Walter Coign, James S. Phillips, Thomas Robbins Tipton, Gregory Thomas Foster, Ravichandran Meenakshisundaram, Niranjan Gokuldas Pai
  • Publication number: 20130058764
    Abstract: A seal carrier for a seal used between rotating and non-rotating components includes an arcuate sheet metal seal carrier body formed to include a stepped, conical configuration wherein an inner diameter at a forward end is larger than the diameter at an aft end, with plural stepped sections defined by alternating radial and axial portions between the forward end and the aft end. Each axial portion is adapted to carry a seal element, preferably a honeycomb seal. Mounting flanges are provided at the forward end and the aft end of the arcuate sheet metal seal carrier body to enable attachment to the non-rotating component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Jackson DILLARD, Gregory Thomas FOSTER, Niranjan Gokuldas PAI
  • Publication number: 20120297792
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a nozzle. The nozzle includes an end portion and an airfoil portion. A diaphragm is mounted to the end portion of the nozzle in a wheel space portion of the turbomachine. The diaphragm includes an external surface and an internal surface. The diaphragm also includes at least one thermocouple well receiving portion formed in one of the external surface and the internal surface. A thermocouple well is mounted in the at least one thermocouple well receiving portion. The thermocouple well includes a first end exposed to the wheel space portion of the turbomachine and a second end exposed at the internal surface of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Jackson Dillard, Gregory Thomas Foster, George Martin Gilchrist, III
  • Patent number: 8303245
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed, the shroud assembly including an outer shroud, at least one inner shroud attached to the outer shroud, and at least one discourager enclosed within the inner shroud. The discourager prevents the hot gas or steam in the turbine from having a direct line of access to the outer shroud. In one embodiment, one inner shroud is provided for the shroud assembly, with one discourager enclosed within the inner shroud, the discourager positioned offset from the inner shroud so as to extend past the inner shroud and into an inner shroud of a neighboring shroud assembly. In another embodiment, a plurality of inner shrouds are provided, each inner shroud enclosing a discourager, the discouragers being adjacent to each other within the inner shrouds and positioned offset from the inner shrouds so as to cover a gap between the inner shrouds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Andres Jose Garcia Crespo, Herbert Chidsey Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120263582
    Abstract: Shroud assembly for use in a turbine, having an outer shroud having a side proximate to flow of operative fluid of the turbine, the side having a boss and an outer shroud aperture extending through the boss. An inner shroud is located between the side of the outer shroud proximate to the flow of operative fluid and the operative fluid flow of the turbine, the inner shroud having an inner shroud aperture which is dimensioned to fit over the boss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Robert Coign, Kevin McGovern, David Weber
  • Publication number: 20120260670
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus configured to seal with a turbine blade stage of a gas turbine. The apparatus includes an outer shroud coupled to an inner shroud and configured to circumferentially surround the turbine blade stage. The inner shroud is configured to circumferentially surround the turbine blade stage to seal with the turbine blade stage and includes an attachment element configured to be inserted into the outer shroud to couple the inner shroud to the outer shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo
  • Publication number: 20120219404
    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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Publication number: 20110085899
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed, the shroud assembly including an outer shroud, at least one inner shroud attached to the outer shroud, and at least one discourager enclosed within the inner shroud. The discourager prevents the hot gas or steam in the turbine from having a direct line of access to the outer shroud. In one embodiment, one inner shroud is provided for the shroud assembly, with one discourager enclosed within the inner shroud, the discourager positioned offset from the inner shroud so as to extend past the inner shroud and into an inner shroud of a neighboring shroud assembly. In another embodiment, a plurality of inner shrouds are provided, each inner shroud enclosing a discourager, the discouragers being adjacent to each other within the inner shrouds and positioned offset from the inner shrouds so as to cover a gap between the inner shrouds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Andres Jose Garcia Crespo, Herbert Chidsey Roberts
  • Patent number: 7094026
    Abstract: Arcuate seal layers conforming with one another are disposed between inner retainer segments and inner rails of nozzle segments of a gas turbine. The layers are secured to the aft axial face of the segments and project radially outwardly to seal against the forward axial faces of the rails. The rear axial faces of the rails have chordal seals for sealing against the forward axial faces of the support rings. The seal layers have radial cuts misaligned with one another in an axial direction to preclude leakage flows through gaps formed by the cuts. Arcuate spacers are staggered circumferentially with the arcuate retainer segments whereby an intermediate pressure plenum is formed between the finger seals and chordal seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Walter Coign, David John Humanchuk, Gregory Thomas Foster, Kevin Lee Worley