Patents by Inventor James Hamilton Grooms
James Hamilton Grooms 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).
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Patent number: 11970946Abstract: A clearance control assembly for a gas turbine engine that defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a stage of rotor blades and a shroud hanger. The assembly includes a case configured to be positioned outward along the radial direction from the stage of rotor blades when installed in the gas turbine engine. The case is further configured to be engaged with the shroud hanger at a first location when installed in the gas turbine engine. The assembly also includes a baffle positioned outward along the radial direction from the case to define a chamber therebetween. The baffle has a forward end and an aft end. The forward end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a first seal and the aft end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a second seal. The baffle, the case, or both define an inlet to allow a fluid to enter the chamber and the case defines an outlet to allow the fluid to exit the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Travis J. Packer, James Hamilton Grooms, David Fasig, Richard William Jendrix, Scott Alan Schimmels, Bradford Alan Tracey, Michael Alan Hile, Thomas Ryan Wallace
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Publication number: 20230035302Abstract: A clearance control assembly for a gas turbine engine that defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a stage of rotor blades and a shroud hanger. The assembly includes a case configured to be positioned outward along the radial direction from the stage of rotor blades when installed in the gas turbine engine. The case is further configured to be engaged with the shroud hanger at a first location when installed in the gas turbine engine. The assembly also includes a baffle positioned outward along the radial direction from the case to define a chamber therebetween. The baffle has a forward end and an aft end. The forward end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a first seal and the aft end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a second seal. The baffle, the case, or both define an inlet to allow a fluid to enter the chamber and the case defines an outlet to allow the fluid to exit the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2021Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Travis J. Packer, James Hamilton Grooms, David Fasig, Richard William Jendrix, Scott Alan Schimmels, Bradford Alan Tracey, Michael Alan Hile, Thomas Ryan Wallace
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Patent number: 9546557Abstract: A nozzle, a nozzle hanger, and a ceramic to metal attachment system are provided. The ceramic to metal attachment system includes the nozzle, a ceramic matrix composite, and the nozzle hanger, a metal. The attachment system also includes a clamping member adjacent a second surface of the nozzle and a mounting member of the nozzle. The attachment system includes a plurality of attachment members securing the nozzle, the clamping member, and the nozzle hanger together. A sealing member of the nozzle hanger seals off an airfoil of the nozzle from adjacent airflow.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Hamilton Grooms, III, Darrell Glenn Senile, Charles Thomas McMillan, Michael Todd Radwanski
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Patent number: 9453422Abstract: A turbine disk and blade assembly comprises a turbine disk including a plurality of disk posts extending radially therefrom and a plurality of disk slots between adjacent disk posts. The turbine disk is of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The assembly further comprises a plurality of turbine blades. One of the turbine blades is received in each disk slot. The turbine blades are of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The assembly further comprises a plurality of seal plates, wherein one of the seal plates is positioned in each disk slot radially inward of the turbine blade. The seal plates are of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially similar to that of either the disk posts or the turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Alan Hile, Brian Agnew, James Hamilton Grooms, Richard William Jendrix
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Publication number: 20140003880Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) and metal attachment configuration is provided. The CMC and metal attachment may include a metal plate, a CMC plate, a spacer, a metal bolt and a nut. Metal plate may include metal plate aperture. CMC plate may be adjacent metal plate and may include CMC plate aperture aligned with metal plate aperture. Spacer may be adjacent to CMC, and spacer may include spacer aperture aligned with metal plate and CMC apertures. Metal bolt may have first and second ends, second end may be operable to fit into aligned spacer, CMC plate, and metal apertures, to attach spacer, CMC plate and metal plate. Nut may be adjacent to metal plate and may be operable to receive second end of bolt. Spacer may allow metal plate, having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, to be attached to CMC plate, having a low coefficient of thermal expansion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: James Hamilton GROOMS, II
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Publication number: 20140004293Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component and a method of attaching a static seal to a ceramic matrix composite component are provided. The CMC component includes a first end and a second end. A CMC metal interface member is attached to the second end. The CMC metal interface member is operable to join to a static seal in a gas turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Hamilton GROOMS, II, Darrell Glenn Senile, Robert Alan Frederick, Charles Thomas McMillan
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Publication number: 20140003937Abstract: A component and method of cooling a component are provided. The component includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, at least one cavity between the leading edge and the trailing edge, at least one diffusion member adjacent to the cavity. The diffusion member includes an inlet adjacent to the cavity, a metering zone adjacent to the inlet, a diffusion zone adjacent to the metering zone, and an outlet adjacent the diffusion zone and adjacent the trailing edge. The diffusion member provides up to about 70% reduction in flow and uniform cooling of the trailing edge of the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Hamilton GROOMS, Darrell Glenn SENILE, Robert Alan FREDERICK
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Publication number: 20140001285Abstract: A nozzle, a nozzle hanger, and a ceramic to metal attachment system are provided. The ceramic to metal attachment system includes the nozzle, a ceramic matrix composite, and the nozzle hanger, a metal. The attachment system also includes a clamping member adjacent a second surface of the nozzle and a mounting member of the nozzle. The attachment system includes a plurality of attachment members securing the nozzle, the clamping member, and the nozzle hanger together. A sealing member of the nozzle hanger seals off an airfoil of the nozzle from adjacent airflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: James Hamilton GROOMS, III, Darrell Glenn SENILE, Charles Thomas MCMILLAN, Michael Todd Radwanski
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Patent number: 8608436Abstract: A connection between an annular sleeve on a gas turbine engine first rotor component includes an annular tapered conical slot extending axially inwardly into the sleeve from an annular opening and tapers axially into the sleeve from the opening. An annular rim of a second rotor component is received within the conical slot and includes a rim inner conical surface mating with and contacting a sleeve inner conical surface in part bounding the conical slot. A sleeve cylindrical outer surface in part bounds the conical slot in the sleeve and a rim outer cylindrical surface on the annular rim contacts the sleeve cylindrical outer surface. An annular lip may extend radially inwardly from the sleeve and sleeve inner conical surface at the annular opening to the conical slot. The connection may be used between a first stage disk and an interstage seal.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Edward Wines, James Hamilton Grooms, Craig William Higgins
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Publication number: 20120051917Abstract: A connection between an annular sleeve on a gas turbine engine first rotor component includes an annular tapered conical slot extending axially inwardly into the sleeve from an annular opening and tapers axially into the sleeve from the opening. An annular rim of a second rotor component is received within the conical slot and includes a rim inner conical surface mating with and contacting a sleeve inner conical surface in part bounding the conical slot. A sleeve cylindrical outer surface in part bounds the conical slot in the sleeve and a rim outer cylindrical surface on the annular rim contacts the sleeve cylindrical outer surface. An annular lip may extend radially inwardly from the sleeve and sleeve inner conical surface at the annular opening to the conical slot. The connection may be used between a first stage disk and an interstage seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventors: Daniel Edward Wines, James Hamilton Grooms, Craig William Higgins
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Patent number: 8051709Abstract: A method and system for relieving forging induced residual stresses in a rotor forging balances a pre-spin machine with the forging mounted thereon at a first rotational speed and then pre-spins the forging with it mounted on the machine at a substantially greater second rotational speed. A one per rev sensor is used for determining a weight placement angle and a vibration sensor is used for determining an amount of weight to add to a spinning assembly including the forging during the balancing. High-density non-metallic balance weights adhesively attached on an inside surface of the forging or spinning assembly may be used. The rotational inertia of the spinning assembly may be checked during a spin up period by determining a rate of rotational acceleration vs. torque applied to the spinning assembly and used to stop the pre-spinning if it is to great.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Scott Allen, Robert Lynn Kesecker, James Hamilton Grooms
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Publication number: 20100212422Abstract: A method and system for relieving forging induced residual stresses in a rotor forging balances a pre-spin machine with the forging mounted thereon at a first rotational speed and then pre-spins the forging with it mounted on the machine at a substantially greater second rotational speed. A one per rev sensor is used for determining a weight placement angle and a vibration sensor is used for determining an amount of weight to add to a spinning assembly including the forging during the balancing. High-density non-metallic balance weights adhesively attached on an inside surface of the forging or spinning assembly may be used. The rotational inertia of the spinning assembly may be checked during a spin up period by determining a rate of rotational acceleration vs. torque applied to the spinning assembly and used to stop the pre-spinning if it is to great.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventors: Jeffrey Scott Allen, Robert Lynn Kesecker, James Hamilton Grooms