Patents by Inventor James Michael Placko

James Michael Placko 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: 6935119
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine including a high pressure compressor, a variable inlet guide vane assembly and a water injection apparatus for injecting water into a flow of the engine is provided. The method comprises transmitting engine operating parameters including a temperature of the gas flow at an outlet of the high pressure compressor, T3, to an engine controller, using the controller to regulate a flow of water injected into the gas flow and to adjust a relative position of the inlet guide vane assembly until engine full power is about reached as determined by a pre-defined T3 operating parameter limit, and adjusting the controller to then facilitate operation of the engine with an increased output without exceeding the pre-defined T3 operating parameter limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Michael Placko, Lautaro Aspiazu Montgomery, Robert Paul Coleman
  • Publication number: 20040177618
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine including a high pressure compressor, a variable inlet guide vane assembly and a water injection apparatus for injecting water into a flow of the engine is provided. The method comprises transmitting engine operating parameters including a temperature of the gas flow at an outlet of the high pressure compressor, T3, to an engine controller, using the controller to regulate a flow of water injected into the gas flow and to adjust a relative position of the inlet guide vane assembly until engine full power is about reached as determined by a pre-defined T3 operating parameter limit, and adjusting the controller to then facilitate operation of the engine with an increased output without exceeding the pre-defined T3 operating parameter limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: James Michael Placko, Lautaro Aspiazu Montgomery, Robert Paul Coleman
  • Patent number: 6717095
    Abstract: The present invention involves a process for increasing coolant side surface roughness on castings such as airfoils, shrouds, nozzles or the like by electrical discharge machining (EDM). An EDM electrode is shaped to fill completely or a portion of a cavity in the casting, the electrode is then connected to an electric discharge machine, and the internal surfaces of the internal core cavity are then machined to form a roughened surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Peter Arness, James Michael Placko
  • Publication number: 20030196990
    Abstract: The present invention involves a process for increasing coolant side surface roughness on castings such as airfoils, shrouds, nozzles or the like by electrical discharge machining (EDM). An EDM electrode is shaped to fill completely or a portion of a cavity in the casting, the electrode is then connected to an electric discharge machine, and the internal surfaces of the internal core cavity are then machined to form a roughened surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Brian Peter Arness, James Michael Placko
  • Patent number: 6502801
    Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core. The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity. After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout. Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Martin Kin-Fei Lee, George Gerald Gunn, James Michael Placko
  • Patent number: 6450759
    Abstract: A pair of hollow elongated insert bodies are disposed in one or more of the nozzle vane cavities of a nozzle stage of a gas turbine. Each insert body has an outer wall portion with apertures for impingement-cooling of nozzle wall portions in registration with the outer wall portion. The insert bodies are installed into the cavity separately and spreaders flex the bodies toward and to engage standoffs against wall portions of the nozzle whereby the designed impingement gap between the outer wall portions of the insert bodies and the nozzle wall portions is achieved. The spreaders are secured to the inner wall portions of the insert bodies and the bodies are secured to one another and to the nozzle vane by welding or brazing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William John Miller, Daniel Ross Predmore, James Michael Placko
  • Publication number: 20020114696
    Abstract: A pair of hollow elongated insert bodies are disposed in one or more of the nozzle vane cavities of a nozzle stage of a gas turbine. Each insert body has an outer wall portion with apertures for impingement-cooling of nozzle wall portions in registration with the outer wall portion. The insert bodies are installed into the cavity separately and spreaders flex the bodies toward and to engage standoffs against wall portions of the nozzle whereby the designed impingement gap between the outer wall portions of the insert bodies and the nozzle wall portions is achieved. The spreaders are secured to the inner wall portions of the insert bodies and the bodies are secured to one another and to the nozzle vane by welding or brazing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: William John Miller, Daniel Ross Predmore, James Michael Placko
  • Patent number: 6331267
    Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core. The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity. After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout. Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Martin Kin-Fei Lee, George Gerald Gunn, James Michael Placko
  • Publication number: 20010024000
    Abstract: A mold for molding a core for use in casting hollow parts includes, a lower mold portion and an upper mold portion defining therein a cavity corresponding to the outer surface of the core The lower mold portion includes a cutout disposed along a parting line defined between the lower mold portion and the upper mold portion and opening onto the cavity After introduction of a ceramic slurry mixture into the mold the upper mold portion is removable, to expose a first side of the core and a protective flash formed in the cutout Desirably, a heat shield is positioned over the protective flash and the exposed portion of the parting line of the lower mold portion so that the lower mold portion is not exposed directly to a flame during a preliminary firing to impart sufficient strength to the ceramic core so that the ceramic core may be handled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Martin Kin-Fei Lee, George Gerald Gunn, James Michael Placko