Patents by Inventor Kurt Neal Laurer
Kurt Neal Laurer 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: 10436047Abstract: A method of repairing a diaphragm of a rotary machine includes removing an initial steam path from the diaphragm. The initial steam path includes a plurality of initial partitions. Each initial partition is associated with an original trailing edge profile and an original axial length. The method also includes coupling a replacement steam path to the diaphragm. The replacement steam path includes a plurality of replacement partitions. Each replacement partition has a replacement axial length that is greater than the original axial length.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Michael Kostrubanic, Joseph Paul Turley, Rory Todd Hersom, Ronald Roy Patterson, Sheldon Dirk Westwood, Kurt Neal Laurer
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Publication number: 20180231500Abstract: An inspection system for a cylindrical member includes at least one retention member positionable about at least a portion of a circumference of the cylindrical member. The inspection system also includes a positioning system and at least one housing. The at least one housing is coupleable to the at least one retention member at each of a series of circumferential inspection locations. The at least one housing includes at least one probe. The positioning system cooperates with the at least one retention member to position the at least one probe at each of the circumferential locations. The at least one probe is configured to send and receive a signal through an interior of the cylindrical member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2017Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Kurt Neal Laurer, John Matthew Sassatelli, Francis Alexander Reed, Robert William Bergman, Paul Howard Davidson, August Elwood Pendergast, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, Michael Charles Freda, Robert Charles Malison, Paul Michael Kienitz, Collin Daniel Mooney, Paul James Martino, William Bartholomew
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Publication number: 20170322185Abstract: Various embodiments include an ultrasonic detection method, performed using an ultrasonic detection system having a set of corresponding transmitting phased array devices and receiving phased array devices, the method including: for each of a plurality of static positions about a portion of a machine rotor: transmitting, at a corresponding transmitting phased array device, a set of ultrasonic waves through the portion of the machine rotor, and receiving, at the corresponding receiving phased array device, the set of ultrasonic waves after transmission through the portion of the machine rotor, to obtain a set of ultrasonic detection information about the machine rotor; and forming an ultrasonic representation of the machine rotor by aligning the sets of the ultrasonic detection information about the machine rotor obtained from each of the plurality of static positions about the portion of the machine rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Paul Howard Davidson, Robert William Bergman, Michael Charles Freda, Kurt Neal Laurer, Robert Charles Malison, Thomas Earnest Moldenhauer, August Elwood Pendergast, Francis Alexander Reed, John Matthew Sassatelli
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Patent number: 9587522Abstract: A method, control system, and combined cycle power plant are disclosed herein, which enable balancing thrust between a high pressure (HP) section and an intermediate pressure (IP) section of an opposed flow steam turbine in a combined cycle power plant, including predicting or determining a presence or absence of a thrust imbalance between the HP section and the IP section based on steam flow, pressure, and temperature data at an HP section inlet; and based on the presence or absence of the thrust imbalance, adjusting an amount of steam that enters the HP section.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Andrew Florey, Kurt Neal Laurer, David Stasenko
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Publication number: 20170051618Abstract: A method of repairing a diaphragm of a rotary machine includes removing an initial steam path from the diaphragm. The initial steam path includes a plurality of initial partitions. Each initial partition is associated with an original trailing edge profile and an original axial length. The method also includes coupling a replacement steam path to the diaphragm. The replacement steam path includes a plurality of replacement partitions. Each replacement partition has a replacement axial length that is greater than the original axial length.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: James Michael Kostrubanic, Joseph Paul Turley, Rory Todd Hersom, Ronald Roy Patterson, Sheldon Dirk Westwood, Kurt Neal Laurer
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Publication number: 20150218974Abstract: A method, control system, and combined cycle power plant are disclosed herein, which enable balancing thrust between a high pressure (HP) section and an intermediate pressure (IP) section of an opposed flow steam turbine in a combined cycle power plant, including predicting or determining a presence or absence of a thrust imbalance between the HP section and the IP section based on steam flow, pressure, and temperature data at an HP section inlet; and based on the presence or absence of the thrust imbalance, adjusting an amount of steam that enters the HP section.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Andrew Florey, Kurt Neal Laurer, David Stasenko
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Patent number: 8695445Abstract: A wear-indicating system includes a wear-indicating mark applied to a portion of a surface edge margin of an internal component of a turbine. The wear-indicating mark is visually discernible from the surface edge margin through boroscopic inspection. An inner extent of the wear-indicating mark is spaced a pre-selected distance from the surface edge.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt Neal Laurer, Eloy Vincent Emeterio, Michael Thomas Hamlin, Kraig Martin Sanderson
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Publication number: 20120285226Abstract: A wear-indicating system includes a wear-indicating mark applied to a portion of a surface edge margin of an internal component of a turbine. The wear-indicating mark is visually discernible from the surface edge margin through boroscopic inspection. An inner extent of the wear-indicating mark is spaced a pre-selected distance from the surface edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventors: Kurt Neal Laurer, Eloy Vincent Emeterio, Michael Thomas Hamlin, Kraig Martin Sanderson
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Patent number: 8186935Abstract: A steam turbine includes a casing including a steam inlet and an exhaust, the casing enclosing operative structure of the steam turbine; a valve controlling introduction of a steam flow at a location of the steam turbine to impact an enthalpic condition of steam exiting the exhaust; and a controller controlling operation of the valve to attain a desired enthalpic condition of steam exiting the exhaust. Controlling operation of the valve allows for attainment of a desired enthalpic condition of the steam exiting the exhaust for use in another industrial process without having to modify the steam turbine structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Flor Del Carmen Rivas Cortés, Nestor Hernandez, Kurt Neal Laurer, William Thomas Parry
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Publication number: 20100178156Abstract: A steam turbine includes a casing including a steam inlet and an exhaust, the casing enclosing operative structure of the steam turbine; a valve controlling introduction of a steam flow at a location of the steam turbine to impact an enthalpic condition of steam exiting the exhaust; and a controller controlling operation of the valve to attain a desired enthalpic condition of steam exiting the exhaust. Controlling operation of the valve allows for attainment of a desired enthalpic condition of the steam exiting the exhaust for use in another industrial process without having to modify the steam turbine structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Flor Del Carmen Rivas Cortes, Nestor Hernandez, Kurt Neal Laurer, William Thomas Parry
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Patent number: 7540708Abstract: A method of assembling a seal assembly for a turbine engine is provided, wherein the method includes providing a seal ring having an arcuate inner ring portion, an arcuate outer ring portion, and a neck portion extending therebetween, and forming at least one recess within at least one of the outer ring portion and the neck portion. The method also includes extending a biasing mechanism across the seal ring such that the biasing mechanism is positively retained within the at least one recess.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt Neal Laurer, Kevin Joseph Barh, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jason Paul Mortzheim
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Publication number: 20080003100Abstract: A method of assembling a seal assembly for a turbine engine is provided, wherein the method includes providing a seal ring having an arcuate inner ring portion, an arcuate outer ring portion, and a neck portion extending therebetween, and forming at least one recess within at least one of the outer ring portion and the neck portion. The method also includes extending a biasing mechanism across the seal ring such that the biasing mechanism is positively retained within the at least one recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Inventors: Kurt Neal Laurer, Kevin Joseph Barh, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jason Paul Mortzheim
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Patent number: 6321447Abstract: The concentric wrench includes an outer tube having flats at one end and a gripping surface at an opposite end. An inner tube has interior flats at one end and a gripping surface at its opposite end. With the inner and outer tubes disposed about a pressure transmitting conduit, the tubes may be inserted into a blind access opening in the outer turbine casing to engage the flats of the tubes against hex nuts of an internal fitting. By relatively rotating the tubes using the externally exposed gripping surfaces, the threaded connection between the parts of the fitting bearing the respective hex nuts can be tightened or loosened.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2000Date of Patent: November 27, 2001Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt Neal Laurer, Gary Joseph Drlik, Edward Eugene Gibler