Patents by Inventor Matthew Troy Hafner

Matthew Troy Hafner 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: 20200230752
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a metal-repaired ceramic matrix composite (CMC) article, and a method of repairing a CMC article having a defect. Particular embodiments include a method including: removing a defect-containing portion of the CMC article; forming at least one opening in a remaining portion of the CMC article; preparing a metal repair preform for replacing at least the removed portion of the CMC article, wherein a portion of the metal repair preform complements the at least one opening; and attaching the metal repair preform to the remaining portion of the CMC article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John Ellington Greene
  • Publication number: 20200224540
    Abstract: An insert system for an airfoil plenum includes a first insert and a second insert that include a plurality of impingement openings defined therein. The first insert includes a forward-facing inlet opening. The second insert includes a neck portion having a radial-facing inlet opening, an aft opening, and a cavity in flow communication between the radial-facing inlet opening and the aft opening. The second insert is sized for insertion into the plenum radially through a plenum inlet such that the neck portion is positioned in the plenum inlet. The first insert is sized for insertion into the second insert radially through the radial-facing inlet opening. When the neck portion is positioned in the plenum inlet, the first insert is moveable aftward through the aft opening into an installed position such that the forward-facing inlet opening opens into the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Matthew Troy Hafner, Russell Pierson DeForest
  • Publication number: 20200208526
    Abstract: A gas turbine that includes a rotor blade that includes an airfoil. The airfoil is defined between a pressure face and a laterally opposed suction face, the pressure face and the suction face extending axially between opposite leading and trailing edges and radially between an outboard tip and a connection with a root of the rotor blade. The airfoil may include non-integral portions in which: a base portion of the airfoil is made from a first material; and a top portion of the airfoil is made from a second material. The airfoil may include a dovetail joint connecting the top portion to the base portion. The dovetail joint may include a dovetail extending from the top portion being received within a complementary dovetail groove formed in the base portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John McConnell Delvaux, James Zhang, Jeffrey Clarence Jones, Peter de Diego
  • Publication number: 20200208528
    Abstract: A gas turbine that includes a rotor blade that includes an airfoil. The airfoil may include non-integral base and top portions. The airfoil may include a pin connector connecting the top portion to the base portion. The pin connector may include: a tab extending from the top portion; a complimentary slot for receiving the tab formed in the base portion; an elongated pin cavity formed through an interior region of the airfoil, where the pin cavity intersects the slot to divide the pin cavity into first and second pin cavity segments; a tab aperture formed through the tab, where the tab aperture is positioned so align with the pin cavity upon the tab being received within the slot; and a locking pin that extends continuously through the first segment of the pin cavity, the tab aperture, and the second segment of the pin cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John McConnell Delvaux, Markus Feigl, Matthew Troy Hafner, Michael Anthony Wondrasek, James Zhang, Peter de Diego
  • Publication number: 20200208527
    Abstract: A gas turbine that includes a rotor blade that includes an airfoil. The airfoil may include non-integral portions in which: a base portion is made from a first material; and a top portion is made from a second material. The airfoil may include a connector securing the base portion to the top portion of the airfoil, wherein the connector comprises a wire-lock connector that includes: a tab extending from one of the base portion and the top portion; a complimentary slot for receiving the tab formed in the other one of the base portion and the top portion; a first groove formed in a side of the tab; a second groove formed in a side of the slot; a retaining aperture formed cooperatively via an alignment of the first and second grooves upon the tab being received into the slot; and a retaining wire housed within the retaining aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner, James Zhang, Peter de Diego
  • Patent number: 10697326
    Abstract: A turbine component assembly is disclosed, including a first component, a second component, and a cantilever spring. The first component is arranged to be disposed adjacent to a hot gas path, and includes a ceramic matrix composite composition. The second component is adjacent to the first component and arranged to be disposed distal from the hot gas path across the first component. The cantilever spring is attached directly to the second component as a compliant contact interface between the first component and the second component. The cantilever spring provides a radial spring compliance between the first component and the second component. During operation, the cantilever spring directly contacts and supports the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Glenn Curtis Taxacher, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Publication number: 20200190333
    Abstract: A coating includes: at least 34.9 percent by mass silicon dioxide; at least 9.1 percent by mass aluminum oxide; and at least 16.1 percent by mass yttrium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John McConnell Delvaux, Jason Robert Parolini, Rajendra Kumar Bordia, Quan Li
  • Publication number: 20200189985
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component includes at least one seal surface, the at least one seal surface disposed adjacent an interfacing surface for providing a seal therebetween; and a coating disposed on the seal surface. The coating includes an aluminum oxide and/or a silicon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John McConnell Delvaux, Jason Robert Parolini, Rajendra Kumar Bordia, Quan Li
  • Publication number: 20200182067
    Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. A plurality of axial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of making a turbine component includes forming an airfoil having a trailing edge portion with axial cooling channels. The axial cooling channels are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Sandip DUTTA, James ZHANG, Gary Michael ITZEL, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Patent number: 10648348
    Abstract: A coated ceramic matrix composite component and a gas turbine assembly are provided. The coated ceramic matrix composite component comprises a substrate comprising an endface surface and a hot gas path surface. The hot gas path surface is arranged and disposed to contact a hot gas path when the component is installed in the gas turbine assembly. The endface surface is disposed at an endface angle to the hot gas path surface and opposing at least one adjacent component when the component is installed in the gas turbine assembly. The coated ceramic matrix composite component further comprises an environmental barrier coating on at least a portion of the endface surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Joshua Lee Margolies
  • Publication number: 20200141246
    Abstract: An airfoil having a wall structure including a plurality of spaced walls for improved cooling and lifetime is disclosed. The airfoil and walls are made by additive manufacturing. The airfoil includes an exterior wall, an intermediate wall, and an interior wall each separated from adjacent walls by a plurality of standoff members; a plurality of outer cooling chambers defined between the exterior and intermediate walls, the chambers partitioned by an outer partition; a plurality of intermediate cooling chambers defined between the intermediate and interior walls, the chambers partitioned by an intermediate partition; a thermal barrier coating on each of the exterior wall and the intermediate wall; a first plurality of impingement openings through the intermediate wall; a second plurality of impingement openings through the interior wall; and a plurality of cooling passages through the exterior wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Gary Micheal Itzel, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam
  • Publication number: 20200131919
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite turbine nozzle includes a primary outer nozzle platform; a primary inner nozzle platform; and an airfoil-shaped body extending between the primary inner and primary outer nozzle platforms. The body includes core plies defining a cavity; composite wrap plies circumscribing the core plies and defining an airfoil shape; a secondary outer nozzle platform in contact with the primary outer nozzle platform; and a secondary inner nozzle platform in contact with the primary inner nozzle platform. Each composite wrap ply has two layers of unidirectional fibers oriented transverse to each other and has first and second longitudinal edges. The first and second longitudinal edges are cut into fingers, which are folded in a transverse direction away from a turbine nozzle longitudinal axis and are interleaved between platform plies to define the secondary inner nozzle platform and the secondary outer nozzle platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter de Diego, John Ellington Greene, Matthew Troy Hafner, David Randall Hobart, James Joseph Murray, III
  • Patent number: 10605459
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an integrated combustor nozzle for a segmented annular combustion system. The integrated combustor nozzle includes an outer liner segment, an inner liner segment, and a fuel injection panel extending radially between the outer liner segment and the inner liner segment. The fuel injection panel includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a plurality of premixing channels between the first and second side walls, each of the premixing channels having an outlet on one of the first and second side walls. The aft end of the fuel injection panel defines a turbine nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, Matthew Troy Hafner, Joseph Vincent Citeno
  • Patent number: 10590776
    Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. A plurality of axial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of making a turbine component includes forming an airfoil having a trailing edge portion with axial cooling channels. The axial cooling channels are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, James Zhang, Gary Michael Itzel, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 10562210
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a passage in a composite component. The method includes forming a cavity in a fiber preform. The cavity forms a portion of the passage. The method also includes inserting a core into the cavity and placing one or more fiber plies onto the fiber preform to form a fiber preform assembly. The method further includes thermally processing the fiber preform assembly and densifying the fiber preform assembly to form the composite component. The method also includes removing the core from the composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Robert Parolini, Matthew Troy Hafner, James Joseph Murray, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Publication number: 20200049017
    Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. Radial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil permit radial flow of a cooling fluid through the trailing edge portion. Each radial cooling channel has a first end at a lower surface at a root edge of the trailing edge portion or at an upper surface at a tip edge of the trailing edge portion and a second end opposite the first end at the lower surface or the upper surface. A method of making a turbine component and a method of cooling a turbine component are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Sandip DUTTA, James ZHANG, Gary Michael ITZEL, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Patent number: 10550721
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a first and second article, a first interface volume disposed between and enclosed by the first article and second article, a cooling fluid supply, and at least one cooling fluid channel in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply and the first interface volume. The first article includes a first material composition. The second article includes a second material composition. The at least one cooling fluid channel includes a heat exchange portion disposed in at least one of the first and second article downstream of the cooling fluid supply and upstream of the first interface volume. A turbine shroud is disclosed wherein the first and second articles are an outer and inner shroud. A turbine nozzle is disclosed wherein the first and second articles are an endwall and fairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Gary Michael Itzel, John McConnell Delvaux, Sandip Dutta
  • Patent number: 10544701
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including an inner shroud, an outer shroud, a shroud dampening pin, and a biasing apparatus. The inner shroud is adjacent to a hot gas path. The outer shroud is adjacent to the inner shroud and distal from the hot gas path, and includes a channel extending from an aperture adjacent to the inner shroud. The shroud dampening pin is within the channel and contacts the inner shroud, and includes a shaft, a contact surface, and a cap. The shaft is within the channel. The contact surface extends through the aperture in contact with the inner shroud. The cap is distal across the shaft from the contact surface. The biasing apparatus contacts the cap, is driven by a pressurized fluid, and provides a biasing force away from the outer shroud along the shroud dampening pin to the inner shroud through the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Glenn Curtis Taxacher, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 10526921
    Abstract: An anti-rotation shroud dampening pin is disclosed including a shaft, an anti-rotation dampening tip at a first end of the shaft, and a cap at a second end of the shaft. The anti-rotation dampening tip includes a pin non-circular cross-section. A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed, including an inner shroud, an outer shroud, the anti-rotation shroud dampening pin, and a biasing apparatus. The inner shroud includes an anti-rotation depression having a depression non-circular cross-section. The outer shroud includes a channel extending from an aperture adjacent to the inner shroud. The anti-rotation shroud dampening pin is disposed within the channel and in contact with the inner shroud, and extends through the aperture into the anti-rotation depression. The biasing apparatus contacts the cap and provides a biasing force to the inner shroud through the anti-rotation dampening tip. The pin non-circular cross-section mates non-rotatably into the depression non-circular cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Glenn Curtis Taxacher, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 10519790
    Abstract: A turbine component includes an outer shroud arranged within a turbine and further including opposed extending portions. The component further provides an inner shroud shielding the outer shroud from a gas path within the turbine during operation of the turbine and including opposed arcuate portions extending around and in direct contact with a corresponding extending portion of the outer shroud for supporting the inner shroud from the outer shroud. The component further provides a load path forming region at least partially extending between facing surfaces of each arcuate portion and corresponding extending portion. During operation of the turbine, load path forming regions extend into direct contact between at least a portion of the facing surfaces of each arcuate portion and corresponding extending portion, resulting in formation of a loading arrangement having generally evenly distributed radial load forces at the load path forming regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John McConnell Delvaux, Glenn Curtis Taxacher