Patents by Inventor Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara
Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara 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: 11401819Abstract: During operation of a gas turbine engine, the turbine blades are subjected to extremely high temperatures. While internal cooling passages may be provided within the turbine blades to cool the airfoils, the platforms of the turbine blades also experience high temperatures. In an embodiment, cooling holes are provided in each platform to cool distressed locations in the platform and improve the durability of each turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Aaron J. Dick, Donald Joseph Bognatz, Marius Dumitrascu, Estevan Daniel Negrete
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Publication number: 20220195873Abstract: During operation of a gas turbine engine, the turbine blades are subjected to extremely high temperatures. While internal cooling passages may be provided within the turbine blades to cool the airfoils, the platforms of the turbine blades also experience high temperatures. In an embodiment, cooling holes are provided in each platform to cool distressed locations in the platform and improve the durability of each turbine blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2020Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Aaron J. Dick, Donald Joseph Bognatz, Marius Dumitrascu, Estevan Daniel Negrete
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Patent number: 9314838Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cooled turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine. The method includes forming an inner blade pattern, the inner blade pattern including an inner spar and a plurality of inner spar cooling fins. The method also includes forming an inner blade core, removing the inner blade pattern from the inner blade core, forming an outer blade pattern, forming a casting shell, removing the outer blade pattern from the casting shell, and casting the cooled turbine blade in the casting shell. The method also includes removing the casting shell from the cast cooled turbine blade, and removing the inner blade core from the cast cooled turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Daniel Martinez
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Patent number: 9228439Abstract: A cooled turbine blade having a base and an airfoil, the base including cooling air inlet and an internal cooling air passageway, and the airfoil including an internal heat exchange path beginning at the base and ending at a cooling air outlet at the trailing edge of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a “skin” that encompasses a tip wall, an inner spar, a leading edge rib, and a leading edge air deflector. The leading edge rib is configured to form a leading edge chamber in conjunction with the leading edge of the skin. The leading edge air deflector is shaped and positioned such that cooling air leaving the leading edge chamber is both turned and diffused.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Jiang Luo
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Patent number: 9206695Abstract: A cooled turbine blade having a base and an airfoil, the base including cooling air inlet and an internal cooling air passageway, and the airfoil including an internal heat exchange path beginning at the base and ending at a cooling air outlet at the trailing edge of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a “skin” that encompasses a tip wall, an inner spar, a plurality of trailing edge cooling fins, and a perforated first and second trailing edge rib configured to meter cooling air passing there thorough.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Jiang Luo
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Publication number: 20140093388Abstract: A cooled turbine blade having a base and an airfoil, the base including cooling air inlet and an internal cooling air passageway, and the airfoil including an internal heat exchange path beginning at the base and ending at a cooling air outlet at the trailing edge of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a “skin” that encompasses a tip wall, an inner spar, a leading edge rib, and a leading edge air deflector. The leading edge rib is configured to form a leading edge chamber in conjunction with the leading edge of the skin. The leading edge air deflector is at least partially intersected by the inner spar.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Jiang Luo
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Publication number: 20140093387Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cooled turbine blade for use in a gas turbine engine. The method includes forming an inner blade pattern, the inner blade pattern including an inner spar and a plurality of inner spar cooling fins. The method also includes forming an inner blade core, removing the inner blade pattern from the inner blade core, forming an outer blade pattern, forming a casting shell, removing the outer blade pattern from the casting shell, and casting the cooled turbine blade in the casting shell. The method also includes removing the casting shell from the cast cooled turbine blade, and removing the inner blade core from the cast cooled turbine blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Daniel Martinez
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Publication number: 20140093391Abstract: A cooled turbine blade having a base and an airfoil, the base including cooling air inlet and an internal cooling air passageway, and the airfoil including an internal heat exchange path beginning at the base and ending at a cooling air outlet at the trailing edge of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a “skin” that encompasses a tip wall, an inner spar, a plurality of trailing edge cooling fins, and a perforated first and second trailing edge rib configured to meter cooling air passing there thorough.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Jiang Luo
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Publication number: 20140093386Abstract: A cooled turbine blade having a base and an airfoil, the base including cooling air inlet and an internal cooling air passageway, and the airfoil including an internal heat exchange path beginning at the base and ending at a cooling air outlet at the trailing edge of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a “skin” that encompasses a tip wall, an inner spar, a plurality of inner spar cooling fins extending from the inner spar to the skin, and a plurality of trailing edge cooling fins extending from the pressure side of the skin to the lift side of the skin aft of the inner spar.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Daniel Martinez, Jiang Luo
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Publication number: 20140093390Abstract: A cooled turbine blade having a base and an airfoil, the base including cooling air inlet and an internal cooling air passageway, and the airfoil including an internal heat exchange path beginning at the base and ending at a cooling air outlet at the trailing edge of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a “skin” that encompasses a tip wall, an inner spar, a leading edge rib, and a leading edge air deflector. The leading edge rib is configured to form a leading edge chamber in conjunction with the leading edge of the skin. The leading edge air deflector is shaped and positioned such that cooling air leaving the leading edge chamber is both turned and diffused.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATEDInventors: Stephen Edward Pointon, Andrew Meier, Nnawuihe Asonye Okpara, Jiang Luo