Patents by Inventor Ronald Bunker

Ronald Bunker 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: 20200277862
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing engine weight for a turbine engine by utilizing one or more discrete protuberances disposed on an engine component wall. The wall can have a nominal thickness to decrease engine weight while the protuberances can provide increased discrete thicknesses for providing one or more cooling holes. The increased thickness at the protuberances provides for an increased thickness to provide sufficient length to increase cooling hole effectiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Douglas Gerard Konitzer, Scott Ronald Bunker, Robert David Briggs
  • Publication number: 20170306764
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing engine weight for a turbine engine by utilizing one or more discrete protuberances disposed on an engine component wall. The wall can have a nominal thickness to decrease engine weight while the protuberances can provide increased discrete thicknesses for providing one or more cooling holes. The increased thickness at the protuberances provides for an increased thickness to provide sufficient length to increase cooling hole effectiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas Gerard Konitzer, Scott Ronald Bunker, Robert David Briggs
  • Publication number: 20080000610
    Abstract: A method of forming at least one concavity of a selected size and shape within a surface of an internal passageway of a metallic component comprises: depositing a ceramic-based material by a direct-write technique onto a ceramic core which is suitable for forming the internal passageway during a casting process to form the metallic component, wherein the ceramic-based material is deposited as a positive feature; heat-treating the deposited ceramic-based material; forming the metallic component by a casting process in which the ceramic core is incorporated into the casting, in a position selected as a desired position for the internal passageway; and then removing the ceramic core from the metal component after the casting process is complete, thereby forming the internal passageway, with the concavity contained within the surface of the passageway, said concavity formed by removal of the positive feature of the ceramic-based material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Canan Hardwicke, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20070245741
    Abstract: A method of assembling a combustor assembly is provided, wherein the method includes providing a combustor liner having a centerline axis and defining a combustion chamber therein, and coupling an annular flowsleeve radially outward from the combustor liner such that an annular flow path is defined substantially circumferentially between the flowsleeve and the combustor liner. The method also includes orienting the flowsleeve such that a plurality of inlets formed within the flowsleeve are positioned to inject cooling air in a substantially axial direction into the annular flow path to facilitate cooling the combustor liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: David Johnson, Kenneth Whaling, Ronald Bunker
  • Publication number: 20070235157
    Abstract: A method of forming at least one concavity of a selected size and shape within a surface of an internal passageway of a metallic component comprises: depositing a ceramic-based material by a direct-write technique onto a ceramic core which is suitable for forming the internal passageway during a casting process to form the metallic component, wherein the ceramic-based material is deposited as a positive feature; heat-treating the deposited ceramic-based material; forming the metallic component by a casting process in which the ceramic core is incorporated into the casting, in a position selected as a desired position for the internal passageway; and then removing the ceramic core from the metal component after the casting process is complete, thereby forming the internal passageway, with the concavity contained within the surface of the passageway, said concavity formed by removal of the positive feature of the ceramic-based material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Canan Hardwicke, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20070237627
    Abstract: A rotary machine includes a rotary member disposed inside the stationary member, wherein the rotary member includes at least one airfoil having an upstream side wall, a downstream side wall, and a tip portion disposed between the upstream and downstream side walls. A sealing system is disposed on the tip portion. The sealing system consists essentially of at least one seal strip disposed on the tip portion at an off-center position only between the downstream side wall and a central position between the upstream and downstream sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Ronald Bunker
  • Publication number: 20070144179
    Abstract: A detonation chamber for a pulse detonation combustor including: a plurality of dimples disposed on at least a portion of an inner surface of the detonation chamber wherein the plurality of dimples enhance a turbulence of a fluid flow through the detonation chamber
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Pierre Pinard, Venkat Tangirala, Adam Rasheed, Anthony Dean, Ronald Bunker, David Chapin
  • Publication number: 20060285974
    Abstract: A tip cap piece for use in a turbine bucket. The tip cap piece may include a cold side and a number of pins positioned on the cold side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Gary Itzel
  • Publication number: 20060140768
    Abstract: A turbine stage includes a row of airfoils joined to corresponding platforms to define flow passages therebetween. Each airfoil includes opposite pressure and suction sides and extends in chord between opposite leading and trailing edges. Each platform has a scalloped flow surface including a bulge adjoining the pressure side adjacent the leading edge, and a bowl adjoining the suction side aft of the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Inventors: Anna Tam, Ching-Pang Lee, Kevin Kirtley, Ronald Bunker, Scott Lamson, Scott Carson
  • Publication number: 20060099080
    Abstract: A method of cooling a gas turbine engine component having a perforate metal wall includes providing a plurality of pores in the wall, wherein the pores extend substantially perpendicularly through the wall, and wherein the pores are covered and sealed closed at first ends thereof by a thermal barrier coating disposed over a first surface of the wall, and providing a plurality of film cooling holes in the wall, wherein the holes extend substantially perpendicularly through the wall and the thermal barrier coating. The method also includes providing cooling fluid to the plurality of pores and the plurality of film cooling holes along a second surface of the wall, channeling the cooling fluid through the pores for back side cooling an inner surface of the thermal barrier coating, and channeling the cooling fluid through the holes for film cooling an outer surface of the thermal barrier coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Ronald Bunker, Harvey Maclin, Ramgopal Darolia
  • Publication number: 20060042255
    Abstract: A combustor liner for a gas turbine includes a body having a plurality of angled strips on an outside surface of the combustor liner. The plurality of angled strips are arranged in an array about the outside surface. A space is disposed between each of said plurality of angled strips so as to create vortices in a cooling air flowing in a longitudinal direction across said outside surface of said combustor liner. A method of fabricating a combustor liner includes forming a plurality of angled strips on an outside surface of the combustor liner and arranged in an array about the outside surface, each of the angled strips is disposed so as to be spaced apart to create vortices in a cooling air flowing across the outside surface of the combustor liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Jeremy Bailey, Stanley Widener, Thomas Johnson
  • Publication number: 20050286998
    Abstract: A wall in a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer surfaces having a row of compound chevron film cooling holes extending therethrough. The chevron holes diverge both longitudinally and laterally between an inlet at the wall inner surface and a chevron outlet at the wall outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 29, 2005
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Steven Brassfield, Ronald Bunker
  • Publication number: 20050268615
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling a combustor liner and transitions piece of a gas turbine include a combustor liner with a plurality of turbulators arranged in an array axially along a length defining a length of the combustor liner and located on an outer surface thereof; a first flow sleeve surrounding the combustor liner with a first flow annulus therebetween, the first flow sleeve having a plurality of rows of cooling holes formed about a circumference of the first flow sleeve for directing cooling air from the compressor discharge into the first flow annulus; a transition piece connected to the combustor liner and adapted to carry hot combustion gases to a stage of the turbine; a second flow sleeve surrounding the transition piece a second plurality of rows of cooling apertures for directing cooling air into a second flow annulus between the second flow sleeve and the transition piece; wherein the first plurality of cooling holes and second plurality of cooling apertures are each configured with an eff
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Jeremy Bailey, Stanley Widener, Thomas Johnson, John Intile
  • Publication number: 20050232769
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes opposite pressure and suction sides joined together at leading and trailing edges. An outwardly convex nose bridge bridges the pressure and suction sides behind the leading edge, and is integrally joined to a complementary thermally insulating shield spaced therefrom to define a bridge channel. The shield includes the leading edge and wraps laterally aft around the nose bridge along both the pressure and suction sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Ronald Bunker
  • Publication number: 20050169752
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes pressure and suction sidewalls extending in chord between leading and trailing edges and in span between a root and a tip. A septum is spaced between the sidewalls to define two cooling circuits on opposite sides of the septum which converge between the leading and trailing edges. An array of pins extends inwardly from the pressure sidewall at a discharge end of the circuits, and the pins decrease in length to conform with the converging circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Ronald Bunker, Chander Prakash
  • Publication number: 20050123401
    Abstract: A component includes a wall with a cold and a hot surface. At least one film-cooling hole extends through the wall for flowing a coolant from the cold to the hot surface. The film-cooling hole defines an exit site in the hot surface. At least one flow modifier is formed on the hot surface and is adapted to direct the coolant flowing from the film-cooling hole and out of the exit site toward the hot surface. The flow modifier extends outwards from and conforms to the hot surface. A turbine assembly includes a first and a second component that define a secondary cooling slot, which receives and guides a secondary coolant flow. At least one flow modifier is formed on a surface of one of the two components and is adapted to enhance the secondary coolant flow along at least one of the two components within the secondary coolant slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Canan Hardwicke
  • Publication number: 20050118023
    Abstract: A component includes at least one wall having an inner portion and an outer portion. A number of pins extend between the inner and outer portions. The pins define a mesh cooling arrangement with a number of flow channels. The inner portion of the wall defines a number of dimples. A method for forming a number of cooling holes in a component is described. The component has at least one wall with inner and outer portions. The inner portion defines a number of dimples. The method includes centering a drilling tool on a dimple, drilling at least one impingement cooling hole through the inner portion of the wall at the dimple using the drilling tool, and repeating the centering and drilling steps for a number of dimples to drill a number of impingement cooling holes in the inner portion of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20050106020
    Abstract: A component includes at least one wall having an inner portion and an outer portion. A number of pins extend between the inner and outer portions of the wall. The pins define a mesh cooling arrangement having a number of flow channels. A number of turbulators are disposed on at least one of the inner and outer portions of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Jeremy Bailey, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20050106021
    Abstract: A component includes at least one wall having an inner portion and an outer portion. A number of pins extend between the inner and outer portions of the wall. The pins define a mesh cooling arrangement having a number of flow channels. A number of dimples are located in at least one of the inner and outer portions of the wall. The component may also include a number of turbulators disposed on at least one of the inner and outer portions of the wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Jeremy Bailey, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20040121207
    Abstract: A hybrid power plant includes a turbine, a compressor driven by the turbine and a recuperator in flow communication with the compressor. The recuperator is configured to transfer heat from turbine exhaust to compressed air, and at least one fuel cell is in flow communication with said recuperator to provide fresh air for said fuel cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Bunker, Chellappa Balan