Patents by Inventor Steven Douglas Ward

Steven Douglas Ward 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: 6261054
    Abstract: An apparatus and method including a closed-circuit coolable airfoil assembly for use and exposure in a hot fluid flow of a machine portion. The assembly includes a first flange configured to be connected with a casing of the machine portion. A second flange is configured to be connected with the casing. An airfoil is connected with and between the first flange and the second flange, the airfoil including a peripheral portion surrounding a medial portion. At least one channel is disposed in the peripheral portion, the channel extending between the first flange and the second flange and being in flow communication with each. A closed flow path is formed from the casing and through the first flange, the second flange and the channel in which a coolant fluid can pass to cool the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, James William Bartos, Nicholas Damlis, Mark Eugene Noe, Steven Douglas Ward
  • Patent number: 5813827
    Abstract: An apparatus for cooling the trailing edge portion of a gas turbine vane. Two radially extending passages connected to the outer shroud direct cooling fluid to a plenum formed about mid-span adjacent the trailing edge. Two arrays of cooling fluid passages extend from the plenum. One array extends radially outward toward the outer shroud while the other array extends radially inward toward the inner shroud. The plenum distributes the cooling fluid to the two arrays of passages so that it flows radially inward and outward to manifolds formed in the inner and outer shrouds. The manifolds direct the spent cooling fluid to a discharge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond Scott Nordlund, Kent Goran Hultgren, Robert Kenmer Scott, Zachary Sinnott, William Edward North, Steven Douglas Ward