Patents by Inventor William Dwight Gerstler
William Dwight Gerstler 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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Publication number: 20240125556Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a core defining a first passageway for a first fluid flow and a second passageway for a second fluid flow. The core includes an assembly of a plurality of unit cells coupled together. Each unit cell defines a first passageway portion within an interior volume and a second passageway portion at an exterior surface. Each unit cell includes a plurality of first openings into the interior volume and forms the second passageway in volumes between the plurality of unit cells. The assembly is shaped to combine and divide the first fluid in the first passageway portion and combine and divide the second fluid in the second passageway portion during exchange of heat between the first fluid and the second fluid. Each second passageway portion receives the second fluid from three other second passageway portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Daniel Jason Erno, Elizabeth Diane Turner
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Patent number: 11892245Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided that can include furcating unit cells coupled with each other. Each of the unit cells can be elongated along an axis and include a sidewall that defines annular ring openings on opposite ends of the unit cell along the axis. The sidewall also can define undulating annular rings between the annular ring openings and axially separated from each other along the axis. The sidewall can further define angled openings into the unit cell both above and below each of the undulating annular rings. At least a first opening of the annular ring openings and the angled openings can be configured to be an inlet to receive a first fluid into the unit cell and at least a second opening of the annular ring openings and the angled openings configured to be an outlet through which the first fluid exits the unit cell.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Daniel Jason Erno, Michael Thomas Kenworthy, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Nicolas Kristopher Sabo
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Patent number: 11885229Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to electric machines such as electric propulsion systems for aircraft that integrated cooling systems, and methods of cooling such an electric machine. Exemplary electric machines include an electric motor that has a stator, a rotor, and a drive shaft operably coupled to the rotor. Exemplary electric machines further include a motor cooling conduit that defines a pathway for conveying a cooling fluid through or around at least a portion of the electric motor, a casing assembly that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the electric motor, a casing assembly conduit integrally formed within at least a portion of the casing assembly which defines a pathway for conveying the cooling fluid through the at least a portion of the casing assembly, and a pump or compressor operably coupled to the drive shaft and configured to circulate the cooling fluid through the motor cooling conduit and the casing assembly conduit.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Florian Stefan Hoefler, Mark Aaron Chan Chan
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Patent number: 11879691Abstract: A counter-flow heat exchanger including a core region and a plenum region. The core region including a first set of heat exchanging passageways and a second set of heat exchanging passageways disposed at least partially therein. A plenum region is disposed adjacent opposed distal ends of the core region. Each of the plenum regions including a fluid inlet plenum, a fluid outlet plenum and a tube plate disposed therebetween. The first set of heat exchanging passageways is truncated and defines a first tube-side fluid flow path in a first direction. The second set of heat exchanging passageways defines a second tube-side fluid flow path in a second opposing direction. Each of the heat exchanging passageways extending from a fluid inlet plenum to a fluid outlet plenum. The tube plates and the core region include one of a cast metal formed thereabout each of the heat exchanging passageways or a braze bond formed between each of the heat exchanging passageways.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2017Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Douglas Carl Hofer, Adegboyega Masud Makinde, Stephen Francis Rutkowski, Chiranjeev S. Kalra
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Patent number: 11858613Abstract: An aerospace vehicle including: a body, wherein the body is configured to generate heat during operation; a coating disposed over at least a portion of the body, the coating being configured to shift a frequency of at least one wavelength of the heat generated by the body from a first frequency to a second frequency having higher transmissivity relative to a neighboring medium surrounding the body as compared to the first frequency.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Anant Achyut Setlur, James William Bray
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Patent number: 11802735Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger provides a first plurality of tubes and a second plurality of flow passages which furcate near one of the first and second manifolds into two or more furcated flow passages and subsequently converge to exit the heat exchanger. The plurality of furcated flow passages are intertwined, reducing the distance between flow passages containing each fluid therebetween to improve thermal transfer. Further, the furcations create changes of direction of the fluid to re-establish new thermal boundary layers within the flow passages to further reduce resistance to thermal transfer.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: Unison Industries, LLCInventors: Daniel Jason Erno, William Dwight Gerstler
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Publication number: 20230305584Abstract: Example split valves for regulating a first flowrate and a second flowrate of a fluid within a closed loop systems are disclosed herein. An example split valve includes an electrohydraulic servo valve coupled to a first piston via a first hydraulic flowline and a second hydraulic flowline, the first piston to include a piston shaft, a first head, and a second head; one or more bellows fixed to at least one of the first head or the second head, the one or more bellows to hermetically seal the fluid from a hydraulic fluid; and a control system connected to the electrohydraulic servo valve, the control system to adjust the first flowrate and the second flowrate of the fluid through a first fluid chamber, the first piston to be located in the first fluid chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Biao Fang, David Justin Brady, John C. Glessner, Brandon W. Miller, Stephanie Glynn Cotten, William Dwight Gerstler, Daniel A. Niergarth, Michael Joseph Murray
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Publication number: 20230144708Abstract: A heat exchange module, a heat exchanger and a method for additively manufacturing the heat exchanger are provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of stacked heat exchange modules defining a flow passageway. Each heat exchange module defining a substantially curved closed geometry defining a central axis that extends along the axial direction. Each heat exchange module includes a first heat exchanging fluid inlet, a first heat exchanging fluid outlet and a plurality of heat exchange tubes fluidly coupling the first heat exchanging fluid inlet and the first heat exchanging fluid outlet. The plurality of heat exchange tubes defining a plurality of first heat exchanging fluid flow passages of equal length and a plurality of second heat exchanging fluid flow passages of equal hydraulic diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2023Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Daniel Jason Erno, William Dwight Gerstler
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Publication number: 20230108512Abstract: A thermal structure for management of thermal energy, the thermal structure including: a first wall structure defining a first cavity; a second wall structure defining a second cavity, the second cavity in fluid communication with the first cavity; and a barrier cavity defined at least in-part by the first wall structure and the second wall structure, wherein the barrier cavity is disposed between the first cavity and the second cavity and includes a pressurized barrier fluid therein or is configured to receive the pressurized barrier fluid during operation of the thermal structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Daniel Jason Erno, William Dwight Gerstler, Biao Fang, Laura Cerully Dial, Voramon Supatarawanich Dheeradhada, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock
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Patent number: 11591965Abstract: A thermal management system for transferring heat between fluids includes a thermal transport bus through which a heat exchange fluid flows. Additionally, the system includes a heat source heat exchanger arranged along the bus such that heat is added to the fluid flowing through the heat source heat exchanger. Moreover, the system includes a plurality of heat sink heat exchangers arranged along the bus such that heat is removed from the fluid flowing through the plurality of heat sink heat exchangers. Furthermore, the system includes a bypass conduit fluidly coupled to the bus such that the bypass conduit allows the fluid to bypass one of the heat source heat exchanger or one of the heat sink heat exchangers. In addition, the system includes a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid through the bypass conduit based on a pressure of the fluid within the bus.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christopher Edward Wolfe, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Brian Gene Brzek, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Kevin Edward Hinderliter
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Patent number: 11573053Abstract: A cyclone cooler device includes a housing that defines an interior channel elongated along a center axis. One or more of the fluid passage or configuration of an inlet end of the channel is shaped to induce a swirling flow of a cooling fluid within the channel while the channel is thermally coupled with one or more heat sources. The swirling flow of the cooling fluid removes thermal energy from and cools the one or more heat sources. During the swirling flow, the cooling fluid rotates around the center axis of the channel while also moving along the length of the center axis. The cooling fluid changes phases during the swirling flow to cool the heat source(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Corey Bourassa, William Dwight Gerstler
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Patent number: 11561048Abstract: A heat exchange module, a heat exchanger and a method for additively manufacturing the heat exchanger are provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of stacked heat exchange modules defining a flow passageway. Each heat exchange module defining a substantially curved closed geometry defining a central axis that extends along the axial direction. Each heat exchange module includes a first heat exchanging fluid inlet, a first heat exchanging fluid outlet and a plurality of heat exchange tubes fluidly coupling the first heat exchanging fluid inlet and the first heat exchanging fluid outlet. The plurality of heat exchange tubes defining a plurality of first heat exchanging fluid flow passages of equal length and a plurality of second heat exchanging fluid flow passages of equal hydraulic diameter.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Jason Erno, William Dwight Gerstler
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Publication number: 20220307419Abstract: A thermal management system for transferring heat between fluids includes a thermal transport bus through which a heat exchange fluid flows. Additionally, the system includes a heat source heat exchanger arranged along the bus such that heat is added to the fluid flowing through the heat source heat exchanger. Moreover, the system includes a plurality of heat sink heat exchangers arranged along the bus such that heat is removed from the fluid flowing through the plurality of heat sink heat exchangers. Furthermore, the system includes a bypass conduit fluidly coupled to the bus such that the bypass conduit allows the fluid to bypass one of the heat source heat exchanger or one of the heat sink heat exchangers. In addition, the system includes a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid through the bypass conduit based on a pressure of the fluid within the bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2021Publication date: September 29, 2022Inventors: Christopher Edward Wolfe, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Brian Gene Brzek, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Kevin Edward Hinderliter
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Publication number: 20220161919Abstract: An aerospace vehicle including: a body, wherein the body is configured to generate heat during operation; a coating disposed over at least a portion of the body, the coating being configured to shift a frequency of at least one wavelength of the heat generated by the body from a first frequency to a second frequency having higher transmissivity relative to a neighboring medium surrounding the body as compared to the first frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Anant Achyut Setlur, James William Bray
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Publication number: 20220128317Abstract: A system for heat exchange and leak detection is generally provided, the system including a heat exchanger including a first wall defining a first passage containing a first fluid. A leak detection enclosure containing a leak detection medium is defined between the first wall and a second wall surrounding the first wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2022Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler
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Patent number: 11300365Abstract: A system for heat exchange and leak detection is generally provided, the system including a heat exchanger including a first wall defining a first passage containing a first fluid. A leak detection enclosure containing a leak detection medium is defined between the first wall and a second wall surrounding the first wall.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler
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Patent number: 11260976Abstract: A hypersonic aircraft includes one or more leading edge assemblies that are designed to manage thermal loads experienced at the leading edges during high speed or hypersonic operation. The leading edge assembly includes a plurality of structural layers and a plurality compliant layers alternately stacked with each other to facilitate thermal expansion and movement between the plurality of structural layers, while also providing a thermal break between the plurality of structural layers.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Nicholas William Rathay, Brian Magann Rush, Pazhayannur R Subramanian
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Patent number: 11236953Abstract: An inverted heat exchanger device includes an exterior conduit elongated and extending around a center axis between a first end and second end. The exterior conduit including a body having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a center core elongated along the center axis, and plural walls extending between the center core and the interior surface. A first conduit is disposed inside the exterior conduit that includes an inlet, plural core passages, an outlet, and internal manifolds. A first fluid is configured to flow along the first conduit. A second conduit is also disposed inside the exterior conduit. The second conduit includes an inlet, plural core passages, an outlet, and internal manifolds. A second fluid is configured to flow along the second conduit. The plural walls are configured to define the first conduit and the second conduit within the body of the exterior conduit.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignees: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Daniel J. Erno, John C. Glessner, Neil R. Garrigan, Jeffrey Rambo
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Patent number: 11224098Abstract: A system configured for operation below a threshold temperature system includes a power supply, a housing, a temperature-sensitive electronic component, and a heating circuit. The temperature-sensitive electronic component is enclosed within said housing and electrically connected to the power supply, wherein the temperature-sensitive electronic component becomes susceptible to failure when the temperature of said temperature-sensitive electronic component decreases and crosses the threshold temperature. The heating circuit is at least partially enclosed within the housing and comprising a temperature-dependent resistor, the heating circuit electrically connected to the power supply and configured to generate heat energy within the housing when the temperature within the housing decreases and approaches the threshold temperature in order to maintain the temperature of the temperature-sensitive electronic component above the threshold temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Darrall John Hicks, William Dwight Gerstler
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Patent number: 11215405Abstract: A heat exchanger can include a cooling air conduit having at least one baffle, as well as a hot air conduit having at least two passes through the cooling air conduit. The heat exchanger can further include at least one perforation extending into the least one baffle. The perforation can have a passage connecting an inlet to an outlet.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Unison Industries, LLCInventors: Michael Thomas Kenworthy, William Dwight Gerstler, Daniel Jason Erno, Thomas Kupiszewski, Joseph Robert Coleman