Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Nathan D. Herkamp
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Patent number: 6682222Abstract: A fluid multiplexer for delivering lubricant to bearings in a gas turbine engine. The bearings are adjacent bearing races on a shaft. Lubricant passages within the shaft extend from the races to scoops on the surface of the shaft. A nozzle ejects a jet of lubricant across open space toward the scoops. As the shaft rotates, the scoops sequentially cross the jet, each scoop collecting a charge of lubricant, which it delivers to its passage.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Kenneth Lee Fisher
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Patent number: 6681577Abstract: A combustion case for a gas turbine engine. A typical combustion case is generally cylindrical or conical. Apertures penetrate the case, from the outer surface, through the case, to the inner surface. The apertures act as concentration points for stress. To dissipate the stress, bosses buttress the apertures, with each aperture having two bosses: one on the outer surface of the case, and another on the inner surface of the case. The invention eliminates the latter bosses. The invention dissipates stress by providing an array of T-slots on the inner surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lynn Marie Bolender, Jeffrey John Eschenbach, Edward Patrick Brill, Robert Eugene Uhl, Michael William Hamilton, Steven Jerome Longtin
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Patent number: 6679045Abstract: A bearing housing includes inner and outer shells through which a rotor shaft may extend. A service tube is fixedly joined to the inner shell and extends through a service aperture in the outer shell. A flexible coupling sealingly joins the service tube to the outer shell at the service aperture for permitting differential thermal movement between the inner and outer shells at the service tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, Peter Walter Mueller, John Robert Ramsey
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Patent number: 6672838Abstract: An article made of a metallic material and comprising a body and a body end portion integral with the body, includes a band of the metallic material at the end portion substantially through the entire end portion, the band being under a compressive stress greater than the body. An example of the article is a turbine engine blading member in which the body is the airfoil of the member and the band is disposed at the radially outer tip portion of the airfoil. One method for providing the band includes performing roller deformation on the end portion until a desired amount of compressive stress is developed in the band substantially through the entire end portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2000Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David William Crall, Peter John Linko, III
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Patent number: 6672833Abstract: An annular hanger for supporting an annular wall element from a gas turbine engine annular outer casing is circumscribed about a centerline extending in opposite first and second axial directions and has an annular first hook extending in the first axial direction from said body section and an annular second hook extending in the second axial direction. One of the hooks has circumferentially spaced apart tabs extending equal axial lengths from the body section and corresponding notches circumferentially disposed between a corresponding adjacent pair of the tabs. The annular hanger is used to support at least in part a wall element from the outer casing as part of a bayonet mount. The bayonet mount further includes a bayonet slot on one of the casing and the wall element and the hanger tabs are received within the bayonet slot.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas L. MacLean, Tod K. Bosel
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Patent number: 6662546Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine is provided with low observable fan features which reduce the radar signature of the engine and its aircraft. An aircraft gas turbine engine fan section has in direct serial flow relationship an inlet having fixed high swirl angle inlet guide vanes, a first stage of first fan rotor blades, a stage of first variable angle stator vanes, and a fan bleed. The inlet guide vanes are angled to block the linear line of sight of the rotating fan blades through the inlet and include a RAM treatment which preferably is a coating of a radar absorbing material on the surface of the inlet guide vanes. The exemplary embodiment has a multi-stage fan section with the mid-stage fan bleed disposed between the first and second stages of fan rotor blades.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1993Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Rollin George Giffin, III
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Patent number: 6658854Abstract: A method for assembling a flap and seal system for a gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle including a plurality of backbone assemblies facilitates attaching a basesheet to a backbone. The method includes attaching an attachment system including at least one strap to a basesheet, and coupling the basesheet to a backbone using the attachment system strap.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Darrell Senile, Bernard J. Renggli
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Patent number: 6655027Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine combustor facilitates reducing costs and time required for assembly. The combustor includes a spectacle plate, a plurality of swirlers, and a plurality of deflector plates. The method includes coupling an assembly fixture to at least one swirler, coupling the assembly fixture to the spectacle plate such that the swirler is maintained in alignment with respect to the spectacle plate during assembly of the combustor, and attaching the swirler to the spectacle plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Allen Kastrup, Stephen Charles Furbish
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Patent number: 6652226Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a non-rotatable member that includes a honeycomb seal that reduces wear to rotor seal teeth disposed within the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine also includes a rotatable annular member including a sealing assembly disposed between rotor and stator components. The rotatable annular member includes seal teeth that extend radially outward from the rotatable annular member. The stator components include a non-rotatable member that includes a honeycomb seal that extends radially inward. The honeycomb seal is fabricated from a material that has a melting temperature less than approximately 2000° F.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Richard William Albrecht, Jr., Joseph Charles Kulesa, Robert Paul Czachor, Shesh Krishna Srivatsa, Daniel Edward Wines, Thomas Tracy Wallace
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Patent number: 6652180Abstract: A coupling for coupling a component to a hanger including a first member and a second member. The coupling includes a first member and a second member. The first member includes a pair of extending portions and a pair of extending tabs. The second member includes a pair of circumferential openings and a pair of opposed notches. The openings and notches receive the extending portions and tabs. The component is supportable from the hanger and is substantially restricted from independent movement relative to the hanger when the first member is connected to the second member.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Bradley Howard Foreman, Keith Richard Kowalczyk
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Patent number: 6644668Abstract: A support arrangement for a brush seal positioned between a stationary and a rotatable component of a turbomachine. The brush seal has a downstream backing plate that includes an axially-extending lip adjacent its radially outermost end to minimize axial deflection of the seal as a result of a gas pressure differential acting across the seal.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert J. Albers, Randall C. Bauer, John C. Brauer, Scott Joseph Schmid, Kenneth M. Lewis
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Patent number: 6641326Abstract: A stud for interconnecting adjacent flanges of a flanged joint in a tubular casing. The flanges each contain apertures to receive the stud and each flange is inclined relative to the casing outer surface, with one flange extending radially outwardly and the other flange extending radially inwardly, as a result of which one end of the stud extends externally of the flanged joint and the other end extends internally. The stud includes an external formation that is of non-circular form and that is carried by the stud between the threaded ends to extend radially outwardly. The external formation is adapted to be engaged by an anti-rotation member to prevent unintended rotation of the stud. The stud is removable from the flanged joint without the need to completely disassemble the joint to remove a broken stud.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jan Christopher Schilling, James Edward Thompson, Frederick Joseph Zegarski, Kurt Thomas Hildebrand, Tod Kenneth Bosel
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Patent number: 6634863Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor disk has a number of annular hubs circumscribed about a centerline and each of the hubs is connected to a disk rim by a web. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart circular arc dovetail slots are disposed through the rim. Circumferentially extending annular burst slots extend radially through the rim into the dovetail slots between each adjacent pair of the webs. The fan blades have circular arc dovetail roots disposed within the circumferentially spaced apart circular arc dovetail slots. A one piece spinner attached to a forward extension of the disk at a location between a tip and an axially aft spinner end of the spinner. Non-integral platforms circumferentially disposed between the fan blades. A booster spool is connected to the rotor disk by a mounting plate therebetween and the platforms are radially retained to the disk and mounting plates by pins through holes in mounting lugs depending radially inwardly from the platforms.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2000Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Michael Forrester, Joseph Timothy Stevenson, Jeffrey Clayton Potter, Sean Joel Corrigan
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Patent number: 6629415Abstract: A method for fabricating a three-dimensional turbine engine combustor liner model includes coupling at least a first member to a second member to form an assembly that has an inner surface. The assembly inner surface simulates an inner surface of the aircraft engine combustor liner. The first member is at least one of a pre-formed conical member and a pre-formed cylindrical member, and the second portion is at least one of a pre-formed conical member and a pre-formed cylindrical member. The method also includes coupling the assembly to a baseplate, and coupling a plurality of templates to the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Edward Lee Howard, Gilbert Farmer, James Hollice Poynter, Ronald Lee Sheranko, Gregory Thomas Lucas
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Patent number: 6630198Abstract: A gas turbine engine wash process that facilitates reducing a formation of particulate matter within a gas turbine engine is described. The engine wash process includes injecting a first liquid into the engine to remove particulate matter formed within the engine and adversely affecting engine operation and performance. A second liquid is then injected into the engine to facilitate reducing a rate of formation of particulate matter within the gas turbine engine as the engine is operated in the future. More specifically, the second liquid is an anti-static liquid that coats compressor blades within the gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: John Frederick Ackerman, William Randolph Stowell, Robert Alan Johnson
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Patent number: 6619913Abstract: A fan casing for a gas turbine engine is provided which combines the functions of blade containment and noise suppression. The fan casing has an annular metallic inner shell with a plurality of holes are formed therethrough. An acoustic absorber, such as a cellular resonator, is disposed around the inner shell.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Paul Czachor, Paul Michael Smith, Robert Eugene Kraft
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Patent number: 6619027Abstract: A rotor overspeed protection system for a gas turbine engine controls engine fuel flow to prevent an engine rotor from over-speeding. The engine fuel metering system includes a fuel metering valve in flow communication with a fuel shutoff valve and a fuel bypass valve. The rotor protection system includes an overboost servovalve and a soleniod valve coupled to the fuel metering system and to an independent speed sensing system. In operation, servovalve can control the metered fuel flow to engine independently of the fuel metering valve to facilitate reducing rotor overspeeds and overboosts.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Thomas George Busch
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Patent number: 6619030Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine assembly includes an inter-turbine frame axially located between high and low pressure turbines. Low pressure turbine has counter rotating low pressure inner and outer rotors with low pressure inner and outer shafts which are at least in part rotatably disposed co-axially within a high pressure rotor. Inter-turbine frame includes radially spaced apart radially outer first and inner second structural rings disposed co-axially about a centerline and connected by a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart struts. Forward and aft sump members having forward and aft central bores are fixedly joined to axially spaced apart forward and aft portions of the inter-turbine frame. Low pressure inner and outer rotors are rotatably supported by a second turbine frame bearing mounted in aft central bore of aft sump member. A mount for connecting the engine to an aircraft is located on first structural ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jorge F. Seda, Lawrence W. Dunbar, Philip R. Gliebe, Peter N. Szucs, John C. Brauer, James E. Johnson, Thomas Moniz, Gregory T. Steinmetz
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Patent number: 6612807Abstract: A frame for a gas turbine engine is provided comprising a central hub having a circumferentially extending flowpath surface enclosing an interior cavity and an annular outer casing connected to the hub by a plurality of struts extending radially from the hub to the casing, wherein the flowpath surface has a plurality of inlets disposed in flow communication with the interior cavity and a plurality of outlets disposed in flow communication with the interior cavity. A flowpath member for a turbine frame hub is also provided having a plurality of inlets and outlets formed therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Robert Paul Czachor
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Patent number: 6613392Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite article is made by providing a plurality of layers of first, substantially dry, unimpregnated reinforcing fibers, sometimes called in-plane fibers. Such layers are stacked into a preform of a stack of layers. While in the dry, unimpregnated condition, a plurality of spaced apart second reinforcing members are inserted into the preform at an angle, for example transversely, to the stack of layers. In this condition, the preform is impregnated with a matrix about the first reinforcing fibers and the second reinforcing members. The article product comprises the plurality of stacked layers of the first reinforcing fibers and the plurality of the spaced apart second reinforcing members disposed beside or adjacent the first reinforcing fibers, with a substantially solid matrix disposed about the reinforcing fibers and members.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jack Wilbur Baldwin, John Andrew Ravenhall, Bruce Clark Busbey