Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Rodney M. Young
  • Patent number: 6382906
    Abstract: An impingement baffle for a turbine nozzle vane includes a perforate sleeve for discharging impingement air therethrough. A cap closes the sleeve at a top end, and includes an inlet hole. A spoolie cup includes a flange at the bottom thereof which is disposed atop the cap around the inlet hole for channeling air therein. A retainer is joined to the cap to loosely trap the cup flange thereatop for permitting limited lateral sliding movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Robert Brassfield, Judd Dodge Tressler, Alan Lionel Webb
  • Patent number: 6367239
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system and method for operating a dual fuel and steam turbine engine that utilizes gas fuel at the engine start phase through a combination of gas and liquid fuel circuits. Gas fuel initially flows through the liquid fuel circuits to a dual fuel and steam nozzle. A boiler connected to the system generates steam, and the steam is supplied to the nozzle to raise the fuel pressure to an acceptable range. The gas fuel is injected into both the liquid and gas fuel circuits and the engine can then operate on either gas or liquid fuel, or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis L. Brown, Douglas M. Fortuna, Gilbert H. Badeer
  • Patent number: 6361277
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor rotor assembly which directs air at a sufficent pressure and temperature to a compressor rotor bore. The compressor assembly includes a compressor including a plurality of rotors joined with a plurality of couplings. Each of the rotors includes a radially outer rim, a radially inner hub, and a web extending therebetween. The web includes a flange including a plurality of slots which define a plurality of radial vanes that are airfoil-shaped. The vanes effectively deswirl bleed air and re-direct the airflow to a compressor bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David E. Bulman, Kenneth E. Seitzer, Craig P. Burns, Jeffrey D. Clements
  • Patent number: 6357752
    Abstract: A double brush seal for sealing the combustor-turbine nozzle interface of a gas turbine engine includes a stationary support member and an intermediate plate attached to the stationary support member. The brush seal also includes a first end plate located upstream of the intermediate plate and attached to the stationary support member, and a second end plate located downstream of the intermediate plate and attached to the stationary support member. A first bristle pack is disposed between the first end plate and the intermediate plate, and a second bristle pack is disposed between the second end plate and the intermediate plate such that the intermediate plate functions as a common back plate for the two stages of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Elias H. Lampes
  • Patent number: 6354803
    Abstract: A turbine engine blade damper for damping vibrations of blades in a turbine engine. The blade damper includes an elongate body extending between a forward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end. The body is sized and shaped for receipt within a gap formed between adjacent platforms of the blades so the body frictionally engages the adjacent platforms to dampen vibrations of the blades and to prevent air from passing through the corresponding gap during engine operation. The damper also includes a retainer mounted on at least one of the forward and rearward ends of the body. The retainer is sized and shaped for receipt within a recess formed in at least one of the adjacent blades to hold the body between the blades. The retainer is sized and shaped to prevent air from passing between the blades and the retainer during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Garth Kneeland Grover, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Patent number: 6354780
    Abstract: A blisk includes a disk having a rim from which extends a row of blades. The rim includes axially opposite overhangs one of which includes an arcuate balance land disposed eccentrically to the centerline axis of the disk for balancing the blisk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Michael Davis, Steven Mark Ballman, Albert Everett McDaniel, James Edward Gutknecht
  • Patent number: 6352211
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle for an aircraft engine. The nozzle includes a mount for attaching the exhaust nozzle to a downstream end of the engine and first and second opposed upstream flaps moveably connected to the mount having inner surfaces defining an upstream exhaust gas flowpath. Each upstream flap extends between an upstream end and a downstream end and is moveable relative to the mount between an open position in which the downstream ends of the upstream flaps are spaced by a first distance, and a closed position in which the downstream ends touch to substantially block flow through the exhaust gas flowpath. First and second opposed downstream flaps are moveably connected to the first and second upstream flaps having inner surfaces defining a downstream exhaust gas flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David Todd Bentley
  • Patent number: 6351941
    Abstract: An augmenter includes an insert which reduces thermal stresses caused by hot combustion gases impinging the augmentor. The augmentor also includes a plurality of radial flameholder gutters and at least one outer circumferential flameholder connected to the radial flameholders to form a radial cap. The insert is contoured to conform to the radial cap and is attached to the radial cap. The insert shields the radial cap and includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of openings extending therebetween. The openings permit the insert to be attached to the radial cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Vossman, Larry L. Vacek
  • Patent number: 6352385
    Abstract: A mechanical coupling to transfer torque between cooperating rotatable members each of substantially circular cross section and aligned along an axis of rotation comprises first and second members including, respectively, first and second surface portions in juxtaposition across an interface. Each surface portion includes a plurality of spaced apart teeth mechanically interlocking at the interface. The first surface portion comprises a fiber reinforced material including fibers oriented within about 45°, on either side, of an axis of rotation. Provided is a clamp to hold the first and second surface portions together at the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Robert Wojciechowski, Gary Mac Holloway, Richard Clay Haubert
  • Patent number: 6339923
    Abstract: A fuel air mixer for a gas turbine engine combustor having a longitudinal axis therethrough, wherein the fuel air mixer is configured for use in a dome oriented substantially radial to the longitudinal axis. The fuel air mixer includes a fuel injection assembly having a first end, a second end, a fuel passage extending therethrough, and a flange portion having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein which extends from the first end. The fuel air mixer also includes a mixer assembly having a first end, a second end, a cavity formed in a central portion thereof, and a flange portion having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein which extends from the first end. The mixer assembly is configured to receive the fuel injection assembly in the cavity so that the fuel injection assembly and the mixer assembly are able to be connected to an outer casing of the combustor by means of the respective flange portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ely E. Halila, Stuart C. Greenfield, Paul V. Heberling, John D. Bibler, John A. Kastl
  • Patent number: 6340285
    Abstract: A segmented turbine cooling component, such as shroud segment for the high pressure and low pressure turbine sections of a gas turbine engine, useful in providing preferential cooling to the side rails or panels of the turbine component through the combination of cooling air fed into the intermediate pressure cavity between the discourager and primary seals and then through recesses in the bottom wall of the lower discourager seal slot that impinges air on the portion of the side panel below the discourager seal. The side panels of the turbine component have an upper primary seal slot and a lower discourager seal slot with a bottom wall having a plurality of alternating lands and recesses along the length thereof and a plurality of cooling air passages having outlets exiting into the lower slot above the lands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig Alan Gonyou, Roger Lee Doughty, Monty Lee Shelton
  • Patent number: 6336319
    Abstract: A control system for selectively adjusting effective flow areas of an aircraft engine exhaust nozzle to change operational characteristics of the nozzle. The control system includes a chamber having a hollow interior, a plurality of outlet passages extending from the hollow interior of the chamber to sites within the exhaust nozzle, and an adjustable inlet extending from a pressurized air source to the hollow interior of the chamber for delivering a jet of pressurized air to the chamber. The inlet is adjustable to direct pressurized air to selected one or more outlet passages for the delivery of air via the one or more outlets to corresponding one or more sites within the exhaust nozzle, thereby to change the operational characteristics of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Michael Koshoffer
  • Patent number: 6334298
    Abstract: A joint for joining a dome plate to a combustor liner includes a first flange formed on the dome plate and a second flange formed on the liner. A mounting ring having a groove formed therein is provided such that the first flange is disposed in the groove and the second flange engages the mounting ring. A retainer is secured to the mounting ring and engages the second flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John Charles Aicholtz
  • Patent number: 6331097
    Abstract: A turbine rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a rotor disk having a plurality of circumferentially alternating dovetail slots and disk posts and a plurality of blades disposed in the dovetail slots. A cooling air plenum is defined in the portion of each dovetail slot located radially inward of the corresponding blade. Air from the plenums is directed through slots formed in axial surfaces of the blades or disk posts into an adjacent wheel cavity, thereby purging the wheel cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Richard W. Jendrix
  • Patent number: 6331098
    Abstract: A method of placing turbulators in a turbine rotor blade includes placing slant turbulators in a radial flow channel offset circumferentially from the blade leading edge. The slant turbulators are all inclined radially inward toward the blade trailing edge for directing coolant along the turbulators co-directionally with Coriolis flow inside the offset channel. In a specific embodiment, turbulator chevrons are also placed in a radial flow channel axially aligned with the blade leading edge consistent with the Coriolis flow therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ching-Pang Lee
  • Patent number: 6325593
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine hollow turbine airfoil, such as a first stage vane of a high pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine includes an outer wall surrounding a hollow interior. The outer wall extends radially outwardly in a spanwise direction from an airfoil base to an airfoil tip and has chordwise spaced apart leading and trailing edges and widthwise spaced apart pressure and suction side portions extending chordwise between the leading edge and a trailing edge block which terminates at the trailing edge. A plurality of trailing edge cooling air ducts extend chordwise through the trailing edge block aftwardly from the hollow interior and a plurality of trailing edge film cooling holes extend from the ducts through the trailing edge block. The cooling air ducts are preferably centered near a neutral axis of chordwise and spanwise bending of the trailing edge block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Toby G. Darkins, Jr., Monty L. Shelton, Roger L. Doughty, Mark E. Noe
  • Patent number: 6314739
    Abstract: A dome assembly for a gas turbine engine combustor includes an annular combustor dome with a substantially annular flat dome plate and at least one circular opening in the dome plate. A seal plate flange with a flat aft facing surface has a central ring circumscribed about a centerline axis and extends aftwardly from the seal plate flange. The central ring is disposed through the circular opening in the dome plate and the central ring includes a central bore coaxially aligned with the circular opening. A baffle has a cylindrical tubular mounting portion extending upstream through the central bore and is fixedly joined to the seal plate and a flare portion extending aft from the seal plate flange. A carburetor including an air swirler having an annular exit cone is joined to the baffle with the exit cone disposed within the cylindrical tubular mounting portion of the baffle. An aft end of the central ring is joined to the dome plate by a swage joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. Howell, Jennifer Waslo, Robert G. Carita
  • Patent number: 6312219
    Abstract: A compressor stator vane includes pressure and suction sides extending chordally between leading and trailing edges, and longitudinally between a root and a tip. The vane narrows in chord to a waist between the root and tip. The vane may also be bowed at its trailing edge in cooperation with the narrow waist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Wood, John J. Decker, Gregory T. Steinmetz, Mark J. Mielke, Kenneth E. Seitzer
  • Patent number: 6299412
    Abstract: A compressor airfoil includes pressure and suction sides extending from root to tip and between leading and trailing edges. Transverse sections have respective chords and camber lines. Centers of gravity of the sections are aligned along a bowed stacking axis either tangentially, axially, or both, for improving performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Wood, John J. Decker, Gregory T. Steinmetz, Mark J. Mielke
  • Patent number: 6298667
    Abstract: A combustor dome module includes a mixer tube having a hollow heat shield sealingly joined around the outlet end thereof. The modules may then be assembled in an array for defining the combustor dome, with each module being individually removable therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Glynn, Ely Eskenazi Halila, John David Bibler, David Byron Morris