Patents by Inventor Albert P. Sterman

Albert P. Sterman 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: 4614082
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for use in gas turbine engines is provided with a liner formed of a high temperature material. The liner includes a plurality of panels of the material mounted by means of a slideable friction mounting arrangement upon a high strength structural frame. As a result of this mounting arrangement, the liner is substantially isolated from structural forces associated with the combustion chamber, while the frame is substantially isolated from thermal stresses associated with the liner. Means are provided for positioning and securing individual liner panels in the circumferential, axial, and radial directions with respect to the frame as well as circumferentially with respect to other liner panels. The individual liner panels may be easily removed for repair or replacement without disassembling the frame and associated components. For the purpose of cooling, a cooling fluid is passed into a plenum to cool the radially outward side of the panels by convection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1972
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Albert P. Sterman, Thomas G. Wakeman, Jesse J. Williams
  • Patent number: 4416111
    Abstract: An air modulation apparatus, such as for use in modulating cooling air to the turbine section of a gas turbine engine. The apparatus includes valve means disposed around an annular conduit, such as a nozzle, in the engine cooling air circuit. The valve means, when in a closed position, blocks a portion of the conduit, and thus reduces the amount and increases the velocity of cooling air flowing through the nozzle. The apparatus also includes actuation means, which can operate in response to predetermined engine conditions, for enabling opening and closing of the valve means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Dean T. Lenahan, Robert J. Corsmeier, Albert P. Sterman, deceased
  • Patent number: 4411597
    Abstract: A replaceable tip cap for attachment to the end of a rotor blade. The tip cap includes a plurality of walls defining a compartment which, if desired, can be divided into a plurality of subcompartments. The tip cap can include inlet and outlet holes in walls thereof to permit fluid communication of a cooling fluid therethrough. Abrasive material can be attached with the radially outer wall of the tip cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: William K. Koffel, Eugene N. Tuley, Charles H. Gay, Jr., Raymond E. Troeger, Albert P. Sterman, deceased
  • Patent number: 4289447
    Abstract: A turbine shroud includes a ceramic sealing layer secured to a metal substrate. In one form, the metal substrate includes a plurality of pegs extending therefrom. Intermediate bonding layers are disposed on the peg-metal substrate structure. A ceramic sealing layer of zirconium oxide with about 20 weight percentage magnesium oxide is disposed, e.g., plasma sprayed, on the intermediate bonding layers. The ceramic sealing layer includes an ordered pattern of very fine cracks therein which reduce the thermal stress in the ceramic sealing layer. A method of constructing a turbine shroud structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Albert P. Sterman, Charles H. Gay, Jr., Frederick W. Tegarden, Dean T. Lenahan, Martin C. Hemsworth
  • Patent number: 3965066
    Abstract: A seal for use between an annular combustor and a turbine nozzle, disposed downstream of the combustor, is provided with means for effectively innerconnecting the combustor with a sidewall surrounding the nozzle. The sidewall includes an upstream extending radially projecting flange and the combustor includes an axially projecting downstream extending flange. The seal includes means for frictionally engaging each of these flanges and retaining them in a sealing relationship while permitting axial and radial frictional sliding motion therebetween. In addition, the present invention provides means for passing cooling air from a surrounding plenum through the seal in a cooling fashion to a pocket formed between the combustor-associated flange and a film-promoting lip which comprises a portion of the combustor liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Albert P. Sterman, Henry J. Brands, Frederick W. Weissborn, Jr.