Patents by Inventor Brian Kenneth Wardle

Brian Kenneth Wardle 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: 11421549
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooled airfoil having a hub end and tip, an airfoil height being defined between the hub end and the tip. The airfoil has a leading edge, trailing edge, suction side and pressure side. The airfoil has a first airfoil height section adjacent the hub end and extending towards the tip, wherein, in a meridional view, the leading edge and trailing edge are straight along the first airfoil height section. The airfoil has a second airfoil height section adjacent the tip and extending towards the hub end, wherein, in a meridional view, the airfoil is concavely shaped at the leading edge and is convexly shaped at the trailing edge along the second airfoil height section. At least one cooling channel has a length principally extending along the airfoil height, extends straight in a first cooling channel length section, and is bent in a second cooling channel length section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Frank Gersbach, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Iannis Buffart
  • Publication number: 20200386120
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooled airfoil having a hub end and tip, an airfoil height being defined between the hub end and the tip. The airfoil has a leading edge, trailing edge, suction side and pressure side. The airfoil has a first airfoil height section adjacent the hub end and extending towards the tip, wherein, in a meridional view, the leading edge and trailing edge are straight along the first airfoil height section. The airfoil has a second airfoil height section adjacent the tip and extending towards the hub end, wherein, in a meridional view, the airfoil is concavely shaped at the leading edge and is convexly shaped at the trailing edge along the second airfoil height section. At least one cooling channel has a length principally extending along the airfoil height, extends straight in a first cooling channel length section, and is bent in a second cooling channel length section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicant: Ansaldo Energia Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Frank GERSBACH, Brian Kenneth WARDLE, Iannis BUFFART
  • Patent number: 9969009
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a contoured hole, the hole being manufactured in a wall, the wall comprising a first, a second surface, and a wall thickness between the wall first and second surface. The comprises manufacturing a first non-penetrating hole extending from the first surface and into the wall, wherein a distal end of the first hole is located within the wall such that the first hole does not penetrate the wall second surface, and manufacturing a through hole, wherein the through hole is fluidly connected with first hole and penetrates the wall second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Ivan Luketic, Ioannis Paralikas, Brian Kenneth Wardle
  • Patent number: 9890646
    Abstract: An internally cooled airfoil for a rotary machine, for example, a gas turbine engine includes a suction and pressure side wall each extending in an axial direction, i.e. from a leading to a trailing edge of the airfoil. A suction wall sided cooling channel and a pressure wall sided cooling channel extend in the axial direction. A feed chamber is defined between a first and second inner wall for feeding the suction wall and pressure wall sided cooling channel each by at least one through hole inside of the first and second inner wall. The suction wall sided cooling channel and the pressure wall sided cooling channel extend into the trailing edge region separately. The suction wall sided cooling channel and the pressure wall sided cooling channel join before discharging at the trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Joerg Krueckels, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Herbert Brandl, Marc Widmer
  • Publication number: 20160222824
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooled airfoil having a hub end and tip, an airfoil height being defined between the hub end and the tip. The airfoil has a leading edge, trailing edge, suction side and pressure side. The airfoil has a first airfoil height section adjacent the hub end and extending towards the tip, wherein, in a meridional view, the leading edge and trailing edge are straight along the first airfoil height section. The airfoil has a second airfoil height section adjacent the tip and extending towards the hub end, wherein, in a meridional view, the airfoil is concavely shaped at the leading edge and is convexly shaped at the trailing edge along the second airfoil height section. At least one cooling channel has a length principally extending along the airfoil height, extends straight in a first cooling channel length section, and is bent in a second cooling channel length section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: Ansaldo Energia Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Frank GERSBACH, Brian Kenneth WARDLE, Iannis BUFFART
  • Publication number: 20160193667
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a contoured hole, the hole being manufactured in a wall, the wall comprising a first, a second surface, and a wall thickness between the wall first and second surface. The comprises manufacturing a first non-penetrating hole extending from the first surface and into the wall, wherein a distal end of the first hole is located within the wall such that the first hole does not penetrate the wall second surface, and manufacturing a through hole, wherein the through hole is fluidly connected with first hole and penetrates the wall second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Ivan LUKETIC, Ioannis PARALIKAS, Brian Kenneth WARDLE
  • Publication number: 20150159490
    Abstract: The invention refers to an internally cooled casted airfoil for a rotary machine, preferably a gas turbine engine comprising a suction and a pressure side wall each extending in an axial direction, i.e. from a leading to a trailing edge region of said airfoil. At least one suction wall sided cooling channel extends in axial direction confined by the suction side wall and a first inner wall. At least one pressure wall sided cooling channel extends in axial direction confined by the pressure side wall and a second inner wall. At least one feed chamber is defined between the first and second inner wall for feeding said at least one suction and pressure sided cooling channel each by at least one through hole inside of the first and second inner wall. At least one suction wall sided cooling channel and the at least one pressure wall sided cooling channel extend into the trailing edge region separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Joerg KRUECKELS, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Herbert Brandl, Marc Widmer
  • Patent number: 9051838
    Abstract: A turbine blade of an axial turbine includes internal cooling fluid passages with radially outwardly extending passages connected to holes in the blade root. The holes are generally core printouts providing stability to the core during the casting process, but are not needed and need to be closed to guarantee the functioning of the cooling system. This is achieved by at least one covering plate. The plate is held by at least two slots located at the root of the turbine blade. Thus, the supply holes for cooling fluid located at the root section are closed by a simple mechanical device, e.g., a plate that does not require any subsequent brazing/welding operations. In addition, the plate is removable to facilitate inspection/cleaning, or further processing of the blade at service intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Brian Kenneth Wardle, Christoph Didion, Herbert Brandl, Shailendra Naik
  • Patent number: 8721281
    Abstract: A cooled blade for a gas turbine includes a blade airfoil extending between leading and trailing edges in a flow direction and on suction and pressure sides is delimited by a wall, which include an interior space in which cooling air flows towards the trailing edge in the flow direction and discharges to the outside in the region of the trailing edge. The pressure-side wall terminates at a distance in front of the trailing edge in the flow direction, forming a pressure-side lip, such that the cooling air discharges from the interior space on the pressure side. Multiple ribs subdivides the interior space, parallel to the flow direction, into a plurality of parallel cooling passages which create a high pressure drop and in which turbulators are arranged for increasing cooling. Before the outlet, multiple flow barriers are provided in the cooling air flow path, distributed transversely to the flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Jörg Krückels, Thomas Heinz-Schwarzmaier, Brian Kenneth Wardle
  • Publication number: 20140060766
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and an interior cavity, which is delimited by internal surfaces, for guiding cooling air therethrough. A multiplicity of turbulators or pins, which are formed on the wall, are arranged in a distributed manner in the region of the trailing edge and project from the internal surfaces into the cavity, to improve the transfer of heat between the wall of the blade and the cooling air. An improvement of the internal cooling is achieved by the turbulators or pins extending into the cavity in a direction which can be freely selected within an angular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Anguisola MCFEAT, Jörg KRÜCKELS, Roland DÜCKERSHOFF, Brian Kenneth WARDLE
  • Patent number: 8632309
    Abstract: A blade is disclosed for a gas turbine including an airfoil, which extends along a longitudinal axis from a blade root to a blade tip, and has a shroud segment at the blade tip. The shroud segment abuts with first and second edges against shroud segments of adjacent blades to form a ring-like shroud. The first and second edges are each provided with a respective side rail on the upper side of the shroud segment. Each of the side rails is subdivided into sections of different height and/or width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Igor Tsypkaykin, Ruben Valiente, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Beat Von Arx, Andre Saxer
  • Patent number: 8459934
    Abstract: A guide blade for a gas turbine includes an inner and an outer platform, an airfoil extending in a radial direction between the inner and the outer platforms and having a height in the radial direction, and at least one cooling channel disposed in an interior of the airfoil and configured to receive a cooling medium flowing through the at least one cooling channel configured to cool the guide blade, wherein a cross-sectional area of a blade material of the airfoil varies over the height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Willy Heinz Hofmann, Roland Dueckershoff, Brian Kenneth Wardle
  • Patent number: 8382433
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a blade, by casting, for a gas turbine. The blade includes an elongate airfoil which extends in a blade longitudinal direction, merges into a blade root at the lower end, has a shroud segment at the blade tip and is pervaded by a single cooling air channel running in the blade longitudinal direction from the blade root to the blade tip. The method includes, during the casting of the blade, the blade material being fed exclusively from the blade root into the mold provided therefor, and the cooling air channel is formed during the casting of the blade by using a single core body, which is provided, at the blade tip, with a local casting cross section increasing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Brian Kenneth Wardle, Beat Von Arx
  • Patent number: 8371808
    Abstract: Provided is an industrial gas turbine multi vane segment, which can be cast in one piece using a wax pattern method. The multi vane segment includes a platform; at least three airfoils, extending radially from the platform, having a combined airfoil volume, a chord length and an airfoil thickness; and a shroud with a shroud volume, disposed on an end of said airfoils radially distant from the platform. The ratio of the shroud volume to the combined airfoil volume defines a first ratio, while the multi vane segment has a first ratio greater or equal to 1.4:1. This ratio enables preferential solidification, during casting, of the airfoils before the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Brian Kenneth Wardle, Thomas Peter Sommer, Beat Von Arx, Andre Saxer
  • Patent number: 8231349
    Abstract: A turbine component (25) includes a root (21), a tip (22), and an airfoil portion (7) having a leading and a trailing edge (8,9), an external suction side and pressure side wall (13, 14) between the leading and trailing edge. The walls enclose a central cavity (1-6) for the passage of cooling air, the cavity being partitioned into a leading edge- and a trailing edge region (7a, 7b) by at least one longitudinally extending first web (15) connecting the suction side wall with the pressure side wall and a second longitudinally extending web (16), connecting the first web with the suction side wall, thereby defining a first and second entry chamber (2, 3). The first web (15) is provided with at least one cross-over hole (H1) between the first entry chamber and the leading edge chamber (1), whereas the second web has no openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Shailendra Naik, Brian Kenneth Wardle
  • Publication number: 20120163995
    Abstract: A turbine blade of an axial turbine includes internal cooling fluid passages with radially outwardly extending passages connected to holes in the blade root. The holes are generally core printouts providing stability to the core during the casting process, but are not needed and need to be closed to guarantee the functioning of the cooling system. This is achieved by at least one covering plate. The plate is held by at least two slots located at the root of the turbine blade. Thus, the supply holes for cooling fluid located at the root section are closed by a simple mechanical device, e.g., a plate that does not require any subsequent brazing/welding operations. In addition, the plate is removable to facilitate inspection/cleaning, or further processing of the blade at service intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Brian Kenneth Wardle, Christoph Didion, Herbert Brandl, Shailendra Naik
  • Patent number: 8142143
    Abstract: A stator blade for a gas turbine includes a blade airfoil extending in a longitudinal direction of the blade and is delimited by leading and trailing edges. The stator blade includes a shroud, whose inner side is exposed to hot gas which flows through the gas turbine. A hook-like fastening element for fastening the stator blade on a casing of the gas turbine projects outwards in the region of the trailing edge. The fastening element has a locating slot above the trailing edge for fixing a heat shield, which is connected to the shroud in the flow direction of the hot gas. A cavity is provided on the shroud between the locating slot for the heat shield and the trailing edge of the blade airfoil for reducing the thermal and mechanical stresses in the region of transition between the trailing edge and shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Erich Kreiselmaier, Jose Anguisola McFeat, Christoph Nagler, Sergei Riazantsev, Brian Kenneth Wardle
  • Publication number: 20120020787
    Abstract: A cooled blade for a gas turbine includes a blade airfoil extending between leading and trailing edges in a flow direction and on suction and pressure sides is delimited by a wall, which include an interior space in which cooling air flows towards the trailing edge in the flow direction and discharges to the outside in the region of the trailing edge. The pressure-side wall terminates at a distance in front of the trailing edge in the flow direction, forming a pressure-side lip, such that the cooling air discharges from the interior space on the pressure side. Multiple ribs subdivides the interior space, parallel to the flow direction, into a plurality of parallel cooling passages which create a high pressure drop and in which turbulators are arranged for increasing cooling. Before the outlet, multiple flow barriers are provided in the cooling air flow path, distributed transversely to the flow direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jörg KRÜCKELS, Thomas HEINZ-SCHWARZMAIER, Brian Kenneth WARDLE
  • Publication number: 20110286834
    Abstract: A guide vane is provided for a gas turbine and has an airfoil extending in the radial direction between an inner platform and an outer platform. The airfoil extends transversely to the direction of the hot gas flow between a leading edge and a trailing edge and has a pressure side and a suction side. A cooling slot running parallel to the trailing edge is provided on the pressure side in front of the trailing edge, a cooling medium can exit through the cooling slot from the guide vane over the entire length of the guide vane and can cool the trailing edge of the guide vane. In such a guide vane, the service life is extended by a thermal stress reducing element provided on the inner platform below the trailing edge and the cooling slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Brian Kenneth WARDLE, Andre SAXER, Beat VON ARX, Igor TSYPKAYKIN
  • Publication number: 20110286849
    Abstract: A blade is disclosed for a gas turbine including an airfoil, which extends along a longitudinal axis from a blade root to a blade tip, and has a shroud segment at the blade tip. The shroud segment abuts with first and second edges against shroud segments of adjacent blades to form a ring-like shroud. The first and second edges are each provided with a respective side rail on the upper side of the shroud segment. Each of the side rails is subdivided into sections of different height and/or width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Igor TSYPKAYKIN, Ruben Valiente, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Beat Von Arx, Andre Saxer