Patents by Inventor Bryce Loring Heitman

Bryce Loring Heitman 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: 11879349
    Abstract: A shroud hanger assembly is provided for hangers and shrouds defining dimensionally incompatible components such as those which are press or frictionally fit to engage one another. The shroud hanger assembly includes a multi-piece hanger and a shroud that is pinned to the hanger assembly by at least one axially extending pin and which locates the shroud relative to the hanger to control motion in one or both of circumferential (tangential) and radial directions relative to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jan Christopher Schilling, Andrew John Breslin, Bryce Loring Heitman
  • Publication number: 20220120198
    Abstract: A shroud hanger assembly is provided for hangers and shrouds defining dimensionally incompatible components such as those which are press or frictionally fit to engage one another. The shroud hanger assembly includes a multi-piece hanger and a shroud that is pinned to the hanger assembly by at least one axially extending pin and which locates the shroud relative to the hanger to control motion in one or both of circumferential (tangential) and radial directions relative to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jan Christopher Schilling, Andrew John Breslin, Bryce Loring Heitman
  • Patent number: 11215081
    Abstract: A shroud hanger assembly is provided for hangers and shrouds defining dimensionally incompatible components such as those which are press or frictionally fit to engage one another. The shroud hanger assembly includes a multi-piece hanger and a shroud, which is pinned to the hanger assembly by at least one axially extending pin and which locates the shroud relative to the hanger to control motion in one or both of circumferential (tangential) and radial directions relative to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jan Christopher Schilling, Andrew John Breslin, Bryce Loring Heitman
  • Publication number: 20190284958
    Abstract: A shroud hanger assembly is provided for hangers and shrouds defining dimensionally incompatible components such as those which are press or frictionally fit to engage one another. The shroud hanger assembly includes a multi-piece hanger and a shroud, which is pinned to the hanger assembly by at least one axially extending pin and which locates the shroud relative to the hanger to control motion in one or both of circumferential (tangential) and radial directions relative to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Jan Christopher Schilling, Andrew John Breslin, Bryce Loring Heitman
  • Patent number: 10370986
    Abstract: Nozzles and nozzle assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. A nozzle includes an airfoil having an exterior surface defining a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, an outer band disposed radially outward of the airfoil, the outer band including a radially outwardly-facing end surface, and an inner band disposed radially inward of the airfoil, the inner band including a radially inwardly-facing end surface. The nozzle further includes a flange extending radially from one of the radially outwardly-facing end surface or the radially inwardly-facing end surface. The flange is formed from a ceramic matrix composite material and includes a plurality of ceramic matrix composite plies stacked together and generally having an L-shape in a circumferential cross-sectional view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryce Loring Heitman, Gregory Scott Phelps, Darrell Glenn Senile
  • Patent number: 10309240
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine and a method of transferring load from the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) airfoil assembly to a metallic vane assembly support member are provided. The airfoil assembly includes a forward end and an aft end with respect to an axial direction of the gas turbine engine. The airfoil assembly includes a radially outer end component, a radially inner end component, and a hollow airfoil body extending therebetween. The radially outer end component including a radially outwardly-facing end surface having a non-compression load-bearing feature extending radially outwardly and formed integrally with the outer end component, the load-bearing feature configured to mate with a complementary feature formed in a radially inner surface of a first airfoil assembly support structure and selectively positioned orthogonally to a force imparted into the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryce Loring Heitman, Darrell Glenn Senile, Michael Ray Tuertscher, Greg Scott Phelps, Brian Gregg Feie, Steven James Murphy
  • Patent number: 10301960
    Abstract: Shroud assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. A shroud assembly includes a hanger having a forward hanger arm, a rear hanger arm, and a hanger body extending between the forward hanger arm and the rear hanger arm. The shroud assembly further includes a shroud having a forward surface, a rear surface, and an inner surface and outer surface extending between the forward surface and the rear surface, the outer surface radially spaced from the inner surface, the shroud connected to the hanger. The shroud assembly further includes a support member positioned axially forward of the forward hanger arm, the support member having a radially outer portion connected to the forward hanger arm and a radially inner portion axially spaced from the shroud such that a gap is defined between the radially inner portion and an axially adjacent surface of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Scott Stapleton, Bryce Loring Heitman, Laura Isabelle Armanios
  • Patent number: 10132197
    Abstract: Shrouds and shroud assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. A shroud includes a shroud body. The shroud body includes a forward surface, a rear surface axially spaced from the forward surface, an inner surface extending between the forward surface and the rear surface, and an outer surface extending between the forward surface and the rear surface and radially spaced from the inner surface. The shroud further includes a flange extending from the shroud body, and a bore hole defined in the flange. The bore hole extends generally circumferentially through the flange between a first opening and a second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryce Loring Heitman, Michael Todd Radwanski, Darrell Glenn Senile
  • Patent number: 10018075
    Abstract: Methods for positioning neighboring nozzles of a gas turbine engine are provided. A method includes assembling a first nozzle assembly. The first nozzle assembly includes a first nozzle and a first nozzle support structure. The method further includes assembling a second nozzle assembly. The second nozzle assembly includes a second nozzle and a second nozzle support structure. The method further includes adjusting the first nozzle assembly and the second nozzle assembly such that an engineering dimension between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is within a predetermined engineering tolerance, and joining the first nozzle support structure and the second nozzle support structure together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryce Loring Heitman, Steven James Murphy, Darrell Glenn Senile
  • Publication number: 20170022828
    Abstract: Nozzles and nozzle assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. A nozzle includes an airfoil having an exterior surface defining a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge, an outer band disposed radially outward of the airfoil, the outer band including a radially outwardly-facing end surface, and an inner band disposed radially inward of the airfoil, the inner band including a radially inwardly-facing end surface. The nozzle further includes a flange extending radially from one of the radially outwardly-facing end surface or the radially inwardly-facing end surface. The flange is formed from a ceramic matrix composite material and includes a plurality of ceramic matrix composite plies stacked together and generally having an L-shape in a circumferential cross-sectional view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Bryce Loring HEITMAN, Gregory Scott PHELPS, Darrell Glenn SENILE
  • Publication number: 20170022833
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine and a method of transferring load from the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) airfoil assembly to a metallic vane assembly support member are provided. The airfoil assembly includes a forward end and an aft end with respect to an axial direction of the gas turbine engine. The airfoil assembly further includes a radially outer end component including a radially outwardly-facing end surface having a non-compression load-bearing feature extending radially outwardly from the outwardly-facing end surface and formed integrally with the outer end component, the feature configured to mate with a complementary feature formed in a radially inner surface of a first airfoil assembly support structure, the feature selectively positioned orthogonally to a force imparted into the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Bryce Loring HEITMAN, Darrell Glenn SENILE, Michael Ray TUERTSCHER, Greg Scott PHELPS, Brian Gregg FEIE, Steven James MURPHY
  • Publication number: 20170016341
    Abstract: Shroud assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. A shroud assembly includes a hanger having a forward hanger arm, a rear hanger arm, and a hanger body extending between the forward hanger arm and the rear hanger arm. The shroud assembly further includes a shroud having a forward surface, a rear surface, and an inner surface and outer surface extending between the forward surface and the rear surface, the outer surface radially spaced from the inner surface, the shroud connected to the hanger. The shroud assembly further includes a support member positioned axially forward of the forward hanger arm, the support member having a radially outer portion connected to the forward hanger arm and a radially inner portion axially spaced from the shroud such that a gap is defined between the radially inner portion and an axially adjacent surface of the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: David Scott Stapleton, Bryce Loring Heitman, Laura Isabelle Armanios
  • Publication number: 20160312658
    Abstract: Methods for positioning neighboring nozzles of a gas turbine engine are provided. A method includes assembling a first nozzle assembly. The first nozzle assembly includes a first nozzle and a first nozzle support structure. The method further includes assembling a second nozzle assembly. The second nozzle assembly includes a second nozzle and a second nozzle support structure. The method further includes adjusting the first nozzle assembly and the second nozzle assembly such that an engineering dimension between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is within a predetermined engineering tolerance, and joining the first nozzle support structure and the second nozzle support structure together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Bryce Loring HEITMAN, Steven James MURPHY, Darrell Glenn SENILE
  • Publication number: 20160305286
    Abstract: Shrouds and shroud assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. A shroud includes a shroud body. The shroud body includes a forward surface, a rear surface axially spaced from the forward surface, an inner surface extending between the forward surface and the rear surface, and an outer surface extending between the forward surface and the rear surface and radially spaced from the inner surface. The shroud further includes a flange extending from the shroud body, and a bore hole defined in the flange. The bore hole extends generally circumferentially through the flange between a first opening and a second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Bryce Loring Heitman, Michael Todd Radwanski, Darrell Glenn Senile