Patents by Inventor Charles Alan Bulgrin

Charles Alan Bulgrin 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: 11861270
    Abstract: An improved manufacturing method includes virtually aligning scanned virtual vane components that are virtual electronic counterparts of separately manufactured and three-dimensionally scanned physical vane components used in gas turbine engines. The improved method performs virtual alignments for any of various possible virtual combinations of the virtual vane components to predict how their physical counterparts would likely behave in combination with each other before those physical counterparts are inseparably combined. One or more optimal virtual combinations are identified, in turn indicating optimal physical combinations to select to form physical vanes incorporated into one or more gas turbine engines, in turn improving the quality of the vanes and ultimately engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Bradley W. Burkett
  • Publication number: 20230158612
    Abstract: The disclosure describes example techniques and assemblies for joining a first component and a second component. The techniques may include positioning the first and second component adjacent to each other to define a joint region between adjacent portions of the first component and the second component. The techniques may also include inserting a solid retainer material into the joint region through an aperture in one of the first component or the second component to form a mechanical interlock between the first component and the second component and sealing the aperture to retain the solid retainer material within the joint region. The solid retainer material includes at least one of a metal, a metal alloy, or a ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Matthew T. Kush, Rusty M. Gamer, Carl R. Russo
  • Publication number: 20230033578
    Abstract: The disclosure describes example techniques and assemblies for joining a first component and a second component. The techniques may include positioning the first and second component adjacent to each other to define a joint region between adjacent portions of the first component and the second component, the joint region being coated with an adhesion resistant coating. The techniques may also include positioning a braze material in the joint region, heating the braze material to form an at least softened material, and cooling the at least softened material to form a mechanical interlock including the braze material in the joint region joining the first and second components. The braze material does not metallurgically bond to the joint surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Carl R. Russo, Joseph Peter Henderkott, Matthew T. Kush, Greg Lopshire
  • Patent number: 11565352
    Abstract: The disclosure describes example techniques and assemblies for joining a first component and a second component. The techniques may include positioning the first and second component adjacent to each other to define a joint region between adjacent portions of the first component and the second component. The techniques may also include inserting a solid retainer material into the joint region through an aperture in one of the first component or the second component to form a mechanical interlock between the first component and the second component and sealing the aperture to retain the solid retainer material within the joint region. The solid retainer material includes at least one of a metal, a metal alloy, or a ceramic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Matthew T. Kush, Rusty M. Garner, Carl R. Russo
  • Patent number: 11338396
    Abstract: The disclosure describes example techniques and assemblies for joining a first component and a second component. The techniques may include positioning the first and second component adjacent to each other to define a joint region between adjacent portions of the first component and the second component, the joint region being coated with an adhesion resistant coating. The techniques may also include positioning a braze material in the joint region, heating the braze material to form an at least softened material, and cooling the at least softened material to form a mechanical interlock including the braze material in the joint region joining the first and second components. The braze material does not metallurgically bond to the joint surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Carl R. Russo, Joseph Peter Henderkott, Matthew T. Kush, Greg Lopshire
  • Publication number: 20210334427
    Abstract: An improved manufacturing method includes virtually aligning scanned virtual vane components that are virtual electronic counterparts of separately manufactured and three-dimensionally scanned physical vane components used in gas turbine engines. The improved method performs virtual alignments for any of various possible virtual combinations of the virtual vane components to predict how their physical counterparts would likely behave in combination with each other before those physical counterparts are inseparably combined. One or more optimal virtual combinations are identified, in turn indicating optimal physical combinations to select to form physical vanes incorporated into one or more gas turbine engines, in turn improving the quality of the vanes and ultimately engine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Bradley W. Burkett
  • Publication number: 20210146485
    Abstract: The disclosure describes example techniques and assemblies for joining a first component and a second component. The techniques may include positioning the first and second component adjacent to each other to define a joint region between adjacent portions of the first component and the second component. The techniques may also include inserting a solid retainer material into the joint region through an aperture in one of the first component or the second component to form a mechanical interlock between the first component and the second component and sealing the aperture to retain the solid retainer material within the joint region. The solid retainer material includes at least one of a metal, a metal alloy, or a ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Matthew T. Kush, Rusty M. Garner, Carl R. Russo
  • Patent number: 10933466
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a cast component with a cooling channel is provided. The method includes forming a shell mold over a pattern-ceramic matrix composite (CMC) elongated core arrangement to define a cavity in the shell mold. The pattern-CMC elongated core arrangement includes a pattern-forming material with a CMC elongated core disposed therein. The pattern-forming material in the cavity is replaced with metal via a casting process to form the cast component with the CMC elongated core disposed therein defining the cooling channel. The CMC elongated core is removed from the cast component to open the cooling channel for fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Carl R. Russo, Matthew T. Kush
  • Publication number: 20190275617
    Abstract: The disclosure describes example techniques and assemblies for joining a first component and a second component. The techniques may include positioning the first and second component adjacent to each other to define a joint region between adjacent portions of the first component and the second component, the joint region being coated with an adhesion resistant coating. The techniques may also include positioning a braze material in the joint region, heating the braze material to form an at least softened material, and cooling the at least softened material to form a mechanical interlock including the braze material in the joint region joining the first and second components. The braze material does not metallurgically bond to the joint surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Carl R. Russo, Joseph Peter Henderkott, Matthew T. Kush, Greg Lopshire
  • Publication number: 20170326635
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a cast component with a cooling channel is provided. The method includes forming a shell mold over a pattern-ceramic matrix composite (CMC) elongated core arrangement to define a cavity in the shell mold. The pattern-CMC elongated core arrangement includes a pattern-forming material with a CMC elongated core disposed therein. The pattern-forming material in the cavity is replaced with metal via a casting process to form the cast component with the CMC elongated core disposed therein defining the cooling channel. The CMC elongated core is removed from the cast component to open the cooling channel for fluid communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Carl R. Russo, Matthew T. Kush
  • Patent number: 8118548
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a casing defining a hot gas path, and a shroud member attached to the casing. The shroud member is spaced from the casing to define a gap. The shroud member includes a first end having a first hook member provided with a first sealing surface and a second end including a second hook member provided with a second sealing surface. At least one of the first and second sealing surfaces includes a plurality of labyrinth seal elements that reduce air leakage through the gap into the hot gas path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Iain Robertson Kellock, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Patent number: 8083475
    Abstract: The present application provides an angel wing seal for a turbine bucket. The angel wing seal may include a first wing with a sinusoidally-shaped outer edge and a number of wing teeth positioned thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ariel Caesar-Prepena Jacala, Gary Michael Itzel, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Patent number: 8066475
    Abstract: A uniquely configured rotating seal tooth is used in conjunction with commonly used labyrinth-type seals that provide a seal between a rotating component and a stationary component. The uniquely configured rotating seal tooth produces a compression mechanism to counter leakage flow through the labyrinth of seal teeth, thereby lessening the pressure gradient that drives leakage and reversing the direction of some of the leakage flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ralph Chris Bruner, Robert Craig Akin
  • Patent number: 8002515
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shroud for a turbomachine including at least one support structure and at least one inner shroud disposed at a gas path of a turbomachine. The at least one inner shroud and the at least one support structure have at least one gap therebetween. The at least one gap alternates between at least one restrictive gap and at least one unrestrictive gap and is capable of creating at least one pressure loss mechanism to reduce a hot gas flow in the at least one gap. Further disclosed is a turbomachine and a method for reducing ingestion of hot gas in a turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Iain Robertson Kellock, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20100178159
    Abstract: The present application provides an angel wing seal for a turbine bucket. The angel wing seal may include a first wing with a sinusoidally-shaped outer edge and a number of wing teeth positioned thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ariel Caesar-Prepena Jacala, Gary Michael Itzel, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20100068041
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a casing defining a hot gas path, and a shroud member attached to the casing. The shroud member is spaced from the casing to define a gap. The shroud member includes a first end having a first hook member provided with a first sealing surface and a second end including a second hook member provided with a second sealing surface. At least one of the first and second sealing surfaces includes a plurality of labyrinth seal elements that reduce air leakage through the gap into the hot gas path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Iain Robertson Kellock, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20100061848
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shroud for a turbomachine including at least one support structure and at least one inner shroud disposed at a gas path of a turbomachine. The at least one inner shroud and the at least one support structure have at least one gap therebetween. The at least one gap alternates between at least one restrictive gap and at least one unrestrictive gap and is capable of creating at least one pressure loss mechanism to reduce a hot gas flow in the at least one gap. Further disclosed is a turbomachine and a method for reducing ingestion of hot gas in a turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Iain Robertson Kellock, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20090058013
    Abstract: A uniquely configured rotating seal tooth is used in conjunction with commonly used labyrinth-type seals that provide a seal between a rotating component and a stationary component. The uniquely configured rotating seal tooth produces a compression mechanism to counter leakage flow through the labyrinth of seal teeth, thereby lessening the pressure gradient that drives leakage and reversing the direction of some of the leakage flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ralph Chris Bruner, Robert Craig Akin
  • Patent number: 7448850
    Abstract: A closed loop inner shroud assembly for a gas turbine. The shroud assembly may include a shroud body, a cover plate, an inlet though the cover plate to the shroud body, a serpentine passageway through the shroud body, and an outlet from the shroud body to the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Iain Robertson Kellock, Stephen William Tesh, Tagir Nigmatulin