Patents by Inventor Clay Thomas Griffis
Clay Thomas Griffis 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).
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Patent number: 11939878Abstract: A turbomachine component is provided. The turbomachine component formed from an additive manufacturing system. The additive manufacturing system defines an axial build direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The turbomachine component includes an exterior portion. The exterior portion includes a first end wall, a second end wall, and an outer band extending axially between the first end wall and the second end wall. The turbomachine component further includes an interior portion disposed within the exterior portion. The interior portion includes a self-breaking inner band extending axially between the first end wall and the second end wall. The self-breaking inner band includes a plurality of teeth disposed between the first end wall and the second end wall.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLCInventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Emily Kaufman, Clay Thomas Griffis, Bailey Basso, Archie Lee Swanner, Jr.
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Publication number: 20230408092Abstract: An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment. The combustion liner includes a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The integrated combustor nozzle further includes an impingement cooling apparatus positioned within the cavity. The impingement cooling apparatus includes a flange. The impingement cooling apparatus further includes a plurality of impingement members that each extend from a respective opening defined in the flange to a respective closed end. Each impingement member defines a plurality of impingement apertures that direct air to impinge upon one of the first side wall and the second side wall. The impingement cooling apparatus further includes stand-offs extending from each impingement member of the plurality of impingement members. The stand-offs space apart each impingement member of the plurality of impingement members from surrounding surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Clay Thomas Griffis, Keith Cletus Belsom, Charles Van Buchan
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Publication number: 20230278134Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to the aligning of a melting beam source in an additive manufacturing (AM) system. Methods of the disclosure may include forming a first test article and a second test article of different shapes on a build plate. The method further includes measuring a vertical scale, vertical alignment, horizontal scale, and an alignment of the melting beam source using the first and second test articles. The method includes determining whether one of the vertical scale, the vertical alignment, the horizontal scale, or the horizontal alignment of the melting beam source is not within a corresponding tolerance of a target specification. If at least one of the vertical scale, the vertical alignment, the horizontal scale, or the horizontal alignment is within the corresponding tolerance, the method includes adjusting the melting beam source of the AM system to align the melting beam source to yield the target specification.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2022Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: John Bryan Pourcho, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Maxwell Evan Miller, James Joseph Murray, III, Michael Ryan Horton, Evan John Dozier, Clay Thomas Griffis, Chad Joseph Dulkiewicz
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Patent number: 11668242Abstract: Fuel injection assemblies and combustors are provided. A fuel injection assembly includes a fuel injector having a first annular wall that about an axial centerline and extends from a primary inlet disposed at a first end to a primary outlet disposed at a second end. A second annular wall surrounds the first annular wall. A fuel plenum is defined between the first annular wall and the second annular wall. A fuel duct extends from a fuel outlet defined in the second annular wall to a fuel inlet. wherein the fuel duct is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum. The fuel duct includes a polygonal segment and a cylindrical inlet segment. The polygonal segment extends from the fuel outlet to the cylindrical inlet segment.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clay Thomas Griffis, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Keith Cletus Belsom, Heath Michael Ostebee
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Patent number: 11614233Abstract: An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment along a radial direction. The combustion liner including a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. An impingement panel having an impingement plate disposed along an exterior surface of one of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment. The impingement plate defines a plurality of impingement apertures that direct coolant in discrete jets towards the exterior surface of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment. The impingement panel includes an inlet portion that extends from the impingement plate to a collection duct. The impingement panel further includes a plurality of supports spaced apart from one another. The plurality of supports extend between, and are coupled to, the inlet portion, the collection duct, and the impingement plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Jerome Walter Goike, Clay Thomas Griffis
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Patent number: 11565477Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a test article for additive manufacture and related methods. A test article formed may include a body having a forward face and a rearward face horizontally opposite the forward face. A first surface extending between the forward face and the rearward face of the body may include a plurality of protrusions for removable coupling of the body to a build plate. A second surface on the body may extend between the forward face and the rearward face of the body, and may include a plurality of angled flat surface portions. Each of the plurality of angled flat surface portions may have a distinct angle with respect to a horizontal plane of the body. An angular difference between each adjacent angled flat surface portion in the plurality of angled flat surface portions is substantially uniform.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clay Thomas Griffis, Steven Charles Woods, Tiffany Muller Craft, Evan John Dozier, Eric Eicher McConnell
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Patent number: 11434772Abstract: Methods of fabricating a turbomachine component and turbomachine components are provided. The method includes irradiating a layer of powder in a powder bed to form a fused region. The powder is disposed on a build plate. The method further includes a step of providing a subsequent layer of powder over the powder bed by passing a recoater arm over the powder bed from a first side of the powder bed. The method further includes repeating the irradiating and providing steps until a turbine nozzle assembly is formed on the build plate. The turbine nozzle assembly includes the turbine nozzle and a plurality of heat fins disposed within the turbine nozzle. The plurality of heat fins transfer heat away from a thermally sensitive portion of the turbine nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Clay Thomas Griffis, Jonathan Dwight Berry
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Publication number: 20220098992Abstract: Methods of fabricating a turbomachine component and turbomachine components are provided. The method includes irradiating a layer of powder in a powder bed to form a fused region. The powder is disposed on a build plate. The method further includes a step of providing a subsequent layer of powder over the powder bed by passing a recoater arm over the powder bed from a first side of the powder bed. The method further includes repeating the irradiating and providing steps until a turbine nozzle assembly is formed on the build plate. The turbine nozzle assembly includes the turbine nozzle and a plurality of heat fins disposed within the turbine nozzle. The plurality of heat fins transfer heat away from a thermally sensitive portion of the turbine nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Clay Thomas Griffis, Jonathan Dwight Berry
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Publication number: 20220099027Abstract: Fuel injection assemblies and combustors are provided. A fuel injection assembly includes a fuel injector having a first annular wall that about an axial centerline and extends from a primary inlet disposed at a first end to a primary outlet disposed at a second end. A second annular wall surrounds the first annular wall. A fuel plenum is defined between the first annular wall and the second annular wall. A fuel duct extends from a fuel outlet defined in the second annular wall to a fuel inlet. wherein the fuel duct is in fluid communication with the fuel plenum. The fuel duct includes a polygonal segment and a cylindrical inlet segment. The polygonal segment extends from the fuel outlet to the cylindrical inlet segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Clay Thomas Griffis, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Keith Cletus Belsom, Heath Michael Ostebee
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Publication number: 20220080667Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a test article for additive manufacture and related methods. A test article formed may include a body having a forward face and a rearward face horizontally opposite the forward face. A first surface extending between the forward face and the rearward face of the body may include a plurality of protrusions for removable coupling of the body to a build plate. A second surface on the body may extend between the forward face and the rearward face of the body, and may include a plurality of angled flat surface portions. Each of the plurality of angled flat surface portions may have a distinct angle with respect to a horizontal plane of the body. An angular difference between each adjacent angled flat surface portion in the plurality of angled flat surface portions is substantially uniform.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: March 17, 2022Inventors: Clay Thomas Griffis, Steven Charles Woods, Tiffany Muller Craft, Evan John Dozier, Eric Eicher McConnell
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Publication number: 20220065452Abstract: An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment along a radial direction. The combustion liner including a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. An impingement panel having an impingement plate disposed along an exterior surface of one of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment. The impingement plate defines a plurality of impingement apertures that direct coolant in discrete jets towards the exterior surface of the inner liner segment or the outer liner segment. The impingement panel includes an inlet portion that extends from the impingement plate to a collection duct. The impingement panel further includes a plurality of supports spaced apart from one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Jerome Walter Goike, Clay Thomas Griffis