Patents by Inventor Craig A. Bielek

Craig A. Bielek 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: 8231353
    Abstract: A flow directing assembly for use in a turbine engine comprising: a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, each of the blades including a radial projecting airfoil with a concave pressure side and a convex suction side that extend from a platform; and a plurality of flow passages, each flow passage defined by the airfoils of neighboring blades and an inner wall formed by abutting platforms of neighboring blades, the inner wall forming the inner radial boundary of the flow passage; wherein the inner wall of one or more of the flow passages comprises means for reducing frictional losses between the flow through the turbine engine and the inner wall. The means for reducing frictional losses may comprise a non-axisymmetrical trough positioned between neighboring airfoils that is configured to reduce frictional losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gunnar L. Siden, Craig A. Bielek, Brian C. Barr, Bradley T. Boyer, Thomas W. Vandeputte, Peter A. Galie
  • Patent number: 8070428
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a table. Wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Bielek, Donald O. Brock, Gerald K. Blow
  • Publication number: 20100166558
    Abstract: A flow directing assembly for use in a turbine engine comprising: a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, each of the blades including a radial projecting airfoil with a concave pressure side and a convex suction side that extend from a platform; and a plurality of flow passages, each flow passage defined by the airfoils of neighboring blades and an inner wall formed by abutting platforms of neighboring blades, the inner wall forming the inner radial boundary of the flow passage; wherein the inner wall of one or more of the flow passages comprises means for reducing frictional losses between the flow through the turbine engine and the inner wall. The means for reducing frictional losses may comprise a non-axisymmetrical trough positioned between neighboring airfoils that is configured to reduce frictional losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Gunnar L. Siden, Craig A. Bielek, Brian C. Barr, Bradley T. Boyer, Thomas W. Vandeputte, Peter A. Galie
  • Publication number: 20100158678
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a table. Wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches, the profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Craig A. Bielek, Donald O. Brock, Gerald K. Blow
  • Patent number: 7527473
    Abstract: The first stage nozzles have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I. The X and Y values are in inches and the Z value is in inches along the nozzle stacking axis coincident with a turbine radius. The X and Y distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the nozzle. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of±0.160 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig Humanchuk, Craig Bielek, Linda Farral, Glen MacMillan
  • Publication number: 20080101925
    Abstract: The first stage nozzles have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I. The X and Y values are in inches and the Z value is in inches along the nozzle stacking axis coincident with a turbine radius. The X and Y distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the nozzle. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelope of ±0.160 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Craig Humanchuk, Craig Bielek, Linda Farral, Glen MacMillan