Patents by Inventor David Robert Skinner
David Robert Skinner 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: 6651986Abstract: A rotary machine has a stationary component with circumferential grooves and a rotatable component, as well as annular packing or sealing ring segments movable toward and away from the rotating component. To prevent circumferential displacement of the lower side packing ring segments by gravity forces and enable the lowermost segment in the lower housing to be moved radially inwardly, the side segments of the lower housing are supported adjacent the casing midline in a manner preventing downward movement and enabling horizontal movement. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower side packing ring segment is elongated so as to extend above the horizontal joint of the housing and a key bar extends from a key bar groove in the housing to engage a corresponding groove in the segment. The key bar may be disposed to define a seal key for the horizontal joint.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2002Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Jon Chevrette, David Robert Skinner, George Horner Kirby, II, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Publication number: 20030141669Abstract: A rotary machine has a stationary component with circumferential grooves and a rotatable component, as well as annular packing or sealing ring segments movable toward and away from the rotating component. To prevent circumferential displacement of the lower side packing ring segments by gravity forces and enable the lowermost segment in the lower housing to be moved radially inwardly, the side segments of the lower housing are supported adjacent the casing midline in a manner preventing downward movement and enabling horizontal movement. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower side packing ring segment is elongated so as to extend above the horizontal joint of the housing and a key bar extends from a key bar groove in the housing to engage a corresponding groove in the segment. The key bar may be disposed to define a seal key for the horizontal joint.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Richard Jon Chevrette, David Robert Skinner, George Horner Kirby, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6477916Abstract: A balance weight has first and second margins at right angles to one another with the second margin larger than the first margin. A balance weight groove in a rotor has outer and inner wall portions, with the outer wall portions spaced a distance less than the spacing between the inner wall portions. The balance weight has a central threaded opening receiving a screw and a driving slot in the upper face of the weight. An insertion tool is threaded to the balance weight to insert the balance weight through a turbomachinery access opening into the groove. The tool is rotated to locate the second margins below the outer wall portions of the groove. By inserting a driving tool through the insertion tool, the screw is rotated to lock the balance weight to the rotor and in the groove. Upon removal of the insertion and driving tools, a staking tool is inserted through turbine access opening to stake the balance weight and rotor and the screw and balance weight.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2001Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Victor John Knorowski, David Robert Skinner, Alexander Morson
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Patent number: 6435513Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Robert Skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6431827Abstract: A diaphragm has an annular groove formed of deep and shallow grooves with the deep groove opening into the shallow groove. A combination spill strip/brush seal is disposed in the groove. The brush seal comprises a pair of flexible bars secured to the proximal ends of the brush bristles by welding and is received in the shallow groove and a recess in an axial face of the spill strip. The spill strip has base portions extending into the deep groove. The combination spill strip/brush seal is secured in the annular groove by peening material of the diaphragm into the spill strip/brush seal combination. The brush seal may be used with different diameters of spill strips and diaphragm grooves.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: August 13, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christopher Edward Wolfe, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Frederick George Baily, David Robert Skinner
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Publication number: 20020081195Abstract: A diaphragm has an annular groove formed of deep and shallow grooves with the deep groove opening into the shallow groove. A combination spill strip/brush seal is disposed in the groove. The brush seal comprises a pair of flexible bars secured to the proximal ends of the brush bristles by welding and is received in the shallow groove and a recess in an axial face of the spill strip. The spill strip has base portions extending into the deep groove. The combination spill strip/brush seal is secured in the annular groove by peening material of the diaphragm into the spill strip/brush seal combination. The brush seal may be used with different diameters of spill strips and diaphragm grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: June 27, 2002Inventors: Christopher Edward Wolfe, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Frederick George Baily, David Robert Skinner
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Patent number: 6367806Abstract: A seal arrangement for a rotary machine, such as a turbine, includes a main seal segment such as a labyrinth seal segment, a brush seal segment disposed in a slot in the main seal segment and having a layer of bristles secured between upstream and downstream plates of the brush seal segment, and at least one passage radially formed through the main seal segment to communicate a balancing pressure from a pressure source located exteriorly of an outer periphery of the main seal segment to a cavity defined in the downstream plate of the brush seal segment at a downstream side of the layer of bristles of the brush seal segment.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1999Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Osman Saim Dinc, George Ernest Reluzco, Robert Harold Cromer, Martin Francis O'Connor, David Robert Skinner, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Publication number: 20020029653Abstract: A balance weight has first and second margins at right angles to one another with the second margin larger than the first margin. A balance weight groove in a rotor has outer and inner wall portions, with the outer wall portions spaced a distance less than the spacing between the inner wall portions. The balance weight has a central threaded opening receiving a screw and a driving slot in the upper face of the weight. An insertion tool is threaded to the balance weight to insert the balance weight through a turbomachinery access opening into the groove. The tool is rotated to locate the second margins below the outer wall portions of the groove. By inserting a driving tool through the insertion tool, the screw is rotated to lock the balance weight to the rotor and in the groove. Upon removal of the insertion and driving tools, a staking tool is inserted through turbine access opening to stake the balance weight and rotor and the screw and balance weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Victor John Knorowski, David Robert Skinner, Alexander Morson
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Patent number: 6279420Abstract: A balance weight has first and second margins at right angles to one another with the second margin larger than the first margin. A balance weight groove in a rotor has outer and inner wall portions, with the outer wall portions spaced a distance less than the spacing between the inner wall portions. The balance weight has a central threaded opening receiving a screw and a driving slot in the upper face of the weight. An insertion tool is threaded to the balance weight to insert the balance weight through a turbomachinery access opening into the groove. The tool is rotated to locate the second margins below the outer wall portions of the groove. By inserting a driving tool through the insertion tool, the screw is rotated to lock the balance weight to the rotor and in the groove. Upon removal of the insertion and driving tools, a staking tool is inserted through turbine access opening to stake the balance weight and rotor and the screw and balance weight.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1999Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Victor John Knorowski, David Robert Skinner, Alexander Morson
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Publication number: 20010007384Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2001Publication date: July 12, 2001Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: David Robert skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dine, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6257586Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1997Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: David Robert Skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6131910Abstract: Brush seals are retrofitted into existing turbine labyrinth seal rings to create a fail-safe seal design at locations wherever labyrinth seals are currently used, including interstage shaft seals, rotor end seals, bucket (or blade) tip seals and spill strips. Brush seals, per se, when used in place of labyrinth seals, can result in considerable span reductions of steam turbines, or machines with more turbine stages for a given span. Application to end packings results in the potential elimination of gland sealing/exhauster systems. Brush seal life can be improved by retrofitting brush segments to labyrinth seal segments that are either spring-backed, or use pressure loads to obtain design clearances only after steady state operating conditions are achieved. The brush seals are provided with backing plates shaped like labyrinth teeth, resulting in a fail-safe design.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1997Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Bharat S. Bagepalli, R. Paul Chiu, Robert Harold Cromer, Gregory Allan Crum, Osman Saim Dinc, Anthony Holmes Furman, Paul Thomas Marks, Rudolf Matthias Markytan, David Robert Skinner, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6105966Abstract: A brush seal segment useful, when circumferentially arrayed with other such segments, to seal the gap between a rotor and a surrounding casing of a rotary machine such as a steam turbine. An annular backing plate has a rim radially-inwardly bounding together upstream-facing and downstream-facing surfaces. Canted bristles abut the upstream-facing surface. The rim is designed to allow the bristles to recover from a rotor rub. In one design, the rim acts as a labyrinth-seal tooth and is shaped to deform, under a radial force, longitudinally away from the upstream-facing surface. In another design, the rim has a more-inwardly projecting second portion near a radially-aligned edge, and only this second portion acts as a labyrinth-seal tooth.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Osman Saim Dinc, George Ernest Reluzco, Robert Harold Cromer, David Robert Skinner, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6105967Abstract: A combined labyrinth/brush seal is provided in a seal between rotating and stationary components. The seal includes a plurality of arcuate sealing segments, each having one or more labyrinth teeth extending radially toward the surface of the rotating component. As original equipment or retrofit, a brush seal is provided among the labyrinth teeth in a slot formed in the sealing face of the seal segment. In one form, backing and/or forward plates for the brush seal have a tongue extending into an axially extending groove of the seal segments to prevent relative radial movement of the brush seal and seal ring segments. The end faces of the brush seal and seal ring segments may be bored and filled with weld material to prevent relative circumferential movement. Where a single radially extending slot is provided in the sealing ring segment, the brush seal may be stitch-welded to the seal ring segment along opposite sides of the brush seal.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Robert Harold Cromer, Ronald John Placek, David Robert Skinner, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6045134Abstract: A combined labyrinth/brush seal is provided in a seal between rotating and stationary components. The seal includes a plurality of arcuate sealing segments, each having one or more labyrinth teeth extending radially toward the surface of the rotating component. As original equipment or retrofit, a brush seal is provided among the labyrinth teeth in a slot formed in the sealing face of the seal segment. In one form, backing and/or forward plates for the brush seal have a tongue extending into an axially extending groove of the seal segments to prevent relative radial movement of the brush seal and seal ring segments. The end faces of the brush seal and seal ring segments may be bored and filled with weld material to prevent relative circumferential movement. Where a single radially extending slot is provided in the sealing ring segment, the brush seal may be stitch-welded to the seal ring segment along opposite sides of the brush seal.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1998Date of Patent: April 4, 2000Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Robert Harold Cromer, Ronald John Placek, David Robert Skinner, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6036433Abstract: In a turbine construction which includes a rotor having at least one radial step formed therein, and at least one packing ring assembly mounted in a stationary turbine component and axially spanning the radial step, a thrust balancing arrangement for the rotor which includes an axial passage in the stationary component extending from a high pressure side of the stationary component and in fluid communication with an area adjacent the radial step on the rotor. A removable restrictor in the passage permits adjustment of the step thrust.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventor: David Robert Skinner
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Patent number: 6030175Abstract: A hybrid seal segment and a rotary machine (such as a steam or gas turbine) containing such hybrid seal segment. The machine has a rotor, a stator casing, and the hybrid seal segment. The annular hybrid seal segment has a circumferentially-extending channel between axially-spaced-apart first and second labyrinth-seal segments which are attached to a radially-outwardly located mounting block which is circumferentially offset from the labyrinth-seal segments. A brush-seal segment is positioned in the channel.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli, Norman Arnold Turnquist, David Robert Skinner
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Patent number: 6022027Abstract: A rotary machine has a stationary component with circumferential grooves and a rotatable component, as well as annular sealing segments movable toward and away from the rotating component. To prevent circumferential displacement of the lower side annular segments by gravity forces and enable the lowermost segment in the lower housing to be moved radially inwardly, the side segments of the lower housing are supported adjacent the casing midline in a manner preventing downward movement and enabling radial inward and outward movement. Generally Z-shaped clips are disposed in the dovetail groove of the stationary component with the tab at the upper end of the clip engaging a stop on the stationary component and the radially inwardly directed tab on the lower end of the clip engaging in a recess of the segment. Consequently, the segment, upon radial inward movement, pivots the clip about an axis adjacent the casing midline, enabling radial inward and outward movement and preventing circumferential displacement.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1997Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Richard Jon Chevrette, David Robert Skinner, Victor John Knorowski
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Patent number: 5749584Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles "canted" at an approximate 45.degree. angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360.degree. about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1996Date of Patent: May 12, 1998Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Robert Skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dine, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 5709388Abstract: A rotary machine has a stationary component with circumferential grooves and a rotatable component, as well as annular sealing segments movable toward and away from the rotating component. To prevent circumferential displacement of the lower side annular segments by gravity forces and enable the lowermost segment in the lower housing to be moved radially inwardly, the side segments of the lower housing are supported adjacent the casing midline in a manner preventing downward movement and enabling horizontal movement. Consequently, the gap between the lower ends of the side segments and the lower segment in the open position of the segments remains, enabling the lower segment to move radially inwardly upon closing the seals.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1996Date of Patent: January 20, 1998Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: David Robert Skinner, Victor John Knorowski, Martin Francis O'Connor, Richard Jon Chevrette, Thomas William Swart