Patents by Inventor Dustin Michael Earnhardt

Dustin Michael Earnhardt 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: 9909436
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cooling structure for a stationary blade, which can include: an endwall coupled to a radial end of an airfoil, relative to a rotor axis of a turbomachine; and a substantially crescent-shaped chamber positioned within the endwall and radially displaced from a trailing edge of the airfoil, the substantially crescent-shaped chamber receiving a cooling fluid from a cooling circuit, wherein the substantially crescent-shaped chamber extends from a fore section positioned proximal to one of a pressure side surface and a suction side surface of the airfoil to an aft section positioned proximal to the trailing edge of the airfoil and the other of the pressure side surface and the suction side surface of the airfoil, wherein the aft section of the substantially crescent-shaped chamber is in fluid communication with the fore section of the substantially crescent-shaped chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Golden, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Bryan David Lewis, Christopher Donald Porter, David Wayne Weber
  • Patent number: 9713838
    Abstract: A core tie having a varying cross sectional diameter, a component including such a core tie, and a method of casting a hot gas path component for a turbomachine are provided herein. In an embodiment, the core tie includes a tie member having an axial length; and a cross sectional diameter which varies along the axial length of the tie member. A variation in the cross sectional diameter of the tie member positively secures a position of the core tie relative to the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers
  • Patent number: 9669458
    Abstract: A core for forming micro channels within a turbine component is provided. The core includes a base comprising a first side and a second side; and a core assembly coupled to the second side. The core assembly further includes a plurality of channel members, wherein each channel member has a first end, a second end, and a channel body coupled to and extending between said first end and said second end. The channel body includes a channel shape configured to form the micro channels within the turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Dustin Michael Earnhardt
  • Patent number: 9638045
    Abstract: A cooling structure for a stationary blade is provided. The cooling structure may include a first chamber in an endwall of the stationary blade directing a first cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a first cooling circuit, and a second chamber in the endwall of the stationary blade directing a second cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a second cooling circuit different than the first cooling circuit. The first cooling fluid has a lower temperature than the second cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate
  • Publication number: 20170016348
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cooling structure for a stationary blade, which can include: an endwall coupled to a radial end of an airfoil, relative to a rotor axis of a turbomachine; and a substantially crescent-shaped chamber positioned within the endwall and radially displaced from a trailing edge of the airfoil, the substantially crescent-shaped chamber receiving a cooling fluid from a cooling circuit, wherein the substantially crescent-shaped chamber extends from a fore section positioned proximal to one of a pressure side surface and a suction side surface of the airfoil to an aft section positioned proximal to the trailing edge of the airfoil and the other of the pressure side surface and the suction side surface of the airfoil, wherein the aft section of the substantially crescent-shaped chamber is in fluid communication with the fore section of the substantially crescent-shaped chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Lee Golden, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Bryan David Lewis, Christopher Donald Porter, David Wayne Weber
  • Patent number: 9249917
    Abstract: A sealing member, a component including a sealing member, and a method of sealing a hole are disclosed. In an embodiment, the sealing member includes a plug member for occluding a hole in a wall of a passageway. The plug member includes at least one cooling feature disposed on a distal end of the plug member exposed to the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20150345300
    Abstract: A cooling structure for a stationary blade is provided. The cooling structure may include a first chamber in an endwall of the stationary blade directing a first cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a first cooling circuit, and a second chamber in the endwall of the stationary blade directing a second cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a second cooling circuit different than the first cooling circuit. The first cooling fluid has a lower temperature than the second cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate
  • Publication number: 20150218962
    Abstract: A core for forming micro channels within a turbine component is provided. The core includes a base comprising a first side and a second side; and a core assembly coupled to the second side. The core assembly further includes a plurality of channel members, wherein each channel member has a first end, a second end, and a channel body coupled to and extending between said first end and said second end. The channel body includes a channel shape configured to form the micro channels within the turbine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Dustin Michael Earnhardt
  • Publication number: 20140338772
    Abstract: A sealing member, a component including a sealing member, and a method of sealing a hole are disclosed. In an embodiment, the sealing member includes a plug member for occluding a hole in a wall of a passageway. The plug member includes at least one cooling feature disposed on a distal end of the plug member exposed to the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20140341724
    Abstract: A core tie having a varying cross sectional diameter, a component including such a core tie, and a method of casting a hot gas path component for a turbomachine are provided herein. In an embodiment, the core tie includes a tie member having an axial length; and a cross sectional diameter which varies along the axial length of the tie member. A variation in the cross sectional diameter of the tie member positively secures a position of the core tie relative to the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers