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).
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Patent number: 9909436Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christopher Lee Golden, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Bryan David Lewis, Christopher Donald Porter, David Wayne Weber
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Patent number: 9713838Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers
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Patent number: 9669458Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 6, 2014Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Dustin Michael Earnhardt
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Patent number: 9638045Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 28, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate
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Publication number: 20170016348Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2015Publication date: January 19, 2017Inventors: Christopher Lee Golden, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Bryan David Lewis, Christopher Donald Porter, David Wayne Weber
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Patent number: 9249917Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers, David Wayne Weber
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Publication number: 20150345300Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate
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Publication number: 20150218962Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Dustin Michael Earnhardt
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Publication number: 20140338772Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers, David Wayne Weber
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Publication number: 20140341724Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Michelle Jessica Rogers