Patents by Inventor Erin K. Bauknight

Erin K. Bauknight 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).

  • Determining optimal turbine operating temperature based on creep rate data and predicted revenue data
    Patent number: 7787996
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbine, the method including the steps of: 1) gathering measured creep data for a blade while the turbine operates at different operating temperatures, the measured creep data comprising at least a measured creep rate for the blade (wherein the different operating temperatures include at least a first operating temperature and a second operating temperature); and 2) given the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the first operating temperature and the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the second operating temperature, determining whether operating the turbine at the first operating temperature or the second operating temperature is more economically efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Scott M. Hoyte, Eric Gebhardt, Erin K. Bauknight
  • METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING TURBINE ENGINES
    Publication number: 20090178417
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbine, the method including the steps of: 1) gathering measured creep data for a blade while the turbine operates at different operating temperatures, the measured creep data comprising at least a measured creep rate for the blade (wherein the different operating temperatures include at least a first operating temperature and a second operating temperature); and 2) given the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the first operating temperature and the measured creep data for the blade while the turbine operated at the second operating temperature, determining whether operating the turbine at the first operating temperature or the second operating temperature is more economically efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Scott M. Hoyte, Eric Gebhardt, Erin K. Bauknight
  • METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING BLADE DEFORMATION IN TURBINES
    Publication number: 20090142194
    Abstract: A tip shrouded turbine blade that may include a target pad disposed on an outer radial surface of the tip shroud, the target pad including a raised surface that protrudes radially outward from the outer face of the tip shroud. The target pad may be substantially cylindrical in shape such that an outer radial face of the target pad is substantially circular in shape. The size of the surface area of the outer radial face of the target pad may be configured to be substantially the same size as an area of measurement for a conventional proximity sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Scott M. Hoyte, Eric Gebhardt, Erin K. Bauknight