Patents by Inventor Gary Charles Liotta

Gary Charles Liotta 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).

  • Publication number: 20130108462
    Abstract: The present application provides a cover plate assembly for use with a rotor disk. The cover plate assembly may include a radial flange extending from the rotor disk, a flange aperture extending through the radial flange, a cover plate segment with a fastening aperture and a hook for receiving the radial flange, and a fastener extending through the flange aperture and the fastening aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, JR., Gary Charles Liotta
  • Patent number: 8317459
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems, methods, and an apparatus for providing a magnetic seal. According to one embodiment, a system having a magnetic seal can be provided. The system can include a rotary machine having a first component and a second component. A magnetic seal can be mounted to the first component and positioned relative to the second component to provide a gap between the magnetic seal and the second component. The magnetic seal can include a first magnetic element and a compliant material adapted to adjust in response to a force exerted on the magnetic seal by a second magnetic element. The second magnetic element can be mounted to the second component so that the gap between the magnetic seal and the second component can be modified in response to the force exerted by second magnetic element on the magnetic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Patent number: 8221062
    Abstract: A device for reducing secondary airflow in a gas turbine is disclosed. The device includes an inter-stage sealing member located between a plurality of first turbine buckets attached to a first rotor disk, and a plurality of second turbine buckets attached to a second rotor disk. The first rotor disk and the second rotor disk are rotatable about a central axis. The inter-stage sealing member is configured to be attached in a fixed position relative to the first rotor disk and the second rotor disk, and to contact the plurality of first buckets and the plurality of second buckets in a sealing engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Charles Liotta, Thomas Raymond Farrell
  • Patent number: 8206119
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a coverplate may be configured to axially overlay a plurality of blade retaining slots within a wheel post of a rotor wheel. The coverplate may include a tab for radially securing the coverplate within a complementary groove of the rotor wheel and an aperture configured to align with a corresponding aperture of the turbine wheel to receive a fastener for axially securing the coverplate to the rotor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Charles Liotta, Christopher Sean Bowes, John Wesley Harris, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120093632
    Abstract: A nozzle is disclosed for use in a turbine or compressor. In an embodiment, each of a plurality of vanes is supported by an outer shroud including a plurality of outer shroud segments disposed adjacent to adjoining segments in end-to-end relationship. Each segment includes a hole therethrough, dimensioned to receive a vane extension sleeve. This system may be used in conjunction with a modulated cooling system and may allow for improved removal for overhaul.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andres Jose Garcia Crespo, Robert Walter Coign, David Richard Johns, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Publication number: 20120093634
    Abstract: A turbine bucket includes an airfoil portion and a tip shroud at a radially outer end of the airfoil portion. The tip shroud includes a first radially inner tip shroud component formed integrally with the airfoil portion and composed of a first metal material, and a second radially outer structural tip shroud component composed of a second metal material bonded to the first radially inner tip shroud component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Gary Charles Liotta
  • Publication number: 20120087799
    Abstract: An axial retention device for a turbine is disclosed. The axial retention device includes a latch associated with a mating surface of one of a turbine component and a support structure. The latch has an outward bias and includes an axial load surface. The axial retention device further includes a pocket defined in a mating surface of the other of the turbine component and the support structure. The pocket is configured to accept the latch therein and includes a mating axial load surface. Engagement of the latch and the pocket allows the axial load surface and the mating axial load surface to interact, preventing axial movement of the turbine component with respect to the support structure in at least one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Raymond Farrell, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Publication number: 20120003079
    Abstract: An apparatus for restricting fluid flow in a turbo-machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a first inter-stage sealing member configured to be located between a first rotating airfoil stage and a second rotating airfoil stage attached to a rotor shaft, the first inter-stage sealing member including a segmented structure that includes a plurality of segments forming a circumferential surface, the first inter-stage sealing member including: a first base portion including a securing mechanism configured to at least substantially radially and tangentially secure the inter-stage sealing member to an inter-stage support structure; a first axial retention mechanism; and a first axially extending sealing portion configured to be outwardly radially loaded against at least one of the first rotating airfoil stage and the second rotating airfoil stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: THOMAS RAYMOND FARRELL, GARY CHARLES LIOTTA, IAN DAVID WILSON
  • Publication number: 20110243746
    Abstract: A composite turbine blade assembly includes a ceramic blade including an airfoil portion, a shank portion and an attachment portion; and a transition assembly adapted to attach the ceramic blade to a turbine disk or rotor, the transition assembly including first and second transition components clamped together, trapping said ceramic airfoil therebetween. Interior surfaces of the first and second transition portions are formed to mate with the shank portion and the attachment portion of the ceramic blade, and exterior surfaces of said first and second transition components are formed to include an attachment feature enabling the transition assembly to be attached to the turbine rotor or disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary Charles LIOTTA, Andres GARCIA-CRESPO
  • Publication number: 20110162384
    Abstract: A system for modulating the amount of air supplied through a pressure boundary in a gas turbine is disclosed that includes a passageway located on the pressure boundary. Additionally, a temperature activated valve is mounted within the passageway and is configured to activate at a predetermined temperature threshold. Specifically, the temperature activated valve activates from a closed position to an open position when the local temperature at the temperature activated valve reaches or exceeds the predetermined temperature threshold to allow air to flow through the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: RICHARD HENRY LANGDON, II, GARY CHARLES LIOTTA
  • Publication number: 20110097199
    Abstract: An insulation system includes at least one turbine insulation compartment configured to enclose at least a portion of a turbine; an insulation storage compartment configured to store a supply of insulation; a plurality of first pipes that connect to the turbine insulation compartment and the insulation storage compartment; and a blower configured to generate a flow of air in at least one first pipe to pneumatically convey insulation between the insulation storage compartment and the at least one turbine insulation compartment. A method of insulating at least a portion of a turbine includes enclosing at least a portion of the turbine in a compartment; and conveying insulation into the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Henry G. BALLARD, JR., Lewis Berkley DAVIS, JR., Gary Charles LIOTTA
  • Publication number: 20110070096
    Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical machining process is provided. The electrode comprises a curved, electrically conductive member, and an insulating coating covering at least a portion of a side surface of the curved, electrically conductive member. An electrochemical machining assembly is also provided for machining curved holes in a workpiece. The assembly includes at least one curved electrode and a power supply operatively connected to provide a pulsed voltage to the at least one curved electrode and to the workpiece. The assembly further includes a rotational driver operatively connected to move the at least one curved electrode along a curved path within the workpiece. The assembly is configured to remove material from the workpiece upon application of the pulsed voltage to the at least one curved electrode and to the workpiece. An electrochemical machining method is also provided for forming one or more curved holes in an electrically conductive workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bin Wei, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Publication number: 20110062671
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide systems, methods, and an apparatus for providing a magnetic seal. According to one embodiment, a system having a magnetic seal can be provided. The system can include a rotary machine having a first component and a second component. A magnetic seal can be mounted to the first component and positioned relative to the second component to provide a gap between the magnetic seal and the second component. The magnetic seal can include a first magnetic element and a compliant material adapted to adjust in response to a force exerted on the magnetic seal by a second magnetic element. The second magnetic element can be mounted to the second component so that the gap between the magnetic seal and the second component can be modified in response to the force exerted by second magnetic element on the magnetic seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo, Gary Charles Liotta
  • Publication number: 20100196164
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a coverplate may be configured to axially overlay a plurality of blade retaining slots within a wheel post of a rotor wheel. The coverplate may include a tab for radially securing the coverplate within a complementary groove of the rotor wheel and an aperture configured to align with a corresponding aperture of the turbine wheel to receive a fastener for axially securing the coverplate to the rotor wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Charles Liotta, Christopher Sean Bowes, John Wesley Harris, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100178160
    Abstract: A device for reducing secondary airflow in a gas turbine is disclosed. The device includes an inter-stage sealing member located between a plurality of first turbine buckets attached to a first rotor disk, and a plurality of second turbine buckets attached to a second rotor disk. The first rotor disk and the second rotor disk are rotatable about a central axis. The inter-stage sealing member is configured to be attached in a fixed position relative to the first rotor disk and the second rotor disk, and to contact the plurality of first buckets and the plurality of second buckets in a sealing engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary Charles Liotta, Thomas Raymond Farrell
  • Patent number: 7731482
    Abstract: A damping system for a turbine bucket. The damping system includes a damper pocket with a variable tangential depth and a damper pin positional within the damper pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Arnette Lagrange, Randall Richard Good, Gary Charles Liotta, Jon Robert DeLong, Matthew Durham Collier, James William Vehr, Anthony Aaron Chiurato
  • Patent number: 7534090
    Abstract: An enhanced damping system for a turbine bucket. The damping system includes a damper pocket and a damper pin with an offset center of gravity positioned within the damper pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Randall Richard Good, Benjamin Arnette Lagrange, Gary Charles Liotta, James William Vehr, Jonathan David Crim, Stephen Paul Wassynger, Anthony Aaron Chiurato
  • Publication number: 20070286732
    Abstract: An enhanced damping system for a turbine bucket. The damping system includes a damper pocket and a damper pin with an offset center of gravity positioned within the damper pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Randall Richard Good, Benjamin Arnette Lagrange, Gary Charles Liotta, James William Vehr, Jonathan David Crim, Stephen Paul Wassynger, Anthony Aaron Chiurato
  • Publication number: 20070286734
    Abstract: A damping system for a turbin bucket. The damping system includes a damper pocket with a variable tangential depth and a damper pin positional within the damper pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Arnette Lagrange, Randall Richard Good, Gary Charles Liotta, Jon Robert DeLong, Matthew Durham Collier, James William Vehr
  • Patent number: 6761034
    Abstract: A method enables a structural cover for a gas turbine engine to be manufactured. The method includes forming a torroidial body including an integrally-formed windage cover portion and a seal flange portion, and forming a plurality offastener openings extending from a forward side of the torroidial body to an aft side of the torroidial body, such that when installed in the gas turbine engine, the windage cover portion facilitates shielding the fastener openings from a gas flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electroc Company
    Inventors: David Andrew Niday, Scott Patrick Ryczek, James Patrick McGovern, Gary Charles Liotta, Gianni Busso