Patents by Inventor Gary D. Mercer

Gary D. Mercer 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: 7615304
    Abstract: A fuel cell system for driving a pipeline transmission device. The fuel cell system may include a fuel cell stack in communication with the pipeline, a turbine engine in communication with the fuel cell stack, and a DC motor in communication with the transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joe Ferrall, Rajiv Doshi, Chellappa Balan, David A. DeAngelis, Gary D. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20080236073
    Abstract: A wind turbine tower is provided that will accommodate rail transport of wind turbine sections. The wind turbine tower includes a plurality of axial tubular sections, wherein the sections including an outer diameter no greater than a designated maximum diameter; a main structural element for each of the axial tubular sections, with the structural element being of a generally cylindrical shape; and corner reinforcements for the main structural elements. The corner reinforcements are provided generally equidistant around the circumference of the main structural element about 90 degrees apart. Corner supports may further be provided to support the corner reinforcements from a foundation of the wind turbine tower. With the corner reinforcements attached to the main structural elements, the combination falls within a space envelope that may be accommodated for rail transport.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Bharat S. Bagepalli, Timothy M. Grzybowski, Gary D. Mercer, Dustin J. Wambeke
  • Patent number: 6568091
    Abstract: A measuring system for measuring axial displacement of a tube relative to an axially stationary component in a rotating rotor assembly includes at least one displacement sensor adapted to be located normal to a longitudinal axis of the tube; an insulated cable system adapted for passage through the rotor assembly; a rotatable proximitor module located axially beyond the rotor assembly to which the cables are connected; and a telemetry system operatively connected to the proximitor module for sampling signals from the proximitor module and forwarding data to a ground station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary D. Mercer, Ming C. Li, Charles R. Baum
  • Patent number: 5605438
    Abstract: A turbine casing is provided in two casing halves joined one to the other along a horizontal splitline having flanges with spaced boltholes. A circumferentially extending rib is provided about each casing half at a location just forward of the turbine buckets to minimize or eliminate distortion caused by internal pressure and meridional roll of the casing. One or more axially extending ribs is provided on each casing half. The axial ribs have a radial stiffness which substantially matches the stiffness and thermal response of the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven S. Burdgick, John R. Hess, Gary D. Mercer, Gregory A. Crum, James E. Cencula, John A. Eastman
  • Patent number: 5511604
    Abstract: A cast article having a reinforced structural composite core is disclosed. The cast article includes a structural element which is embedded in the otherwise cast metal article. The structural element is comprised of a metal matrix composite structural core. It includes a plurality of reinforcing fibers within a metal matrix. The fibers are generally a non-metallic material such as a ceramic which degrade at a temperature below the melting temperature of the cast metal comprising the article. The metal matrix composite structural core is encased with a sheath. The sheath, attached to and completely surrounding the core, is made of the same metal as the cast metal article. In a preferred embodiment, the article is a titanium alloy strut for a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Ravenhall, Charles R. Wojciechowski, Stephen C. Mitchell, Gary D. Mercer, Thomas J. Kelly, Melvin A. Schobert, Harvey M. Maclin
  • Patent number: 5439750
    Abstract: A cast article having a reinforced structural composite core is disclosed. The cast article includes a structural element which is embedded in the otherwise cast metal article. The structural element is comprised of a metal matrix composite structural core. It includes a plurality of reinforcing fibers within a metal matrix. The fibers are generally a non-metallic material such as a ceramic which degrade at a temperature below the melting temperature of the cast metal comprising the article. The metal matrix composite structural core is encased with a sheath. The sheath, attached to and completely surrounding the core, is made of the same metal as the cast metal article. In a preferred embodiment, the article is a titanium alloy strut for a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Ravenhall, Charles R. Wojciechowski, Stephen C. Mitchell, Gary D. Mercer, Thomas J. Kelly, Melvin A. Schobert, Harvey M. Maclin
  • Patent number: 5056738
    Abstract: The present invention is a damper assembly included in a strut on the front frame for a jet propulsion engine. The damper assembly is disposed within the strut for damping vibration of the strut as a result of air stream pressure pulses from first stage fan blades causing strut excitation when the fan blades are operating at least at transonic speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary D. Mercer, Kurt T. Hildebrand