Patents by Inventor Gregory Allan Crum

Gregory Allan Crum 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: 10047633
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a bearing housing of a turbine, wherein the bearing housing is configured to support a shaft of the turbine, and the bearing housing comprises at least one bearing housing ear configured to transfer a load of the bearing housing to an inlet housing of the turbine through a horizontal center line of the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Maruthi Prasad Manchikanti, Kenneth Damon Black, Donald Earl Floyd, II, Gregory Allan Crum
  • Patent number: 9664067
    Abstract: A seal retaining assembly includes a first segment coupled to a first structure. Also included is a recess of the first segment, the recess defined by a first and second wall, the first wall defining a first wall aperture, the second wall defining a second wall aperture. Further included is a second segment having a tab disposed within the recess in fitted contact with the first and second wall to retain the second segment to the first segment in a radial direction, the tab defining a tab aperture, the first and second segment defining an axial gap therebetween, the first wall aperture, the second wall aperture and the tab aperture are aligned to form a passage. Yet further included is a flex seal within the axial gap. Also included is a pin in the passage to fix the second segment to the first segment in axial and circumferential directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Karol Filip Leszczynski, Christopher Warren Childs, David Matthew Clarida, Gregory Allan Crum, Mitchel Merck, Alexander Maxim Libers
  • Patent number: 9382810
    Abstract: A system for removing heat from a gas turbine generally includes a plurality of stationary nozzles arranged in an annular array within the gas turbine. Each of the plurality of stationary nozzles may include a radially outer platform and a radially extending cooling passage. The radially extending cooling passage may have an inlet that extends generally axially and circumferentially across a portion of the radially outer platform. A closed loop cooling coil may extend continuously circumferentially around the radially outer platform of two or more of the plurality of stationary nozzles. The closed loop cooling coil may be disposed circumferentially across and outside of the inlet of the radially extending cooling passage of each of the two or more stationary nozzles, and a cooling medium may flow through the cooling coil and out of the gas turbine so as to remove heat from the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gregory Allan Crum, James William Vehr
  • Publication number: 20160102578
    Abstract: A seal retaining assembly includes a first segment coupled to a first structure. Also included is a recess of the first segment, the recess defined by a first and second wall, the first wall defining a first wall aperture, the second wall defining a second wall aperture. Further included is a second segment having a tab disposed within the recess in fitted contact with the first and second wall to retain the second segment to the first segment in a radial direction, the tab defining a tab aperture, the first and second segment defining an axial gap therebetween, the first wall aperture, the second wall aperture and the tab aperture are aligned to form a passage. Yet further included is a flex seal within the axial gap. Also included is a pin in the passage to fix the second segment to the first segment in axial and circumferential directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Karol Filip Leszczynski, Christopher Warren Childs, David Matthew Clarida, Gregory Allan Crum, Mitchel Merck, Alexander Maxim Libers
  • Patent number: 9273569
    Abstract: A lifting fixture assembly adapted for shipping and/or lifting includes a lower turbine casing having two horizontal joint flanges adapted to engage mating flanges on an upper-turbine casing. The horizontal joint flanges are provided with plural bolt holes used for securing the upper turbine casing to the lower turbine casing. A plurality of cross-beams extend transversely across the lower turbine casing, removably secured to said horizontal joint flanges, using selected ones of the existing bolt holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Allen Seale, Gregory Allan Crum, Netaji Haribhau Mane
  • Publication number: 20150345332
    Abstract: A horizontal joint of a rotary machine barrel includes first and second section mating surfaces that extend axially adjacent to the joint, and a plurality of gaps and a plurality of tangs disposed axially along the first and second section mating surfaces, respectively. Each tang has an axially extending tang aperture defined therethrough. Each gap is sized and axially spaced to receive a corresponding tang. Additionally, the joint includes a plurality of mating surface segments defined along the first section mating surface. Each segment extends axially between a corresponding pair of gaps and has an axially extending segment aperture defined therethrough. The tang apertures and segment apertures align to form a generally continuous axial pin aperture when the second section mating surface is positioned against the first section mating surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Cox, Kenneth Damon Black, Mitchell Allan Merrill, Gregory Allan Crum
  • Publication number: 20150330252
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a bearing housing of a turbine, wherein the bearing housing is configured to support a shaft of the turbine, and the bearing housing comprises at least one bearing housing ear configured to transfer a load of the bearing housing to an inlet housing of the turbine through a horizontal center line of the bearing housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Maruthi Prasad Manchikanti, Kenneth Damon Black, Donald Earl Floyd, II, Gregory Allan Crum
  • Patent number: 8876448
    Abstract: A shipping fixture for a turbine lower casing includes a frame having a substantially rectangular shape including a pair of elongated, laterally-spaced side beams and a pair of transverse end beams. A first lateral support structure extends between the side beams at a first location corresponding to a first vertically-oriented joint between the turbine compressor casing section and the turbine combustor casing section; and a second lateral support structure includes support blocks mounted on the side beams at a second location corresponding to a second vertically-oriented joint between the turbine combustor casing section and the turbine stage casing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Raymond Hess, Netaji Haribhau Mane, Gregory Allan Crum, Jason Allen Seale, David William Hogg
  • Publication number: 20140193252
    Abstract: A lifting fixture assembly adapted for shipping and/or lifting includes a lower turbine casing having two horizontal joint flanges adapted to engage mating flanges on an upper-turbine casing. The horizontal joint flanges are provided with plural bolt holes used for securing the upper turbine casing to the lower turbine casing. A plurality of cross-beams extend transversely across the lower turbine casing, removably secured to said horizontal joint flanges, using selected ones of the existing bolt holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Allen SEALE, Gregory Allan CRUM, Netaji Haribhau MANE
  • Publication number: 20140030073
    Abstract: A system for removing heat from a gas turbine generally includes a plurality of stationary nozzles arranged in an annular array within the gas turbine. Each of the plurality of stationary nozzles may include a radially outer platform and a radially extending cooling passage. The radially extending cooling passage may have an inlet that extends generally axially and circumferentially across a portion of the radially outer platform. A closed loop cooling coil may extend continuously circumferentially around the radially outer platform of two or more of the plurality of stationary nozzles. The closed loop cooling coil may be disposed circumferentially across and outside of the inlet of the radially extending cooling passage of each of the two or more stationary nozzles, and a cooling medium may flow through the cooling coil and out of the gas turbine so as to remove heat from the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gregory Allan Crum, James William Vehr
  • Patent number: 8083471
    Abstract: An apparatus to support a rotor of a turbine engine disposed upon a support surface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a rotor support bearing disposed within the housing, and a support leg in operable communication with the housing and in direct structural connection with the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Damon Black, Gregory Allan Crum, Scott Michael Elam
  • Patent number: 7914254
    Abstract: A impingement cooling system for heavy duty turbines that includes a manifold affixed to a casing of the heavy-duty turbine, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of impingement holes in the surface of the manifold and a blower that provides air flow across the plurality of impingement holes of the manifold to cool the casing of the heavy-duty turbine to control the clearance between a tip of a turbine blade and a shroud of the heavy-duty turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Mitch Mircea Orza, Jason Seale, Hua Zhang, Gregory Allan Crum
  • Publication number: 20100272558
    Abstract: An apparatus to support a rotor of a turbine engine disposed upon a support surface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a rotor support bearing disposed within the housing, and a support leg in operable communication with the housing and in direct structural connection with the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth Damon Black, Gregory Allan Crum, Scott Michael Elam
  • Patent number: 7414413
    Abstract: A blade tip clearance probe holder including: a first housing in operable communication with a first feature of a casing for a rotary machine; a spring rod assembly in operable communication with the first housing; an electrical capacitance clearance meter in operable communication with the spring rod assembly; and a second housing in operable communication with the first housing wherein the second housing initiates a preload on the spring rod assembly and wherein the electrical capacitance clearance meter maintains a constant spatial relationship with a second feature of the casing for the rotary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allan Crum, Joseph Kirzhner, Kenneth D. Black, Jason Seale
  • Publication number: 20080193278
    Abstract: A impingement cooling system for heavy duty turbines that includes a manifold affixed to a casing of the heavy-duty turbine, wherein the manifold includes a plurality of impingement holes in the surface of the manifold and a blower that provides air flow across the plurality of impingement holes of the manifold to cool the casing of the heavy-duty turbine to control the clearance between a tip of a turbine blade and a shroud of the heavy-duty turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Matthew Erickson, Mitch Mircea Orza, Jason Seale, Hua Zhang, Gregory Allan Crum
  • Patent number: 7090462
    Abstract: A compressor bleed air manifold includes annular outer flanges on opposite sides of the generally annular manifold plenum. The outer and inner flange geometries may be circumferentially tailored to produce optimal case stiffness and thermal response for blade-to-case clearances. The inner flanges are secured to one another by an inner bolt circle radially adjacent the flow path thereby improving the case stiffness, out of roundness and eliminating unsupported sections of the flowpath along an outer diameter thereof. The flanges of the outer bolt circle seal the plenum. The compressor bleed air manifold and the compressor casing load path are thereby isolated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Francis Martin, Gregory Allan Crum, Martel Alexander McCallum
  • Patent number: 6983607
    Abstract: A method to ventilate a rotary machine housed in a compartment having a ventilation air inlet and air exhaust, a variable speed ventilation fan and a temperature sensor, wherein the method includes: sensing a temperature level of the rotary machine; applying the sensed machine temperature level to a controller for the fan; drawing ventilation flow through the compartment and over the machine; determining whether the sensed machine temperature level is above a desired temperature level of the rotary machine, wherein the desired temperature level is determined by the controller, and the controller setting an operational condition of the fan to increase the ventilation flow through the compartment if the sensed machine temperature level is above the desired temperature level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gerald Wilson Grove, Mark David D'Ambruoso, Michael John Barno, William Andrew Parker, David Martin Johnson, Gregory Allan Crum, Stephen Chiaco
  • Patent number: 6450763
    Abstract: A method of replacing an inlet guide vane from a lower inlet casing of a compressor, the lower inlet casing adapted to be secured to an upper inlet casing at a horizontal joint, and after removal of the upper half of the inlet casing but with a rotor of the compressor remaining in place, wherein the inlet guide vane is supported between radially inner and outer walls of the lower inlet casing, and further wherein the inlet guide vane is formed with an integral stem that extends radially through the outer wall and supports a drive gear on its outer end that engages an annular gear rack, the method including a) removing the gear on the radially outer end of the integral stem of the inlet guide vane; b) shearing the inlet guide vane into two cut portions; c) removing the cut portions from inside the lower inlet casing; and d) replacing the inlet guide vane by a modified inlet guide vane having a two-piece stem assembly that enables installation without removal of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allan Crum, Lynn Charles Gagne, William Earl Dixon
  • Patent number: 6131910
    Abstract: Brush seals are retrofitted into existing turbine labyrinth seal rings to create a fail-safe seal design at locations wherever labyrinth seals are currently used, including interstage shaft seals, rotor end seals, bucket (or blade) tip seals and spill strips. Brush seals, per se, when used in place of labyrinth seals, can result in considerable span reductions of steam turbines, or machines with more turbine stages for a given span. Application to end packings results in the potential elimination of gland sealing/exhauster systems. Brush seal life can be improved by retrofitting brush segments to labyrinth seal segments that are either spring-backed, or use pressure loads to obtain design clearances only after steady state operating conditions are achieved. The brush seals are provided with backing plates shaped like labyrinth teeth, resulting in a fail-safe design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Bharat S. Bagepalli, R. Paul Chiu, Robert Harold Cromer, Gregory Allan Crum, Osman Saim Dinc, Anthony Holmes Furman, Paul Thomas Marks, Rudolf Matthias Markytan, David Robert Skinner, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe