Patents by Inventor Humberto A. Zuniga

Humberto A. Zuniga 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: 10408064
    Abstract: An internal cooling system (14) including an impingement jet strike channel system (16) for increasing the effectiveness of impingement jets (18) is disclosed. The impingement jet strike channel system (16) may include an impingement jet strike cavity (20) offset from one or more impingement orifices (22). A plurality of impingement jet strike channels (24) may extend radially outward from the impingement jet strike cavity (20) forming a starburst pattern of impingement jet strike channels (24) and may be formed by a plurality of ribs (26) that each separate adjacent impingement jet strike channels (24). The ribs (26) forming the impingement jet strike channels (24) may be split one or more times into multiple channels to increase the number of stagnation points (28, 38, 52) to increase the cooling capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Humberto A. Zuniga
  • Publication number: 20180258773
    Abstract: An internal cooling system (14) including an impingement jet strike channel system (16) for increasing the effectiveness of impingement jets (18) is disclosed. The impingement jet strike channel system (16) may include an impingement jet strike cavity (20) offset from one or more impingement orifices (22). A plurality of impingement jet strike channels (24) may extend radially outward from the impingement jet strike cavity (20) forming a starburst pattern of impingement jet strike channels (24) and may be formed by a plurality of ribs (26) that each separate adjacent impingement jet strike channels (24). The ribs (26) forming the impingement jet strike channels (24) may be split one or more times into multiple channels to increase the number of stagnation points (28, 38, 52) to increase the cooling capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventor: Humberto A. Zuniga
  • Patent number: 9366143
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement in a gas turbine system (120). The arrangement includes a plurality of flow network units (208) to transfer heat to cooling fluid, at least one unit including first (218), second (220), and third (222) flow sections between openings (64a) in a first wall (66) and an opening in a second wall (68) to pass cooling fluid through the walls. The first section includes first flow paths, between the openings in the first wall and the second section, extending to the second section. The third section includes third flow paths, between the second section and the opening in the second wall, to effect flow of cooling fluid. The second section includes one or more cooling fluid flow paths between the first section and the third section. The number of flow paths in the second section is fewer than the number of first flow paths and fewer than the number of third flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignees: Mikro Systems, Inc., Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Humberto A. Zuniga, Jay A. Morrison, Brede J. Kolsrud, John J. Marra
  • Patent number: 9181819
    Abstract: A film cooling structure formed in a component wall of a turbine engine and a method of making the film cooling structure. The film cooling structure includes a plurality of individual diffusion sections formed in the wall, each diffusions section including a single cooling passage for directing cooling air toward a protuberance of a wall defining the diffusion section. The film cooling structure may be formed with a masking template including apertures defining shapes of a plurality of to-be-formed diffusion sections in the wall. A masking material can be applied to the wall into the apertures in the masking template so as to block outlets of cooling passages exposed through the apertures. The masking template can be removed and a material may be applied on the outer surface of the wall such that the material defines the diffusion sections once the masking material is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Jae Y. Um, Mrinal Munshi, Humberto A. Zuniga
  • Patent number: 9028207
    Abstract: A component wall in a turbine engine includes a substrate, a diffusion section, and at least one cooling passage. The diffusion section is located in a surface of the substrate and is defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The cooling passage(s) include an outlet portion through which cooling air exits in a direction toward the first sidewall. The outlet portion includes a rear section, a front section, and an inner wall having proximal and distal ends. The rear section is located between the first and second sidewalls. The front section extends between the first sidewall and the distal end of the inner wall. The first sidewall extends into the outlet portion of the cooling passage(s) to the inner wall and extends from the first lateral wall to the second lateral wall so as to block the front section of the outlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Humberto A. Zuniga, Ching-Pang Lee, Michael E. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20150093251
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement in a gas turbine system (120). The arrangement includes a plurality of flow network units (208) to transfer heat to cooling fluid, at least one unit including first (218), second (220), and third (222) flow sections between openings (64a) in a first wall (66) and an opening in a second wall (68) to pass cooling fluid through the walls. The first section includes first flow paths, between the openings in the first wall and the second section, extending to the second section. The third section includes third flow paths, between the second section and the opening in the second wall, to effect flow of cooling fluid. The second section includes one or more cooling fluid flow paths between the first section and the third section. The number of flow paths in the second section is fewer than the number of first flow paths and fewer than the number of third flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Humberto A. Zuniga, Jay A. Morrison, Brede J. Kolsrud, John J. Marra
  • Patent number: 8959886
    Abstract: A conduit through which hot combustion gases pass in a gas turbine engine. The conduit includes a wall structure having an inner surface, an outer surface, a region, an inlet, and an outlet. The inner surface defines an inner volume of the conduit. The region extends between the inner and outer surfaces and includes cooling fluid structure defining a plurality of cooling passageways. The inlet extends inwardly from the outer surface and provides fluid communication between the inlet and the passageways. The outlet extends from the passageways to the inner surface to provide fluid communication between the passageways and the inner volume. At least one first cooling passageway intersects with at least one second cooling passageway such that cooling fluid flowing through the first cooling passageway interacts with cooling fluid flowing through the second cooling passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Siemens Energy, Inc., Mikro Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Humberto A. Zuniga, Jay A. Morrison
  • Patent number: 8894363
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement in a gas turbine system (120). The arrangement includes a plurality of flow network units (208) to transfer heat to cooling fluid, at least one unit including first (218), second (220), and third (222) flow sections between openings (64a) in a first wall (66) and an opening in a second wall (68) to pass cooling fluid through the walls. The first section includes first flow paths, between the openings in the first wall and the second section, extending to the second section. The third section includes third flow paths, between the second section and the opening in the second wall, to effect flow of cooling fluid. The second section includes one or more cooling fluid flow paths between the first section and the third section. The number of flow paths in the second section is fewer than the number of first flow paths and fewer than the number of third flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Siemens Energy, Inc., Mikro Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Humberto A. Zuniga, Jay A. Morrison, Brede J. Kolsrud, John J. Marra
  • Patent number: 8608443
    Abstract: A component wall in a turbine engine. The component wall includes a substrate, a trench, and a plurality of cooling passages. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposed from the first surface. The trench is located in the second surface and is defined by a bottom surface between the first and second surfaces, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall spaced from the first sidewall. The first sidewall extends radially outwardly continuously from the bottom surface of the trench to the second surface. The first sidewall includes a plurality of first protuberances extending toward the second sidewall. The cooling passages extend through the substrate from the first surface to the bottom surface of the trench. Outlets of the cooling passages are arranged within the trench such that cooling air exiting the cooling passages is directed toward respective ones of the first protuberances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Jae Y. Um, Mrinal Munshi, Humberto A. Zuniga
  • Publication number: 20120201674
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement in a gas turbine system (120). The arrangement includes a plurality of flow network units (208) to transfer heat to cooling fluid, at least one unit including first (218), second (220), and third (222) flow sections between openings (64a) in a first wall (66) and an opening in a second wall (68) to pass cooling fluid through the walls. The first section includes first flow paths, between the openings in the first wall and the second section, extending to the second section. The third section includes third flow paths, between the second section and the opening in the second wall, to effect flow of cooling fluid. The second section includes one or more cooling fluid flow paths between the first section and the third section. The number of flow paths in the second section is fewer than the number of first flow paths and fewer than the number of third flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Humberto A. Zuniga, Jay A. Morrison, Brede J. Kolsrud, John J. Marra
  • Publication number: 20120076644
    Abstract: A component wall in a turbine engine includes a substrate, a diffusion section, and at least one cooling passage. The diffusion section is located in a surface of the substrate and is defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The cooling passage(s) include an outlet portion through which cooling air exits in a direction toward the first sidewall. The outlet portion includes a rear section, a front section, and an inner wall having proximal and distal ends. The rear section is located between the first and second sidewalls. The front section extends between the first sidewall and the distal end of the inner wall. The first sidewall extends into the outlet portion of the cooling passage(s) to the inner wall and extends from the first lateral wall to the second lateral wall so as to block the front section of the outlet portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Humberto A. Zuniga, Ching-Pang Lee, Michael E. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20120006518
    Abstract: A conduit through which hot combustion gases pass in a gas turbine engine. The conduit includes a wall structure having an inner surface, an outer surface, a region, an inlet, and an outlet. The inner surface defines an inner volume of the conduit. The region extends between the inner and outer surfaces and includes cooling fluid structure defining a plurality of cooling passageways. The inlet extends inwardly from the outer surface and provides fluid communication between the inlet and the passageways. The outlet extends from the passageways to the inner surface to provide fluid communication between the passageways and the inner volume. At least one first cooling passageway intersects with at least one second cooling passageway such that cooling fluid flowing through the first cooling passageway interacts with cooling fluid flowing through the second cooling passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Humberto A. Zuniga, Jay A. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20110305583
    Abstract: A film cooling structure formed in a component wall of a turbine engine and a method of making the film cooling structure. The film cooling structure includes a plurality of individual diffusion sections formed in the wall, each diffusions section including a single cooling passage for directing cooling air toward a protuberance of a wall defining the diffusion section. The film cooling structure may be formed with a masking template including apertures defining shapes of a plurality of to-be-formed diffusion sections in the wall. A masking material can be applied to the wall into the apertures in the masking template so as to block outlets of cooling passages exposed through the apertures. The masking template can be removed and a material may be applied on the outer surface of the wall such that the material defines the diffusion sections once the masking material is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Jae Y. Um, Mrinal Munshi, Humberto A. Zuniga
  • Publication number: 20110305582
    Abstract: A component wall in a turbine engine. The component wall includes a substrate, a trench, and a plurality of cooling passages. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposed from the first surface. The trench is located in the second surface and is defined by a bottom surface between the first and second surfaces, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall spaced from the first sidewall. The first sidewall extends radially outwardly continuously from the bottom surface of the trench to the second surface. The first sidewall includes a plurality of first protuberances extending toward the second sidewall. The cooling passages extend through the substrate from the first surface to the bottom surface of the trench. Outlets of the cooling passages are arranged within the trench such that cooling air exiting the cooling passages is directed toward respective ones of the first protuberances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Jae Y. Um, Mrinal Munshi, Humberto A. Zuniga