Patents by Inventor James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
James Fredric Wiedenhoefer 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).
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Publication number: 20240118034Abstract: A tube-in-tube unified shell element heat exchanger including an outer tube structure with an interior surface including an augmentation structure, an end cap and a flow outlet; an inner tube structure including a tubular shaped inner body defining an internal flow area, the inner tube structure including surface features formed on the exterior of the inner tube structure; the inner tube structure including a top ring connected to the exterior proximate an inlet port of the inner tube structure; inner tube structure includes an outlet port opposite the inlet port; wherein the top ring of the inner tube structure is connected with a top section of the outer tube structure; and a gap formed between the outer tube structure and the inner tube structure, the gap fluidly coupled between the inlet port and the flow outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventor: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Publication number: 20240118035Abstract: A heat exchanger including a primary inlet manifold and a primary outlet manifold supporting at least one tube bundle at opposite ends; said at least one tube bundle including an inlet end piece with each of a first tube, a second tube and a third tube fluidly coupled in series to an outlet end piece; and the first tube, the second tube and the third tube forming one of a coiled tube arrangement and a straight tube arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2022Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, Jon Erik Sobanski
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Publication number: 20230392880Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes parting sheets and a fin sheet interposed between the parting sheets and corrugated along a first axis to form fins. Each of the fins is segmented to define gaps, which are arranged along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and which cooperatively accommodate curvatures of the parting sheets and the fin sheet in a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2022Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventor: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Publication number: 20230251040Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided and includes parting sheets flat along a first axis and curved along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, a fin sheet interposed between the parting sheets and corrugated along the first axis to form fins that are curved along the second axis and diffusion bonds formed along an entire length of a fin to diffusion bond the entire length of the fin to the parting sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventor: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Patent number: 10802467Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of defining internal secondary structures of an object to be formed at least in part by additive manufacturing. The object may include a primary structure having a volume. The methods may include applying a balancing parameter within an axis-aligned bounding box that encompasses the primary structure. The methods may further include refining the balancing parameter until the volume is delimited into a plurality of the internal structures. The plurality of internal structures may be oriented at an angle to a global z-axis that is substantially parallel to a build direction, such as angled in a range of 40 degrees to 70 degrees to the z-axis.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, Brian Magann Rush
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Patent number: 10753228Abstract: A turbomachinery component for a turbomachine includes feed manifold, a return manifold and a sidewall. The feed manifold is configured to receive a coolant stream therein and includes a plurality of feed plenums. The return manifold includes a plurality of return plenums. The sidewall defines a plurality of feed channels and a plurality of return channels therein. The sidewall further includes an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. Each feed channel is in fluid communication with at least one of the feed plenums. Each return channel is in fluid communication with at least one of the return plenums. The sidewall further at least partially defines a plurality of microchannels. Each microchannel is in fluid communication with one of the feed channels and one of the return channels.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, James Albert Tallman, Brian Gene Brzek
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Patent number: 10577944Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling an engine component, such as an airfoil, for a turbine engine including an outer wall separating a cooling fluid flow from a hot fluid flow. A cooling circuit including a cooling passage having opposing sidewalls can be provided in the engine component. At least one turbulator can be provided between the opposing sidewalls, and can include a conduit having an inlet and an outlet passing through the at least one turbulator.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Emily Rosette Clark, James Richard Winka, Daniel Robinson Getsinger, Thomas Earl Dyson, Brian Gene Brzek, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, William Robb Stewart
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Patent number: 10443397Abstract: An airfoil includes an exterior wall, a triple trailing edge pin bank, and first and second impingement systems. The exterior wall defines a first interior space. A segmenting wall divides the first interior space into a second and a first interior space. The first impingement system is disposed within the first interior space and the second impingement system is disposed within the first interior space. First impingement system includes impingement holes with a first impingement hole density. Second impingement system includes impingement holes with a second impingement hole density. The impingement systems also include dividing walls extending from a first and second interior wall to the exterior wall. The interior walls, exterior wall, and dividing walls define a first and second zone. The first and second impingement hole density is configured to separately meter flow to the first and second zones.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, Brian Gene Brzek
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Patent number: 10436048Abstract: An airfoil for turbomachines includes a first plurality of projections coupled to a suction sidewall adjacent a trailing edge and extending from the suction sidewall towards a pressure sidewall. A second plurality of projections is coupled to the pressure sidewall adjacent the trailing edge and extending from the pressure sidewall towards the suction sidewall. The airfoil includes a divider coupled to the first and second pluralities of projections and extending within a space between the first and second pluralities of projections. A first cooling channel is defined adjacent the suction sidewall and a second cooling channel is defined adjacent the pressure sidewall. The first and second cooling channels are configured to receive a coolant stream. The first plurality of projections is configured to meter the coolant stream through the first cooling channel and the second plurality of projections is configured to meter the coolant stream through the second cooling channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: General Electric ComapnyInventors: Brian Gene Brzek, Victor John Morgan, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Patent number: 10408062Abstract: An airfoil includes an exterior wall, a triple trailing edge pin bank, and an impingement system. The exterior wall defines a first interior space. The exterior wall also includes a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall. The impingement system is disposed within the first interior space. The impingement system includes an interior wall which defines a second interior space a plurality of impingement holes configured to channel a flow of coolant from the second interior space to the first interior space. The interior wall has an impingement hole density with a varying hole density pattern. The impingement system also includes dividing walls extending from the interior wall to the exterior wall. The interior wall, exterior wall, and dividing walls define a first and second zone coupled in flow communication. The impingement hole density is configured to separately meter flow to the first and second zones.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brian Gene Brzek, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Patent number: 10364685Abstract: An airfoil includes an exterior wall, a trailing edge pin bank, and an impingement system. The exterior wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface and defines a first interior space. The impingement system is disposed within the first interior space and is configured to channel a coolant stream to the exterior wall. The coolant stream has a velocity. The impingement system includes an interior wall which defines a second interior space and a plurality of impingement holes having an impingement hole density. The impingement system also includes dividing walls extending from the interior wall to the exterior wall. The interior wall, exterior wall, and dividing walls define a first and second zone. A first dividing wall is coupled to the trailing edge pin bank and separates the first and second zones. The impingement hole density configured to separately meter flow to the first and second zones.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: Gneral Electric CompanyInventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, Brian Gene Brzek
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Patent number: 10233761Abstract: A turbine airfoil for a rotating blade or stationary nozzle vane includes an airfoil body including a leading edge and a trailing edge. A coolant supply passage extends within the airfoil body, and a coolant return passage extends within the airfoil body. A first trench is in an external surface of the airfoil body, the first trench extending to the trailing edge and being in fluid communication with the coolant supply passage. A second trench is in the external surface of the airfoil body, the second trench extending to the trailing edge and being in fluid communication with the coolant return passage and the first trench. A cover seats in the airfoil body and encloses the trenches to form coolant passages with the airfoil body. In embodiments, two coolant passages to and back from the trailing edge may be used to allow for a recycling flow.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Zachary John Snider, Gregory Thomas Foster, Joseph Anthony Weber, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Publication number: 20190040745Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling an engine component, such as an airfoil, for a turbine engine including an outer wall separating a cooling fluid flow from a hot fluid flow. A cooling circuit including a cooling passage having opposing sidewalls can be provided in the engine component. At least one turbulator can be provided between the opposing sidewalls, and can include a conduit having an inlet and an outlet passing through the at least one turbulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Emily Rosette Clark, James Richard Winka, Daniel Robinson Getsinger, Thomas Earl Dyson, Brian Gene Brzek, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, William Robb Stewart
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Publication number: 20180356794Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of defining internal secondary structures of an object to be formed at least in part by additive manufacturing. The object may include a primary structure having a volume. The methods may include applying a balancing parameter within an axis-aligned bounding box that encompasses the primary structure. The methods may further include refining the balancing parameter until the volume is delimited into a plurality of the internal structures. The plurality of internal structures may be oriented at an angle to a global z-axis that is substantially parallel to a build direction, such as angled in a range of 40 degrees to 70 degrees to the z-axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: James Fredric WIEDENHOEFER, Brian Magann RUSH
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Publication number: 20180112547Abstract: A turbine airfoil for a rotating blade or stationary nozzle vane includes an airfoil body including a leading edge and a trailing edge. A coolant supply passage extends within the airfoil body, and a coolant return passage extends within the airfoil body. A first trench is in an external surface of the airfoil body, the first trench extending to the trailing edge and being in fluid communication with the coolant supply passage. A second trench is in the external surface of the airfoil body, the second trench extending to the trailing edge and being in fluid communication with the coolant return passage and the first trench. A cover seats in the airfoil body and encloses the trenches to form coolant passages with the airfoil body. In embodiments, two coolant passages to and back from the trailing edge may be used to allow for a recycling flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Zachary John Snider, Gregory Thomas Foster, Joseph Anthony Weber, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Publication number: 20180045073Abstract: A turbomachinery component for a turbomachine includes feed manifold, a return manifold and a sidewall. The feed manifold is configured to receive a coolant stream therein and includes a plurality of feed plenums. The return manifold includes a plurality of return plenums. The sidewall defines a plurality of feed channels and a plurality of return channels therein. The sidewall further includes an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. Each feed channel is in fluid communication with at least one of the feed plenums. Each return channel is in fluid communication with at least one of the return plenums. The sidewall further at least partially defines a plurality of microchannels. Each microchannel is in fluid communication with one of the feed channels and one of the return channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, James Albert Tallman, Brian Gene Brzek
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Publication number: 20180045055Abstract: An airfoil includes an exterior wall, a triple trailing edge pin bank, and an impingement system. The exterior wall defines a first interior space. The exterior wall also includes a pressure sidewall and a suction sidewall. The impingement system is disposed within the first interior space. The impingement system includes an interior wall which defines a second interior space a plurality of impingement holes configured to channel a flow of coolant from the second interior space to the first interior space. The interior wall has an impingement hole density with a varying hole density pattern. The impingement system also includes dividing walls extending from the interior wall to the exterior wall. The interior wall, exterior wall, and dividing walls define a first and second zone coupled in flow communication. The impingement hole density is configured to separately meter flow to the first and second zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Brian Gene Brzek, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer
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Publication number: 20180045056Abstract: An airfoil includes an exterior wall, a triple trailing edge pin bank, and first and second impingement systems. The exterior wall defines a first interior space. A segmenting wall divides the first interior space into a second and a first interior space. The first impingement system is disposed within the first interior space and the second impingement system is disposed within the first interior space. First impingement system includes impingement holes with a first impingement hole density. Second impingement system includes impingement holes with a second impingement hole density. The impingement systems also include dividing walls extending from a first and second interior wall to the exterior wall. The interior walls, exterior wall, and dividing walls define a first and second zone. The first and second impingement hole density is configured to separately meter flow to the first and second zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, Brian Gene Brzek
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Publication number: 20180045061Abstract: An airfoil includes an exterior wall, a trailing edge pin bank, and an impingement system. The exterior wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface and defines a first interior space. The impingement system is disposed within the first interior space and is configured to channel a coolant stream to the exterior wall. The coolant stream has a velocity. The impingement system includes an interior wall which defines a second interior space and a plurality of impingement holes having an impingement hole density. The impingement system also includes dividing walls extending from the interior wall to the exterior wall. The interior wall, exterior wall, and dividing walls define a first and second zone. A first dividing wall is coupled to the trailing edge pin bank and separates the first and second zones. The impingement hole density configured to separately meter flow to the first and second zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: James Fredric Wiedenhoefer, Brian Gene Brzek
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Publication number: 20180045058Abstract: An airfoil for turbomachines includes a first plurality of projections coupled to a suction sidewall adjacent a trailing edge and extending from the suction sidewall towards a pressure sidewall. A second plurality of projections is coupled to the pressure sidewall adjacent the trailing edge and extending from the pressure sidewall towards the suction sidewall. The airfoil includes a divider coupled to the first and second pluralities of projections and extending within a space between the first and second pluralities of projections. A first cooling channel is defined adjacent the suction sidewall and a second cooling channel is defined adjacent the pressure sidewall. The first and second cooling channels are configured to receive a coolant stream. The first plurality of projections is configured to meter the coolant stream through the first cooling channel and the second plurality of projections is configured to meter the coolant stream through the second cooling channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Brian Gene Brzek, Victor John Morgan, James Fredric Wiedenhoefer