Patents by Inventor John McConnell Delvaux

John McConnell Delvaux 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: 11976565
    Abstract: A vibration dampening system includes a vibration dampening element for a turbine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbine nozzle or blade, e.g., through the airfoil among potentially other parts of the nozzle or blade. A vibration dampening element includes a plurality of stacked damper pins within the body opening. The damper pins include an outer body having an inner opening, a first end surface and an opposing second end surface; and an inner body nested and movable within the inner opening of the outer body. The end surfaces frictionally engage to dampen vibration. The inner body has a first central opening including a first portion configured to engage an elongated body therein and an outer surface configured to frictionally engage a portion of the inner opening of the outer body to dampen vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, Brad Wilson VanTassel, Brian Denver Potter, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Publication number: 20240110484
    Abstract: A vibration damping system includes a vibration damping element for a turbomachine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbomachine nozzle or blade between the tip end and the base end thereof. A vibration damping element includes a volute spring vibration damping element configured to be installed within the body opening in the turbomachine nozzle or blade. The volute spring vibration damping element includes a spiral coil of a metal sheet strip with a surface of the metal sheet strip contacting itself in a direction of an axis of the coil. The body opening has an inner dimension, and the volute spring vibration damping element has an outer dimension sized to frictionally engage the inner dimension of the body opening to dampen vibration. In certain embodiments, the body opening and the volute spring vibration damping element each have a conical perspective shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: James Zhang, John McConnell Delvaux, Zachary John Snider
  • Publication number: 20240035384
    Abstract: A vibration dampening system includes a vibration dampening element for a turbine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbine nozzle or blade, e.g., through the airfoil among potentially other parts of the nozzle or blade. A vibration dampening element includes a plurality of stacked damper pins within the body opening. The damper pins include an outer body having an inner opening, a first end surface and an opposing second end surface; and an inner body nested and movable within the inner opening of the outer body. The end surfaces frictionally engage to dampen vibration. The inner body has a first central opening including a first portion configured to engage an elongated body therein and an outer surface configured to frictionally engage a portion of the inner opening of the outer body to dampen vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, Brad Wilson VanTassel, Brian Denver Potter, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Publication number: 20240035387
    Abstract: A vibration damping system includes a vibration damping element for a turbine nozzle or blade. A body opening extends through the turbine nozzle or blade between the tip end and the base end thereof, e.g., through the airfoil among potentially other parts of the nozzle or blade. A vibration damping element includes a plurality of stacked plate members within the body opening. Each plate member is in surface contact with at least one adjacent plate member to cause friction that dampens vibration of the nozzle or blade. The body opening has an inner dimension, and each plate member has an outer dimension sized to frictionally engage the inner dimension of the body opening to damp vibration. Plate members may each include a central opening therein, and a fixed elongated body or cable may extend through the central openings. The damping element may alternatively include a helical metal ribbon spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, John McConnell Delvaux, James Tyson Balkcum, III, Brian Denver Potter
  • Patent number: 11724969
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component includes at least one seal surface, the at least one seal surface disposed adjacent an interfacing surface for providing a seal therebetween; and a coating disposed on the seal surface. The coating includes an aluminum oxide and/or a silicon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John McConnell Delvaux, Jason Robert Parolini, Rajendra Kumar Bordia, Quan Li
  • Patent number: 11634991
    Abstract: A vibration damping system for a turbine nozzle or blade includes a body opening extending through a body of the turbine nozzle or blade between a tip end and a base end thereof. Elongated vibration damping element is disposed in the body opening and includes an elongated body having a first, free end and a second end fixed relative to one of the base end and the tip end. At least one wire mesh member surrounds the elongated body. The wire mesh member(s) frictionally engage with an inner surface of the body opening to damp vibration. A related method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, John Mcconnell Delvaux, Robert Frank Hoskin
  • Patent number: 11572791
    Abstract: A vibration damping system for a turbine nozzle or blade includes a vibration damping element including a plurality of contacting members including a plurality of damper pins. Each damper pin includes a body. A wire mesh member surrounds the body of at least one of the plurality of damper pins. The wire mesh member has a first outer dimension sized for frictionally engaging within a body opening in the turbine nozzle or blade to damp vibration. Spacer members devoid of a wire mesh member may also be used. The damper pins can have different sizes to accommodate contiguous body openings of different sizes in the nozzle or blade. The body opening can be angled relative to a radial extent of the nozzle or blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Patent number: 11536144
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly includes a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade positioned adjacent to one another. The first rotor blade and the second rotor blade each include a platform and an airfoil extending radially outward from a root coupled to the platform to a tip. The airfoil includes a part-span shroud. The part-span shroud extends from the airfoil and is disposed between the root and the tip. The part-span shroud includes a pressure side portion extending from the pressure side surface and a suction side portion extending from the suction side surface. A damper is in contact with both the part span shroud of the first rotor blade and the part span shroud of the second rotor blade at an interference joint. The damper is movable relative to the part span shroud of both the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Suryarghya Chakrabarti, Jing Li, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Patent number: 11519276
    Abstract: A vibration damping element for a vibration damping system for a turbine nozzle or blade includes an elongated body and a wire mesh member that surrounds the elongated body. The wire mesh member has a first outer dimension in an inoperative state and a second, larger outer dimension in an operative state. In the operative state, the wire mesh member frictionally engages with an inner surface of a body opening in the turbine nozzle or blade to damp vibration. In the inoperative state, the wire mesh member slides freely in the body opening in the turbine nozzle or blade. A retention system includes a retention member on the elongated body that fixes the wire mesh member relative to a length of the elongated body in the operative state in the body opening of the turbine nozzle or blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zachary John Snider, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Patent number: 11480061
    Abstract: A method may include: in a used metal turbomachine blade including a root including a shank, a platform coupled to the shank and an airfoil coupled to the platform, removing the airfoil, leaving a remaining base including the platform, the shank and the root. The method may also form a radially extending opening through the platform into the shank, and insert a ceramic shank nub extending from a ceramic airfoil into the radially extending opening of the remaining base. The ceramic airfoil is fixedly attached to the remaining base. The method allows reuse of the metal shank while providing the lower cooling requirements of a ceramic airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John McConnell Delvaux, Thomas Raymond Farrell, Markus Feigl
  • Patent number: 11339666
    Abstract: An article, such as a turbine blade, includes an airfoil. The airfoil includes a body, the body having an elongated internal cavity extending from a tip of the body. The cavity is defined an internal wall within the body. At least one elongated damping element is disposed in the elongated internal cavity and frictionally engages the internal wall. Thus, the least one elongated damping element is capable of damping vibrations in the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Clifford Hart, John McConnell Delvaux, Joseph Anthony Weber, James Zhang, Peter de Diego
  • Patent number: 11333024
    Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. Radial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil permit radial flow of a cooling fluid through the trailing edge portion. Each radial cooling channel has a first end at a lower surface at a root edge of the trailing edge portion or at an upper surface at a tip edge of the trailing edge portion and a second end opposite the first end at the lower surface or the upper surface. A method of making a turbine component and a method of cooling a turbine component are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, James Zhang, Gary Michael Itzel, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 11319816
    Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. A plurality of axial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of making a turbine component includes forming an airfoil having a trailing edge portion with axial cooling channels. The axial cooling channels are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, James Zhang, Gary Michael Itzel, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Publication number: 20220098989
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly includes a first rotor blade and a second rotor blade positioned adjacent to one another. The first rotor blade and the second rotor blade each include a platform and an airfoil extending radially outward from a root coupled to the platform to a tip. The airfoil includes a part-span shroud. The part-span shroud extends from the airfoil and is disposed between the root and the tip. The part-span shroud includes a pressure side portion extending from the pressure side surface and a suction side portion extending from the suction side surface. A damper is in contact with both the part span shroud of the first rotor blade and the part span shroud of the second rotor blade at an interference joint. The damper is movable relative to the part span shroud of both the first rotor blade and the second rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Suryarghya Chakrabarti, Jing Li, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Patent number: 11242756
    Abstract: A coating is applied to a base material. The coating comprises a viscoelastic layer having a surface in which cavities are formed; and a constraint layer. The viscoelastic layer is disposed on the base material, and the constraint layer is disposed on, and partially bonded, at an interface, to the viscoelastic layer over the surface in which the cavities are formed. The cavities are filled with particles configured for vibration and frictional interaction at the partially bonded interface between the partially bonded viscoelastic layer and the constraint layer. A turbine blade having an airfoil with the subject coating is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Zhang, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Patent number: 11179917
    Abstract: A CMC ply assembly is disclosed including at least one matrix ply interspersed amongst a plurality of CMC plies. Each of the plurality of CMC plies includes a first matrix and a plurality of ceramic fibers. The at least one matrix ply includes a second matrix and is essentially free of ceramic fibers. The plurality of CMC plies and the at least one matrix ply are arranged in an undensified ply stack having an article conformation. A CMC article is disclosed including a plurality of densified CMC plies and at least one densified matrix ply interspersed amongst the plurality of densified CMC plies. A method for forming the CMC article is disclosed including forming, carburizing, infusing a melt infiltration agent into, and densifying the CMC ply assembly. The melt infiltration agent infuses more completely through the at least one matrix ply than through the plurality of CMC plies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, John McConnell Delvaux, Glenn Curtis Taxacher, Zachary John Snider
  • Publication number: 20210340874
    Abstract: A coating is applied to a base material. The coating comprises a viscoelastic layer; and a constraint layer; wherein the viscoelastic layer is disposed on the base material and the constraint layer is disposed on the viscoelastic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: James Zhang, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Publication number: 20210324743
    Abstract: An article, such as a turbine blade, includes an airfoil. The airfoil includes a body, the body having an elongated internal cavity extending from a tip of the body. The cavity is defined an internal wall within the body. At least one elongated damping element is disposed in the elongated internal cavity and frictionally engages the internal wall. Thus, the least one elongated damping element is capable of damping vibrations in the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Andrew Clifford Hart, John McConnell Delvaux, Joseph Anthony Weber, James Zhang, Peter de Diego
  • Patent number: 11143036
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes an airfoil body having an outer tip and a platform; and a part-span shroud positioned between the outer tip and the platform of the airfoil body. The part-span shroud has a first opening extending through the airfoil body and having a first inner surface. The airfoil body includes a second opening extending radially from the first opening and having a second inner surface. A first elongated vibration-damping element is disposed in the first opening, and a second elongated vibration-damping element disposed radially in the second opening. The second elongated vibration-damping element includes a free radially outer end and a radially inner end coupled to the first elongated vibration-damping element. The first elongated vibration-damping element frictionally damps vibration, and the second elongated vibration-damping element damps vibration using impact within the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Zhang, Michael Anthony Wondrasek, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Patent number: 11085303
    Abstract: A blade vibration damping system impacts a pressurized damping fluid on a surface of at least one of a plurality of blades of a turbine in opposition to a vibratory movement thereof to cause damping of vibration of the blade(s) during operation of the turbine. The system includes a fluid injection nozzle in a stationary component adjacent the plurality of blades. A valve selectively admits the pressurized damping fluid to the fluid injection nozzle from a source of pressurized damping fluid, and a control system controls the valve to operate the fluid injection nozzle in response to an operational parameter exceeding a threshold during operation of the turbine. A related turbine casing and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John McConnell Delvaux, Claire Fridtjof Lang, Suryarghya Chakrabarti