Patents by Inventor John Peter Heyward

John Peter Heyward 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: 9228445
    Abstract: Hybrid turbine airfoil components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials. The components include a first component formed of a ceramic-based material and a second component formed of a metallic material. The first component comprises an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second component is separately formed and attached to the first component by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first component. The second component includes a platform portion between the airfoil portion and the nub of the first component and a dovetail portion on the nub of the first component. Each of the platform and dovetail portions has at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second component having a more complex geometry than the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, Jr., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9163519
    Abstract: A ceramic shroud assembly includes a tip shroud having an outer platform supporting at least one seal tooth, a shroud cap less brittle than the outer platform and including a shroud cap base on the outer platform, and clockwise and counter-clockwise facing clockwise and counter-clockwise contact surfaces located at clockwise and counter-clockwise distal ends respectively of the base. A rotor assembly may include a circumferential row of turbine blades made of a ceramic material and extending radially outwardly from a disk of a turbine rotor. The turbine blades include airfoils having the airfoil tip shrouds and the shroud caps at blade tips. The clockwise and counter-clockwise contact surfaces of circumferentially adjacent ones of the shroud caps contact each other. The shroud and the platform may be made of a ceramic or ceramic matrix composite material and the shroud cap may be made of a metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chad Daniel Kleinow, John Peter Heyward, Michael Joseph Danowski, Joshua Tyler Mook, Michael George Abbott
  • Patent number: 8777582
    Abstract: Hybrid components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the components. The components includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has a nub and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent is attached to the first subcomponent by a compression fit and encapsulation of the second subcomponent on the nub of the first subcomponent. The nub has a compliant coating system that provides thermal expansion compliance between the metallic material of the second subcomponent and the ceramic-based material of the first subcomponent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, Jr., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
  • Patent number: 8777583
    Abstract: A hybrid turbine airfoil component containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the component are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the component. The component includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material, and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent includes a blade tip shroud portion having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, Jr., Joshua Brian Jamison, John Peter Heyward, Chad Daniel Kleinow, Roger Lee Doughty
  • Patent number: 8721290
    Abstract: Processes for producing a component containing a ceramic-based material and having detailed features formed from materials other than ceramic materials. Such a process entails producing the component to include a first subcomponent and at least a second subcomponent having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent is formed of a ceramic-based material, and the second subcomponent and its off-axis geometric feature are separately formed of a metallic material and attached to the first subcomponent to yield a robust mechanical attachment. The component may be, for example, a gas turbine airfoil component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, Jr., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20130028741
    Abstract: A ceramic shroud assembly includes a tip shroud having an outer platform supporting at least one seal tooth, a shroud cap less brittle than the outer platform and including a shroud cap base on the outer platform, and clockwise and counter-clockwise facing clockwise and counter-clockwise contact surfaces located at clockwise and counter-clockwise distal ends respectively of the base. A rotor assembly may include a circumferential row of turbine blades made of a ceramic material and extending radially outwardly from a disk of a turbine rotor. The turbine blades include airfoils having the airfoil tip shrouds and the shroud caps at blade tips. The clockwise and counter-clockwise contact surfaces of circumferentially adjacent ones of the shroud caps contact each other. The shroud and the platform may be made of a ceramic or ceramic matrix composite material and the shroud cap may be made of a metallic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Chad Daniel Kleinow, John Peter Heyward, Michael Joseph Danowski, Joshua Tyler Mook, Michael George Abbott
  • Publication number: 20120163979
    Abstract: Processes for producing a component containing a ceramic-based material and having detailed features formed from materials other than ceramic materials. Such a process entails producing the component to include a first subcomponent and at least a second subcomponent having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent. The first subcomponent is formed of a ceramic-based material, and the second subcomponent and its off-axis geometric feature are separately formed of a metallic material and attached to the first subcomponent to yield a robust mechanical attachment. The component may be, for example, a gas turbine airfoil component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, JR., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20120163986
    Abstract: A hybrid turbine airfoil component containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the component are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the component. The component includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material, and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent includes a blade tip shroud portion having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, JR., Joshua Brian Jamison, John Peter Heyward, Chad Daniel Kleinow, Roger Lee Doughty
  • Publication number: 20120163978
    Abstract: Hybrid turbine airfoil components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials. The components include a first component formed of a ceramic-based material and a second component formed of a metallic material. The first component comprises an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second component is separately formed and attached to the first component by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first component. The second component includes a platform portion between the airfoil portion and the nub of the first component and a dovetail portion on the nub of the first component. Each of the platform and dovetail portions has at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second component having a more complex geometry than the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, JR., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20120163985
    Abstract: Hybrid components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the components. The components includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has a nub and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent is attached to the first subcomponent by a compression fit and encapsulation of the second subcomponent on the nub of the first subcomponent. The nub has a compliant coating system that provides thermal expansion compliance between the metallic material of the second subcomponent and the ceramic-based material of the first subcomponent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Toby George Darkins, JR., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20090097979
    Abstract: A rotor blade may include a tip shroud having at least one seal tooth disposed at an angle that may be relative to the engine centerline when in an assembled condition, the leading edge of the tip shroud and/or the trailing edge of the tip shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Omer Duane Erdmann, D. Keith Patrick, Dustin Alfred Placke, John Peter Heyward, Francis Bobie
  • Patent number: 6932570
    Abstract: A method enables a gas turbine engine blade to be manufactured to include an airfoil, a platform, a shank, and a dovetail. The platform extends between the airfoil and the shank, the shank extends between the dovetail and the platform, and the dovetail includes at least one tang for securing the blade within the engine. The method comprises defining a cooling cavity in the blade that extends through the airfoil, the platform, the shank, and the dovetail, such that a portion of the cavity defined within the dovetail includes a root passage portion having a first width, and a transition portion extending between the root passage and the portion of the cavity defined within the shank, and wherein the portion of the cavity defined within the shank has a second width that is larger than the root passage first width. The blade is then coated with an environmental resistive coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Peter Heyward, Carl Anthony Flecker, III, Timothy Lane Norris, Todd Stephen Heffron, Roger Dale Wustman
  • Publication number: 20030219338
    Abstract: A method enables a gas turbine engine blade to be manufactured to include an airfoil, a platform, a shank, and a dovetail. The platform extends between the airfoil and the shank, the shank extends between the dovetail and the platform, and the dovetail includes at least one tang for securing the blade within the engine. The method comprises defining a cooling cavity in the blade that extends through the airfoil, the platform, the shank, and the dovetail, such that a portion of the cavity defined within the dovetail includes a root passage portion having a first width, and a transition portion extending between the root passage and the portion of the cavity defined within the shank, and wherein the portion of the cavity defined within the shank has a second width that is larger than the root passage first width. The blade is then coated with an environmental resistive coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: John Peter Heyward, Carl Anthony Flecker, Timothy Lane Norris, Todd Stephen Heffron, Roger Dale Wustman
  • Publication number: 20030113206
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes segments of outer and inner bands supporting corresponding vane pairs. The bands adjoin each other at corresponding ends along splitlines, with each band having a forward land, an opposite aft land, and a middle land extending therebetween. The forward lands have a nominal aft-facing step, the aft lands have a nominal forward-facing step and the middle lands are nominally flush.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: John Peter Heyward, Robert Ingram Ackerman, Gregory Alan White
  • Patent number: 6579061
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes segments of outer and inner bands supporting corresponding vane pairs. The bands adjoin each other at corresponding ends along splitlines, with each band having a forward land, an opposite aft land, and a middle land extending therebetween. The forward lands have a nominal aft-facing step, the aft lands have a nominal forward-facing step and the middle lands are nominally flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Peter Heyward, Robert Ingram Ackerman, Gregory Alan White
  • Publication number: 20030106215
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of repairing a turbine nozzle segment having one or more vanes disposed between outer and inner bands. The method includes separating at least one of the outer and inner bands from the vanes. The vanes are cut through in close proximity to the band being replaced. A newly manufactured replacement band including protruding vane stubs is provided for each one of the original bands being replaced. The replacement band is attached to the vanes by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Peter Heyward, Gregory Alan White, Michael Philip Hagle, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Patent number: 6558119
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine, the airfoil having a core body with an airfoil body, an integral partial height squealer tip, and an integral tip cap between the airfoil body and the integral partial height squealer tip; and a squealer tip extension bonded to the partial height squealer tip. A method for manufacture and repair of an airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Jonathan James Stow, John Peter Heyward, John Howard Starkweather, Lawrence Joseph Roedl, Joseph Howell Bowden, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20030007870
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a blade including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first sidewall extending in radial span between a blade root and blade tip, and a second sidewall connected to the first sidewall at the leading edge and at the trailing edge. The first and second sidewalls each include an outer surface and an inner surface. A cooling cavity is defined by the first sidewall inner surface and the second sidewall inner surface. At least a portion of the cooling cavity is coated with an oxidation resistant environmental coating that has a thickness less than 0.0015 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: John Peter Heyward, Roger Dale Wustman, Timothy Lane Norris, Richard Clay Haubert, Paul John Fink
  • Publication number: 20020187042
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine, the airfoil having a core body with an airfoil body, an integral partial height squealer tip, and an integral tip cap between the airfoil body and the integral partial height squealer tip; and a squealer tip extension bonded to the partial height squealer tip. A method for manufacture and repair of an airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Jonathan James Stow, John Peter Heyward, John Howard Starkweather, Lawrence Joseph Roedl, Joseph Howell Bowden
  • Patent number: 6485262
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a blade including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first sidewall extending in radial span between a blade root and blade tip, and a second sidewall connected to the first sidewall at the leading edge and at the trailing edge. The first and second sidewalls each include an outer surface and an inner surface. A cooling cavity is defined by the first sidewall inner surface and the second sidewall inner surface. At least a portion of the cooling cavity is coated with an oxidation resistant environmental coating that has a thickness less than 0.0015 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Peter Heyward, Roger Dale Wustman, Timothy Lane Norris, Richard Clay Haubert, Paul John Fink