Patents by Inventor John W. Vdoviak

John W. Vdoviak 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: 5655876
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes a circumferentially continuous annular outer band, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart vanes extending radially inwardly therefrom. A circumferentially segmented inner band is joined to the vanes and is disposed coaxially with the outer band. The inner band includes a plurality of circumferentially adjoining arcuate segments, adjacent ones of which have circumferentially facing end faces spaced apart to define a gap therebetween. In an exemplary embodiment, strip seals are inserted in corresponding slots formed in the end faces to seal leakage therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Rock, Joseph K. Bussichella, John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 5483794
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling apparatus with two spaced apart walls, one of which is a coolable wall, having a cooling flowpath between them wherein the cooling flowpath is converging in the direction of the cooling flow. In one embodiment the coolable wall is an afterburner cooling liner that includes a film cooling means on the hot side of the liner. Another embodiment provides a corrugated or wavy wall afterburner cooling liner wherein each wave includes a forward facing surface, from crest to trough of the wave in the direction of the hot gas flow, and an aft facing surface, from trough to crest. A high density pattern of multi-hole film cooling holes is disposed on the hotter of the two surfaces and a lower density pattern on the cooler one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Nicoll, John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 5465572
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling apparatus with two spaced apart walls, one of which is a coolable wall, having a cooling flowpath between them wherein the cooling flowpath is converging in the direction of the cooling flow. In one embodiment the coolable wall is an afterburner cooling liner that includes a film cooling means on the hot side of the liner. Another embodiment provides a corrugated or wavy wall afterburner cooling liner wherein each wave includes a forward facing surface, from crest to trough of the wave in the direction of the hot gas flow, and an aft facing surface, from trough to crest. A high density pattern of multi-hole film cooling holes is disposed on the hotter of the two surfaces and a lower density pattern on the cooler one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Nicoll, John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 5284019
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a single shell, double dome combustor design configuration with the intermediate dividing wall between the two annuli removed, thereby reducing weight and cost, and improving durability. An annular daisy type mixer is positioned between the domes to improve the mixing of air and combustor gases prior to the exiting of the gases from the combustor to the turbine vanes. The daisy mixer positioned downstream of the domes to provides effective, low pressure loss mixing at a a controlled axial rate, by creating effective cross-flow barriers to avoid uncontrolled fuel/air ratio transfer between the inner and outer annuli, and thereby allows a concentric and controlled axial air admission in conjunction with the individual swirlers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 5020318
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine of the type having generally cylindrical casings defining concentric bypass and turbine discharge passages including a support structure in the turbine discharge passage. The support structure is cooled with low pressure compressor discharge air through a scoop located in the bypass gas passage. The support structure includes a plurality of radial fairings, each of which includes a discharge chute which is approximately perpendicular to its respective fairing. The discharge chutes each communicate with the compressor discharge cool air flow in its respective fairing so as to provide a discharge flow in the form of a stratified annulus to cool downstream members which are aligned with the discharge chutes. The cooling air further reduces the temperature of the downstream gases so as to reduce the potential for flashback in the engine. The aerodynamic form and placement of the discharge chutes provide enhancements to the operation of the diffuser, of which the support structure is a part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 4989406
    Abstract: A turbine assembly includes an annular fairing and strut subassembly which provides mechanical strength to the turbine assembly and support for the rotor aft bearing. A readily demountable annular outlet guide vane assembly is mounted to the aft of the fairing and strut assembly for deswirling the exhaust gasses which exit the turbine assembly. The aft mounting of the outlet guide vanes allows for an axially shorter and lighter turbine engine design which removes greater inlet swirl than prior designs, with equal or less pressure loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John W. Vdoviak, Roy E. Moyer, Dennis C. Evans
  • Patent number: 4944362
    Abstract: An annular acoustic liner for gas turbine engine ducts comprising Helmholtz resonator chambers wherein the resonator's turnable neck length and chamber depth lie on a surface which is concentric to the liner centerline. In another embodiment of the invention the liner is generally rectangular and the resonator's turnable neck length and chamber depth lie on a surface which is parallel to the duct flow. A more particular embodiment of the invention the duct is an afterburner duct which may have a rectangular or circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell E. Motsinger, John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 4887425
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a gas turbine engine augmentor including a new and improved fuel spraybar therein. The spraybar includes a base having a manifold for receiving fuel, and a plurality of fuel tubes extending from the base and in flow communication with the manifold. The invention further includes means for cooling the fuel tubes for allowing independent thermal movement between the cooling means and the fuel tubes. In one embodiment of the invention, the cooling means comprises an elongate shield disposed upstream of the fuel tubes to block direct impingement of combustion gases against the fuel tubes while channeling a cooling fluid such as air over the fuel tubes.In accordance with another embodiment, the invention includes means for securing the shield to the fuel tubes for allowing unrestrained longitudinal thermal movement while restraining lateral movement therebetween beyond a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 4833881
    Abstract: A new and improved gas turbine engine augmentor including a liner having a film-coolable first portion joined to a convection-coolable second portion is disclosed. A cooling gas, such as fan bypass air, is channeled to the liner for film cooling the first portion and providing a residual cooling film to the second portion. The second portion is also convection coolable by air passing over an outer surface thereof. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the augmentor liner also includes a screech portion disposed at an upstream end of the first portion and downstream of a flameholder. The screech portion includes a substantially imperforate outer wall and an inner wall spaced therefrom which define a manifold therebetween. The inner wall includes a plurality of apertures in flow communication with the combustion zone. The manifold and apertures are effective for suppressing screech while substantially preventing the leakage of cooling air therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John W. Vdoviak, Chester J. Lamando, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4733538
    Abstract: Means are provided for controlling and modulating the temperature of the hot gas exiting the combustor associated with a gas turbine engine. The means establish a preselected temperature gradient in the hot gas so as to provide a flow of hot gas at a relatively higher temperature through gaps between adjacent turbine vanes and a flow of hot gas at a relatively lower temperature upon the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John W. Vdoviak, Barry Weinstein