Patents by Inventor John Wesley Harris, Jr.

John Wesley Harris, Jr. 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).

  • Publication number: 20150068629
    Abstract: A three-dimensional printing process, a swirling device, and a thermal management process are disclosed. The three-dimensional printing process includes distributing a material to a selected region, selectively laser melting the material, and forming a swirling device from the material. The swirling device is printed by selective laser melting. The thermal management process includes providing an article having a swirling device printed by selective laser melting, and cooling a portion of the article by transporting air through the swirling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srikanth Chandrudu KOTTILINGAM, Victor John MORGAN, Benjamin Paul LACY, John Wesley HARRIS, Jr., David Edward SCHICK
  • Publication number: 20150044059
    Abstract: An airfoil includes a main portion formed of a base material. Also included is a trailing edge region of the main portion. Further included is a trailing edge supplement structure comprising at least one pre-sintered preform (PSP) material operatively coupled to the base material proximate the trailing edge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Wassynger, John Wesley Harris, JR., Michael James Healy
  • Patent number: 8864453
    Abstract: A near flow path seal member for a turbomachine includes a seal body having a seal support member including a first end portion that extends to a second end portion through an intermediate portion. An arm member extends from the first end portion of the seal body. The arm member has a first end that extends to a second end to define an axial dimension of the arm member, a first edge that extends to a second, opposing edge to define a circumferential dimension of the arm member, and a surface having a profile that establishes a thickness variation of the arm member in each of the axial dimension and the circumferential dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Randolph Spracher, John Wesley Harris, Jr., Brian Denver Potter, Zachary James Taylor, Ryan Zane Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8851846
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform that includes an interior cooling passage formed therein. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a main plenum residing just inboard of the planar topside and extending from an aft position to a forward position within one of the pressure side and the suction side of the platform, the main plenum having a longitudinal axis that is approximately parallel to the planar topside; a supply plenum that extends between the main plenum and the interior cooling passage; and a plurality of cooling apertures, each cooling aperture extending from one of the pressure side and the suction side slashface to a connection with the main plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Edmond Ellis, Daniel Alan Hynum, John Wesley Harris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8840369
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage, and wherein, in operation, the interior cooling passage comprises a high-pressure coolant region and a low-pressure coolant region, and wherein the platform includes a platform underside. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a first plate that resides inboard and in spaced relation to the platform underside and forming a first plenum; a second plate that resides inboard and in spaced relation to the first plate, the second plate forming a second plenum. The second plenum includes an inlet channel that connects to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage, and the first plenum includes an outlet channel that connects to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Edmond Ellis, John Wesley Harris, Jr., Adrian Lional Scott
  • Patent number: 8814518
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage that extends from a connection at the root to the approximate radial height of the platform, wherein, the interior cooling passage comprises a high-pressure coolant region and a low-pressure coolant region, and wherein a pressure side of the platform comprises a topside extending circumferentially from the airfoil to a pressure side slashface. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a platform cavity formed within the pressure side of the platform, a high-pressure connector that connects the platform cavity to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; a low-pressure connector that connects the platform cavity to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; and a pin bank formed within the platform cavity that includes radial pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, Jr., Craig Allen Bielek, Scott Edmond Ellis, Xiaoyong Fu
  • Patent number: 8777568
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage that in operation, includes at least a high-pressure coolant region and a low-pressure coolant region, and wherein the platform includes a platform underside. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a plate that comprises a plate topside; a channel formed on the plate topside, the channel comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, and being open through the plate topside such that, upon attaching the plate to the platform, the platform underside comprises a channel ceiling; a high-pressure connector that connects the upstream end of the channel to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; and a low-pressure connector that connects the downstream end of the channel to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Edmond Ellis, John Wesley Harris, Jr., Adrian Lional Scott
  • Publication number: 20140170433
    Abstract: Methods for providing a near-surface cooling microchannel in a component include forming a near-surface cooling microchannel in a first surface of a pre-sintered preform, disposing the first surface of the pre-sintered preform onto an outer surface of the base article such that an opening of the outer surface of the base article is aligned with the near-surface cooling microchannel in the first surface of the pre-sintered preform, and, heating the pre-sintered preform to bond it to the base article, wherein the opening of the outer surface of the base article remains aligned with the near-surface cooling microchannel in the first surface of the pre-sintered preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Edward Schick, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Benjamin Paul Lacy, John Wesley Harris, JR.
  • Patent number: 8696320
    Abstract: A gas turbine and a seal assembly for a machine having a rotating shaft, a wheel coupled to the rotating shaft, the wheel including a bucket coupled to the wheel comprising a coverplate that is fastened to the wheel and the bucket and a seal positioned between the coverplate and the wheel and the bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, Jr., Matthew Robert Piersall, Brian Denver Potter
  • Patent number: 8684664
    Abstract: A platform cooling configuration in a turbine rotor blade that includes platform slot formed through at least one of the pressure side slashface and the suction side slashface; a removably-engaged impingement insert that separates the platform into two radially stacked plenums, a first plenum that resides inboard of a second plenum; a high-pressure connector that connects the first plenum to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; a low-pressure connector that connects the second plenum to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, Jr., Scott Edmond Ellis, Xiaoyong Fu, Adrian Lional Scott
  • Patent number: 8636471
    Abstract: A configuration of cooling channels through the interior of a turbine rotor blade, the turbine rotor blade including a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root. In one embodiment, the configuration of cooling channels includes: an interior cooling passage that is configured to extend from a connection with a coolant source in the root to the interior of the airfoil; a platform cooling channel that traverses at least a portion of the platform; a turndown extension that includes a first section, which comprises a connection with the platform cooling channel, and a second section, which comprises a radially oriented cooling channel; and a connector that extends from a connector opening formed through an outer face of the root to a connection with the interior cooling passage and, therebetween, bisects the second section of the turndown extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, Jr., Craig Allen Bielek, Scott Edmond Ellis, Daniel Alan Hynum, Melissa Ann Seely, Xiaoyong Fu
  • Publication number: 20130187339
    Abstract: The present application provides a near flow path seal for a gas turbine. The near flow path seal includes a base, a pair of arms extending from the base, and a curved indentation positioned between the pair of arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, JR., Bruce J. Badding, Brian D. Potter
  • Publication number: 20130189087
    Abstract: A near flow path seal member for a turbomachine includes a seal body having a seal support member including a first end portion that extends to a second end portion through an intermediate portion. An arm member extends from the first end portion of the seal body. The arm member has a first end that extends to a second end to define an axial dimension of the arm member, a first edge that extends to a second, opposing edge to define a circumferential dimension of the arm member, and a surface having a profile that establishes a thickness variation of the arm member in each of the axial dimension and the circumferential dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Randolph Spracher, John Wesley Harris, JR., Brian Denver Potter, Zachary James Taylor, Ryan Zane Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20130175230
    Abstract: A retention device for maintaining a first rotary machine component axially loaded onto a second rotary machine component in a fixed axial position includes a lock block sized and configured to move between first and second aligned recesses in the first and second rotary machine components. The aligned recesses are shaped to prevent rotation of the lock block, and the lock block has a threaded bore extending therethrough. An actuator is threadably mounted in the bore, such that rotation of the actuator will, in use, move the lock block from the first aligned recess at least partially into the second aligned recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David Randolph SPRACHER, John Wesley HARRIS, JR., Zachary James TAYLOR, Ryan Zane ZIEGLER, Bruce John BADDING
  • Publication number: 20130108462
    Abstract: The present application provides a cover plate assembly for use with a rotor disk. The cover plate assembly may include a radial flange extending from the rotor disk, a flange aperture extending through the radial flange, a cover plate segment with a fastening aperture and a hook for receiving the radial flange, and a fastener extending through the flange aperture and the fastening aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, JR., Gary Charles Liotta
  • Patent number: 8348603
    Abstract: A gas turbine inner flow path cover piece for a gas turbine a first turbine wheel and a second turbine wheel is provided is provided. The gas turbine inner flow path cover piece can include a main body having an first surface and a second surface, side pieces disposed on the first surface of the main body and mating pairs disposed on the second surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo, Bradley Taylor Boyer, John Wesley Harris, Jr., Brian Denver Potter, Ian David Wilson
  • Patent number: 8206119
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a coverplate may be configured to axially overlay a plurality of blade retaining slots within a wheel post of a rotor wheel. The coverplate may include a tab for radially securing the coverplate within a complementary groove of the rotor wheel and an aperture configured to align with a corresponding aperture of the turbine wheel to receive a fastener for axially securing the coverplate to the rotor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary Charles Liotta, Christopher Sean Bowes, John Wesley Harris, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120156055
    Abstract: A configuration of cooling channels through the interior of a turbine rotor blade, the turbine rotor blade including a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root. In one embodiment, the configuration of cooling channels includes: an interior cooling passage that is configured to extend from a connection with a coolant source in the root to the interior of the airfoil; a platform cooling channel that traverses at least a portion of the platform; a turndown extension that includes a first section, which comprises a connection with the platform cooling channel, and a second section, which comprises a radially oriented cooling channel; and a connector that extends from a connector opening formed through an outer face of the root to a connection with the interior cooling passage and, therebetween, bisects the second section of the turndown extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, JR., Craig Allen Bielek, Scott Edmond Ellis, Daniel Alan Hynum, Melissa Ann Seely, Xiaoyong Fu
  • Publication number: 20120107135
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage that extends to the approximate radial height of the platform, and wherein, a pressure side of the platform comprises a planar topside that extends circumferentially from the airfoil to a pressure side slashface, and a suction side of the platform comprises a substantially planar topside that extends circumferentially from the airfoil to a suction side slashface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, JR., Daniel Howard Tragesser, Anthony Louis Giglio
  • Publication number: 20120107134
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage that extends from a connection at the root to the approximate radial height of the platform, wherein, the interior cooling passage comprises a high-pressure coolant region and a low-pressure coolant region, and wherein a pressure side of the platform comprises a topside extending circumferentially from the airfoil to a pressure side slashface. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a platform cavity formed within the pressure side of the platform, a high-pressure connector that connects the platform cavity to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; a low-pressure connector that connects the platform cavity to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; and a pin bank formed within the platform cavity that includes radial pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: John Wesley Harris, JR., Craig Allen Bielek, Scott Edmond Ellis, Xiaoyong Fu