Patents by Inventor Joseph Charles Albers

Joseph Charles Albers 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: 9238977
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a centerline axis includes: a shroud segment having: an arcuate body extending axially between forward and aft ends and laterally between opposed end faces, wherein each of the end faces includes seal slots formed therein; and an arcuate stationary seal member mounted to the body; a turbine vane disposed axially aft of the shroud segment; and a casing surrounding the shroud segment and the turbine vane; wherein the turbine vane is mounted to the case so as to bear against the stationary seal member, compressing it and forcing the shroud segment radially outward against the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Robert Proctor, Monty Lee Shelton, Richard Russo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8834105
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a central axis includes: an arcuate shroud segment comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces and collectively defining a shroud cavity; and an annular stationary structure surrounding the shroud segment, where the shroud segment is mechanically coupled to the stationary structure. The stationary structure includes at least one axially-facing bearing surface which is in direct contact with the shroud segment, and the shroud segment is disposed so as to absorb at least one axially-aligned force and transfer the axially-aligned force to the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson
  • Patent number: 8753073
    Abstract: A turbine shroud sealing apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) an arcuate shroud segment comprising a low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces of the segment; and (b) a first seal assembly received in at least one slot formed in the first end face, the first seal assembly comprising one or more spline seals which protrude from the first end face and which are arranged to define a continuous sealing surface around the perimeter of the first end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech
  • Patent number: 8740552
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes an arcuate turbine shroud segment of low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces. At least a portion of each of the forward and aft walls is oriented at an acute angle to the outer wall. Radially inner ends of the forward and aft walls are substantially closer together than radially outer ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Willard Marusko, Joseph Charles Albers, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140140833
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a centerline axis includes: a shroud segment having: an arcuate body extending axially between forward and aft ends and laterally between opposed end faces, wherein each of the end faces includes seal slots formed therein; and an arcuate stationary seal member mounted to the body; a turbine vane disposed axially aft of the shroud segment; and a casing surrounding the shroud segment and the turbine vane; wherein the turbine vane is mounted to the case so as to bear against the stationary seal member, compressing it and forcing the shroud segment radially outward against the casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Robert Proctor, Monty Lee Shelton, Richard Russo, JR.
  • Patent number: 8579580
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a central axis includes: an arcuate shroud segment comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces and collectively defining a shroud cavity; an annular stationary structure surrounding the shroud segment; and a load spreader received in the shroud cavity of the shroud segment and mechanically coupled to the stationary structure. The load spreader includes: a laterally-extending plate with opposed inner and outer faces; and a boss which protrudes radially from the outer face and extends through a mounting hole in the outer wall of one of the shroud segments. A fastener engages the boss and the stationary structure, so as to clamp the boss against the stationary structure in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130004306
    Abstract: A shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: a shroud segment comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces, wherein the inner wall defines an arcuate inner flowpath surface, wherein the shroud segment includes: a radially-inward facing chordal forward mounting surface; and a radially-inward facing chordal aft mounting surface; and an annular case surrounding the shroud segment, the case including: a radially-outward facing chordal forward bearing surface which engages the forward mounting surfaces; and a radially-outward facing chordal aft bearing surface which engages the aft mounting surface of the shroud segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko
  • Publication number: 20120171023
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a central axis includes: an arcuate shroud segment comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces and collectively defining a shroud cavity; an annular stationary structure surrounding the shroud segment; and a load spreader received in the shroud cavity of the shroud segment and mechanically coupled to the stationary structure. The load spreader includes: a laterally-extending plate with opposed inner and outer faces; and a boss which protrudes radially from the outer face and extends through a mounting hole in the outer wall of one of the shroud segments. A fastener engages the boss and the stationary structure, so as to clamp the boss against the stationary structure in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120171027
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a central axis includes: an arcuate shroud segment comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces and collectively defining a shroud cavity; and an annular stationary structure surrounding the shroud segment, where the shroud segment is mechanically coupled to the stationary structure. The stationary structure includes at least one axially-facing bearing surface which is in direct contact with the shroud segment, and the shroud segment is disposed so as to absorb at least one axially-aligned force and transfer the axially-aligned force to the bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110318171
    Abstract: A turbine shroud sealing apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) an arcuate shroud segment comprising a low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces of the segment; and (b) a first seal assembly received in at least one slot formed in the first end face, the first seal assembly comprising one or more spline seals which protrude from the first end face and which are arranged to define a continuous sealing surface around the perimeter of the first end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech
  • Publication number: 20110293410
    Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes an arcuate turbine shroud segment of low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces. At least a portion of each of the forward and aft walls is oriented at an acute angle to the outer wall. Radially inner ends of the forward and aft walls are substantially closer together than radially outer ends thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Willard Marusko, Joseph Charles Albers, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson