Patents by Inventor Keith L. Nickols

Keith L. Nickols 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: 11248478
    Abstract: An exhaust apparatus for a gas turbine includes an annular duct with struts extending from an outer duct-wall to an inner duct-wall of the annular duct. Each strut is encapsulated in a respective strut shield. An interface of the strut shield with a respective duct-wall includes a collar extending along a partial length of the perimeter of the strut shield at the respective interface. The collar includes a first section extending radially and aligned with the strut shield, and a second section oriented at an angle to the first section and aligned with the respective duct-wall. The first section is attached to the strut shield along a first joint and the second section is attached to the respective duct-wall along a second joint. An intersection of the first and second sections is formed by a smooth curve defined by a radius configured to distribute stresses at the respective interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Shashikant Maurya, John Giaimo, Ryan David Wiebe, Keith L. Nickols, Andre Correa
  • Publication number: 20210231021
    Abstract: An exhaust apparatus for a gas turbine includes an annular duct with struts extending from an outer duct-wall to an inner duct-wall of the annular duct. Each strut is encapsulated in a respective strut shield. An interface of the strut shield with a respective duct-wall includes a collar extending along a partial length of the perimeter of the strut shield at the respective interface. The collar includes a first section extending radially and aligned with the strut shield, and a second section oriented at an angle to the first section and aligned with the respective duct-wall. The first section is attached to the strut shield along a first joint and the second section is attached to the respective duct-wall along a second joint. An intersection of the first and second sections is formed by a smooth curve defined by a radius configured to distribute stresses at the respective interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Shashikant Maurya, John Giaimo, Ryan David Wiebe, Keith L. Nickols, Andre Correa
  • Patent number: 6851924
    Abstract: A crack-resistant vane segment assembly member for an industrial turbine engine is disclosed. The vane segment includes at least one internally-cooled body portion and inner and outer shroud portions. The body portions include end regions characterized by blending and transition zones that ensure heat is transferred at a non-crack-inducing rate from the shroud portions to the body portions. The vane segment assembly also includes a cooling arrangement that reduces the impact of thermal gradient-induced stresses acting at the interface between the body portions and shroud portions. The cooling arrangement cooperates with the transition and blending zones to produce synergistically-enhanced crack resistance properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Mazzola, Keith L. Nickols, Friedrich Rogers, W. David Day, Kelly M. Flannery
  • Publication number: 20040062636
    Abstract: A crack-resistant vane segment assembly member for an industrial turbine engine is disclosed. The vane segment includes at least one internally-cooled body portion and inner and outer shroud portions. The body portions include end regions characterized by blending and transition zones that ensure heat is transferred at a non-crack-inducing rate from the shroud portions to the body portions. The vane segment assembly also includes a cooling arrangement that reduces the impact of thermal gradient-induced stresses acting at the interface between the body portions and shroud portions. The cooling arrangement cooperates with the transition and blending zones to produce synergistically-enhanced crack resistance properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Stefan Mazzola, Keith L. Nickols, Friedrich Rogers, W. David Day, Kelly M. Flannery