Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Bruce

Kevin L. Bruce 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: 8142138
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a turbine system may include a turbine casing, a shroud block coupled to the turbine casing, a fluid passage in the shroud block; and a pin configured to interface with the fluid passage. The pin may include a hollow shaft; a rod inserted into the hollow shaft; and a valve disposed on a distal end of the rod, wherein the valve is configured to open and close the fluid passage when the rod is actuated remotely through the hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanjeev Heda, Robert W. Coign, Kevin L. Bruce
  • Patent number: 8057182
    Abstract: A metered cooling slot disposed in a wall comprising an outer surface that is exposed to a hot gas stream and an inner surface that defines an internal coolant chamber through which a coolant passes, the metered cooling slot comprising: a slot formed within the outer surface elongated in a first direction, the slot comprising a pair of spaced apart, opposing, slot surfaces and a base, the slot surfaces intersecting the outer surface to form a slot outlet opposite the base; and two or more metering apertures formed within the wall, each metering aperture intersecting the inner surface of the wall to form a metering aperture inlet and intersecting one of the pair of slot surfaces to form a metering aperture outlet; wherein: D represents the approximate diameter of at least two of the metering apertures; P represents the approximate distance between the center lines of at least two neighboring metering apertures; and P/D comprises a value within the range of about 4 to 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Brittingham, Robert J. Reed, Kevin L. Bruce, David R. Johns
  • Patent number: 8052375
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seal for turbomachinery including a seal face locatable between a first turbomachinery component and a second turbomachinery component. At least one fluid channel extends through the seal. The at least one fluid channel is capable of injecting fluid flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component at the seal face thereby disrupting a leakage flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component. Further disclosed is a turbomachine utilizing the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Kevin L. Bruce, Ciro Cerretelli, John Ernest Tourigny
  • Publication number: 20100278631
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a turbine system may include a turbine casing, a shroud block coupled to the turbine casing, a fluid passage in the shroud block; and a pin configured to interface with the fluid passage. The pin may include a hollow shaft; a rod inserted into the hollow shaft; and a valve disposed on a distal end of the rod, wherein the valve is configured to open and close the fluid passage when the rod is actuated remotely through the hollow shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanjeev Heda, Robert W. Coign, Kevin L. Bruce
  • Patent number: 7771159
    Abstract: A high temperature seal that may include an interior region comprising a material that swells when exposed to a high temperature environment and at least one projection that is able to be inserted into a slot, and a coating that substantially prevents swelling to coated areas of the interior region. The coating may be disposed upon an exterior surface of the interior region such that a distal end of at least one projection remains at least partially uncoated and the remainder of the interior region is substantially covered by the coating. The interior region may include a ceramic matrix composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Curtis Johnson, Kevin L. Bruce, Ronald Ralph Cairo
  • Publication number: 20100129231
    Abstract: A metered cooling slot disposed in a wall comprising an outer surface that is exposed to a hot gas stream and an inner surface that defines an internal coolant chamber through which a coolant passes, the metered cooling slot comprising: a slot formed within the outer surface elongated in a first direction, the slot comprising a pair of spaced apart, opposing, slot surfaces and a base, the slot surfaces intersecting the outer surface to form a slot outlet opposite the base; and two or more metering apertures formed within the wall, each metering aperture intersecting the inner surface of the wall to form a metering aperture inlet and intersecting one of the pair of slot surfaces to form a metering aperture outlet; wherein: D represents the approximate diameter of at least two of the metering apertures; P represents the approximate distance between the center lines of at least two neighboring metering apertures; and P/D comprises a value within the range of about 4 to 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Robert A. Brittingham, Robert J. Reed, Kevin L. Bruce, David R. Johns
  • Publication number: 20090297341
    Abstract: Disclosed is a seal for turbomachinery including a seal face locatable between a first turbomachinery component and a second turbomachinery component. At least one fluid channel extends through the seal. The at least one fluid channel is capable of injecting fluid flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component at the seal face thereby disrupting a leakage flow between the first turbomachinery component and the second turbomachinery component. Further disclosed is a turbomachine utilizing the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Kevin L. Bruce, Ciro Cerretelli, John Ernest Tourigny
  • Publication number: 20080089781
    Abstract: A high temperature seal that may include an interior region comprising a material that swells when exposed to a high temperature environment and at least one projection that is able to be inserted into a slot, and a coating that substantially prevents swelling to coated areas of the interior region. The coating may be disposed upon an exterior surface of the interior region such that a distal end of at least one projection remains at least partially uncoated and the remainder of the interior region is substantially covered by the coating. The interior region may include a ceramic matrix composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Curtis Johnson, Kevin L. Bruce, Ronald Ralph Cairo