Patents by Inventor Kirk D. GALLIER

Kirk D. GALLIER 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: 20200300266
    Abstract: A component for a turbine engine includes a body having a wall separating a combustion air flow path from a cooling air flow path. The component can include an isolation chamber formed in the cooling air flow path. The component can also include at least one cyclone separator having a cooling air inlet fluidly coupled to the cooling air flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Endecott Osgood, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20200300163
    Abstract: A component for a turbine engine includes a body having a wall at least partially defining an interior and separating a combustion air flow path from a cooling air flow path. The component also includes at least one fluid inlet supplying cooling air to the interior of the body, as well as a cyclone separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Endecott Osgood, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Patent number: 10760431
    Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a cooling hole of a component of a turbine engine. The cooling hole can extend from an inlet to an outlet to define a connecting passage. The cooling hole can contain a diffusing section. The diffusing section can be defined by an interior surface having variable geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zachary Daniel Webster, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20200190988
    Abstract: Aspects generally relate to a method of forming a plexus within an additively-manufactured component. The method includes forming a fluid passage in the plexus by serially forming layers of material along a build direction to form a column defining the fluid passage along a first direction within an interior of a turbine engine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Endecott Osgood, Zachary Daniel Webster, Gregory Terrence Garay, Tingfan Pang, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Patent number: 10590778
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling an engine component such as an airfoil can include an outer wall separating a cooling fluid flow from a hot flow. A cooling circuit can be provided in the engine component including a cooling passage having at least one pin within the cooling passage with a chevron shape and a non-uniform configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Emily Rosette Clark, Weston Nolan Dooley, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Patent number: 10569481
    Abstract: Ply layups and methods for forming composite components are provided. For example, a method for forming a composite component comprises laying up a plurality of composite plies to form a composite ply layup; partially processing the composite ply layup to form a green state layup; machining the green state layup; assembling the green state layup with one or more sub-assemblies; and processing the green state layup and the one or more sub-assemblies to form the composite component. In an exemplary embodiment, the composite component is a turbine nozzle airfoil. Another exemplary method comprises laying up a plurality of composite plies to form a composite ply layup; compacting the composite ply layup to form a green state layup; machining the green state layup; assembling the green state layup with one or more sub-assemblies; and processing the green state layup and the one or more sub-assemblies to form the composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kirk D. Gallier, Nathan Carl Sizemore
  • Patent number: 10563867
    Abstract: An engine component for a gas turbine engine generating hot combustion gas flow is provided. The engine component can include a substrate constructed from a CMC material and having a hot surface facing the hot combustion gas flow and a cooling surface facing a cooling fluid flow. The substrate defines a film hole extending through the substrate and having an inlet provided on the cooling surface, an outlet provided on the hot surface, and a passage connecting the inlet and the outlet. The engine component also includes a flow conditioning structure provided upstream of the outlet on the hot surface. The flow conditioning structure can include a ridge extending from the hot surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Douglas Ray Smith, Kirk D. Gallier, Daniel Scott Martyn, Rachel Anne Vukoja
  • Publication number: 20200024965
    Abstract: An apparatus and method relating an airfoil for a turbine engine with an outer wall bounding an interior and defining a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge to define a chord-wise direction and extending between a root and a tip to define a span-wise direction. The airfoil includes a first cooling passage extending in the span-wise direction within the interior and a second cooling passage defining an impingement surface and located proximate the first cooling passage, an interior wall separating the first cooling passage from the second cooling passage, and at least one cooling hole passing through the interior wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: David Alan Frey, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Patent number: 10408073
    Abstract: A stator component of a turbine engine having an airfoil defining a radial cooling channel, the airfoil having an airfoil outer surface and an airfoil inner surface. The airfoil outer surface defines a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, a pressure side wall, and a suction side wall. The airfoil inner surface defines a series of alternating peaks and valleys in the leading edge portion such that the airfoil has a varying cross-sectional thickness defined between the airfoil inner surface and the airfoil outer surface in the leading edge portion. A strut is disposed within the radial cooling channel and defines an inner radial cooling passage. The strut has an outer surface that defines a plurality of apertures that provide for fluid communication from the inner radial cooling passage to a radial cooling gap defined between the airfoil inner surface and the outer surface of the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Charles Groves, II, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20190153870
    Abstract: An apparatus and method regarding an airfoil for a turbine engine, the airfoil comprising an outer wall defining an interior bound by a pressure side and a suction side extending axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge defining a chord-wise direction and extending radially between a root and a tip defining a span-wise direction, at least one cooling passage extending radially within the interior and defining a primary cooling airflow, and at least one cooling hole having an inlet in communication with the cooling passage and an outlet in communication with the exterior of the outer wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory Terrence Garay, Zachary Daniel Webster, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20190085705
    Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a film-hole of a component of a turbine engine. The film-hole can extend from an inlet to an outlet to define a passage. The film-hole can include a laid back section where a coating can be applied. The method can include forming the film-hole in the component and applying the coating to the component to maintain a specific geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Zachary Daniel Webster, Daniel Scott Martyn, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20190085706
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a turbine engine can include a platform having a fore edge, an aft edge axially spaced from the fore edge, and opposing heated and cooled surfaces. An airfoil can extend from the heated surface of the platform, and a cooling cavity can be positioned interiorly of the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Zachary Daniel Webster, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20190071977
    Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a cooling hole of a component of a turbine engine. The cooling hole can extend from an inlet to an outlet to define a connecting passage. The cooling hole can contain a diffusing section. The diffusing section can be defined by an interior surface having variable geometries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Zachary Daniel Webster, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Terrence Garay, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20190071976
    Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a cooling hole of a component of a turbine engine. The cooling hole can extend from an inlet to an outlet to define a connecting passage. The cooling hole can contain a diffusing section. The diffusing section can be defined by an interior surface having variable geometries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Zachary Daniel Webster, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20190040748
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling an engine component such as an airfoil can include an outer wall separating a cooling fluid flow from a hot flow. A cooling circuit can be provided in the engine component including a cooling passage having at least one pin within the cooling passage with a chevron shape and a non-uniform configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Emily Rosette Clark, Weston Nolan Dooley, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20180370158
    Abstract: Ply layups and methods for forming composite components are provided. For example, a method for forming a composite component comprises laying up a plurality of composite plies to form a composite ply layup; partially processing the composite ply layup to form a green state layup; machining the green state layup; assembling the green state layup with one or more sub-assemblies; and processing the green state layup and the one or more sub-assemblies to form the composite component. In an exemplary embodiment, the composite component is a turbine nozzle airfoil. Another exemplary method comprises laying up a plurality of composite plies to form a composite ply layup; compacting the composite ply layup to form a green state layup; machining the green state layup; assembling the green state layup with one or more sub-assemblies; and processing the green state layup and the one or more sub-assemblies to form the composite component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Kirk D. Gallier, Nathan Carl Sizemore
  • Publication number: 20180363466
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a turbine engine for can include an engine component. The engine component can include an interior cooling passage at least partially defining a cooling circuit for passing a flow of cooling fluid through the component. Film holes provide for exhausting a portion of the cooling fluid to an exterior of the component, to form a cooling film along an exterior hot surface of the engine component. A deflector can be position within the cooling passage upstream form the film hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20180363901
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing a cross-flow across an engine cooling hole can include a component, such as an airfoil, having an outer wall bounding an interior from an exterior. A cooling passage is formed in the interior of the component for cooling the engine component. A cooling hole or film hole can be provided in the outer wall fluidly coupling the interior to the exterior. The cooling passage can be shaped to minimize cross-flow over the cooling hole at the interior of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventor: Kirk D. Gallier
  • Publication number: 20180298765
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a replaceable tip element of an airfoil in a turbine engine. The airfoil has an outer wall defining an interior and including a pressure side and a suction side extending axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge defining a chord-wise direction and extending radially between a root and a tip defining a span-wise direction, with the tip having a replaceable tip element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Thomas Beyer, Gregory Terrence Garay, Kirk D. Gallier, Toby George Darkins, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180283183
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of forming an engine component having an outer wall forming an interior. The interior can be separated into two or more flow paths or flow channels. The two flow paths can be formed by casting having one or more core ties connecting the flow paths during casting. One or more core tie holes can be formed remnant of the core ties during casting in order to fluidly couple the two or more flow paths or flow channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Kirk D. Gallier, Cedric Carlton Lowe