Patents by Inventor Laura Elizabeth McDonald

Laura Elizabeth McDonald 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).

  • Gas turbine engine compressor rotor assembly and balancing system
    Patent number: 9404367
    Abstract: A method for balancing a compressor rotor assembly including a forward weldment (211) and an aft weldment (212) includes pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) of the compressor rotor assembly (210) with compressor disks (220) prior to populating the compressor disks (220) with circumferentially installed compressor rotor blades (230). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) includes measuring a rotational balance of the aft weldment (212). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) also includes determining a number of underplatform weights (260) needed and a location for each underplatform weight (260) within a circumferential slot (236) of one the compressor disks (220). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) further includes mounting each underplatform weight (260) in the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Cory Patrick Muscat, Laura Elizabeth McDonald, James Eric Miller, Gary Paul Vavrek
  • GAS TURBINE ENGINE COMPRESSOR ROTOR ASSEMBLY AND BALANCING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140140849
    Abstract: A method for balancing a compressor rotor assembly including a forward weldment (211) and an aft weldment (212) includes pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) of the compressor rotor assembly (210) with compressor disks (220) prior to populating the compressor disks (220) with circumferentially installed compressor rotor blades (230). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) includes measuring a rotational balance of the aft weldment (212). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) also includes determining a number of underplatform weights (260) needed and a location for each underplatform weight (260) within a circumferential slot (236) of one the compressor disks (220). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) further includes mounting each underplatform weight (260) in the determined location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Cory Patrick Muscat, Laura Elizabeth McDonald, James Eric Miller, Gary Paul Vavrek