Patents by Inventor Luke John Ammann
Luke John Ammann 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: 8905717Abstract: A retention system for a plurality of turbine buckets located in respective mating slots in a turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of first circumferentially-oriented retention slots formed in outer peripheral portions of the turbine wheel; a plurality of second circumferentially-oriented retention slots formed in wheel mounting portions of said buckets, the first and second circumferentially-oriented retention slots aligned to form an annular lockwire retention slot; and a lockwire located within the annular lockwire retention slot. A first surface feature on one or both of the turbine rotor wheel and one or more of said plurality of turbine buckets is adapted to engage a second surface feature on the lockwire for preventing rotation of the lockwire beyond predetermined limits.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2010Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Felipe Roman-Morales, Ariel Caesar Prepena Jacala, Liming Xu, Melbourne James Myers, Kevin Leon Bruce, Luke John Ammann
-
Patent number: 8689634Abstract: Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for mode shape identification of turbine buckets. According to one embodiment, a system can be provided. The system can include a turbine bucket having numerous trigger patterns disposed at a distal end of the turbine bucket. A sensor is disposed adjacent to the distal end of the turbine bucket for detecting the trigger patterns. The trigger patterns are patterned to identify at least one mode shape of the turbine bucket.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Genral Electric CompanyInventors: Luke John Ammann, Liming Xu, Stephen Wassynger, Richard Pilson
-
Patent number: 8628299Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a turbine blade having a radial blade tip. The system further includes a trailing edge trench that is formed in the radial blade tip and which extends towards a trailing edge of the turbine blade. The trailing edge trench further includes a first set of cooling passages, each of which includes a first slot formed along a first sidewall of the trailing edge trench, whereby the slot is coupled to a first respective hole extending through a floor of the trailing edge trench.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2010Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Luke John Ammann, Randall Richard Good
-
Patent number: 8529194Abstract: A turbine bucket is provided and includes a shank defining a cavity therein, which is connectable with a rotor such that wheelspace air having an initial pressure is permitted to flow into the cavity and a platform coupled to the shank and defining a cooling hole therein, the shank and the platform each further defining the cavity and the cooling hole, respectively, as being fluidly communicative with one another, such that the wheelspace air permitted to flow into the cavity is deliverable from the cavity and through the cooling hole at a second pressure greater than the initial pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2010Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Luke John Ammann, Camilo Andres Sampayo
-
Publication number: 20130078094Abstract: Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for mode shape identification of turbine buckets. According to one embodiment, a system can be provided. The system can include a turbine bucket having numerous trigger patterns disposed at a distal end of the turbine bucket. A sensor is disposed adjacent to the distal end of the turbine bucket for detecting the trigger patterns. The trigger patterns are patterned to identify at least one mode shape of the turbine bucket.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Luke John Ammann, Liming Xu, Stephen Wassynger, Richard Pilson
-
Patent number: 8262356Abstract: A cover member defining a rotor chamber adjacent to a rotor wheel that supports a rotating blade in a turbine includes a first aperture for introducing a cooling gas stream into the rotor chamber, and a second aperture positioned in a radially outward portion of the cover member for allowing a portion of the cooling gas stream to exit the rotor chamber. The portion of the cooling gas stream exiting the rotor chamber carries dirt particles to purge the rotor chamber.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Luke John Ammann
-
METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUS RELATING TO ROOT AND PLATFORM CONFIGURATIONS FOR TURBINE ROTOR BLADES
Publication number: 20120156045Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a turbine engine, the rotor blade assembly including: a turbine blade that includes a shank situated between attachment means and an airfoil, the shank having a forward portion and an aft portion; and a platform comprising a platform pressure side and a platform suction side, each of which comprising non-integral components to the other and the turbine blade. The platform may comprise an interface between the platform pressure side and the platform suction side. And, the platform may be configured such that the interface aligns with at least one of the forward portion and the aft portion of the shank.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventor: Luke John Ammann -
Patent number: 8172534Abstract: Disclosed is a turbine blade or vane including a blade or vane body including a leading edge and a trailing edge, a plurality of cooling openings disposed along the trailing edge, a first width of the trailing edge, the first width being disposed across the cooling openings, and a second width of the trailing edge the second width being disposed between the cooling openings, wherein the second width is smaller than the first width.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Luke John Ammann, James William Vehr, Gunnar Leif Siden, Wei Ning
-
Publication number: 20120087798Abstract: A retention system for a plurality of turbine buckets located in respective mating slots in a turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of first circumferentially-oriented retention slots formed in outer peripheral portions of the turbine wheel; a plurality of second circumferentially-oriented retention slots formed in wheel mounting portions of said buckets, the first and second circumferentially-oriented retention slots aligned to form an annular lockwire retention slot; and a lockwire located within the annular lockwire retention slot. A first surface feature on one or both of the turbine rotor wheel and one or more of said plurality of turbine buckets is adapted to engage a second surface feature on the lockwire for preventing rotation of the lockwire beyond predetermined limits.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2010Publication date: April 12, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Felipe ROMAN-MORALES, Ariel Caesar Prepena Jacala, Liming Xu, Melbourne James Myers, Kevin Leon Bruce, Luke John Ammann
-
Publication number: 20120070305Abstract: A turbine bucket is provided and includes a shank defining a cavity therein, which is connectible with a rotor such that wheelspace air having an initial pressure is permitted to flow into the cavity and a platform coupled to the shank and defining a cooling hole therein, the shank and the platform each further defining the cavity and the cooling hole, respectively, as being fluidly communicative with one another, such that the wheelspace air permitted to flow into the cavity is deliverable from the cavity and through the cooling hole at a second pressure greater than the initial pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Luke John Ammann, Camilo Andres Sampayo
-
Publication number: 20110176929Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes a turbine blade having a radial blade tip. The system further includes a trailing edge trench that is formed in the radial blade tip and which extends towards a trailing edge of the turbine blade. The trailing edge trench further includes a first set of cooling passages, each of which includes a first slot formed along a first sidewall of the trailing edge trench, whereby the slot is coupled to a first respective hole extending through a floor of the trailing edge trench.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2010Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Luke John Ammann, Randall Richard Good
-
Publication number: 20100196167Abstract: A cover member defining a rotor chamber adjacent to a rotor wheel that supports a rotating blade in a turbine includes a first aperture for introducing a cooling gas stream into the rotor chamber, and a second aperture positioned in a radially outward portion of the cover member for allowing a portion of the cooling gas stream to exit the rotor chamber. The portion of the cooling gas stream exiting the rotor chamber carries dirt particles to purge the rotor chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Luke John Ammann
-
Publication number: 20100183446Abstract: Disclosed is a turbine blade or vane including a blade or vane body including a leading edge and a trailing edge, a plurality of cooling openings disposed along the trailing edge, a first width of the trailing edge, the first width being disposed across the cooling openings, and a second width of the trailing edge the second width being disposed between the cooling openings, wherein the second width is smaller than the first width.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Luke John Ammann, James William Vehr, Gunnar Leif Siden, Wei Ning