Patents by Inventor Matthew Troy Hafner

Matthew Troy Hafner 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: 10472973
    Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. Radial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil permit radial flow of a cooling fluid through the trailing edge portion. Each radial cooling channel has a first end at a lower surface at a root edge of the trailing edge portion or at an upper surface at a tip edge of the trailing edge portion and a second end opposite the first end at the lower surface or the upper surface. A method of making a turbine component and a method of cooling a turbine component are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, James Zhang, Gary Michael Itzel, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 10287894
    Abstract: A turbine component includes a root and an airfoil extending from the root to a tip opposite the root. The airfoil forms a leading edge and a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge. A plurality of nested cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil permit passage of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of making a turbine component includes forming an airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge portion extending to a trailing edge, and a plurality of nested cooling channels in the trailing edge portion. Each nested cooling channel fluidly connects an interior of the turbine component with an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, James Zhang, Gary Michael Itzel, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 10280801
    Abstract: A turbine component including an outer shroud arranged within a turbine and including opposed extending portions. An inner shroud shields the outer shroud from a gas flowing along a gas path within the turbine during its operation and including opposed first and second arcuate portions extending around and in direct contact with a corresponding extending portion of the outer shroud. A first pin and second pin have a respective first end and second end. The first arcuate portion having a first engagement region for engaging the first end, and second arcuate portion having a second engagement region for engaging the second end. In response to engagement of the first engagement region and the first end of the first pin, and engagement of the second engagement region and the second end of the second pin, the inner shroud is prevented from twisting relative to the outer shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Frederic Woodrow Roberts, Jr., Glenn Curtis Taxacher
  • Patent number: 10208614
    Abstract: Apparatuses are disclosed including a first article, a second article, a sewing member and a thermal break. The second article includes a second material composition having a second thermal tolerance greater than a first thermal tolerance of a first material composition of the first article. The sealing member is disposed between and contacts the first article and the second article, and includes a third material composition having a third thermal tolerance less than the second thermal tolerance and less than an operating temperature of the second article. The thermal break is defined by the second article, and is proximate to the sealing member and partitioned from the sealing member by a portion of the second article. The thermal break interrupts a thermal conduction path from the second article to the sealing member. The first article and the second article compress the sealing member, forming a thermal gradient-tolerant seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Gary Michael Itzel, Sandip Dutta
  • Publication number: 20180363483
    Abstract: A turbine component includes an outer shroud arranged within a turbine and further including opposed extending portions. The component further provides an inner shroud shielding the outer shroud from a gas path within the turbine during operation of the turbine and including opposed arcuate portions extending around and in direct contact with a corresponding extending portion of the outer shroud for supporting the inner shroud from the outer shroud. The component further provides a load path forming region at least partially extending between facing surfaces of each arcuate portion and corresponding extending portion. During operation of the turbine, load path forming regions extend into direct contact between at least a portion of the facing surfaces of each arcuate portion and corresponding extending portion, resulting in formation of a loading arrangement having generally evenly distributed radial load forces at the load path forming regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, John McConnell DELVAUX, Glenn Curtis TAXACHER
  • Publication number: 20180363510
    Abstract: A turbine component assembly is disclosed, including a first component, a second component, and a cantilever spring. The first component is arranged to be disposed adjacent to a hot gas path, and includes a ceramic matrix composite composition. The second component is adjacent to the first component and arranged to be disposed distal from the hot gas path across the first component. The cantilever spring is attached directly to the second component as a compliant contact interface between the first component and the second component. The cantilever spring provides a radial spring compliance between the first component and the second component. During operation, the cantilever spring directly contacts and supports the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Glenn Curtis TAXACHER, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20180363509
    Abstract: A turbine component assembly is disclosed, including a first component, a second component, and a circumferentially oriented flat spring. The first component is arranged to be disposed adjacent to a hot gas path, and includes a ceramic matrix composite composition. The second component is adjacent to the first component and arranged to be disposed distal from the hot gas path across the first component. The circumferentially oriented flat spring is disposed on and directly contacting the second component and directly contacting and supporting the first component as a compliant contact interface between the first component and the second component. The circumferentially oriented flat spring provides a radial spring compliance between the first component and the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Glenn Curtis TAXACHER, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20180363508
    Abstract: A turbine component including an outer shroud arranged within a turbine and including opposed extending portions. An inner shroud shields the outer shroud from a gas flowing along a gas path within the turbine during its operation and including opposed first and second arcuate portions extending around and in direct contact with a corresponding extending portion of the outer shroud. A first pin and second pin have a respective first end and second end. The first arcuate portion having a first engagement region for engaging the first end, and second arcuate portion having a second engagement region for engaging the second end. In response to engagement of the first engagement region and the first end of the first pin, and engagement of the second engagement region and the second end of the second pin, the inner shroud is prevented from twisting relative to the outer shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Frederic Woodrow ROBERTS, JR., Glenn Curtis TAXACHER
  • Publication number: 20180363477
    Abstract: A coated ceramic matrix composite or metallic component and a gas turbine assembly is provided. The component comprises a substrate comprising a first surface and a hot gas path surface. The hot gas path surface is arranged and disposed to contact a hot gas flow when the component is installed in the gas turbine. The first surface is disposed at an angle to the hot gas path surface and opposes at least one adjacent component when the component is installed in the gas turbine. The component further comprises an angled or rounded feature extending from the first surface to the hot gas path surface. The component further comprises an environmental barrier coating or thermal barrier coating on at least a portion of the hot gas path surface. The angled or rounded feature reduces an incidence angle of the hot gas flow onto the first surface. The gas turbine assembly comprises a plurality of the coated components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Joshua Lee MARGOLIES
  • Publication number: 20180363498
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including an inner shroud, an outer shroud, a shroud dampening pin, and a biasing apparatus. The inner shroud is adjacent to a hot gas path. The outer shroud is adjacent to the inner shroud and distal from the hot gas path, and includes a channel extending from an aperture adjacent to the inner shroud. The shroud dampening pin is within the channel and contacts the inner shroud, and includes a shaft, a contact surface, and a cap. The shaft is within the channel. The contact surface extends through the aperture in contact with the inner shroud. The cap is distal across the shaft from the contact surface. The biasing apparatus contacts the cap, is driven by a pressurized fluid, and provides a biasing force away from the outer shroud along the shroud dampening pin to the inner shroud through the contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Glenn Curtis TAXACHER, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20180363476
    Abstract: A coated ceramic matrix composite component and a gas turbine assembly are provided. The coated ceramic matrix composite component comprises a substrate comprising an endface surface and a hot gas path surface. The hot gas path surface is arranged and disposed to contact a hot gas path when the component is installed in the gas turbine assembly. The endface surface is disposed at an endface angle to the hot gas path surface and opposing at least one adjacent component when the component is installed in the gas turbine assembly. The coated ceramic matrix composite component further comprises an environmental barrier coating on at least a portion of the endface surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Joshua Lee MARGOLIES
  • Publication number: 20180363478
    Abstract: A method for forming a coated turbine component and a coated turbine component is provided. The method includes a step of providing a component having a substrate comprising a trailing edge face. The method further includes a step of applying a thermal barrier coating or environmental barrier coating selectively to the substrate to form a discontinuous transition from a hot gas path surface at the trailing edge face to discourage hot gas flow along the trailing edge face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Joshua Lee MARGOLIES, Victor John MORGAN, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20180363504
    Abstract: An anti-rotation shroud dampening pin is disclosed including a shaft, an anti-rotation dampening tip at a first end of the shaft, and a cap at a second end of the shaft. The anti-rotation dampening tip includes a pin non-circular cross-section. A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed, including an inner shroud, an outer shroud, the anti-rotation shroud dampening pin, and a biasing apparatus. The inner shroud includes an anti-rotation depression having a depression non-circular cross-section. The outer shroud includes a channel extending from an aperture adjacent to the inner shroud. The anti-rotation shroud dampening pin is disposed within the channel and in contact with the inner shroud, and extends through the aperture into the anti-rotation depression. The biasing apparatus contacts the cap and provides a biasing force to the inner shroud through the anti-rotation dampening tip. The pin non-circular cross-section mates non-rotatably into the depression non-circular cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Glenn Curtis TAXACHER, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20180363485
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly including an outer shroud arranged within a turbine and further comprising opposed extending portions. The turbine shroud assembly further including an inner shroud shielding the outer shroud from a gas flowing along a gas path within the turbine during operation of the turbine and comprising opposed first and second arcuate portions extending around and in direct contact with a corresponding extending portion of the outer shroud for supporting the inner shroud from the outer shroud. The turbine shroud assembly further including a spline seal extending between the first and second arcuate portions and positioned between the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The turbine shroud assembly further including at least one of the inner shroud, the outer shroud and the spline seal including at least one protrusion for maintaining positive retention of the spline seal during non-operation of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Frederic Woodrow ROBERTS, JR., Glenn Curtis TAXACHER
  • Patent number: 10150188
    Abstract: A method of treating a ceramic matrix composite article, including selecting an article having a ceramic composition formed by a process comprising an initial melt infiltration at an initial temperature with an initial infiltration material, whereby said article has at least one treatable feature. A portion of the ceramic composite is removed from a region abutting the treatable feature to form a treatment region. A treatment material including a reinforcing fiber is positioned in the treatment region and densified by a first melt infiltration with a first infiltration material including silicon. The first melt infiltration is performed at a first temperature lower than the initial infiltration temperature of the initial melt infiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Robert Parolini, James Joseph Murray, Matthew Troy Hafner, Canan Uslu Hardwicke
  • Patent number: 10087519
    Abstract: A method of making a preform and preform formed by the method. The method includes providing a first pre-preg ply including at least a first fiber and a first resin. The method also includes providing a second pre-preg ply including at least a second fiber and a second resin over at least a portion of the first pre-preg ply. Heat or electromagnetic radiation is used to at least partially cure the first and second resins to form a cured preform. Heat is applied to pyrolyze at least a portion of the resin of the cured preform to form a pyrolyzed preform. A mechanical stimulus including at least one of controlled drying, local explosions, or ultrasonic energy is applied to the pyrolyzed preform. The mechanically treated pyrolyzed preform is subsequently densified by melt infiltration to form a densified preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Robert Parolini, John McConnell Delvaux, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, James Joseph Murray, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Publication number: 20180272568
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a passage in a composite component. The method includes forming a cavity in a fiber preform. The cavity forms a portion of the passage. The method also includes inserting a core into the cavity and placing one or more fiber plies onto the fiber preform to form a fiber preform assembly. The method further includes thermally processing the fiber preform assembly and densifying the fiber preform assembly to form the composite component. The method also includes removing the core from the composite component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jason Robert Parolini, Matthew Troy Hafner, James Joseph Murray, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Canan Uslu Hardwicke, John McConnell Delvaux
  • Publication number: 20180223680
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly is disclosed, including a CMC nozzle shell, a nozzle spar, and an endwall. The CMC nozzle shell includes a CMC composition and an interior cavity. The nozzle spar is partially disposed within the interior cavity and includes a metallic composition, a cross-sectional conformation, a plurality of spacers protruding from the cross-sectional conformation, the plurality of spacers contacting the CMC nozzle shell, and a spar cap. The endwall includes at least one surface in lateral contact with the spar cap and maintains a lateral orientation of the CMC nozzle shell and the nozzle spar relative to the endwall. The lateral orientation maintains a predetermined throat area of the nozzle assembly. A method for forming the nozzle assembly includes inserting the nozzle spar into the interior cavity, rotating the CMC nozzle shell and the nozzle spar laterally relative to the endwall, and maintaining the lateral orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20180223689
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, including a first article, a second article, at least one interface structure, and a thermal break directly adjacent to the at least one interface structure. The first article includes a first material composition having a first thermal tolerance. The second article includes a second material composition having a second thermal tolerance greater than the first thermal tolerance. The first article and the second article are in contact with one another through the interface structure. The thermal break interrupts a thermal conduction path from the second article to the first article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Jason Robert PAROLINI, Canan Uslu HARDWICKE
  • Patent number: D871468
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner, Glenn Curtis Taxacher