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).

  • Publication number: 20180194688
    Abstract: A CMC ply assembly is disclosed including at least one matrix ply interspersed amongst a plurality of CMC plies. Each of the plurality of CMC plies includes a first matrix and a plurality of ceramic fibers. The at least one matrix ply includes a second matrix and is essentially free of ceramic fibers. The plurality of CMC plies and the at least one matrix ply are arranged in an undensified ply stack having an article conformation. A CMC article is disclosed including a plurality of densified CMC plies and at least one densified matrix ply interspersed amongst the plurality of densified CMC plies. A method for forming the CMC article is disclosed including forming, carburizing, infusing a melt infiltration agent into, and densifying the CMC ply assembly. The melt infiltration agent infuses more completely through the at least one matrix ply than through the plurality of CMC plies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, John McConnell DELVAUX, Glenn Curtis TAXACHER, Zachary John SNIDER
  • Publication number: 20180112549
    Abstract: Various embodiments include gas turbine seals and methods of forming such seals for advanced gas path (AGP) heat transfer designed gas turbine engines. In some cases, a turbine includes: a first arcuate component adjacent to a second arcuate component, each arcuate component formed of a ceramic matrix composite and including a seal slot located in an end face, each seal slot having a plurality of axial surfaces and radially facing surfaces extending from opposite ends of the axial surfaces and an overhanging seal assembly disposed in the seal slot. The overhanging seal assembly including an intersegment seal including a plurality of seal segments defining two vertical seal segments and a plurality of horizontal seal segments and a first overhanging positioner shim seal and a second overhanging positioner shim seal, each including an extended portion. The overhanging seal assembly disposed in the seal slot so as to provide position constrainment of the two vertical seal segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Bodhayan Dev, Neelesh Digamber Sarawate, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 9945244
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including an inner shroud having a surface adjacent to a hot gas path, an outer shroud, and a biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus is arranged and disposed to bias the inner shroud in a direction away from the hot gas path, loading the inner shroud to the outer shroud. In another embodiment, the biasing apparatus is a springless biasing apparatus including at least one bellows, at least one thrust piston, or a combination of at least one bellows and at least one thrust piston. A method for loading the turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including biasing the inner shroud having a surface adjacent to a hot gas path in a direction away from the hot gas path toward the outer shroud, wherein biasing the inner shroud includes a biasing force exerted by the biasing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederic Woodrow Roberts, Victor John Morgan, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 9903218
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including an inner shroud having a surface adjacent to a hot gas path, an outer shroud, a damper block disposed between the inner shroud and the outer shroud, a first biasing apparatus, and a second biasing apparatus. The first biasing apparatus provides a first biasing force to the inner shroud, biasing the inner shroud a first deflection distance in a direction toward the hot gas path and away from the outer shroud. The second biasing apparatus provides a second biasing force to the damper block, biasing the damper block a second deflection distance in a direction toward the hot gas path and away from the outer shroud. The second deflection distance is greater than the first deflection distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Victor John Morgan, Frederic Woodrow Roberts
  • Publication number: 20170350256
    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 axial cooling channels in the trailing edge portion of the airfoil are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion 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 trailing edge portion with axial cooling channels. The axial cooling channels are arranged to permit axial flow of a cooling fluid from an interior to an exterior of the turbine component at the trailing edge portion. A method of cooling a turbine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Sandip DUTTA, James ZHANG, Gary Michael ITZEL, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20170350260
    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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Sandip DUTTA, James ZHANG, Gary Michael ITZEL, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20170350259
    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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Sandip DUTTA, James ZHANG, Gary Michael ITZEL, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20170328203
    Abstract: A turbine assembly includes a rotary component rotatable about an axis of a turbine, a plurality of inner wall segments coupled to the rotary component circumferentially around the rotary component and rotatable with the rotary component, a non-rotary component circumferentially surrounding the rotary component, a plurality of outer wall segments coupled to the non-rotary component and disposed to extend toward the rotary component, and a plurality of nozzles extending from each of the outer wall segments, each nozzle having a tip distal from the outer wall segment such that the tips form a seal with the inner wall segments at an inner flow path of the turbine. An inner wall assembly and a turbine assembly method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: James ZHANG, James Tyson BALKCUM, III, John McConnell DELVAUX, Matthew Troy HAFNER
  • Publication number: 20170299187
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an integrated combustor nozzle for a segmented annular combustion system. The integrated combustor nozzle includes an outer liner segment, an inner liner segment, and a fuel injection panel extending radially between the outer liner segment and the inner liner segment. The fuel injection panel includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a plurality of premixing channels between the first and second side walls, each of the premixing channels having an outlet on one of the first and second side walls. The aft end of the fuel injection panel defines a turbine nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, Matthew Troy Hafner, Joseph Vincent Citeno
  • Patent number: 9784116
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly includes a plurality of arcuate shroud block assemblies annularly arranged to form a shroud segment. The plurality of shroud block assemblies includes a first shroud block assembly having a shroud block and a second shroud block assembly having a shroud block. The first shroud block assembly includes a seal interface member and a shroud seal. The seal interface member has a side portion that is adjacent to a radial side surface of the first shroud block. The second shroud block assembly includes a seal interface member and a shroud seal. The seal interface member has a side portion that is adjacent to a radial side surface of the second shroud block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Victor John Morgan, Frederic Woodrow Roberts, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170284222
    Abstract: A turbine apparatus is disclosed including a first article and a second article disposed between the first article and a hot gas path of a turbine. The first article includes at least one first article cooling channel in fluid communication with and downstream from a cooling fluid source, and the second article includes at least one second article cooling channel in fluid communication with and downstream from the at least one first article cooling channel. A method for redundant cooling of the turbine apparatus is disclosed including flowing a cooling fluid from the cooling fluid source through at least one first article cooling channel, exhausting the cooling fluid from the at least one first article cooling channel into at least one second article cooling channel, and flowing the cooling fluid through the at least one second article cooling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Scott Francis JOHNSON, James Joseph MURRAY
  • Publication number: 20170276021
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a first and second article, a first interface volume disposed between and enclosed by the first article and second article, a cooling fluid supply, and at least one cooling fluid channel in fluid communication with the cooling fluid supply and the first interface volume. The first article includes a first material composition. The second article includes a second material composition. The at least one cooling fluid channel includes a heat exchange portion disposed in at least one of the first and second article downstream of the cooling fluid supply and upstream of the first interface volume. A turbine shroud is disclosed wherein the first and second articles are an outer and inner shroud. A turbine nozzle is disclosed wherein the first and second articles are an endwall and fairing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Gary Michael ITZEL, John McConnell DELVAUX, Sandip DUTTA
  • Publication number: 20170260867
    Abstract: A gas turbine seal assembly includes a gas turbine component and a gas turbine seal component contacting the gas turbine component to form a seal between the two components. The gas turbine seal component includes ceramic matrix composite plies bonded together to form the ceramic matrix composite component. A bond-inhibiting coating on a non-bonding portion of a first surface of one of the ceramic matrix composite plies prevents bonding between the non-bonding portion of the first surface and a second surface of a neighboring ceramic matrix composite ply. At least one bonding portion of the first surface lacking the bond-inhibiting coating is bonded to the second surface. A method of forming a ceramic matrix composite component includes selectively applying a bond-inhibiting coating to a non-bonding portion of a first surface of a ceramic matrix composite ply and bonding the ceramic matrix composite plies together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Gary Michael ITZEL, John McConnell DELVAUX
  • Publication number: 20170248029
    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: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Gary Michael ITZEL, Sandip DUTTA
  • Patent number: 9745849
    Abstract: A method for treating a field operated component is disclosed which includes providing the component including a ceramic matrix composite and removing a first portion of the component, forming a first exposed surface on the component. The method further includes providing a second portion including the composite, the second portion having a second exposed surface including a conformation adapted to mate with the first exposed surface. The second portion is positioned in association with the component so as to replace the first portion, and the second portion and the component are joined to form a treated component. Another method is disclosed wherein the component is a turbine component which further includes removing an environmental barrier coating from the component, arranging and conforming the first exposed surface and the second exposed surface to define a joint, and applying an environmental barrier coating to the treated component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Canan Uslu Hardwicke, John McConnell Delvaux, Jason Robert Parolini, Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 9624784
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-stage turbine that includes a first turbine stage having a first wheel having a plurality of first blade segments spaced circumferentially about the first wheel. The turbine also includes a second turbine stage having a second wheel having a plurality of second blade segments spaced circumferentially about the second wheel. The turbine also includes a seal assembly extending axially between the first and second turbine stages. The seal assembly includes a first coverplate coupled to the first turbine stage. The first coverplate includes a first air director. The seal assembly also includes a second coverplate coupled to the second turbine stage. The second coverplate comprises a second air director. The seal assembly also includes an interstage seal. The first coverplate, the second coverplate, or both are configured to support the interstage seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 9605553
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-stage turbine. The multi-stage turbine includes a first turbine stage with a first wheel having a plurality of first blade segments spaced circumferentially about the first wheel, a second turbine stage with a second wheel having a plurality of second blade segments spaced circumferentially about the second wheel, and an interstage seal assembly extending axially between the first and second turbine stages. The interstage seal assembly includes a first coverplate coupled to the first turbine stage. The first coverplate includes a first seal. The interstage seal assembly also includes a second coverplate coupled to the second turbine stage. The second coverplate includes a second seal. The interstage seal assembly also includes a spacer wheel extending from a rotor shaft and configured to engage with the first coverplate and the second coverplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Matthew Troy Hafner
  • Patent number: 9581037
    Abstract: The present application provide a seal for use between components engine facing a high pressure cooling air flow and a hot gas path in a gas turbine. The seal may include a first shim, a second shim with an air exit hole, one or more middle layers positioned between the first shim and the second shim, and one or more cooling pathways extending through the middle layers for the high pressure cooling air flow to pass therethrough and exit via the air exit hole into the hot gas path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Victor John Morgan, Jacob John Kittleson, Neelesh N. Sarawate
  • Publication number: 20170051627
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including an inner shroud having a surface adjacent to a hot gas path, an outer shroud, a damper block disposed between the inner shroud and the outer shroud, a first biasing apparatus, and a second biasing apparatus. The first biasing apparatus provides a first biasing force to the inner shroud, biasing the inner shroud a first deflection distance in a direction toward the hot gas path and away from the outer shroud. The second biasing apparatus provides a second biasing force to the damper block, biasing the damper block a second deflection distance in a direction toward the hot gas path and away from the outer shroud. The second deflection distance is greater than the first deflection distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew Troy HAFNER, Victor John MORGAN, Frederic Woodrow ROBERTS
  • Publication number: 20170044923
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including an inner shroud having a surface adjacent to a hot gas path, an outer shroud, and a biasing apparatus. The biasing apparatus is arranged and disposed to bias the inner shroud in a direction away from the hot gas path, loading the inner shroud to the outer shroud. In another embodiment, the biasing apparatus is a springless biasing apparatus including at least one bellows, at least one thrust piston, or a combination of at least one bellows and at least one thrust piston. A method for loading the turbine shroud assembly is disclosed including biasing the inner shroud having a surface adjacent to a hot gas path in a direction away from the hot gas path toward the outer shroud, wherein biasing the inner shroud includes a biasing force exerted by the biasing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Frederic Woodrow ROBERTS, Victor John MORGAN, Matthew Troy HAFNER