Patents by Inventor Michael Ray TUERTSCHER

Michael Ray TUERTSCHER 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: 20170198595
    Abstract: A ceramic airfoil is provided. The ceramic airfoil may include a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pair of sidewalls. The pair of sidewalls may include a suction sidewall and a pressure sidewall spaced apart in a widthwise direction and extending in the chordwise direction between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The pair of sidewalls may also define cooling cavity and a plurality of internal cooling passages downstream of the cooling cavity to receive a pressurized cooling airflow. The internal cooling passages may be defined across a diffusion section with a set diffusion length, and include one or more predefined ratios or angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Jason Randolph Allen, Robert Alan Frederick, Robert David Briggs, Michael Ray Tuertscher
  • Publication number: 20170051619
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for making ceramic matrix composite (CMC) nozzles that limit thermal stresses from expansion and contraction, maintain tolerance on critical engineering dimensions, and reduces parasitic leakage associated with split line gaps in the CMC components. Cantilevered and herringbone patterns are formed by the split line gaps in the endwalls of the nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Ray TUERTSCHER
  • Publication number: 20170022833
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine and a method of transferring load from the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) airfoil assembly to a metallic vane assembly support member are provided. The airfoil assembly includes a forward end and an aft end with respect to an axial direction of the gas turbine engine. The airfoil assembly further includes a radially outer end component including a radially outwardly-facing end surface having a non-compression load-bearing feature extending radially outwardly from the outwardly-facing end surface and formed integrally with the outer end component, the feature configured to mate with a complementary feature formed in a radially inner surface of a first airfoil assembly support structure, the feature selectively positioned orthogonally to a force imparted into the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Bryce Loring HEITMAN, Darrell Glenn SENILE, Michael Ray TUERTSCHER, Greg Scott PHELPS, Brian Gregg FEIE, Steven James MURPHY
  • Publication number: 20160177761
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly is provided which is, in part, formed of a low coefficient of thermal expansion material. The assembly includes a nozzle fairing formed of the low coefficient of thermal expansion material and includes a metallic strut extending radially through the nozzle fairing. Load is transferred from the nozzle fairing to a static structure in either of two ways: first, the strut may receive the load directly and/or second, load may be transferred from the nozzle fairing to at least one of the inner and outer support rings. Further, the nozzle fairing and strut may allow for internal airflow for cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin Scott Huizenga, Christopher Charles Glynn, Darrell Glenn Senile, Robert Alan Frederick, Michael Todd Radwanski, Michael Ray Tuertscher, Gregg Scott Phelps
  • Publication number: 20160177759
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes an arcuate inner band having opposed flowpath and back sides, and an aft flange extending outward from the back side; an arcuate outer band having opposed flowpath and back sides; an airfoil-shaped turbine vane extending between the flowpath sides of the inner and outer bands, wherein the inner and outer bands and the vane comprise a ceramic low-ductility material; and a metallic collar surrounding the aft flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Ray TUERTSCHER, Darrell Glenn SENILE, Greg PHELPS
  • Publication number: 20160153299
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle apparatus includes: a vane extending between inner and outer bands, the interior of the vane being open and communicating with an aperture in the outer band, wherein the vane and the bands are part of a monolithic whole of low-ductility material; a metallic baffle inside the vane, the baffle having upper and lower ends and a peripheral wall including a plurality of impingement holes defining an interior space, closed off by an end wall at the lower end; and a metallic retainer having a body with a shape generally matching the shape of the aperture, the body bearing against the upper end of the impingement baffle and being connected to the outer band by a plurality of mechanical fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Ray TUERTSCHER, Darell Glenn SENILE, Greg PHELPS
  • Publication number: 20160115086
    Abstract: Methods and materials for forming in-situ features in a ceramic matrix composite component are described. The method of forming a ceramic matrix composite component with cooling features, comprises forming a preform tape, laying up said preform tape to a desired shape, placing a high-temperature resistant fugitive material insert of preselected geometry in the preform tape of the desired shape, compacting the preform tape of the desired shape, burning out the preform tape of the desired shape, melt infiltrating the desired shape, removing the high-temperature resistant insert to form the cooling features during one of the burning out or the melt infiltrating or following the burning out or the melt infiltrating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Ray TUERTSCHER, Mark Eugene NOE, Glen Harold KIRBY, Sheena Kum Foster WALKER