Patents by Inventor Michael Reinker

Michael Reinker 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).

  • Turbine bucket lockwire rotation prevention
    Patent number: 8485784
    Abstract: A retention system for a plurality of turbine buckets located in respective mating slots in a turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of first retention slots formed in outer peripheral portions of the turbine wheel, and a plurality of second retention slots formed in wheel mounting portions of the buckets. The first and second retention slots are aligned to form an annular retention slot extending about a peripheral portion of the rotor wheel. A lockwire is located within the annular retention slot, the lockwire having engaged free ends. A plurality of axially-oriented retaining pins are fixed in the rotor wheel to hold the lockwire in the annular retention slot, and various techniques are employed for at least limiting or substantially preventing circumferential rotation of the lockwire within the annular slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Alan Eastman, Brian Peter Arness, Mark Steven Honkomp, Stephen Paul Wassynger, Steve P. Byam, Michael Reinker
  • TURBINE BUCKET LOCKWIRE ROTATION PREVENTION
    Publication number: 20110014053
    Abstract: A retention system for a plurality of turbine buckets located in respective mating slots in a turbine rotor wheel includes a plurality of first retention slots formed in outer peripheral portions of the turbine wheel, and a plurality of second retention slots formed in wheel mounting portions of the buckets. The first and second retention slots are aligned to form an annular retention slot extending about a peripheral portion of the rotor wheel. A lockwire is located within the annular retention slot, the lockwire having engaged free ends. A plurality of axially-oriented retaining pins are fixed in the rotor wheel to hold the lockwire in the annular retention slot, and various techniques are employed for at least limiting or substantially preventing circumferential rotation of the lockwire within the annular slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Alan Eastman, Brian Peter Arness, Mark Steven Honkomp, Stephen Paul Wassynger, Steve P. Byam, Michael Reinker