Patents by Inventor Michael Robert MELZAK

Michael Robert MELZAK 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: 11092013
    Abstract: A flow transfer apparatus for transferring cooling flow from a primary gas flowpath to a turbine rotor. The apparatus includes a first supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and first inducers, the first inducers configured to accelerate a first fluid flow from the first supply plenum and discharge it toward the rotor with a tangential velocity; a second supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and second inducers, the second inducers configured to accelerate a second fluid flow from the second supply plenum towards the rotor with a tangential velocity; and a cooling modulation valve operable to selectively permit or block the second fluid flow from the primary gas flowpath to the second supply plenum. The valve includes a flow control structure disposed in the primary gas flowpath and an actuation structure extending to a location radially outside of a casing defining the primary gas flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Rahaim, Daniel John Fusinato, Scott David Hunter, Joel Francis Kirk, Michael Robert Melzak, Curtis Walton Stover
  • Publication number: 20190136714
    Abstract: A flow transfer apparatus for transferring cooling flow from a primary gas flowpath to a turbine rotor. The apparatus includes a first supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and first inducers, the first inducers configured to accelerate a first fluid flow from the first supply plenum and discharge it toward the rotor with a tangential velocity; a second supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and second inducers, the second inducers configured to accelerate a second fluid flow from the second supply plenum towards the rotor with a tangential velocity; and a cooling modulation valve operable to selectively permit or block the second fluid flow from the primary gas flowpath to the second supply plenum. The valve includes a flow control structure disposed in the primary gas flowpath and an actuation structure extending to a location radially outside of a casing defining the primary gas flowpath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: John Joseph RAHAIM, Daniel John FUSINATO, Scott David HUNTER, Joel Francis KIRK, Michael Robert MELZAK, Curtis Walton STOVER
  • Patent number: 10202867
    Abstract: A flow transfer apparatus for transferring cooling flow from a primary gas flowpath to a turbine rotor. The apparatus includes a first supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and first inducers, the first inducers configured to accelerate a first fluid flow from the first supply plenum and discharge it toward the rotor with a tangential velocity; a second supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and second inducers, the second inducers configured to accelerate a second fluid flow from the second supply plenum towards the rotor with a tangential velocity; and a cooling modulation valve operable to selectively permit or block the second fluid flow from the primary gas flowpath to the second supply plenum. The valve includes a flow control structure disposed in the primary gas flowpath and an actuation structure extending to a location radially outside of a casing defining the primary gas flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Joseph Rahaim, Daniel John Fusinato, Scott David Hunter, Joel Francis Kirk, Michael Robert Melzak, Curtis Walton Stover
  • Publication number: 20160040552
    Abstract: A flow transfer apparatus for transferring cooling flow from a primary gas flowpath to a turbine rotor. The apparatus includes a first supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and first inducers, the first inducers configured to accelerate a first fluid flow from the first supply plenum and discharge it toward the rotor with a tangential velocity; a second supply plenum communicating with the primary gas flowpath and second inducers , the second inducers configured to accelerate a second fluid flow from the second supply plenum towards the rotor with a tangential velocity; and a cooling modulation valve operable to selectively permit or block the second fluid flow from the primary gas flowpath to the second supply plenum. The valve includes a flow control structure disposed in the primary gas flowpath and an actuation structure extending to a location radially outside of a casing defining the primary gas flowpath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: John Joseph RAHAIM, Daniel John FUSINATO, Scott David HUNTER, Joel Francis KIRK, Michael Robert MELZAK, Curtis Walton STOVER