Patents by Inventor Ralph Chris Bruner

Ralph Chris Bruner 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: 8118548
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a casing defining a hot gas path, and a shroud member attached to the casing. The shroud member is spaced from the casing to define a gap. The shroud member includes a first end having a first hook member provided with a first sealing surface and a second end including a second hook member provided with a second sealing surface. At least one of the first and second sealing surfaces includes a plurality of labyrinth seal elements that reduce air leakage through the gap into the hot gas path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Iain Robertson Kellock, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Patent number: 8083475
    Abstract: The present application provides an angel wing seal for a turbine bucket. The angel wing seal may include a first wing with a sinusoidally-shaped outer edge and a number of wing teeth positioned thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ariel Caesar-Prepena Jacala, Gary Michael Itzel, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Patent number: 8066475
    Abstract: A uniquely configured rotating seal tooth is used in conjunction with commonly used labyrinth-type seals that provide a seal between a rotating component and a stationary component. The uniquely configured rotating seal tooth produces a compression mechanism to counter leakage flow through the labyrinth of seal teeth, thereby lessening the pressure gradient that drives leakage and reversing the direction of some of the leakage flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ralph Chris Bruner, Robert Craig Akin
  • Patent number: 8002515
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shroud for a turbomachine including at least one support structure and at least one inner shroud disposed at a gas path of a turbomachine. The at least one inner shroud and the at least one support structure have at least one gap therebetween. The at least one gap alternates between at least one restrictive gap and at least one unrestrictive gap and is capable of creating at least one pressure loss mechanism to reduce a hot gas flow in the at least one gap. Further disclosed is a turbomachine and a method for reducing ingestion of hot gas in a turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Iain Robertson Kellock, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20100178159
    Abstract: The present application provides an angel wing seal for a turbine bucket. The angel wing seal may include a first wing with a sinusoidally-shaped outer edge and a number of wing teeth positioned thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ariel Caesar-Prepena Jacala, Gary Michael Itzel, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20100068041
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a casing defining a hot gas path, and a shroud member attached to the casing. The shroud member is spaced from the casing to define a gap. The shroud member includes a first end having a first hook member provided with a first sealing surface and a second end including a second hook member provided with a second sealing surface. At least one of the first and second sealing surfaces includes a plurality of labyrinth seal elements that reduce air leakage through the gap into the hot gas path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Iain Robertson Kellock, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20100061848
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shroud for a turbomachine including at least one support structure and at least one inner shroud disposed at a gas path of a turbomachine. The at least one inner shroud and the at least one support structure have at least one gap therebetween. The at least one gap alternates between at least one restrictive gap and at least one unrestrictive gap and is capable of creating at least one pressure loss mechanism to reduce a hot gas flow in the at least one gap. Further disclosed is a turbomachine and a method for reducing ingestion of hot gas in a turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Iain Robertson Kellock, Charles Alan Bulgrin, Tagir Robert Nigmatulin, Ralph Chris Bruner
  • Publication number: 20090058013
    Abstract: A uniquely configured rotating seal tooth is used in conjunction with commonly used labyrinth-type seals that provide a seal between a rotating component and a stationary component. The uniquely configured rotating seal tooth produces a compression mechanism to counter leakage flow through the labyrinth of seal teeth, thereby lessening the pressure gradient that drives leakage and reversing the direction of some of the leakage flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Ralph Chris Bruner, Robert Craig Akin