Patents by Inventor Robert Alan Johnson

Robert Alan Johnson 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: 20020174967
    Abstract: A casting includes a heat transfer surface having a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities include a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. Also disclosed is a mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting. The mold includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Ching Pang Lee, Wayne Charles Hasz, Nesim Abuaf, Robert Alan Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020168537
    Abstract: An article includes turbulation material bonded to a surface of a substrate via a bonding agent, such as a braze alloy. In an embodiment, the turbulation material includes a particulate phase of discrete metal alloy particles having an average particle size within a range of about 125 microns to about 4000 microns. Other embodiments include methods for applying turbulation and articles for forming turbulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Wayne Charles Hasz, Robert Alan Johnson, Ching-Pang Lee, Mark Gerard Rettig, Nesim Abuaf, John Howard Starkweather
  • Publication number: 20020152755
    Abstract: A combustor liner is provided on its backside cooling surface with a braze alloy coating and cooling enhancement material, preferably metallic particles to enhance the heat transfer between the liner and the cooling medium. The surface area of the backside coated area is increased substantially by the coating and particles in relation to the uncoated surface areas. Consequently, the life of the liner is extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Alan Johnson, Anthony Joseph Loprinzo, Ching-Pang Lee, Nesim Abuaf, Wayne Charles Hasz, Harmon Lindsay Morton
  • Patent number: 6468669
    Abstract: An article includes turbulation material bonded to a surface of a substrate via a bonding agent, such as a braze alloy. In an embodiment, the turbulation material includes a particulate phase of discrete metal alloy particles having an average particle size within a range of about 125 microns to about 4000 microns. Other embodiments include methods for applying turbulation and articles for forming turbulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wayne Charles Hasz, Robert Alan Johnson, Ching-Pang Lee, Mark Gerard Rettig, Nesim Abuaf, John Howard Starkweather
  • Publication number: 20020150672
    Abstract: Castings for gas turbine parts exposed on one side to a high-temperature fluid medium have cast-in bumps on an opposite cooling surface side to enhance heat transfer. Areas on the cooling surface having defectively cast bumps, i.e., missing or partially formed bumps during casting, are thermally sprayed to provide a metallic cooling enhancement surface layer to salvage the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Alan Johnson, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Ching-Pang Lee, Nesim Abuaf
  • Publication number: 20020108375
    Abstract: A combustor liner is provided on its backside cooling surface with a braze alloy coating and cooling enhancement material, preferably metallic particles to enhance the heat transfer between the liner and the cooling medium. The surface area of the backside coated area is increased substantially by the coating and particles in relation to the uncoated surface areas. Consequently, the life of the liner is extended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Alan Johnson, Anthony Joseph Loprinzo, Ching-pang Lee, Nesim Abuaf, Wayne Charles Hasz, Harmon Lindsay Morton
  • Patent number: 6426152
    Abstract: Castings for gas turbine parts exposed on one side to a high-temperature fluid medium have cast-in bumps on an opposite cooling surface side to enhance heat transfer. Areas on the cooling surface having defectively cast bumps, i.e., missing or partially formed bumps during casting, are coated with a braze alloy and cooling enhancement material to salvage the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Alan Johnson, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Ching-Pang Lee, Nesim Abuaf, Wayne Charles Hasz
  • Publication number: 20020096197
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine wash process that facilitates reducing a formation of particulate matter within a gas turbine engine is described. The engine wash process includes injecting a first liquid into the engine to remove particulate matter formed within the engine and adversely affecting engine operation and performance. A second liquid is then injected into the engine to facilitate reducing a rate of formation of particulate matter within the gas turbine engine as the engine is operated in the future. More specifically, the second liquid is an anti-static liquid that coats compressor blades within the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: John Frederick Ackerman, William Randolph Stowell, Robert Alan Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020076571
    Abstract: Castings for gas turbine parts exposed on one side to a high-temperature fluid medium have cast-in bumps on an opposite cooling surface side to enhance heat transfer. Areas on the cooling surface having defectively cast bumps, i.e., missing or partially formed bumps during casting, are coated with a braze alloy and cooling enhancement material to salvage the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Robert Alan Johnson, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Ching-Pang Lee, Nesim Abuaf, Wayne Charles Hasz
  • Patent number: 6402464
    Abstract: An annular turbine shroud separates a hot gas path from a cooling plenum containing a cooling medium. Bumps are cast in the surface on the cooling side of the shroud. A surface coating overlies the cooling side surface of the shroud, including the bumps, and contains cooling enhancement material. The surface area ratio of the cooling side of the shroud with the bumps and coating is in excess of a surface area ratio of the cooling side surface with bumps without the coating to afford increased heat transfer across the element relative to the heat transfer across the element without the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rong-Shi Paul Chiu, Wayne Charles Hasz, Robert Alan Johnson, Ching-Pang Lee, Nesim Abuaf
  • Patent number: 6382300
    Abstract: A casting includes a heat transfer surface having a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities include a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. Also disclosed is a mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting. The mold includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching Pang Lee, Wayne Charles Hasz, Nesim Abuaf, Robert Alan Johnson
  • Patent number: 6379528
    Abstract: The back side recessed cooling surface of a shroud defining in part the hot gas path of a turbine is electrochemically machined to provide surface roughness elements and spaces therebetween to increase the heat transfer coefficient. To accomplish this, an electrode with insulating dielectric portions and non-insulating portions is disposed in opposition to the cooling surface. By passing an electrolyte between the cooling surface and electrode and applying an electrical current between the electrode and a shroud, roughness elements and spaces therebetween are formed in the cooling surface in opposition to the insulating and non-insulating portions of the electrode, hence increasing the surface area and heat transfer coefficient of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Robert Alan Johnson, Bin Wei, Hsin-Pang Wang
  • Patent number: 6302185
    Abstract: A casting includes a heat transfer surface having a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities include a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. A mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching Pang Lee, Wayne Charles Hasz, Nesim Abuaf, Robert Alan Johnson
  • Publication number: 20010020525
    Abstract: A casting includes a heat transfer surface having a plurality of cavities. The plurality of cavities include a density of at least about 25 cavities per square centimeter to about 1,100 cavities per square centimeter resulting in increased surface area and therefore enhanced heat transfer capability. Also disclosed is a mold for forming a pattern for molding the casting. The mold includes a surface defining a portion of a chamber to which are attached a plurality of particles having an average particle size in a range of about 300 microns to about 2,000 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Ching Pang Lee, Wayne Charles Hasz, Nesim Abuaf, Robert Alan Johnson
  • Patent number: 6254341
    Abstract: An engine, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a compressor which compresses inlet air; a combustor in which a mixture of fuel and air is combusted; a turbine which is driven by gases from the combustor; and a dielectric coating applied to a surface of at least one of: the compressor and the turbine, the dielectric coating having a dielectric constant of at least 3.0 and a loss tangent of at most 0.1, wherein the dielectric coating reduces the magnitude of an electrostatic force which attracts particles flowing through the engine to the surface of the engine. In operation, only a thin layer of particles typically accumulates on the dielectric coating. While the dielectric coating reduces the magnitude of the electric field which attracts particles, the repulsive force produced by the accumulated particles repels additional particles of the same charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Frederick Ackerman, William Randolph Stowell, Dan Ivkovich, Robert Alan Johnson, Soon Jai Khang, Sang Yeng Park