Patents by Inventor Shawn Michael Pearson

Shawn Michael Pearson 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: 11143402
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines, as well as outer walls and flow path assemblies of gas turbine engines, are provided. For example, an outer wall of a flow path comprises a combustor portion extending through a combustion section, and a turbine portion extending through at least a first turbine stage of a turbine section. The combustor and turbine portions are integrally formed as a single unitary structure that defines an outer boundary of the flow path. As another example, a flow path assembly comprises a combustor dome positioned a forward end of a combustor; an outer wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a first turbine stage; and an inner wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a combustion section. The combustor dome extends radially from the outer wall to the inner wall and is integrally formed with the outer and inner walls as a single unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Noe, Shawn Michael Pearson, Joshua Tyler Mook, Brandon ALlanson Reynolds, Jonathan David Baldiga
  • Patent number: 10738621
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil apparatus includes: an airfoil including a concave pressure sidewall and a convex suction sidewall joined together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge; an endwall that projects laterally outwardly from the airfoil at one spanwise end thereof, the endwall having an outer surface facing the airfoil and an opposing inner surface; a plenum defined within the endwall between the inner and outer surfaces wherein the plenum is forked in plan view, with at least two branches, each branch terminating at a closed end, each branch having a throat disposed at its upstream end, wherein each throat has a relatively constricted flow area for increasing flow velocity; and at least one film cooling hole passing through the outer surface and communicating with the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Mark Molter, Mark Edward Stegmiller, Shawn Michael Pearson, Steven Robert Brassfield
  • Patent number: 10577949
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes a first region formed substantially of a first CMC material, wherein first region defines a first thermal conductivity. The component further includes a second region formed substantially of a second CMC material, wherein the second region defines a second thermal conductivity. Further, the component defines a thickness and the first region is positioned adjacent to the second region along the thickness, wherein the first thermal conductivity is different than the second thermal conductivity to alert a thermal profile of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Pearson, Kirk Douglas Gallier, Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Patent number: 10563514
    Abstract: A structure for disrupting the flow of a fluid is provided, the structure comprising: a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall spaced apart from one another a distance across an X-axis; and a turbulator extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, the turbulator extending away from the floor. The turbulator includes a first front surface extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, a second front surface extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, a first rear surface extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, the first rear surface extending between the first front surface and the floor, and a second rear surface adjoining the first rear surface and extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, the second rear surface extending between the second front surface and the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Robert David Briggs, Shawn Michael Pearson
  • Publication number: 20200025377
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines, as well as outer walls and flow path assemblies of gas turbine engines, are provided. For example, an outer wall of a flow path comprises a combustor portion extending through a combustion section, and a turbine portion extending through at least a first turbine stage of a turbine section. The combustor and turbine portions are integrally formed as a single unitary structure that defines an outer boundary of the flow path. As another example, a flow path assembly comprises a combustor dome positioned a forward end of a combustor; an outer wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a first turbine stage; and an inner wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a combustion section. The combustor dome extends radially from the outer wall to the inner wall and is integrally formed with the outer and inner walls as a single unitary structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Noe, Shawn Michael Pearson, Joshua Tyler Mook, Brandon ALlanson Reynolds, Jonathan David Baldiga
  • Patent number: 10443407
    Abstract: An apparatus for a gas turbine engine can include an airfoil having an interior. The interior can be separated into one or more cooling air channels extending in a span-wise direction. An accelerator insert can be placed in one or more cooling air channels to define a reduced cross-sectional area within the cooling air channel to accelerate an airflow passing through the cooling air channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert David Briggs, Shawn Michael Pearson, Andrew David Kemp, Gulcharan Singh Brainch
  • Patent number: 10393381
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines, as well as outer walls and flow path assemblies of gas turbine engines, are provided. For example, an outer wall of a flow path comprises a combustor portion extending through a combustion section, and a turbine portion extending through at least a first turbine stage of a turbine section. The combustor and turbine portions are integrally formed as a single unitary structure that defines an outer boundary of the flow path. As another example, a flow path assembly comprises a combustor dome positioned a forward end of a combustor; an outer wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a first turbine stage; and an inner wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a combustion section. The combustor dome extends radially from the outer wall to the inner wall and is integrally formed with the outer and inner walls as a single unitary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Noe, Shawn Michael Pearson, Joshua Tyler Mook, Brandon ALlanson Reynolds, Jonathan David Baldiga
  • Patent number: 10386069
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine wall is provided. The wall includes an inner surface and an opposing outer surface having at least one film cooling hole defined therein. The at least one film cooling hole includes an inclined inlet bore that extends from the inner surface and a pair of channels that diverge laterally from an outlet end of the inclined inlet bore. The pair of channels have a substantially constant width and are separated by a ridge to form a boomerang cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Pearson, Robert Frederick Bergholz, Douglas Ray Smith, Frederick Alan Buck, Stephen Mark Molter, Kevin Robert Feldmann
  • Publication number: 20180363467
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil apparatus includes: an airfoil including a concave pressure sidewall and a convex suction sidewall joined together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge; an endwall that projects laterally outwardly from the airfoil at one spanwise end thereof, the endwall having an outer surface facing the airfoil and an opposing inner surface; a plenum defined within the endwall between the inner and outer surfaces wherein the plenum is forked in plan view, with at least two branches, each branch terminating at a closed end, each branch having a throat disposed at its upstream end, wherein each throat has a relatively constricted flow area for increasing flow velocity; and at least one film cooling hole passing through the outer surface and communicating with the plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Stephen Mark Molter, Mark Edward Stegmiller, Shawn Michael Pearson, Steven Robert Brassfield
  • Patent number: 10100647
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil apparatus includes: an airfoil including a concave pressure sidewall and a convex suction sidewall joined together at a leading edge and a trailing edge; an endwall projecting laterally outwardly from the airfoil at one spanwise end thereof, the endwall having an outer surface facing the airfoil and an opposing inner surface; a plenum defined within the endwall between the inner and outer surfaces wherein the plenum is forked in plan view, with at least two branches, each branch having a throat disposed at its upstream end; and at least one film cooling hole passing through the outer surface and communicating with the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Mark Molter, Mark Edward Stegemiller, Shawn Michael Pearson, Steven Robert Brassfield
  • Patent number: 10100650
    Abstract: A process of depositing a ceramic coating on an airfoil component and the component formed thereby is provided. The process includes depositing a bond coat on an airfoil component including on a trailing edge region thereof that defines a trailing edge of the airfoil component, within holes located within the trailing edge region and spaced apart from the trailing edge, and on lands located within the trailing edge region and between the holes. A ceramic coating is then deposited on the bond coat including on the trailing edge region of the airfoil component, within the holes located within the trailing edge region, and on the lands between the holes. The ceramic coating within the holes is selectively removed without completely removing the ceramic coating on the trailing edge region and the lands between the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Mantkowski, John Maynard Crow, Shawn Michael Pearson, Stephen Mark Molter
  • Publication number: 20180216822
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines, as well as outer walls and flow path assemblies of gas turbine engines, are provided. For example, an outer wall of a flow path comprises a combustor portion extending through a combustion section, and a turbine portion extending through at least a first turbine stage of a turbine section. The combustor and turbine portions are integrally formed as a single unitary structure that defines an outer boundary of the flow path. As another example, a flow path assembly comprises a combustor dome positioned a forward end of a combustor; an outer wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a first turbine stage; and an inner wall extending from the combustor dome through at least a combustion section. The combustor dome extends radially from the outer wall to the inner wall and is integrally formed with the outer and inner walls as a single unitary structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Eugene Noe, Shawn Michael Pearson, Joshua Tyler Mook, Brandon ALlanson Reynolds, Jonathan David Baldiga
  • Patent number: 9995148
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are taught for cooling a turbine blade wherein at least one circuit is isolated along a cool suction side of the blade and the circuit turns aft toward a trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Mark Molter, Steven Robert Brassfield, Shawn Michael Pearson, Mark Edward Stegemiller
  • Patent number: 9869185
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes: a concave pressure sidewall and a convex suction sidewall joined together at a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending between a root and a tip; an internal rib extending between the pressure sidewall and the suction sidewall; and a crossover hole formed in the rib, the crossover hole having a noncircular cross-sectional shape with a major axis defining a maximum dimension of the cross-sectional shape; wherein the major axis of the crossover hole lies in plane with the rib and is non-parallel to an imaginary curvilinear lateral centerline which defines a locus of points lying halfway between the pressure and suction sidewalls. The orientation of the crossover holes minimizes stress concentration caused by the presence of the crossover holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Pearson, Steven Robert Brassfield, Stephen Mark Molter, Mark Edward Stegemiller, Nicholas Ertel, Vanessa Camarillo
  • Publication number: 20170362943
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes a first region formed substantially of a first CMC material, wherein first region defines a first thermal conductivity. The component further includes a second region formed substantially of a second CMC material, wherein the second region defines a second thermal conductivity. Further, the component defines a thickness and the first region is positioned adjacent to the second region along the thickness, wherein the first thermal conductivity is different than the second thermal conductivity to alert a thermal profile of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Pearson, Kirk Douglas Gallier, Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Patent number: 9840920
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for use in a gas turbine engine having an axis of rotation includes a plurality of rotor blades. Each rotor blade includes a platform extending between opposing side faces, a shank extending radially inward from the platform, and a slot at least partially defined in each of the opposing side faces. A sealing member is configured to be inserted into each slot of a first rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades such that at least a portion of each sealing member extends beyond one of the opposing side faces. A second rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades is coupled adjacent the first rotor blade such that at least a portion of one sealing member is inserted into a corresponding second slot on the second rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Pearson, Steven Robert Brassfield, Mark Edward Stegemiller, Jonathan Filipa, Daniel Lee Durstock
  • Publication number: 20170234145
    Abstract: An apparatus for a gas turbine engine can include an airfoil having an interior. The interior can be separated into one or more cooling air channels extending in a span-wise direction. An accelerator insert can be placed in one or more cooling air channels to define a reduced cross-sectional area within the cooling air channel to accelerate an airflow passing through the cooling air channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Robert David Briggs, Shawn Michael Pearson, Andrew David Kemp, Gulcharan Singh Brainch
  • Publication number: 20170096900
    Abstract: A structure for disrupting the flow of a fluid is provided, the structure comprising: a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall spaced apart from one another a distance across an X-axis; and a turbulator extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, the turbulator extending away from the floor. The turbulator includes a first front surface extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, a second front surface extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, a first rear surface extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, the first rear surface extending between the first front surface and the floor, and a second rear surface adjoining the first rear surface and extending between the first lateral wall and the second lateral wall, the second rear surface extending between the second front surface and the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Ronald Scott BUNKER, Robert David BRIGGS, Shawn Michael PEARSON
  • Publication number: 20150226069
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil includes: a concave pressure sidewall and a convex suction sidewall joined together at a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending between a root and a tip; an internal rib extending between the pressure sidewall and the suction sidewall; and a crossover hole formed in the rib, the crossover hole having a noncircular cross-sectional shape with a major axis defining a maximum dimension of the cross-sectional shape; wherein the major axis of the crossover hole lies in plane with the rib and is non-parallel to an imaginary curvilinear lateral centerline which defines a locus of points lying halfway between the pressure and suction sidewalls. The orientation of the crossover holes minimizes stress concentration caused by the presence of the crossover holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Pearson, Steven Robert Brassfield, Stephen Mark Molter, Mark Edward Stegemiller, Nicholas Ertel, Vanessa Camarillo
  • Publication number: 20150167480
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for use in a gas turbine engine having an axis of rotation includes a plurality of rotor blades. Each rotor blade includes a platform extending between opposing side faces, a shank extending radially inward from the platform, and a slot at least partially defined in each of the opposing side faces. A sealing member is configured to be inserted into each slot of a first rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades such that at least a portion of each sealing member extends beyond one of the opposing side faces. A second rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades is coupled adjacent the first rotor blade such that at least a portion of one sealing member is inserted into a corresponding second slot on the second rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Pearson, Steven Robert Brassfield, Mark Edward Stegemiller, Jonathan Filipa, Daniel Lee Durstock