Patents by Inventor Steven Douglas Johnson

Steven Douglas 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).

  • Patent number: 10895324
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary machine includes a seal bearing face that opposes a rotating component of the machine and a slide device coupled with the seal bearing face. The slide device axially moves toward the rotating component responsive to pressurization of the rotary machine. The slide device includes cross-over ports and the seal bearing includes feed ports. The feed ports extend through the seal bearing face to form aerostatic portions of a film bearing between the seal bearing face and the rotating component. The seal bearing face and/or the rotating component has a non-planar surface that, during rotating motion of the rotating component relative to the face of the seal bearing face, forms aerodynamic portions of the film bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Quang Tue Nguyen Tran, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Steven Douglas Johnson, Antonio Guijarro Valencia
  • Patent number: 10815805
    Abstract: A turbine interstage structure for a gas turbine engine that includes a first stage disk and a second stage disk. A central plenum is defined by a an inner band for supporting nozzle vanes, a forward stator plate and an aft stator plate wherein the forward stator plate is spaced-apart from the aft stator plate, and an inner boundary. A forward mid-seal positioned between the inner boundary and the forward stator plate. An aft mid-seal positioned between the inner boundary and the aft stator plate; and wherein the inner boundary is a solid annular component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Nicholas R. Dinsmore, Daniel Tyler Jarboe
  • Patent number: 10781709
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes an engine core defining a higher pressure region and a lower pressure region. A seal can fluidly separate the higher pressure region from the lower pressure region and be movably mounted to a component within the turbine engine, where a side of the seal can confront the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arnab Sen, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Rajesh Kumar, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Robert Proctor, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Steven Douglas Johnson
  • Patent number: 10774874
    Abstract: A bearing assembly including a body defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an aft surface is generally provided. A first inlet opening is defined through the outer surface in fluid communication with a first internal passage defined by a first internal wall. The first internal passage is in fluid communication with a first outlet opening defined through the inner surface. A second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface in fluid communication with a second internal passage defined by a second internal wall. The second internal passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet opening defined through the aft surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sean Christopher Binion, Steven Douglas Johnson, David Vickery Parker, Stephen Joseph Waymeyer, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
  • Publication number: 20200166143
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary machine includes a seal bearing face that opposes a rotating component of the machine and a slide device coupled with the seal bearing face. The slide device axially moves toward the rotating component responsive to pressurization of the rotary machine. The slide device includes cross-over ports and the seal bearing includes feed ports. The feed ports extend through the seal bearing face to form aerostatic portions of a film bearing between the seal bearing face and the rotating component. The seal bearing face and/or the rotating component has a non-planar surface that, during rotating motion of the rotating component relative to the face of the seal bearing face, forms aerodynamic portions of the film bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Quang Tue Nguyen Tran, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Steven Douglas Johnson, Antonio Guijarro Valencia
  • Publication number: 20200157970
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes a turbine interstage region. The turbine interstage region is configured to conduct bore bleed air outwardly. The interstage region includes a central plenum. The interstage region also includes a first mid-seal and a second mid-seal. The central plenum is fluidly connected to bore bleed air by a flow circuit that passes between the first mid-seal and the second mid-seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Nicholas R. Dinsmore, Daniel Tyler Jarboe
  • Publication number: 20200124360
    Abstract: A cross-flow heat exchanger for gas turbine engines which may be utilized to transfer heat from one fluid flow 46 to a second independent fluid flow wherein one of the fluid flows has a high differential inlet pressure and temperature. The heat exchanger has robust construction to inhibit mixing of the fluid flows during a single burst duct event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Christopher Charles Glynn, Steven Douglas Johnson, John Andrew Kemme, Mehdi Milani Baladi, Michael Epstein
  • Publication number: 20200040940
    Abstract: A bearing assembly including a body defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an aft surface is generally provided. A first inlet opening is defined through the outer surface in fluid communication with a first internal passage defined by a first internal wall. The first internal passage is in fluid communication with a first outlet opening defined through the inner surface. A second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface in fluid communication with a second internal passage defined by a second internal wall. The second internal passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet opening defined through the aft surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Sean Christopher Binion, Steven Douglas Johnson, David Vickery Parker, Stephen Joseph Waymeyer, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
  • Patent number: 10544702
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes a turbine interstage region. The turbine interstage region is configured to conduct bore bleed air outwardly. The interstage region includes a central plenum. The interstage region also includes a first mid-seal and a second mid-seal. The central plenum is fluidly connected to bore bleed air by a flow circuit that passes between the first mid-seal and the second mid-seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Nicholas R. Dinsmore, Daniel Tyler Jarboe
  • Publication number: 20190383219
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine arranged in sequential flow relationship along a primary flowpath, the turbine being connected in mechanical driving relationship to the compressor, so as to define at least one engine rotor that is rotatable about a centerline axis of the engine; a secondary flowpath connected in flow communication with the primary flowpath; and an air cycle machine including an air cycle rotor carrying an at least one air cycle compressor and at least one air cycle expander, wherein: the air cycle rotor is coupled in mechanical driving relationship with the at least one engine rotor; the air cycle rotor is coupled in fluid flow communication with the secondary flowpath; and the air cycle rotor is coupled in fluid flow communication with at least one heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Jeffrey Rambo
  • Patent number: 10415897
    Abstract: A cross-flow heat exchanger for gas turbine engines which may be utilized to transfer heat from one fluid flow to a second independent fluid flow wherein one of the fluid flows has a high differential inlet pressure and temperature. The heat exchanger has robust construction to inhibit mixing of the fluid flows during a single burst duct event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Mehdi Milani Baladi, John Andrew Kemme, Christopher Charles Glynn, Steven Douglas Johnson, Michael Jay Epstein
  • Publication number: 20190211699
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes an engine core defining a higher pressure region and a lower pressure region. A seal can fluidly separate the higher pressure region from the lower pressure region and be movably mounted to a component within the turbine engine, where a side of the seal can confront the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Arnab Sen, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Rajesh Kumar, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Robert Proctor, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Steven Douglas Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190203842
    Abstract: A seal assembly of a rotary includes a radially oriented plate that axially opposes a front and rear support plates of a stator interface. The seal assembly also includes a film-riding shoe coupled with the radially oriented plate. The shoe forms a shoe fluid bearing between the shoe and a rotating component responsive to rotation of the rotating component and pressurization of fluid in the rotary machine upstream of the stator interface. One or more of the stator interface or the film-riding shoe includes one or more ports or pathways through which higher-pressure fluid upstream of the stator housing in the rotary machine flows to form an aft axial fluid bearing between the radially oriented plate and the rear support plate of the stator interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Rahul Anil Bidkar, Steven Douglas Johnson, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
  • Publication number: 20190125136
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things an assist structure that includes a mount structure configured to mount above a shower or bath wall, and a support structure configured to couple to the mount structure, extend downward over the shower or bath wall, and contact the shower or bath wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventor: Steven Douglas Johnson
  • Patent number: 10208676
    Abstract: Axially adjacent annular booster bleed aft and forward plenums with annular common wall therebetween extend radially outwardly from transition duct. Variable bleed valve includes bleed valve door in bleed inlet in transition duct, attached to rotatable valve body rotatable about axis of rotation, operable to open and close bleed inlet to aft plenum. Rotatable plenum door clocked or circumferentially spaced apart from variable bleed valve door and attached to rotatable valve body, operable to close and open up and control flow through an inter plenum aperture in common wall. Aft and forward bleed exhaust ducts extend from booster bleed aft and forward plenums to bypass flow path. One or more heat exchanger, such as from thermal management system, may be disposed in the bleed exhaust ducts. Heat exchangers may be used for cooling oil for power gear box and/or engine bearings, air conditioning, or variable frequency generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Brandon Wayne Miller, Craig Alan Gonyou
  • Publication number: 20180209300
    Abstract: A turbine interstage structure for a gas turbine engine that includes a first stage disk and a second stage disk. A central plenum is defined by a an inner band for supporting nozzle vanes, a forward stator plate and an aft stator plate wherein the forward stator plate is spaced-apart from the aft stator plate, and an inner boundary. A forward mid-seal positioned between the inner boundary and the forward stator plate. An aft mid-seal positioned between the inner boundary and the aft stator plate; and wherein the inner boundary is a solid annular component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Nicholas R. Dinsmore, Daniel Tyler Jarboe
  • Publication number: 20180209299
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes a turbine interstage region. The turbine interstage region is configured to conduct bore bleed air outwardly. The interstage region includes a central plenum. The interstage region also includes a first mid-seal and a second mid-seal. The central plenum is fluidly connected to bore bleed air by a flow circuit that passes between the first mid-seal and the second mid-seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Nicholas R. Dinsmore, Daniel Tyler Jarboe
  • Publication number: 20170298742
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of minimizing airfoil boundary layer separation utilizing at least one bleed inlet disposed on the outer wall of the airfoil, such as the suction side, having at least one channel disposed within an interior of the airfoil providing fluid communication between the bleed inlet and the tip of the airfoil. Bleed gas drawn through the bleed inlet and provided to the tip can pressurize a seal disposed at the tip. Additionally, a flow control device can be disposed within the channel to control or meter the rate at which gas is bled into the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventor: Steven Douglas Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170284303
    Abstract: Axially adjacent annular booster bleed aft and forward plenums with annular common wall therebetween extend radially outwardly from transition duct. Variable bleed valve includes bleed valve door in bleed inlet in transition duct, attached to rotatable valve body rotatable about axis of rotation, operable to open and close bleed inlet to aft plenum. Rotatable plenum door clocked or circumferentially spaced apart from variable bleed valve door and attached to rotatable valve body, operable to close and open up and control flow through an inter plenum aperture in common wall. Aft and forward bleed exhaust ducts extend from booster bleed aft and forward plenums to bypass flow path. One or more heat exchanger, such as from thermal management system, may be disposed in the bleed exhaust ducts. Heat exchangers may be used for cooling oil for power gear box and/or engine bearings, air conditioning, or variable frequency generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Douglas Johnson, Brandon Wayne Miller, Craig Alan Gonyou
  • Publication number: 20160290738
    Abstract: A cross-flow heat exchanger for gas turbine engines which may be utilized to transfer heat from one fluid flow to a second independent fluid flow wherein one of the fluid flows has a high differential inlet pressure and temperature. The heat exchanger has robust construction to inhibit mixing of the fluid flows during a single burst duct event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas KUPISZEWSKI, Mehdi Milani BALADI, John Andrew KEMME, Christopher Charles GLYNN, Steven Douglas JOHNSON, Michael Jay EPSTEIN