Patents by Inventor Steven Sebastian Burdgick

Steven Sebastian Burdgick 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: 11555407
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor having a dovetail slot. The dovetail slot includes a plurality of recesses and a first radially innermost surface. A rotor blade includes an airfoil that extends radially outward from a platform and a dovetail that extends radially inward from the platform. The dovetail includes a plurality of projections extending in opposite directions that are received by the plurality of recesses of the dovetail slot. The dovetail further includes a leading edge surface, a trailing edge surface, and a second radially innermost surface. The second radially innermost surface defines a groove from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface. The shim is positioned within the groove and between the first radially innermost surface of the dovetail slot and the second radially innermost surface of the dovetail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John Ligos
  • Publication number: 20210363890
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor having a dovetail slot. The dovetail slot includes a plurality of recesses and a first radially innermost surface. A rotor blade includes an airfoil that extends radially outward from a platform and a dovetail that extends radially inward from the platform. The dovetail includes a plurality of projections extending in opposite directions that are received by the plurality of recesses of the dovetail slot. The dovetail further includes a leading edge surface, a trailing edge surface, and a second radially innermost surface. The second radially innermost surface defines a groove from the leading edge surface to the trailing edge surface. The shim is positioned within the groove and between the first radially innermost surface of the dovetail slot and the second radially innermost surface of the dovetail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John Ligos
  • Patent number: 10982557
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes a blade having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. A tip is located at an outer radial portion of the blade. A blade dovetail complements a corresponding dovetail slot in a turbine rotor. The dovetail has a body, and a plurality of projections extending from the body in opposing directions for complementing a plurality of recesses in the corresponding dovetail slot. A tapered groove extends through the body from the first end to the second end. The tapered groove has a tapered profile such that a first depth of the tapered groove near the first end is greater than a second depth of the tapered groove near the second end. The tapered profile gradually transitions from the first depth to the second depth, so that the tapered groove is open at a bottom surface and sized to engage a shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John James Ligos
  • Patent number: 10927688
    Abstract: A steam turbine diaphragm nozzle segment, related assembly and steam turbine. Various embodiments include a steam turbine diaphragm nozzle segment having: a pair of opposing sidewalls; an airfoil extending between the pair of opposing sidewalls and integral with each of the pair of sidewalls, the airfoil having a single contact surface for directing a flow of working fluid through a flow channel; and a fill region integral with the airfoil and the pair of opposing sides, the fill region extending between the pair of opposing sides along an entirety of a length of the airfoil, the fill region for completely obstructing the flow of working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Martha Alejandra Azcarate Castrellon, Cesar Corona Bravo, Steven Sebastian Burdgick
  • Patent number: 10815799
    Abstract: A turbine blade has a first end, and an opposing second end. A base includes a dovetail for complementing a corresponding dovetail slot in a rotor. The dovetail has a body and a plurality of projections extend from the body in opposing directions. A tapered groove extends through the body from the first end to the second end, and has a tapered profile such that a first depth of the tapered groove near the first end is greater than a second depth of the tapered groove near the second end. The tapered profile gradually transitions from the first depth to the second depth. The tapered groove is open at a bottom surface of the body and is sized to engage a shim. The tapered groove includes a flat section near the first end or the second end, and the flat section has a constant depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John James Ligos
  • Patent number: 10738626
    Abstract: A turbine engine including: rotor blades circumferentially arrayed about a rotor wheel; a connection assembly by which each of the rotor blades connects to the rotor wheel, the connection assembly including: an axially oriented slot formed through a perimeter face of the rotor wheel; a root of the rotor blade installed within the slot, the root being shaped in relation to the slot such that the installation therein forms an axially extending shim cavity between opposing exterior surfaces of the root and the slot; and a shim installed within the shim cavity for restraining movement of the rotor blade relative to the rotor wheel in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Thomas Joseph Farineau, Timothy Scott McMurray, John James Ligos
  • Publication number: 20200157955
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes a blade having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. A tip is located at an outer radial portion of the blade. A blade dovetail complements a corresponding dovetail slot in a turbine rotor. The dovetail has a body, and a plurality of projections extending from the body in opposing directions for complementing a plurality of recesses in the corresponding dovetail slot. A tapered groove extends through the body from the first end to the second end. The tapered groove has a tapered profile such that a first depth of the tapered groove near the first end is greater than a second depth of the tapered groove near the second end. The tapered profile gradually transitions from the first depth to the second depth, so that the tapered groove is open at a bottom surface and sized to engage a shim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John James Ligos
  • Publication number: 20200157954
    Abstract: A turbine blade has a first end, and an opposing second end. A base includes a dovetail for complementing a corresponding dovetail slot in a rotor. The dovetail has a body and a plurality of projections extend from the body in opposing directions. A tapered groove extends through the body from the first end to the second end, and has a tapered profile such that a first depth of the tapered groove near the first end is greater than a second depth of the tapered groove near the second end. The tapered profile gradually transitions from the first depth to the second depth. The tapered groove is open at a bottom surface of the body and is sized to engage a shim. The tapered groove includes a flat section near the first end or the second end, and the flat section has a constant depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John James Ligos
  • Patent number: 10465537
    Abstract: The present application provides a steam turbine. The steam turbine may include a number of rotor wheel slots, a number of buckets positioned in the rotor wheel slots, and a radial support assembly positioned between each of the buckets and each of the rotor wheel slots. The radial support assembly may include one or springs and one or more shims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John Ligos, Thomas Joseph Farineau
  • Patent number: 10400614
    Abstract: Various aspects include a turbomachine bucket, corresponding shim and related turbine rotor. In some cases, a steam turbine bucket includes: a blade having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; a tip at the first end of the blade; and a base at the second end, the base including a dovetail for complementing a corresponding dovetail slot in a steam turbine rotor, the dovetail having: a body; a plurality of projections extending from the body in opposing directions for complementing a plurality of recesses in the corresponding dovetail slot; and a shim locking slot extending through the body along the opposing directions, the shim locking slot being open at a bottom surface of the body and sized to engage a shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Thomas Joseph Farineau, John James Ligos
  • Patent number: 10287903
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a steam turbine drum nozzle, along with a related assembly and steam turbine. Particular embodiments include a nozzle having: an airfoil; a radially inner sidewall coupled with a first end of the airfoil; and a radially outer sidewall coupled with a second end of the airfoil, the second end opposing the first end, wherein the radially outer sidewall includes: a first section radially outward of the airfoil; a thinned section coupled with the first section; and a second section coupled with the thinned section radially outward of the airfoil, the second section having a radially outer face and a circumferentially facing side abutting the radially outer face, wherein the second section includes a circumferentially extending slot, and wherein the second section includes a relief slot extending into a body of the second section from the circumferentially facing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Mark Richard Delorenzo
  • Patent number: 10280773
    Abstract: Various aspects include an alignment key for a turbomachine, along with a turbomachine including the alignment key and a related storage medium. In some cases, the alignment key includes: a body having primary axis and sized to engage a diaphragm slot in the turbomachine, the body having sidewalls extending along the primary axis; a chamfered tip section continuous with the body, the chamfered tip section sized to engage a casing slot in the turbomachine; and a slot extending through the body and the chamfered tip section, the slot having a first opening proximate an end of the body and a second opening proximate the chamfered tip section, wherein the sidewalls of the body taper from the end of the body toward the chamfered tip section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Jesus Mendoza, Salvador Lopez Mata
  • Publication number: 20190120069
    Abstract: A turbine engine including: rotor blades circumferentially arrayed about a rotor wheel; a connection assembly by which each of the rotor blades connects to the rotor wheel, the connection assembly including: an axially oriented slot formed through a perimeter face of the rotor wheel; a root of the rotor blade installed within the slot, the root being shaped in relation to the slot such that the installation therein forms an axially extending shim cavity between opposing exterior surfaces of the root and the slot; and a shim installed within the shim cavity for restraining movement of the rotor blade relative to the rotor wheel in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Thomas Joseph Farineau, Timothy Scott McMurray, John James Ligos
  • Patent number: 10087768
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a rotor key member, along with a related assembly and steam turbine. Particular embodiments include a rotor key member for retaining a circumferential seal in a steam turbine, the rotor key member including: a main body; a first arm extending from the main body; a second arm extending from the main body, wherein the first, arm, the second arm and the main body define a space spanning axially between the first arm and the second arm; and a hook extending from the second arm in a direction axially away from the space, the hook sized to contact a radially inner surface of the circumferential seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Sean Christopher Morrissey, Nicholas Daniel Viscio
  • Patent number: 10047865
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a rotor key member, along with a related assembly and steam turbine. Particular embodiments include a rotor key member for radially retaining a circumferential seal in a steam turbine rotor body, the rotor key member including: a main body sized to contact an axial face of the circumferential seal; and a hook extending from the main body in a direction axially away from the circumferential seal, the hook sized to substantially complement a corresponding shelf in the steam turbine rotor body to restrict movement of the circumferential seal relative to the steam turbine rotor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, James Royce Howes, Sean Christopher Morrissey, Xiaoqing Zheng
  • Patent number: 10036270
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a rotor key member having: a body with a primary axis extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axial direction in a steam turbine, the body including: a first pair of opposing sides; a second pair of opposing sides extending between the first pair of opposing sides; a top surface and a bottom surface extending between the second pair of opposing sides; and a fillet, bevel or chamfer edge extending between a first one of the first pair of opposing sides and the bottom surface and extending an entire length of the body along the primary axis; and a slot within the body, the slot extending a portion of a length of the body along the primary axis between the second pair of opposing sides and forming an opening in a second one of the first pair of opposing sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, David Bruce Knorr, Sean Christopher Morrissey, Nicholas Daniel Viscio
  • Patent number: 10036268
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a rotor key member, along with a related assembly and steam turbine. Particular embodiments include a rotor key member for circumferentially retaining a circumferential seal in a steam turbine rotor body, the rotor key member having: a main body sized to contact an axial face of the circumferential seal; and a locking member extending from the main body in a direction axially toward the circumferential seal, the locking member having at least one circumferential edge sized to substantially complement a corresponding slot in the circumferential seal to restrict movement of the circumferential seal relative to the steam turbine rotor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Sean Christopher Morrissey
  • Publication number: 20180142561
    Abstract: Various aspects include a turbomachine bucket, corresponding shim and related turbine rotor. In some cases, a steam turbine bucket includes: a blade having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; a tip at the first end of the blade; and a base at the second end, the base including a dovetail for complementing a corresponding dovetail slot in a steam turbine rotor, the dovetail having: a body; a plurality of projections extending from the body in opposing directions for complementing a plurality of recesses in the corresponding dovetail slot; and a shim locking slot extending through the body along the opposing directions, the shim locking slot being open at a bottom surface of the body and sized to engage a shim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Thomas Joseph Farineau, John James Ligos
  • Publication number: 20170342845
    Abstract: The present application provides a steam turbine. The steam turbine may include a number of rotor wheel slots, a number of buckets positioned in the rotor wheel slots, and a radial support assembly positioned between each of the buckets and each of the rotor wheel slots. The radial support assembly may include one or springs and one or more shims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, John Ligos, Thomas Joseph Farineau
  • Publication number: 20170292390
    Abstract: Various aspects include an alignment key for a turbomachine, along with a turbomachine including the alignment key and a related storage medium. In some cases, the alignment key includes: a body having primary axis and sized to engage a diaphragm slot in the turbomachine, the body having sidewalls extending along the primary axis; a chamfered tip section continuous with the body, the chamfered tip section sized to engage a casing slot in the turbomachine; and a slot extending through the body and the chamfered tip section, the slot having a first opening proximate an end of the body and a second opening proximate the chamfered tip section, wherein the sidewalls of the body taper from the end of the body toward the chamfered tip section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Jesus Mendoza, Salvador Lopez Mata