Patents by Inventor Thomas Foster

Thomas Foster 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: 20170175546
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a three-pass serpentine cooling circuit; and an air feed cavity for supplying cooling air to the three-pass serpentine cooling circuit; wherein the three-pass serpentine cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers at least one central plenum and a first set of near wall cooling channels of a multi-wall blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Thomas Foster, David Wayne Weber, Joseph Anthony Weber
  • Publication number: 20170175576
    Abstract: A shroud segment for use in gas turbines, includes a body, leading edge, trailing edge, a first and second side edge, and a pair of opposed lateral sides between the leading and trailing edges and the first and second side edges. A first lateral side of the lateral sides interface with a cavity having a cooling fluid. A second lateral side interfaces with a hot gas flow path. A first channel disposed within the body includes a first and second end portion. A second channel is disposed within the body includes a third and fourth end portion. The first and second channels receive the cooling fluid from the cavity to cool the body. The first and fourth end portion have portions with free ends having a width greater than an adjacent portion coupled to the free end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Marc Lionel Benjamin, Gregory Thomas Foster, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Thomas James Brunt, San Jason Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20170173672
    Abstract: A core for a turbine airfoil casting according to an embodiment includes: a center plenum section; and a plurality of outer passage sections; wherein the center plenum section includes at least one boss extending outwardly from the center plenum to an outer profile of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, David Wayne Weber, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, Joseph Anthony Weber
  • Publication number: 20170175541
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a pin fin bank cooling circuit; and an air feed cavity for supplying cooling air to the pin fin bank cooling circuit; wherein the pin fin bank cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers at least one central plenum of a multi-wall blade and a first set of near wall cooling channels of the multi-wall blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Gary Michael Itzel, Brendon James Leary, Joseph Anthony Weber
  • Publication number: 20170175549
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides for a turbine airfoil. The turbine airfoil may include a trailing edge having: a set of cooling channels having a first cooling channel fluidly connected to a second cooling channel; a first section having a first pin bank cooling arrangement, the first section fluidly connected to the first cooling channel; and a second section having a second pin bank cooling arrangement, the second section fluidly connected to the second cooling channel and being radially inward of the first section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Publication number: 20170175574
    Abstract: A shroud segment for use in gas turbines, includes a body, leading edge, trailing edge, a first and second side edge, and a pair of opposed lateral sides between the leading and trailing edges and the first and second side edges. A first lateral side of the lateral sides interface with a cavity having a cooling fluid. A second lateral side interfaces with a hot gas flow path. A first channel disposed within the body includes a first and second end portion. A second channel is disposed within the body includes a third and fourth end portion. The first and second channels receive the cooling fluid from the cavity to cool the body. The first and fourth end portion have hook-shaped portions with free ends having a width greater than an adjacent portion coupled to the free end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Marc Lionel Benjamin, Gregory Thomas Foster, Thomas James Brunt
  • Publication number: 20170175547
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a serpentine cooling circuit, the serpentine cooling circuit including a first leg extending in a first direction, a second leg extending in a second direction, and a turn fluidly coupling the first leg and the second leg; and an air feed cavity for supplying cooling air to the serpentine cooling circuit; wherein the first leg of the serpentine cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers at least one central plenum of a multi-wall blade, and wherein the second leg of the serpentine cooling circuit extends radially outward from and at least partially covers a first set of near wall cooling channels of the multi-wall blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Thomas Foster, David Wayne Weber, Joseph Anthony Weber
  • Publication number: 20170175545
    Abstract: A cooling system for a turbine bucket including a multi-wall blade and a platform. A cooling circuit for the multi-wall blade includes: an outer cavity circuit and a central cavity for collecting cooling air from the outer cavity circuit; a platform core air feed for receiving the cooling air from the central cavity; and an air passage for fluidly connecting the platform core air feed to a platform core of the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Elisabeth Kraus Black, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, Jacob Charles Perry, II, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20170175548
    Abstract: A cooling system according to an embodiment includes: a leading edge cooling circuit including a pressure side serpentine circuit and a suction side serpentine circuit; a first mid-blade cooling circuit including a suction side serpentine circuit; a second mid-blade cooling circuit including a pressure side serpentine circuit; a trailing edge cooling circuit; and at least one air feed for supplying cooling air to the leading edge cooling circuit, the first mid-blade cooling circuit, the second mid-blade cooling circuit, and the trailing edge cooling circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Thomas Foster
  • Publication number: 20170175580
    Abstract: A shroud segment that includes a body including a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side edge, a second side, and a pair of opposed lateral sides. A first lateral side is configured to interface with a cavity having a cooling fluid, and a second lateral side is oriented toward a hot gas flow path. The shroud segment includes a first channel disposed within the body having a first end portion and a second end portion and a second channel disposed within the body having a third end portion and a fourth end portion. The first and second channels are configured to receive the cooling fluid from the cavity to cool the body. The first end portion and the fourth end portion each include a hook-shaped portion having a free end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Marc Lionel Benjamin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gregory Thomas Foster, San Jason Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20170175550
    Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides for a turbine airfoil. The turbine airfoil may include a trailing edge having: a set of cooling channels having a first cooling channel fluidly connected to a second cooling channel; a first section having a first pin bank cooling arrangement, the first section fluidly connected to the first cooling channel; a second section having a second pin bank cooling arrangement, the second section fluidly connected to the second cooling channel and being radially inward of the first section; and a pressure side panel having a third pin bank cooling arrangement, the pressure side panel fluidly connected to the first cooling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate, Brendon James Leary, David Wayne Weber
  • Patent number: 9669458
    Abstract: A core for forming micro channels within a turbine component is provided. The core includes a base comprising a first side and a second side; and a core assembly coupled to the second side. The core assembly further includes a plurality of channel members, wherein each channel member has a first end, a second end, and a channel body coupled to and extending between said first end and said second end. The channel body includes a channel shape configured to form the micro channels within the turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Aaron Ezekiel Smith, Dustin Michael Earnhardt
  • Patent number: 9638045
    Abstract: A cooling structure for a stationary blade is provided. The cooling structure may include a first chamber in an endwall of the stationary blade directing a first cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a first cooling circuit, and a second chamber in the endwall of the stationary blade directing a second cooling fluid from the stationary blade to a second cooling circuit different than the first cooling circuit. The first cooling fluid has a lower temperature than the second cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Dustin Michael Earnhardt, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate
  • Patent number: 9562439
    Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent provide a turbine nozzle for a gas turbine engine. The turbine nozzle may include a first nozzle vane, a second nozzle vane, and a platform connecting the first nozzle vane and the second nozzle vane. The platform may include a first cooling passage and a separate second cooling passage defined therein. The first cooling passage may be configured to direct a first flow of cooling fluid in a first direction, and the second cooling passage may be configured to direct a second flow of cooling fluid in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction. The present application and the resultant patent further provide a method for cooling a turbine nozzle of a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michelle Jessica Iduate, Gregory Thomas Foster, David Wayne Weber
  • Publication number: 20170028123
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a syringe device, method and system for delivering a therapeutic amount of ozone are disclosed. A sterility case can enclose a syringe portion and can maintain sterility while the syringe device is interfaced to an ozone generator. A valvably-controlled fluid channel can extend from the barrel of the syringe through the case. Conducting elements can be attached to the case and can breach the case. The conductive elements can be connected to electrodes. The electrodes can be attached to the syringe. The syringe portion can be filled with oxygen gas via the valvably-controlled fluid channel. An electric current can be provided to the conductive elements from an ozone generator resulting in a corona discharge from at least one electrode. A therapeutic amount of ozone gas can be produced from the oxygen gas and the syringe delivered into the sterile field without compromise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicant: Minimus Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. HOOPER, Thomas FOSTER, Noel HENSON
  • Patent number: 9518475
    Abstract: In one example, an arcuate segment for a ring-shaped, rotary machine component such as a stator nozzle or bucket shroud, includes a segment body having an end face formed with a circumferentially-facing seal slot adapted to receive a seal extending between the segment body and a corresponding seal slot in an adjacent segment body to seal a radially-extending gap between the adjacent segment bodies. A cooling channel is provided in the segment body in proximity to the seal slot, and is adapted to be supplied with cooling air. A passage extends from the cooling channel into the seal slot, at a location where the cooling air can be supplied to the higher pressure area on the radially-outer side of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Wayne Weber, Gregory Thomas Foster, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Patent number: 9498569
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a syringe device, a method and a system for delivering a therapeutic amount of ozone are disclosed. A sterility case can enclose a syringe portion and can maintain sterility while the syringe device is interfaced to an ozone generator. A valvably-controlled fluid channel can extend from a barrel of the syringe portion through the case. Conducting elements can be attached to the case and can breach the case. The conducting elements can be connected to electrodes. The electrodes can be attached to the syringe portion. The syringe portion can be filled with oxygen gas via the valvably-controlled fluid channel. An electric current can be provided to the conducting elements from the ozone generator resulting in a corona discharge from at least one of the electrodes. A therapeutic amount of ozone gas can be produced from the oxygen gas and the syringe portion delivered into a sterile field without compromise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Minimus Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Hooper, Thomas Foster, Noel Henson
  • Patent number: 9416670
    Abstract: A locking spacer assembly for securing adjacent rotor blades includes a first end piece having a platform portion and a root portion that define a first inner surface of the first end piece. The root portion defines a first projection and an opposing second projection of the first end piece. The first projection has an outer profile adapted to project into a first lateral recess of the attachment slot. The second projection has an outer profile adapted to project into a second lateral recess of the attachment slot. A second end piece fits between the first inner surface of the first end piece and a sidewall portion of the attachment slot and includes a platform portion and a root portion. A borehole extends continuously through the first end piece and the second end piece. A fastener configured to engage with a sidewall portion of the attachment slot extends through the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Thomas Foster, Michael James Healy
  • Publication number: 20160169519
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: an injector in fluid communication with an aft section of a reheat combustor in a power generation system, the aft section being positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor, and positioned upstream of a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage includes a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; and a conduit in fluid communication with the injector, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to the injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, JR., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20160169520
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: a first injector located on a surface of a turbine nozzle of a turbine stage positioned downstream of a reheat combustor, wherein the turbine stage includes the turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a second injector located on a wall of the reheat combustor; and at least one conduit in fluid communication with each of the first injector and the second injector, wherein the at least one conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to an aft section of the reheat combustor through at least one of the first injector and the second injector, and wherein the aft section is positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener