Patents by Inventor Todd Alan Ebert

Todd Alan Ebert 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).

  • Bolted joint for rotor disks and method of reducing thermal gradients therein
    Patent number: 6428272
    Abstract: Rotor disk stress is reduced in a bolted joint for connecting adjacent rotor disks in a gas turbine engine. The bolted joint includes a bolt hole formed in the first rotor disk and a tube disposed in the bolt hole such that a channel is defined between the tube and the bolt hole. A bolt is disposed in the tube such that a gap is defined between the bolt and the tube. The gap thermally insulates the bolt from hot fluid in the channel. A first passage provides fluid communication between the channel and a forward cavity, and a second passage provides fluid communication between the channel and an aft cavity. Hot fluid passing through the channel reduces thermal gradients in the first rotor disk. The tube thermally shields the bolt from the hot fluid to minimize differential thermal growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Francis Pepi, Todd Alan Ebert
  • Bolted joint for rotor disks and method of reducing thermal gradients therein
    Publication number: 20020081199
    Abstract: Rotor disk stress is reduced in a bolted joint for connecting adjacent rotor disks in a gas turbine engine. The bolted joint includes a bolt hole formed in the first rotor disk and a tube disposed in the bolt hole such that a channel is defined between the tube and the bolt hole. A bolt is disposed in the tube such that a gap is defined between the bolt and the tube. The gap thermally insulates the bolt from hot fluid in the channel. A first passage provides fluid communication between the channel and a forward cavity, and a second passage provides fluid communication between the channel and an aft cavity. Hot fluid passing through the channel reduces thermal gradients in the first rotor disk. The tube thermally shields the bolt from the hot fluid to minimize differential thermal growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Jason Francis Pepi, Todd Alan Ebert