Robert C Akin

US Patent:

7476083, Jan 13, 2009

Filed:

Jun 28, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/476095

Inventors:

Daniel David Snook - Moore SC, US
Rachel Jane Obermeyer - West Chester OH, US
Ariel Caesar Prepena Jacala - Simpsonville SC, US
Robert Craig Akin - Greer SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F01D 5/30

US Classification:

416219R, 416248

Abstract:

Blade load path on a gas turbine disk can be diverted to provide a significant disk fatigue life benefit. A plurality of gas turbine blades are attachable to a gas turbine disk, where each of the gas turbine blades includes a blade dovetail engageable in a correspondingly-shaped dovetail slot in the gas turbine disk. In order to reduce gas turbine disk stress, an optimal material removal area is defined according to blade and/or disk geometry to maximize a balance between stress reduction on the gas turbine disk, a useful life of the gas turbine blade, and maintaining or improving the aeromechanical behavior of the gas turbine blade. Removing material from the material removal area effects the maximized balance.

US Patent:

8066475, Nov 29, 2011

Filed:

Sep 4, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/896533

Inventors:

Charles Alan Bulgrin - Greenville SC, US
Ralph Chris Bruner - Greenville SC, US
Robert Craig Akin - Greer SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenctady NY

International Classification:

F01D 11/02

US Classification:

4151684, 4151745

Abstract:

A uniquely configured rotating seal tooth is used in conjunction with commonly used labyrinth-type seals that provide a seal between a rotating component and a stationary component. The uniquely configured rotating seal tooth produces a compression mechanism to counter leakage flow through the labyrinth of seal teeth, thereby lessening the pressure gradient that drives leakage and reversing the direction of some of the leakage flow.

US Patent:

8128371, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

Feb 15, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/675390

Inventors:

Srinivas Ravi - Simpsonville SC, US
Robert Crag Akin - Greer SC, US
Richard Francis Gutta - Greer SC, US
Roger Clayton Walker - Piedmont SC, US
Fernando Casanova - Simpsonville SC, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F01D 5/32

US Classification:

416212R, 416212 A, 416214 R, 416214 A, 416219 R, 416220 R

Abstract:

A method facilitates assembling a turbine. The method includes coupling buckets to a turbine wheel. The method also includes coupling a first end of a cover plate to the turbine wheel such that at least one projection extending from the turbine wheel retains the cover plate in position relative to the turbine wheel and inserting a fastening mechanism through an opening defined in the turbine wheel to secure the cover plate against the turbine wheel. The cover plate facilitates reducing dovetail leakage across the buckets coupled to the turbine wheel.

US Patent:

6382903, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/741906

Inventors:

Philip M. Caruso - Selkirk NY
Sacheverel Quentin Eldrid - Saratoga Springs NY
Azad A. Ladhani - Niskayuna NY
Alan Richard DeMania - Niskayuna NY
Gene David Palmer - Clifton Park NY
Ian David Wilson - Clifton Park NY
Lisa Shirley Rathbun - Scotia NY
Robert Craig Akin - Schenectady NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F01D 508

US Classification:

415 1, 415114, 415115, 415116, 415117, 416 95, 416 96 R, 416 97 R, 416198 A, 416201 R

Abstract:

In a turbine having closed-circuit steam-cooling passages about the rim of the rotor during steady-state operation, compressor discharge air is supplied to the rotor bore for passage radially outwardly into the wheel space cavities between the wheels and spacers. Communicating slots and channels in the spacers and wheels at circumferentially spaced positions enable egress of the compressor discharge air into the hot gas flow path. At turbine startup, cooling air flows through the closed-circuit steam passages to cool the outer rim of the rotor while compressor discharge air pre-warms the wheels and spacers. At steady-state, cooling steam is supplied in the closed-circuit steam-cooling passages and compressor discharge air is supplied through the bore and into the wheel space cavities to cool the rotor.