Patents Assigned to Solar Turbines Inc.
  • Publication number: 20150292362
    Abstract: A method is provided for remanufacturing a machine component having multiple holes. The holes are provided to match in alignment with corresponding holes of an adjacent component in a machine assembly. First and second sets of holes are selected from the holes of the machine component on the basis of being located within first and second limits of positional tolerance with respect to corresponding holes of the adjacent component. Each hole from the first set of holes is bored to define openings in axial alignment with holes of the adjacent component. Each hole from the second set of holes is bored to an enlarged diameter and then plugged with a deformable insert. Each of these inserts is then drilled to define openings in axial alignment with holes of the adjacent component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Irene Nava, Glenn R. McClintic
  • Publication number: 20150266099
    Abstract: A vertical lathe fixture is provided. The vertical lathe fixture includes a main body and a sub-plate. The sub-plate includes a top surface and a bottom surface defining a thickness of the sub-plate therebetween. The top surface of the sub-plate is configured to be coupled to the main body and the bottom surface is configured to be coupled to a chuck of a vertical lathe machine. The sub-plate also includes a center pad provided at a center of the top surface. The center pad is configured to centrally align the sub-plate with respect to the main body. The sub-plate further includes a plurality of receiving pads provided in a radial pattern on the top surface and in relation to the center pad. The receiving pads are configured to hold the main body in a stationary position with respect to the sub-plate during rotation of the vertical lathe fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Schacht, Diana L. Rojo Gallegos, David Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20150211379
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a health of one or more seals includes a flow control valve, and a controller. The flow control valve is located upstream of the seal and disposed in fluid communication therewith. The flow control valve is configured to maintain a pre-determined fluid pressure between the flow control valve and the seal. The controller is communicably coupled to the flow control valve. The controller is configured to receive a position of the flow control valve, and determine the health of the seal based on the received position of the flow control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Julien DOUMECQ-LACOSTE, Ricardo Montes, Roy T. Collins
  • Publication number: 20150211901
    Abstract: A cover is provided for a sensor port. The cover includes an open end disposed proximal to the sensor port. The cover further includes a closed end disposed in opposing relation to the open end. The cover further includes a passage laterally defined between the open end and the closed end. The passage is disposed proximal to the open end and is configured to allow fluid communication of the sensor port with atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Sean M. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150116934
    Abstract: A power system enclosure is provided. The power system enclosure includes a housing accommodating a power source. The power system enclosure further includes an enclosure inlet connected to the housing to allow entry of an intake fluid into the housing. An enclosure exhaust is connected to the housing to route fluid from the housing. Further, a relief damper is disposed in the enclosure exhaust. At least a portion of the relief damper is configured to open when a pressure within the housing exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Franco Lazzari, Luigi Pedrini, Marco Ghislanzoni, Nicola Müller
  • Publication number: 20150101780
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger for a power system. The heat exchanger includes a housing. The housing includes a first side and a second side. The second side is configured to be received in a receptacle of a power system enclosure. The heat exchanger includes at-least one heat exchange tube supported between one or more of side walls of the housing. The heat exchanger includes a screen attached to the second side of the housing. The screen includes at-least one inlet opening for the heat exchange tube, and at-least one outlet opening for the heat exchange tube. The heat exchanger further includes a flange attached to the first side of the housing wherein the flange is configured to be removably attached to an outer surface around the receptacle of the power system enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony R. Stimus, Alexander J. Quinn, Cesar G. Carpio, Eric Kai-Shun Lin, Donald H. Cameron
  • Publication number: 20150078689
    Abstract: A journal bearing is provided for mounting a gear component thereon and for reducing vibrations from operation of the gear component. The journal bearing includes a cylindrical body having two recessed portions defined thereon. The journal bearing further includes a primary passage extending longitudinally through the cylindrical body, and two secondary passages radially extending from the primary passage to the recessed portions. An angle of the two secondary passages with respect to a horizontal plane of the journal bearing is based on at least one of a magnitude and direction of a pre-determined bearing load, a rotational speed of the gear component, a clearance between the journal bearing and the gear component, oil properties, wherein the oil is introduced between the journal bearing and the gear component, and one or more system stability parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Edward William Sieveking, Yuanhong Guan
  • Patent number: 8955230
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a shaft alignment tool including a center hub and a plurality of adjustable arms. The plurality of adjustable arms are coupled to the center hub and include a proximal end section and a distal end section. The shaft alignment tool further includes one or more roller assemblies mounted on each distal end section of each adjustable arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Sean J. Alexander, Ronald K. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8950724
    Abstract: A mounting system is provided to couple an engine unit including a turbine engine portion coupled to a gearbox portion about an axial axis to a support structure. An aft mounting device can couple the turbine engine portion to the support structure. A force determinator can be configured to determine a force load of the engine unit at the location of the aft mounting device. The length of the aft mounting device is adjustable between the turbine engine portion and the support structure in a radial direction to substantially align the gearbox portion and the engine portion relative to the axial axis. The aft mounting device may be sized to a desired length to correspond to a force load of the engine unit during the running condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Hurst, Edward Sieveking, Kwok-Kwong Ben Tse, Eric Blankenship
  • Patent number: 8943830
    Abstract: A porous metallic mat is provided. The porous metallic mat includes a plurality of fibers and a protective coating. The plurality of fibers is sintered into a mat configuration. The protective coating is provided on the porous metallic mat. The protective coating includes a diffusion aluminide configured to provide oxidation resistance to the porous metallic mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Arun K. Bhattacharya, Jose M. Aurrecoechea
  • Publication number: 20150032232
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a plurality of nodes. One of the plurality of nodes is designated as a server node, and the others of the plurality of nodes are designated as Human Machine Interface (HMI) client nodes. The designated server node comprises a network interface configured to communicate with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) either directly or through a network switch. Each of the designated HMI client nodes includes a network interface configured to communicate with the designated server node through one or more of a network switch, and another designated HMI client node. Also, the each of the designated HMI client nodes includes a failover module configured to detect a failure of the designated server node and designate a new server node from among the designated HMI client nodes based on detecting the failure of the designated server node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Andrea Soldi
  • Patent number: 8931170
    Abstract: A split fuel control module for a gas turbine engine and method of installation. The split fuel control module includes a first frame unit, a second frame unit, a segmented fuel path, and a distributed fuel controller. The first frame unit and the second frame unit are joined together at a frame unit interface. The segmented fuel path includes an upstream fuel interface fixed to the first frame unit and a downstream fuel interface fixed to the second frame unit and detachably coupled to the upstream fuel interface at the frame unit interface. A first portion of the distributed fuel controller is fixed to the first frame unit, and a second portion of the distributed fuel controller is fixed to the second frame unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Darren Matthew Stratton, Gregory Lee Landrum
  • Patent number: 8919129
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine engine fuel control valve during low flow conditions includes positioning the fuel control valve in an operating position. The method also includes determining a fuel control valve flow sensor flow rate while in the operating position and determining a corrected effective flow area (“Cda”) of the fuel control valve. The method further includes generating Cda versus command data with the corrected Cda and the operating position and inserting the generated Cda versus command data into the nominal Cda versus command data set when nominal Cda versus command data is not known at the operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Chad M. Holcomb, Saliha Kenyon Lacoursiere, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Patent number: 8919132
    Abstract: A method of operating a gas turbine engine includes directing a stream of liquid fuel to the combustor through a nozzle of a dual fuel injector. The method may also include directing a first quantity of compressed air to the stream of liquid fuel proximate the nozzle, and directing a second quantity of compressed air to the stream of liquid fuel downstream of the nozzle. The second quantity of compressed air may be larger than the first quantity of compressed air. The method may further include delivering the compressed air and the stream of liquid fuel to the combustor in a substantially unmixed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Patent number: 8910849
    Abstract: A high temperature brazing fixture and method of manufacture for a gas turbine component made of a superalloy is disclosed herein. The high temperature brazing fixture includes a first and second frame member, a support member, and positioning member, all of which are made from the superalloy and fastened together using tab and tab lock couplings. The support member is configured to interface with and support the gas turbine engine component, and the positioning member is configured to interface with and position at least a first location of or hold a first dimension of the gas turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Schacht, John Michael Irwin
  • Publication number: 20140356150
    Abstract: A damper for a gas turbine engine is provided. The damper comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a surface. The second portion angularly extends from the first portion to define an interior corner therebetween. The surface bounds the first portion, the second portion, and the interior corner. The damper further comprises a grain composition containing columnar grains and equiaxed grains. The equiaxed grains are disposed adjacent to the surface such that a volume of the columnar grains is less than a volume of the equiaxed grains in the grain composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Arun K. Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 8893500
    Abstract: A dual fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a central cavity extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end, and a first fuel discharge outlet configured to direct a first fuel into the central cavity at the first end. The fuel injector may also include a first air discharge opening circumferentially disposed about the first fuel discharge outlet and configured to direct a first quantity of air into the central cavity, and a second air discharge opening circumferentially disposed about the central cavity and configured to discharge a second quantity of air into the central cavity downstream of the first air discharge outlet. The fuel injector may further include a second fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the central cavity and configured to discharge a second fuel therethrough. The second fuel may be different from the first fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
  • Patent number: 8853878
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a power turbine shaft, and a gas producer shaft. The compressor includes a compressor rotor assembly including a plurality of compressor disk assemblies. The turbine includes a turbine rotor assembly including a power turbine section and a gas producer section. The power turbine shaft is coupled to the power turbine section and is configured to couple to a first driven apparatus. The gas producer shaft is coupled to the gas producer section and the compressor rotor assembly, and is configured to couple to a second driven apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Chappell White
  • Patent number: 8851441
    Abstract: A skid assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first segment having a first engine support structure and a second segment having one or more second engine support structures. The first engine support structure configured to support a gas producer group of the gas turbine engine and the one or more second engine support structures configured to support a turbine power group of the gas turbine engine. A replaceable member removably attached to the first segment and the second segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbine Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Acuna, Pablo Alfonso Olachea Quiñones
  • Publication number: 20140291455
    Abstract: A fluid line clamp includes one or more blocks with holes for receiving fluid lines therein. The fluid line clamp further includes a first backing plate, a second backing plate, and a shielding plate. The first and second backing plates are spaced apart from each other to receive the blocks therebetween. The shielding plate is disposed at a distance from the blocks and includes an inner surface, and an outer surface. The inner surface of the shielding plate is rigidly attached to the backing plates. The outer surface of the shielding plate is configured to rigidly attach to a hot body of a machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno E. Struck, Eugene R. Hicks