Patents Assigned to Solar Turbines Inc.
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Publication number: 20150292362Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Irene Nava, Glenn R. McClintic
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Publication number: 20150266099Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2014Publication date: September 24, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Schacht, Diana L. Rojo Gallegos, David Rodriguez
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Publication number: 20150211379Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Julien DOUMECQ-LACOSTE, Ricardo Montes, Roy T. Collins
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Publication number: 20150211901Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventor: Sean M. Thomas
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Publication number: 20150116934Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Franco Lazzari, Luigi Pedrini, Marco Ghislanzoni, Nicola Müller
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Publication number: 20150101780Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Anthony R. Stimus, Alexander J. Quinn, Cesar G. Carpio, Eric Kai-Shun Lin, Donald H. Cameron
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Publication number: 20150078689Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Edward William Sieveking, Yuanhong Guan
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Patent number: 8955230Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Sean J. Alexander, Ronald K. Johnston
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Patent number: 8950724Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Hurst, Edward Sieveking, Kwok-Kwong Ben Tse, Eric Blankenship
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Patent number: 8943830Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Arun K. Bhattacharya, Jose M. Aurrecoechea
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Publication number: 20150032232Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventor: Andrea Soldi
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Patent number: 8931170Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Darren Matthew Stratton, Gregory Lee Landrum
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Patent number: 8919129Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Chad M. Holcomb, Saliha Kenyon Lacoursiere, Roy Thomas Collins
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Patent number: 8919132Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
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Patent number: 8910849Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Thomas C. Schacht, John Michael Irwin
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Publication number: 20140356150Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventor: Arun K. Bhattacharya
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Patent number: 8893500Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 18, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
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Patent number: 8853878Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 14, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventor: Robert Chappell White
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Patent number: 8851441Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Solar Turbine Inc.Inventors: Antonio Acuna, Pablo Alfonso Olachea Quiñones
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Publication number: 20140291455Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.Inventors: Bruno E. Struck, Eugene R. Hicks