Patents Examined by Kyle Thomas
  • Patent number: 10024197
    Abstract: A power generation system may include a generator, and a gas turbine system for powering the generator, the gas turbine system including a turbine component, an integral compressor and a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the turbine component, and the integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of at least one of the combustor and the turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A turbo-expander may also power the generator. A first control valve control flow of the excess air flow along an excess air flow path to an inlet of the turbo-expander. An educator may be positioned in the excess air flow path for using the excess air flow as a motive force to augment the excess air flow with additional air. A discharge of the turbo-expander is supplied to an inlet of the integral compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Kihyung Kim, Alston Ilford Scipio, Leslie Yung Min Tong, Michael Wesley Yarnold
  • Patent number: 10001136
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust panel mounting system comprising a panel, a casing and an attachment assembly for removably connecting the panel to the casing comprises a retaining portion, a clamping portion, and a ‘C’-shaped connecting link. The connecting link has a first attachment portion and an opposite second attachment portion with the first and second attachment portions being connected to one another by a center portion. Each of the first and second attachment portions is substantially parallel to one another and extends in the same direction from respective ends of the center portion. The first attachment portion is fixedly connected to the casing by the clamping portion, and the second attachment portion is slidingly connected to the panel by the retaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Paul Robert Hayton
  • Patent number: 10001281
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: an annular outer body extending parallel to a centerline axis and having an exterior surface, and having a ring of forward openings passing through the exterior surface, and a ring of aft openings passing through the exterior surface, the aft openings positioned axially aft of the forward openings; an annular main injection ring disposed inside the outer body and including: a forward main fuel gallery extending in a circumferential direction; an aft main fuel gallery extending in a circumferential direction; a ring of forward main fuel orifices communicating with the forward main fuel gallery and each aligned with one of the forward openings; a ring of aft main fuel orifices, communicating with the aft main fuel gallery and each aligned with one of the aft openings; and a pilot fuel injector disposed along the centerline axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Duane Douglas Thomsen
  • Patent number: 9995222
    Abstract: A gas-circulation system for conditioning a disk of an aircraft may comprise a first takeoff port configured to extract a combusted gas and a second takeoff port configured to extract an uncombusted gas. A first valve may comprise an inlet in fluid communication with the first and second takeoff ports and an outlet of the first valve in fluid communication with the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Matthew P. Forcier
  • Patent number: 9989256
    Abstract: An injection system for a turbine engine combustion chamber is provided. The injection system includes a first annular deflector surrounded by the bowl of the injection system and extending in the downstream direction from the downstream transverse surface that delimits the downstream side of the swirler. The first deflector has a free downstream end offset in the upstream direction from a downstream end of the bowl, so as to guide an air film output from the first orifices formed through the bowl. The internal radius of the cross section of the first annular deflector increases from the downstream transverse surface as far as the downstream end of the first annular deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis, Romain Nicolas Lunel
  • Patent number: 9964114
    Abstract: A noise attenuation panel for a bleed flow is presented that causes a total pressure loss of the bleed flow before it is exhausted. The total pressure loss results from at least two regions in which the flow area contracts and then rapidly expands, with the rapid expansion causing mixing and turbulence rather than full total pressure recovery. This reduced pressure means that when the flow is exhausted into a flow (which may be the bypass flow of a gas turbine engine), its energy, and thus its noise, are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Oliver C Taylor-Tibbott
  • Patent number: 9951693
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine combustor includes a fuel distribution manifold. A first fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a first circumferential direction around an outer surface of the outer casing and provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector disposed within the outer casing. A second fuel circuit extends from the fuel distribution manifold in a second circumferential direction around the outer surface of the outer casing. The second fuel circuit provides for fluid communication from the fuel distribution manifold, through the outer casing and to at least one fuel injector within the outer casing. In particular configurations, the fuel supply system includes a shield that surrounds at least a portion of the outer casing and at least partially encases the first fuel circuit and the second fuel circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nazar Ahmed Elwasila, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 9951954
    Abstract: A method of lining a turbofan casing (30) with an array (32) of liner modules (34), including the steps of: providing a liner module (34); and providing a coupling element (48) on the casing for interlocking engagement with the liner module to maintain the liner module in position relative to the casing; and interlockingly engaging the liner module (34) and coupling element (48) by progressive movement of the liner module relative to the coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Christopher Benson, Matthew Ashley Charles Hoyland
  • Patent number: 9945324
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system for a thrust reverser of an aircraft comprising: a primary sleeve, and a secondary sleeve, wherein a first stroke associated with the primary sleeve is different from a second stroke associated with the secondary sleeve, and wherein the primary sleeve traverses a first distance associated with the first stroke at the outset of a deployment of the thrust reverser and a second distance associated with the first stroke at a later stage of the deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Gormley
  • Patent number: 9932898
    Abstract: A pipe arrangement for a turbomachine is provided having a fluid pipe for guiding fluids and a coupling element for coupling the fluid pipe to a temperature affected component. The coupling element is configured to provide a first connection between the coupling element and the component by a first end of the coupling element. The coupling element provides also a second connection between the coupling element and a first surface section of the fluid pipe by a second end of the coupling element. Furthermore, the coupling element has a sleeve portion surrounding a second surface section of the fluid pipe and being spaced apart to the second surface section of the fluid pipe. A fluid inlet or outlet arrangement is also provided having such a pipe arrangement and also a gas turbine engine having such a pipe arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Trevor Milne
  • Patent number: 9932856
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide cooling systems for turbomachinery and methods of installation. In an embodiment, an apparatus of the present disclosure can include a ventilation conduit for routing a cooling air from a compressor of a power generation system to a turbine component of the power generation system; and a nozzle in fluid communication with the ventilation conduit, wherein the nozzle delivers water from a water supply into the ventilation conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas Scott Byrd, David Terry Trayhan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9926797
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sealing arrangement includes a turbine static structure with an inner case and a seal ring each having contact surfaces. The sealing arrangement also has a bearing compartment with a contact surface. A piston seal is positioned between the inner case, the seal ring, and the bearing compartment and is configured to contact the contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Porter, Jonathan Lemoine, Kevin Zacchera
  • Patent number: 9909761
    Abstract: A wall assembly of a combustor for a turbine engine includes a shell and a liner and a sealing interface structure. A cooling cavity is defined between the shell and liner and the sealing interface structure functions to minimize leakage out of the cooling cavity. The sealing interface structure may have a sealing width that is equal to or greater than twice the thickness of the liner and/or may include a chamber located between longitudinal segments of the sealing interface structure that inhibits leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 9903589
    Abstract: A tile for attaching to a wall of a gas turbine engine. The tile has a main body. The tile also has a bridging structure that projects outwardly from the main body and has a hole configured to receive an elongate fastener so that the tile can be attached to the wall of the gas turbine engine by passing the elongate fastener through a hole in the wall of the gas turbine engine and the hole in the bridging structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul Allan Hucker, Alan Philip Geary, Anthony John Moran, Jonathan Mark Gregory
  • Patent number: 9890714
    Abstract: An auto-tune controller and tuning process implemented thereby for measuring and tuning the combustion dynamics and emissions of a GT engine, relative to predetermined upper limits, are provided. Initially, the tuning process includes monitoring the combustion dynamics of a plurality of combustors and emissions for a plurality of conditions. Upon determination that one or more of the conditions exceeds a predetermined upper limit, a fuel flow split to a fuel circuit on all of the combustors on the engine is adjusted by a predetermined amount. The control system continues to monitor the combustion dynamics and to recursively adjust the fuel flow split by the predetermined amount until the combustion dynamics and/or emissions are operating within a prescribed range of the GT engine. Additionally, a method of automated extended turndown of a GT engine to find a minimum load is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Sumit Soni, Nicolas Roger Demougeot, Peter John Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 9890739
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for measuring and controlling nozzle areas of variable area fan nozzles. A control system attached to a nozzle may include a cable having one end connected to a linear displacement measuring device, such as a string potentiometer. The other end of the cable may be connected to a petal. A reference portion of the cable extends across multiple petals of the nozzle and, in some embodiments, substantially parallel to the nozzle circumference. The linear displacement measuring device measures any changes in the length of this reference portion as the petals actuate outwardly or inwardly during operation of the nozzle. The output of the linear displacement measuring device may be used to control actuators that move the petals. In some embodiments, potentiometer's output may be combined with one or more outputs from other sensors, such as a linear variable differential transducer and/or thermocouple.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jason Joseph Jackowski, Matthew A. Carpenter, Kent Edmund Karnofski
  • Patent number: 9879610
    Abstract: A pneumatic system 131 for use with gas turbine engines 10 and aircraft 100. The pneumatic system 131 comprises a first engine core compressor bleed offtake in the form of an engine handling bleed offtake 140, and a second engine core compressor bleed offtake in the form of first and second cabin bleed offtake 132, 134, the handling bleed being configured to supply higher pressure air than the cabin offtakes 132, 134. The system 131 comprises a turbocompressor 144 comprising an air compressor 148 driven by a turbine 146. The handling bleed offtake 140 is in fluid communication with the turbocompressor air turbine 146 to thereby drive the air turbine 146, and the cabin bleed offtakes 132, 134 are in fluid communication with the turbocompressor air compressor 148 such that air from the offtakes 132, 134 is compressed by the turbocompressor air compressor 148.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Thierry Moes
  • Patent number: 9863320
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger of an air circulation channel of a turbomachine, the heat exchanger being configured so as to have fluid to be cooled passing through it and including a plurality of fins protruding from a support surface, the heat exchanger being characterized in that each fin includes a base and a preferably continuous leading face which extends axially from the base in the air circulation direction while tapering from upstream to downstream along an axis parallel with the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Imane Ghazlane, Gabriela Philippart
  • Patent number: 9856791
    Abstract: A wave disc engine apparatus is provided. A further aspect employs a constricted nozzle in a wave rotor channel. A further aspect provides a sharp bend between an inlet and an outlet in a fluid pathway of a wave rotor, with the bend being spaced away from a peripheral edge of the wave rotor. A radial wave rotor for generating electricity in an automotive vehicle is disclosed in yet another aspect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Norbert Müller, Janusz Piechna, Guangwei Sun, Pablo-Francisco Parraga
  • Patent number: 9850816
    Abstract: An inlet air conditioning system for a gas turbine includes an inlet duct for the with an air flow path to provide inlet air to the gas turbine; evaporative cooling media disposed in the air flow path; a water chiller; and a circulation pump that circulates water through the water chiller and the evaporative media in series. The chiller is configured to chill the water to below ambient wet-bulb temperature before the water is circulated to the evaporative cooling media. A power plant includes a gas turbine including a compressor, a combustion system, and a turbine section; a load; and the inlet air conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: JIanmin Zhang, Brad Aaron Kippel