Patents Examined by Vikansha Dwivedi
  • Patent number: 8621873
    Abstract: A system for moving an auxiliary component of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The system may have a mobile support platform configured to support the auxiliary component during operation of the gas turbine engine. The system may further have at least one guide assembly operably connected to the mobile support platform and configured to guide movement of the mobile support platform. The system may also have a drive assembly operably connected to the mobile support platform and configured to impart movement of the mobile support platform between an elevated position and a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Robertson, Ian Trevor Brown, Steven Gastelum, Daniel James Doll, John Raymond Hawley
  • Patent number: 8601789
    Abstract: A control system of a hydraulic type for a thrust reversal device with which a jet engine nacelle is equipped, and associated with a nozzle variation device, is provided by the present disclosure. The control system includes at least one additional control unit hydraulically connecting actuators together, wherein hydraulic supply lines from the control unit in a nozzle mode and from the control unit in a reverser mode are then able to communicate hydraulically with each other. A plurality of control valves are laid out so that when the unit for driving the actuators in a nozzle mode is active, a corresponding hydraulic signal controls the valves of the control unit in a position such that the hydraulic supply lines of the actuators from the driving unit according to a reverser mode are cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Aircelle
    Inventor: Vincent Pierre Le Coq
  • Patent number: 8590312
    Abstract: A device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a turbomachine combustion chamber includes a centering ring for centering an injector and a primary swirler situated downstream from the ring, the ring including axial air-passing orifices and the swirler including curved air-passing channels, a number of orifices in the ring being no greater than a number of channels in the swirler, and downstream outlets of the orifices in the ring being situated between the channels in the swirler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 8578715
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas turbine capable of reducing energy consumption while suppressing a so-called cat back phenomenon. The gas turbine includes a combustor-accommodating chamber casing for accommodating therein a combustor which burns fuel and air compressed by a compressor to generate combustion gas and which injects the combustion gas to a turbine. The gas turbine also includes a first air supply passage and a second air supply passage on an upper portion of the combustor-accommodating chamber casing in the vertical direction. The first air supply passage discharges air toward the compressor in the combustor-accommodating chamber casing. The second air supply passage discharges air in a direction different from that of the first air supply passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Iwasaki, Yoshifumi Iwasaki, Shinichi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8572974
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system in a gas turbine engine includes an electric motor, a first fluid pump system and a second fluid pump system. The electric motor operates at a variable speed. The first pump system includes a first pump driven by the motor to deliver a first fluid to the gas turbine engine. The second pump system includes a second pump driven by the motor to deliver a second fluid to the gas turbine engine, the second pump having a variable displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Leo J. Veilleux, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8567197
    Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating acoustic oscillations of a gas flow contained in part by a combustor wall of a gas turbine engine combustor, wherein the combustor includes at least one air/fuel mixer, includes at least one resonating tube with a closed end and an open end and a single cavity between the ends. The tube is located on the combustor wall downstream of the air/fuel mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Mueller, John Andrew Konkoly
  • Patent number: 8567176
    Abstract: A rotating device for producing pressure by expansion of a-pressurized process substance is provided. The rotating device includes a U-channel structure arranged to be rotatable around an axis of a shaft. The U-channel structure includes an expansion point arranged at a periphery of the rotating device, a sinking channel for delivery of the pressurized process substance to the expansion point, a rising channel for delivery of the expanded process substance from the expansion point to a regulating valve for a delivery of the expanded process substance under a higher pressure than that of the pressurized process substance through an outlet channel to an energy recovery device. The rotating device is connected to driving devices in order to rotate the U-channel structure around the axis of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Rotoboost AS
    Inventor: Age Jorgen Skomsvold
  • Patent number: 8540493
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibration procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Sta-Rite Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Robert M. Koehl
  • Patent number: 8534039
    Abstract: A combined cycle power plant system and methods of operation so as to minimize consumption of cooling water utilizes exhaust from a combustion turbine to generate steam for power generation in a steam turbine topping cycle. The exhaust steam from the steam turbine topping cycle is utilized to vaporize an organic working fluid in an organic working fluid bottoming cycle, where vaporized organic working fluid expanded across a turbine generates additional power. Exhaust gas from the organic working fluid bottoming cycle is condensed utilizing an air-cooled heat exchanger. Heat exchange bundles of the air-cooled heat exchanger are preferably arranged horizontally relative to the ground to maximize efficiency. Turbine inlet cooling is employed at the combustion turbine to recapture energy lost in the system. A thermal energy storage tank may be utilized in conjunction with the turbine inlet cooling to supply chilling water to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: TAS Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Pierson, Herman Leibowitz
  • Patent number: 8516791
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing at least one heat exchanger assembly including a heat exchanger and a mixer extending downstream from the heat exchanger. The mixer includes a plurality of windows formed therein. The method also includes coupling the at least one heat exchanger assembly within a bypass duct of the engine such that the at least one heat exchanger assembly is coupled to at least one of an outer engine casing and an inner engine casing of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Andrew Perveiler, Malcolm Kenneth MacLean, Ross Michael Leon
  • Patent number: 8490411
    Abstract: An accessory system for a gas turbine engine includes a main case which defines an accessory gearbox axis. A cover is removably mountable to the main case and a first gear set at least partially within the cover along a first accessory axis transverse to the accessory gearbox axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Christopher M. Dye, Hung Duong, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 8490408
    Abstract: A compressor shroud has a continuous slot defined in a gaspath side surface thereof for communicating through the body of the shroud. Spaced-apart structural bridges span a rear portion of the slot in the shroud to maintain structural rigidity of the shroud. The method of forming the continuous slot is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Copr.
    Inventors: Jason Nichols, Hien Duong, Peter Townsend, Grigory Rukin
  • Patent number: 8490410
    Abstract: An accessory system for a gas turbine engine includes an accessory gearbox which defines an accessory gearbox axis. A crossover gear set generally along the accessory gearbox axis interconnects a first gear set and a second gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Christopher M. Dye, Hung Duong, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 8485800
    Abstract: A system and method for pumping fluid using a pump cassette. The system includes a control assembly for operating the pump cassette. A force assembly having a movable member is capable of applying force to the pump cassette to press the pump cassette against the control assembly. The movable member may be an expandable member, such as a bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Richard J. Lanigan, James D. Dale
  • Patent number: 8474268
    Abstract: A method of managing transient events regularly seen during gas turbine operation that may cause undesirable operation and hardware damage. During certain transient operations, a lag may be seen between reference exhaust temperature and actual turbine exhaust temperature. This lag can result in an under-fired condition within the combustion system of variable magnitude and duration. Either fuel split schedules or a control algorithm can be positioned during these transients to prevent combustion dynamics or loss of flame. Combustion dynamics are known to cause damage that may require hardware replacement. Once the transient has completed, normal control operation is resumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason D. Fuller, Derrick W. Simons, Douglas E. Dean, Christopher T. Meadows
  • Patent number: 8459035
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan variable area nozzle axially movable relative to the fan nacelle to vary a fan nozzle exit area and adjust a pressure ratio of the fan bypass airflow during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter G. Smith, Stuart S. Ochs, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8453459
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an annular combustion chamber of a turbomachine including a support device for supporting and centering a fuel injector head; and a bowl arranged downstream from the support device and including at its downstream end an annular collar that extends radially outwards and that is cooled by air impacting against its upstream radial surface is disclosed. The upstream radial surface includes a device which disturbs the flow of cooling air and increases the heat exchange area between the air and the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Laurent Bernard Cameriano, Christophe Pieussergues, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 8448420
    Abstract: An aircraft nacelle in which a power plant is arranged delimits a duct for a flow which assists the thrust. The nacelle includes a device for reducing, canceling, or reversing the thrust that includes at least one flap that can have an active position in which it deflects—in the direction of a radial opening—at least a portion of the flow and an at-rest position in which the flap does not interfere with the flow, whereby the wall of the nacelle delimiting the duct includes at least one moving part that can occupy a first position in which it is interposed between the flow to be deflected and the flap and another position in which it releases the flap so as to allow the flap to change position and to move from the at-rest position to the active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Guillaume Bulin, Patrick Oberle
  • Patent number: 8448418
    Abstract: A method for controlling a turbomachine exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system is provided. The EGR system may allow for the removal and sequestration of at least one constituent within the exhaust before the recirculation occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Noemie Dion Ouellet, Jason D. Fuller, Joell R. Hibshman, II
  • Patent number: 8448450
    Abstract: A support assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The support assembly includes a transition duct extending between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section. The transition duct has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis. The support assembly further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the transition duct. The plurality of protrusions are configured to allow movement of the transition duct about at least one axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, James Scott Flanagan