Patents by Inventor Christopher Paul Willis

Christopher Paul Willis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9010127
    Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20150082806
    Abstract: The present application provides a fuel plenum for a micro-mixer combustor. The fuel plenum may include a first assembly plate with a first assembly plate aperture, a second assembly plate with a second assembly plate aperture, a fuel tube extending through the first assembly plate aperture of the first assembly plate and the second assembly plate aperture of the second assembly plate, and an installation insert positioned between the fuel tube and the first assembly plate aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
  • Publication number: 20140352316
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor with a radial penetration. The combustor may include a combustion chamber, a liner surrounding the combustion chamber, a flow sleeve surrounding the liner, a penetration tube extending through the liner and the flow sleeve with the radial penetration positioned within the penetration tube, a flange extending from the penetration tube about the flow sleeve, and a ferrule positioned about the flange and the radial penetration so as to limit leakage about the radial penetration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde, Lucas John Stoia, Christopher Paul Willis
  • Publication number: 20140260319
    Abstract: A gas turbine comprises a compressor discharge casing that is coupled to an outer turbine shell. The compressor discharge casing includes a combustor opening that extends through the compressor discharge casing and an outer mating surface that circumferentially surrounds the combustor opening. The outer turbine shell defines an inner mating surface. A combustion module extends through the combustor opening. The combustion module includes a forward end that is circumferentially surrounded by a mounting flange and an aft end that is circumferentially surrounded by an aft frame. The mounting flange extends circumferentially around the combustor opening. The mounting flange is coupled to the outer mating surface of the compressor discharge casing and the aft frame is coupled to the inner mating surface of the outer turbine shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio, Christopher Paul Willis
  • Publication number: 20140260277
    Abstract: A combustion module for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular fuel distribution manifold disposed at an upstream end of the combustion module. The fuel distribution manifold includes an annular support sleeve having an inner surface. The combustion module further includes a fuel injection assembly having an annular combustion liner that extends downstream from the fuel distribution manifold and that terminates at an aft frame, and an annular flow sleeve that circumferentially surrounds the combustion liner. The flow sleeve extends downstream from the fuel distribution manifold and terminates at the aft frame. The flow sleeve extends continuously between the support sleeve and the aft frame. A forward portion of the flow sleeve is positioned concentrically within the support sleeve where the forward portion is slidingly engaged with the inner surface of the support sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Christopher Paul Willis, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Publication number: 20140260280
    Abstract: An assembly for controlling a gap between a liner and a stationary nozzle within a gas turbine includes an annular liner having an aft frame that is disposed at an aft end of the liner, and a mounting bracket that is coupled to the aft frame. The assembly further includes a turbine having an outer turbine shell and an inner turbine shell that at least partially defines an inlet to the turbine. A stationary nozzle is disposed between the aft frame and the inlet. The stationary nozzle includes a top platform portion having a leading edge that extends towards the aft frame and a bottom platform portion. A gap is defined between the aft end of the aft frame and the leading edge of the top platform portion. The mounting bracket is coupled to the outer turbine shell, and stationary nozzle is coupled to the inner turbine shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
  • Publication number: 20140260318
    Abstract: A side seal slot extends along a one side of an aft frame for a combustion liner of a gas turbine. The side seal slot is at least partially defined between a downstream wall and an upstream wall that extend outward from the first side of the aft frame. A first segment of the upstream wall extends from an inner portion of the aft frame towards an outer portion of the aft frame at a first outward distance from the first side. A second segment of the upstream wall extends from the first segment to the outer portion of the aft frame at a second outward distance from the first side. The second segment of the upstream wall at least partially defines a side seal guide feature to allow for axial insertion of a bottom portion of a side seal into the side seal slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Richard Martin DiCintio, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, Christopher Crookshanks
  • Publication number: 20140260272
    Abstract: A system for providing fuel to a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular fuel distribution manifold that at least partially defines a fuel plenum. The fuel distribution manifold includes a forward end axially separated from an aft end, a flange that extends radially outward and circumferentially around the forward end and an annular support ring that extends downstream from the flange. A LLI assembly extends downstream from the fuel distribution manifold. The LLI assembly includes a unibody liner that at least partially defines a primary combustion zone and a secondary combustion zone within the combustor. A LLI injector extends substantially radially through the unibody liner and provides for fluid communication through the unibody liner into the secondary combustion zone. A fluid conduit in fluid communication with the fuel plenum extends between the LLI injector and the fuel distribution manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Christopher Paul Willis
  • Publication number: 20140069103
    Abstract: A seal assembly for use between an injector and a combustion chamber in a gas turbine. A liner at least partially defines the combustion chamber, and the liner has at least one tubular liner collar, through which an injector is inserted. In one embodiment, the liner collar has a partially convex outer diameter and a floating collar is positioned at least partially around the liner collar. The floating collar has a retention member having a first end fixed to the floating collar and a second end configured to abut the convex outer diameter of liner collar, wherein the retention member maintains the floating collar at a radial distance from the injector less than a radial distance between the liner collar and the injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Richard Martin DiCintio, Lucas John Stoia
  • Publication number: 20140047846
    Abstract: A turbine component cooling arrangement includes a combustor liner defining a combustor chamber, wherein the combustor liner includes an outer surface and an inner surface. Also included is a channel disposed along the outer surface, wherein the channel is configured to receive a cooling flow through at least one aperture extending through a liner ring disposed proximate the outer surface of the combustor liner. Further included is at least one outlet orifice extending between the channel and the combustor chamber through the inner surface for routing the cooling flow along the inner surface within the combustor chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Richard Martin DiCintio, William David York
  • Publication number: 20140014792
    Abstract: A fastener assembly configured for use within an opening defined in a transition piece bracket is disclosed. The fastener assembly may generally include a fastener having a head configured to be positioned proximal to a first end of the opening and a body. The body may include a shank portion, a threaded portion opposite the shank portion and a recessed portion defined between the shank portion and the threaded portion. The fastener assembly may also include a retention member configured to be positioned within the opening adjacent the recessed portion such that the retention member engages at least one of the shank portion or the threaded portion as the fastener is moved within the opening. In addition, the fastener assembly may include a biasing member engaged against the retention member. The biasing member may be configured to bias the head of the fastener away from the first end of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio, David William Cihlar
  • Publication number: 20140000265
    Abstract: A transition duct for a combustor of a gas turbine generally includes a transition duct having a frame at an aft end of the transition duct. The frame generally includes a downstream end, a radially outer portion, a radially inner portion opposed to the radially outer portion, a first side portion between the radially outer and inner portions, and a second side portion opposed to the first side portion. A slot in the first side portion of the frame may have a downstream surface adjacent to the downstream end of the frame. A heat shield having an inner surface, an outer surface and a plurality of spacers may extend generally outward from the heat shield inner surface such that the inner surface is adjacent to the slot downstream surface and the frame downstream end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John Alfred Simo, Patrick Benedict Melton, Richard Martin DiCintio, Christopher Paul Willis
  • Publication number: 20130234396
    Abstract: A transition piece aft-frame seal assembly may include an elongate body including a first side and a second side. The seal assembly may also include at least one feed hole disposed on the first side of the body. The seal assembly may also include at least one passageway extending through the body from the first side to the second side and in communication with the at least one feed hole. Moreover, the seal assembly may include at least one cooling hole disposed at the second side of the body and in communication with the at least one passageway. A flow of cooling fluid may enter the at least one feed hole, the at least one passageway, and the at least one cooling hole, wherein the at least one cooling hole directs the flow of cooling fluid to a recirculation zone about adjacent transition piece aft-frame assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Patrick Benedict Melton, John Alfred Simo
  • Publication number: 20130227964
    Abstract: A transition piece aft frame assembly is provided, and includes a transition piece aft frame and a heat shield. The transition piece aft frame has an aft face. At least a portion of the aft face is exposed to an exhaust gas stream. The heat shield is connected to the transition piece aft frame. The heat shield is oriented to generally deflect the exhaust gas stream away from the aft face of the transition piece aft frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, William Lawrence Byrne, David William Cihlar, Donald Timothy Lemon, Patrick Benedict Melton