Patents by Inventor Gareth W. Oskam
Gareth W. Oskam 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).
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Publication number: 20230065831Abstract: Known micromixers for fuel injection (e.g., in a gas turbine engine) experience early burning or have limited operability. Accordingly, a micromixer is disclosed that utilizes an air nozzle, in combination with one or more fuel jets, to produce short flames that minimize the emission of nitrogen oxides, while providing additional benefits, such as mechanical robustness, aerodynamic efficiency, resistance to flame damage, suitability for additive manufacturing, wider operating ranges, operation with a variety of gaseous fuels, and/or amenability to control using conventional mechanisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: March 2, 2023Applicant: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Gareth W. OSKAM, Georgina J. MCGEE, Yonduck SUNG, Gregory Michael BALOW, Rajeshriben PATEL, Nathan J. KIRKSEY
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Publication number: 20210033028Abstract: This disclosure provides a seal assembly to provide a generally smooth transition from a combustion chamber to a turbine within a gas turbine engine. A seal body extends from the combustion chamber towards the turbine and is positioned to seal against unwanted flows between the combustion chamber and a compressed air chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2019Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Gareth W. Oskam, Paul Economo, Samantha Caldwell Rogers
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Patent number: 9182124Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include an injector housing having a central cavity configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The central cavity may also be configured to direct a first fuel into the combustor substantially unmixed with air. The fuel injector may also include an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the downstream end of the central cavity. The air discharge outlet may be configured to discharge compressed air into the combustor circumferentially about the first fuel from the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet at the downstream end. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially about the compressed air from the air discharge outlet.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventor: Gareth W. Oskam
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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: 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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Publication number: 20130192237Abstract: A fuel injector system for a turbine engine may include a center body disposed about a longitudinal axis and a barrel housing positioned radially outwardly from the center body to define an annular passageway therebetween. The fuel injector may also include one or more fuel discharge outlets positioned in the annular passageway. The one or more fuel discharge outlets may be configured to discharge pulses of a fuel into the annular passageway. The fuel injector may further include one or more fluidic oscillators fluidly coupled to the one or more fuel discharge outlets. The one or more fluidic oscillators may be configured to induce pulsations in the fuel discharged by the one or more fuel discharge outlets.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
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Publication number: 20130197855Abstract: A method for determining a location of a temperature measurement at a flow plane of a gas turbine engine. The method may include using a camera to capture at least one image of a temperature sensor disposed in the flow plane. The method may further include analyzing the image in a processing unit to obtain location data indicating a location of the temperature sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
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Publication number: 20130152593Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine may include an injector housing having a central cavity configured to be fluidly coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The central cavity may also be configured to direct a first fuel into the combustor substantially unmixed with air. The fuel injector may also include an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the downstream end of the central cavity. The air discharge outlet may be configured to discharge compressed air into the combustor circumferentially about the first fuel from the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet at the downstream end. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially about the compressed air from the air discharge outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
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Publication number: 20130152594Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes an injector housing having a central cavity configured to fluidly couple with a combustor of the gas turbine engine. The fuel injector may include a fuel nozzle at the upstream end of the central cavity. The fuel nozzle may be configured to direct a first fuel into the central cavity. The fuel injector may also include an annular air inlet disposed circumferentially about the fuel nozzle at the upstream end of the central cavity, and an annular air discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the exit opening of the central cavity. The fuel injector may further include an annular fuel discharge outlet circumferentially disposed about the air discharge outlet. The fuel discharge outlet may be configured to discharge a second fuel into the combustor circumferentially around the air discharge outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 20, 2013Inventor: Gareth W. Oskam
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Publication number: 20120291444Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventor: GARETH W. OSKAM
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Publication number: 20120291439Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Inventor: GARETH W. OSKAM
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Patent number: 5836163Abstract: A dual fuel injector includes an apparatus for injecting liquid pilot fuel into a gas turbine engine. The injector includes a liquid pilot fuel feedline having an outlet that sprays fuel on the conically-shaped pintle swirler that causes the fuel to form a cylindrically-shaped film on the interior of a pilot fuel-air mixing passage. The film of fuel is broken up into droplets at a downstream end of the pilot fuel-air mixing passage by shearing forces exerted on the film by separate streams of air flowing within and externally of the pilot fuel-air mixing passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1996Date of Patent: November 17, 1998Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: John F. Lockyer, Gareth W. Oskam
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Patent number: 5826423Abstract: A dual fuel injector for injecting liquid and/or gaseous fuel into a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of hollow spoke members for injecting gaseous fuel that are located upstream of a plurality of main air swirling vanes that are in turn upstream of a plurality of air-blast atomizers for injecting main liquid fuel. A pilot fueling arrangement is provided that is capable of starting the gas turbine engine using either gaseous or liquid fuel. The injector includes a labyrinth-shaped cooling passage capable of providing cooling air to cylindrical walls of an injector centerbody.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1996Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: John F. Lockyer, Gareth W. Oskam, Douglas C. Rawlins