Patents by Inventor Keith C. Belsom

Keith C. Belsom 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: 9388987
    Abstract: A combustor (10) includes a cap (16), a liner (20), a transition piece (24), and a combustion chamber (22) located downstream from the cap (16) and defined by the cap and liner. A secondary nozzle (40) circumferentially arranged around the liner (20) or transition piece (24) includes a center body, a fluid passage through the center body, a shroud circumferentially surrounding the center body, and an annular passage between the center body and the shroud. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor (10) includes flowing fuel through a primary nozzle radially disposed in a breech end of the combustor and flowing fuel through a secondary nozzle (40) circumferentially arranged around and passing through at least one of a liner (20) or a transition piece. The secondary nozzle (40) includes a center body, a fluid passage through the center body, a shroud circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the center body (44), and an annular passage between the center body and the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Almaz Kamilevich Valeev, James Harold Westmoreland, III, Keith C. Belsom, John Alfred Simo
  • Patent number: 9182122
    Abstract: A device for supplying flow across a combustor includes an axial fluid injector configured to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the combustor. An inner annular passage extends through the axial fluid injector and provides fluid communication through the axial fluid injector and into a first annular passage that surrounds the combustor. An outer annular passage extends through the axial fluid injector radially outward from the inner annular passage and provides axial flow into the first annular passage. A method for supplying flow to a combustor includes flowing a first portion of a working fluid through a first axial flow path and flowing a second portion of the working fluid through a second axial flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John M. Matthews, Keith C. Belsom, Ronald James Chila
  • Publication number: 20140338359
    Abstract: A combustor (10) includes a cap (16), a liner (20), a transition piece (24), and a combustion chamber (22) located downstream from the cap (16) and defined by the cap and liner. A secondary nozzle (40) circumferentially arranged around the liner (20) or transition piece (24) includes a center body, a fluid passage through the center body, a shroud circumferentially surrounding the center body, and an annular passage between the center body and the shroud. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor (10) includes flowing fuel through a primary nozzle radially disposed in a breech end of the combustor and flowing fuel through a secondary nozzle (40) circumferentially arranged around and passing through at least one of a liner (20) or a transition piece. The secondary nozzle (40) includes a center body, a fluid passage through the center body, a shroud circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the center body (44), and an annular passage between the center body and the shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Almaz Kamilevich Valeev, James Harold Westmoreland, III, Keith C. Belsom, John Alfred Simo
  • Patent number: 8443611
    Abstract: A system for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes an end cover and a combustion chamber downstream from the end cover. First and second sets of nozzles extend axially between the end cover and the combustion chamber. The second set of nozzles is adjacent to the first set of nozzles. The system includes means for damping vibrations between the nozzles with a gap between the means for damping vibrations. A method for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes flowing a working fluid through first and second sets of nozzles, wherein the first set of nozzles includes a damping member attached to and circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the first set of nozzles, and contacting at least one nozzle in the second set of nozzles with the damping member on at least one nozzle in the first set of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Keith C. Belsom, Bruce John Badding
  • Publication number: 20130086921
    Abstract: A device for supplying flow across a combustor includes an axial fluid injector configured to circumferentially surround at least a portion of the combustor. An inner annular passage extends through the axial fluid injector and provides fluid communication through the axial fluid injector and into a first annular passage that surrounds the combustor. An outer annular passage extends through the axial fluid injector radially outward from the inner annular passage and provides axial flow into the first annular passage. A method for supplying flow to a combustor includes flowing a first portion of a working fluid through a first axial flow path and flowing a second portion of the working fluid through a second axial flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John M. Matthews, Keith C. Belsom, Ronald James Chila
  • Publication number: 20130067923
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cover and a casing adjacent to the end cover, wherein the end cover and casing at least partially define a volume inside the combustor. The combustor further includes an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor, at least one nozzle arranged in the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap, and means for conditioning flow through the volume. A method for conditioning flow through a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through a volume at least partially defined by an end cover, a casing, and an end cap that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor and flowing the working fluid across an annular insert adjacent to the end cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon Taylor Overby, Keith C. Belsom, Jason Thurman Stewart, Azardokht Hajiloo, Richard Martin DiCintio, Dereck J. Ouellet
  • Publication number: 20130062425
    Abstract: A system for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes an end cover and a combustion chamber downstream from the end cover. First and second sets of nozzles extend axially between the end cover and the combustion chamber. The second set of nozzles is adjacent to the first set of nozzles. The system includes means for damping vibrations between the nozzles with a gap between the means for damping vibrations. A method for damping combustor nozzle vibrations includes flowing a working fluid through first and second sets of nozzles, wherein the first set of nozzles includes a damping member attached to and circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the first set of nozzles, and contacting at least one nozzle in the second set of nozzles with the damping member on at least one nozzle in the first set of nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Keith C. Belsom, Bruce John Badding
  • Publication number: 20120183911
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cover with a borehole through the end cover. The combustor further includes an insert in the borehole in the end cover and at least one continuous passage through the end cover and the insert. A ring is fixedly connected to the end cover with a seal between the ring and the insert. A method for repairing a combustor includes fixedly connecting a ring to an end cover and installing a replacement insert in the end cover. The method further includes installing a seal between the ring and the replacement insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Keith C. Belsom
  • Patent number: 6216442
    Abstract: In a combustor having an axis, a flow sleeve and a liner, a plurality of circumferentially spaced supports interconnect the upstream ends of the liner and flow sleeve to limit wear on the supports and accommodate relative thermal expansion of the liner and flow sleeve. Each support includes a flow sleeve stop having an angled surface, a groove and a female threaded aperture and a liner stop having a complementary angled surface, a rib and an enlarged opening. By inserting the liner axially through the open upstream end of the flow sleeve, the rib of the liner stop engages the slot of the flow sleeve stop. By passing a bolt having a spring through the enlarged opening of the liner stop and threading the bolt to the flow sleeve stop, the liner is biased for axial downstream movement to maintain the complementary inclined surfaces of the stops in contact with one another, thereby limiting wear and accommodating relative thermal expansion of the flow sleeve and liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Keith C. Belsom, Abdul-Azeez Mohammed-Fakir, Calvin L. Sims, Charles E. Steber, Daniel R. Tegel, Henry J. Wiersma
  • Patent number: 5785492
    Abstract: A stator vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided which includes a plurality of stator vane segments and a seal ring. Each stator vane segment has an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil extending between the platforms. The stator vane segments collectively form an annular structure. The seal ring includes an abradable bearing pad which extends out from an axial surface of the body of the seal ring. The seal ring is attached to a non-rotating member within the engine, positioned in close proximity to the stator vane segments. Contact, and consequent friction, between the individual stator vane segments and the abradable bearing pad causes the abradable bearing pad to abrade, thereby creating a sealing surface reflective of the opposing stator vane segments in contact with the abradable bearing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Keith C. Belsom, M. Stefan Maier
  • Patent number: 5265411
    Abstract: This invention relates to a clip for securing a segmented panel, such as that of a combustor liner for a gas turbine engine, to the outer shell of the combustor, a clip characterized by having two distinctly different spring rates depending on the magnitude of the load which the clip must support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Keith C. Belsom