Patents by Inventor Patrick Benedict Melton

Patrick Benedict Melton 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: 8966906
    Abstract: A system for supplying pressurized fluid to a combustor of a gas turbine is disclosed. The system may include an end cover and a fuel nozzle extending from the end cover. The fuel nozzle may include a downstream end. Additionally, the system may include a cap assembly configured to receive at least a portion of the fuel nozzle. The cap assembly may include an upstream wall spaced apart from the downstream end, a downstream wall disposed proximate to the downstream end and a cap chamber defined between the upstream and downstream walls. Moreover, a conduit may extend through the end cover and the upstream wall such that a discharge end of the conduit is in flow communication with the cap chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20150040579
    Abstract: A system for supporting bundled tube segments within a combustor includes an annular sleeve that extends circumferentially and axially within the combustor, a support lug that extends radially inward from the annular sleeve and an annular support frame that is disposed within the annular sleeve. The annular support frame includes an inner ring portion, an outer ring portion and a plurality of spokes that extend radially between the inner and outer ring portions. The inner ring portion, the outer ring portion and the plurality of spokes define an annular array of openings for receiving a respective bundled tube segment. The inner ring portion is connected to each bundled tube segment and the outer ring portion is coupled to the support lug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 8938978
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided and includes an array of fuel nozzles, a combustion casing assembly disposed about the array of fuel nozzles and an end cap assembly disposed within the combustion casing assembly to define with the combustion casing assembly an axis-symmetric annulus through which fluid travels into each of the fuel nozzles, at least one of the combustion casing assembly and the end cap assembly being formed with lobed, three-dimensional contouring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Luis Manuel Flamand, Kwanwoo Kim, Patrick Benedict Melton, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, John Drake Vanselow
  • Patent number: 8925326
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and an aerodynamic mounting assembly disposed in the air passage. The aerodynamic mounting assembly is configured to retain the combustion liner within the flow sleeve. The aerodynamic mounting assembly includes a flow sleeve mount coupled to the flow sleeve and a liner stop coupled to the combustion liner. The flow sleeve mount includes a first portion of an aerodynamic shape and the liner stop includes a second portion of the aerodynamic shape, which is configured to direct an airflow into a wake region downstream of the aerodynamic mounting assembly. The flow sleeve mount and the liner stop couple with one another to define the aerodynamic shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, Robert Joseph Rohrssen
  • Publication number: 20150000286
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cover having an outer side and an inner side, an outer barrel having a forward end that is adjacent to the inner side of the end cover and an aft end that is axially spaced from the forward end. An inner barrel is at least partially disposed concentrically within the outer barrel and is fixedly connected to the outer barrel. A fluid conduit extends downstream from the end cover. A first bundled tube fuel injector segment is disposed concentrically within the inner barrel. The bundled tube fuel injector segment includes a fuel plenum that is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and a plurality of parallel tubes that extend axially through the fuel plenum. The bundled tube fuel injector segment is fixedly connected to the inner barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, III, James Scott Flanagan
  • Publication number: 20150000284
    Abstract: A cap assembly for a bundled tube fuel injector includes an impingement plate and an aft plate that is disposed downstream from the impingement plate. The aft plate includes a forward side that is axially separated from an aft side. A tube passage extends through the impingement plate and the aft plate. A tube sleeve extends through the impingement plate within the tube passage towards the aft plate. The tube sleeve includes a flange at a forward end and an aft end that is axially separated from the forward end. A retention plate is positioned upstream from the impingement plate. A spring is disposed between the retention plate and the flange. The spring provides a force so as to maintain contact between at least a portion of the aft end of the tube sleeve and the forward side of the aft plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, III, James Scott Flanagan
  • Patent number: 8919137
    Abstract: An assembly for use in a late lean injection system of a combustor of a combustion turbine engine, wherein the combustor includes an inner radial wall, which defines a primary combustion chamber downstream of a primary fuel nozzle, and an outer radial wall, which surrounds the inner radial wall forming a flow annulus therebetween, the assembly comprising: a boss rigidly secured to the inner radial wall, the boss being configured to define a hollow passageway through the inner radial wall; a transfer tube slideably engaged within the boss; a stop formed on the transfer tube; and damping means positioned between the boss and the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 8919127
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine combustor, which includes a combustion liner disposed about a combustion region, a flow sleeve disposed about the combustion liner, an air passage between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve, and a structure between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve. The structure obstructs an airflow through the air passage. The gas turbine combustor also includes a wake reducer disposed adjacent the structure. The wake reducer directs a flow into a wake region downstream of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Ronald James Chila, Abdul Rafey Khan, Carolyn Ashley Antoniono
  • Patent number: 8894407
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap, a combustion chamber downstream from the end cap, and a plurality of tubes that extends through the end cap to provide fluid communication through the end cap to the combustion chamber. A casing surrounds the end cap, and a conduit extends from the casing to the end cap. A duct extends around the conduit and inside the end cap to provide fluid communication to the end cap. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through a plurality of tubes that extends axially through an end cap, supplying a first fluid through a conduit into the end cap, and supplying a second fluid through a duct spiraling around the conduit into the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 8893501
    Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent provide a combustor for mixing a flow of air and a flow of fuel. The combustor may include an air path for the flow of air, a number of fuel injectors positioned in the air path for the flow of fuel, and a crossfire tube positioned within the air path upstream of the fuel injectors. The crossfire tube may include a number of purge holes positioned on a downstream side thereof to reduce a wake in the flow of air caused by the crossfire tube in the air path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Eletric Company
    Inventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Patent number: 8887508
    Abstract: An impingement sleeve and methods for designing and forming an impingement sleeve are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for designing an impingement sleeve is disclosed. The method includes determining a desired operational value for a transition piece, inputting a combustor characteristic into a processor, and utilizing the combustor characteristic in the processor to determine a cooling hole pattern for the impingement sleeve, the cooling hole pattern comprising a plurality of cooling holes, at least a portion of the plurality of cooling holes being generally longitudinally asymmetric, the cooling hole pattern providing the desired operational value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jerome David Brown, Ronald James Chila, Patrick Benedict Melton, Russell DeForest, David William Cihlar, Matthew Paul Berkebile, Wei Chen, John Drake Vanselow
  • Publication number: 20140260268
    Abstract: A system includes a combustor cap assembly for a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The combustor cap assembly includes a support structure defining an interior volume configured to receive an air flow, a plurality of mixing tubes disposed within the interior volume, wherein each of the plurality of mixing tubes comprises a respective fuel injector and is individually removable from the combustor cap assembly, an air distributor disposed within the interior volume and configured to distribute the air flow received by the interior volume to each of the plurality of mixing tubes, and a combustor cap removably coupled to the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Harold Westmoreland, Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20140260267
    Abstract: A system includes a system having an end cover of a combustor for a gas turbine. The end cover has at least one fuel plenum coupled to a plurality of fuel injectors for a multi-tube fuel nozzle having a plurality of fuel-air mixing tubes, each tube having one of the fuel injectors. At least one fuel plenum is configured to provide fuel to each of the fuel injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Gregory Allen Boardman, James Harold Westmoreland
  • Publication number: 20140260275
    Abstract: A flow sleeve assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular support sleeve disposed at a forward end of the flow sleeve assembly. The support sleeve includes a forward portion axially separated from an aft portion. An aft frame is disposed at an aft end of the flow sleeve assembly. An annular flow sleeve extends from the aft portion of the support sleeve towards the aft frame. The flow sleeve includes a forward end that is axially separated from an aft end. The forward end of the flow sleeve circumferentially surrounds the aft end of the support sleeve. An annular impingement sleeve extends between the aft end of the flow sleeve and the aft frame. A forward end of the impingement sleeve is connected to the aft end of the flow sleeve, and an aft end of the impingement sleeve is connected to the aft frame.
    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
  • Publication number: 20140260315
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The multi-tube fuel nozzle includes an end cover, a first plate, and multiple tubes. The multiple tubes are disposed and supported in a floating arrangement between the end cover and the first plate. Each tube includes a forward end adjacent the end cover and an aft end adjacent the first plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Harold Westmoreland, Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20140260276
    Abstract: A system includes an end cover for a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The end cover includes a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, a plurality of fuel injectors disposed on the first side, and at least one pre-orifice disposed within a passage within the end cover between the first and second sides. The pre-orifice is configured to be removed through the end cover from the second side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Harold Westmoreland, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • 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: 20140260264
    Abstract: A system for controlling air flow rate of a compressed working fluid to a fuel injector of a combustor includes an outer casing that defines a high pressure plenum around a portion of the combustor, an extraction port in fluid communication with the high pressure plenum and an inlet port. The combustor includes a plurality of fuel injectors arranged around a combustion liner, an inner flow sleeve, an outer air shield that surrounds the plurality of fuel injectors and the inner flow sleeve. The outer air shield defines an injection an air plenum between the outer air shield and the inner flow sleeve and an inlet to the injection air plenum. An external fluid circuit provides fluid communication between the extraction port and the inlet port. A baffle extends between the outer casing and the outer air shield to provide flow separation between the inlet and the high pressure plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, Richard Martin DiCintio
  • 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: 20140260274
    Abstract: A fuel distribution manifold for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an annular flange having an outer surface that extends circumferentially around the flange. A primary fuel plenum extends circumferentially within the flange. A first orifice and a second orifice extend radially through the outer surface of the flange to provide for fluid communication into the primary fuel plenum. The first orifice includes an inlet that is adjacent to the outer surface. The second orifice includes an inlet that is adjacent to the outer surface. A fuel distribution cap extends partially across the outer surface of the flange. The fuel distribution cap includes an inlet port. A fuel distribution plenum is at least partially defined within the fuel distribution cap. The fuel distribution plenum is in fluid communication with the inlet port and with the first orifice inlet and the second orifice inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, Stanley Kevin Widener, William Michael Poschel