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).

  • CONTINUOUS COMBUSTION LINER FOR A COMBUSTOR OF A GAS TURBINE
    Publication number: 20140260273
    Abstract: A combustion liner for a gas turbine combustor includes an annular main body having a forward end axially separated from an aft end, and a transitional intersection defined between the forward end and the aft end. The main body extends continuously from the forward end to the aft end. A plurality of fuel injector passages extend radially through the main body upstream from the transitional intersection. The main body comprises a conical section having a circular cross section that diverges between the forward end and the transitional intersection, and a transition section having a non-circular cross section that extends from the transitional intersection to the aft end of the main body.
    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
  • SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A WORKING FLUID TO A COMBUSTOR
    Publication number: 20140260258
    Abstract: A system for supplying a working fluid to a combustor includes a fuel nozzle, a combustion chamber disposed downstream from the fuel nozzle, an inner flow sleeve that circumferentially surrounds the combustion chamber and a plurality of injectors circumferentially arranged around the inner flow sleeve. The plurality of injectors provide for fluid communication through the inner flow sleeve and into the combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. The system further includes an outer air shield that defines an injection air plenum that surrounds the plurality of injectors. An inlet passage extends through the outer air shield to define a flow path into the injection air plenum. An outer sleeve is slidingly engaged with the outer air shield. The outer sleeve has a first position that restricts flow through the inlet passage and a second position that increases flow through the inlet passage.
    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
  • ASSEMBLY FOR CONTROLLING CLEARANCE BETWEEN A LINER AND STATIONARY NOZZLE WITHIN A GAS TURBINE
    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
  • FLOW SLEEVE FOR A COMBUSTION MODULE OF A GAS TURBINE
    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
  • System and method for flow control in gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 8826667
    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 extending between the combustion liner and the flow sleeve. The structure obstructs an airflow path through the air passage. The gas turbine combustor also includes an aerodynamic wake reducer configured to redirect an airflow around the structure to reduce a wake region downstream of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Bradley Donald Crawley, David William Cihlar, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, Ronald James Chila
  • Gas turbine combustor endcover assembly with integrated flow restrictor and manifold seal
    Patent number: 8820086
    Abstract: An endcover assembly for a turbine combustor adapted to support one or more combustor nozzles includes a substantially flat plate having one side which in use, faces a combustion chamber and an opposite side which, in use, faces away from the combustion chamber. At least one fuel passage extends through the substantially flat plate. A fuel manifold porting block is secured to the opposite side of the flat plate with at least one port aligned with the at least one passage. A fuel restrictor insert formed with multiple flow orifices is located between the flat plate and the fuel manifold porting block in alignment with the at least one fuel passage and the at least one port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Donald Timothy Lemon, Kwanwoo Kim, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Combustor and method for supplying fuel to a combustor
    Patent number: 8801428
    Abstract: A combustor includes an end cap having upstream and downstream surfaces and a cap shield surrounding the upstream and downstream surfaces. First and second sets of premixer tubes extend from the upstream surface through the downstream surface. A first fuel conduit supplies fuel to the first set of premixer tubes. A casing circumferentially surrounds the cap shield to define an annular passage, and a second fuel conduit supplies fuel through the annular passage to the second set of premixer tubes. A method for supplying fuel to a combustor includes flowing a working fluid through first and second sets of premixer tubes, flowing a first fuel into the first set of premixer tubes, and flowing a second fuel through an annular passage surrounding the end cap and into the second set of premixer tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • Combustor nozzle and method for modifying the combustor nozzle
    Patent number: 8794544
    Abstract: A combustor nozzle includes a downstream surface having an axial centerline. A plurality of passages extend through the downstream surface and provide fluid communication through the downstream surface. A plurality of slits are included in the downstream surface, and each slit connects to at least two passages. A method for modifying a combustor nozzle includes machining a plurality of slits in a downstream side of a body. The method further includes connecting each slit to at least two passages that pass through the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Scott Robert Simmons, Russell DeForest, Donald Mark Bailey
  • Coaxial Fuel Supply for a Micromixer
    Publication number: 20140190169
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for a coaxial fuel supply for a micromixer. According to one embodiment, the micromixer may include an elongated base nozzle structure, a number of mixing tubes in communication with the elongated base nozzle structure, and an air inlet configured to supply the plurality of mixing tubes with air. The elongated base nozzle structure may be configured to supply a fuel to the mixing tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland
  • MICROMIXER ASSEMBLY FOR A TURBINE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING AN AIR-FUEL MIXTURE TO A COMBUSTOR CHAMBER
    Publication number: 20140190174
    Abstract: A micromixer assembly for a turbine system includes a plurality of pipes each having an inlet for receiving an airflow from an annulus defined by an inwardly disposed liner and an outwardly disposed sleeve, each of the plurality of pipes also including an outlet for dispersing an air-fuel mixture into a combustor chamber. Also included is a first portion of each of the plurality of pipes. Further included is a second portion of each of the plurality of pipes, the second portion comprising the inlet for receiving the airflow. Yet further included is at least one fuel receiving path in communication with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • SYSTEM FOR REDUCING FLAME HOLDING WITHIN A COMBUSTOR
    Publication number: 20140174089
    Abstract: A system for reducing flame holding within a combustor includes a high pressure plenum and a head end plenum defined within the combustor. A cap assembly defines an inner plenum within the combustor and a fuel nozzle passage that extends through the cap assembly. A primary fuel nozzle has an annular burner tube that at least partially defines a premix flow passage through the cap assembly. The primary fuel nozzle and the burner tube at least partially define an inlet to the premix flow passage. A high pressure flow passage and a cooling flow passage are defined within the combustor. The high pressure flow passage defines a flow path between the high pressure plenum and the inner plenum, and the cooling flow passage defines a flow path between the high pressure plenum and the head end plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, III
  • Combustor cap assembly
    Patent number: 8756934
    Abstract: A combustor generally includes a shroud that that defines at least one inlet passage extends circumferentially inside the combustor. A first plate extends radially inside the shroud downstream from the inlet passage. The first plate defines at least one inlet port, at least one outlet port and at least partially defines at least one fuel nozzle passage. The shroud at least partially surrounds a sleeve that extends around the fuel nozzle passage. A tube at least partially surrounded by the sleeve may extend through the fuel nozzle passage. The tube, the sleeve, and the first plate may at least partially define an outlet passage. A first fluid flow path generally extends from the at inlet passage to the inlet port, and a second fluid flow path extends generally from the outlet port to the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig, Lucas John Stoia
  • Systems and Methods for Late Lean Injection Premixing
    Publication number: 20140165577
    Abstract: A late lean injection combustor assembly may include a first interior in which a first fuel supplied thereto is combustible, a flow sleeve annulus including a second interior in which a second fuel supplied thereto is combustible, at least one fuel injector disposed about the second interior, and at least one elongate premixing conduit disposed about the flow sleeve annulus and in fluid communication with the at least one fuel injector. The at least one elongate premixing conduit may be in fluid communication with a compressor discharge air and the second fuel such that the compressor discharge air and the second fuel are premixed within the elongate premixing conduit before entering the second interior by way of the at least one fuel injector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, John Vanselow, Russell DeForest, Lucas Stoia
  • System and method of supplying fuel to a gas turbine
    Patent number: 8745986
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine includes a combustion section, a transition duct downstream from the combustion section, a turbine section downstream from the transition duct, and a first stage of stationary vanes circumferentially arranged inside the turbine section. A hot gas path is between the transition duct and the stationary vanes, and a fuel injector provides fluid communication into the hot gas path. A method of supplying fuel to a gas turbine includes combusting a first fuel in a combustion chamber to produce combustion gases, flowing the combustion gases through a transition duct to a hot gas path, and flowing the combustion gases through the hot gas path to a first stage of stationary vanes in a turbine section. The method further includes injecting a second fuel into the hot gas path downstream from the transition duct and upstream from the first stage of stationary vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig, Lucas John Stoia, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • CROSSFIRE TUBE ASSEMBLY BETWEEN ADJACENT COMBUSTORS
    Publication number: 20140144122
    Abstract: A crossfire tube assembly between adjacent combustors includes a first sleeve adapted to provide fluid communication from a first combustor and a second sleeve adapted to connect to provide fluid communication from a second combustor. The second sleeve extends at least partially inside the first sleeve. A bias is between the first and second sleeves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon Taylor Overby, Keith Cletus Belsom, Jonathan Kay Allen, Kyle Eric Benson, Patrick Benedict Melton, Richard Martin DiCintio, Lucas John Stoia, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • SUPER TELESCOPING CROSS-FIRE TUBE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A COMBUSTOR STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20140137536
    Abstract: A super-telescoping cross-fire tube includes a cross-fire tube including a first portion and a second portion in mating engagement, the cross-fire tube extending from a first end region to a second end region for fluidly connecting a combustor chamber and an adjacent combustor chamber. Also included is an outer shield spaced radially outwardly and surrounding at least a portion of the cross-fire tube. Further included is a spring extending from proximate the first end region to the second end region and disposed between the cross-fire tube and the outer shield, wherein the cross-fire tube is telescopingly moveable between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joel Russell Cloninger, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, James Harold Westmoreland
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A TURBINE COMBUSTOR
    Publication number: 20140123660
    Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor, which includes a first wall disposed about a combustion chamber, a second wall disposed about the first wall, and a third wall disposed about the second wall. The third wall is configured to combine an exhaust gas with an oxidant and the combustion chamber is configured to combust a mixture of a fuel, the oxidant, and the exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicants: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy
  • COMBUSTOR CAP ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20140116066
    Abstract: A combustor generally includes a shroud that that defines at least one inlet passage extends circumferentially inside the combustor. A first plate extends radially inside the shroud downstream from the inlet passage. The first plate defines at least one inlet port, at least one outlet port and at least partially defines at least one fuel nozzle passage. The shroud at least partially surrounds a sleeve that extends around the fuel nozzle passage. A tube at least partially surrounded by the sleeve may extend through the fuel nozzle passage. The tube, the sleeve, and the first plate may at least partially define an outlet passage. A first fluid flow path generally extends from the at inlet passage to the inlet port, and a second fluid flow path extends generally from the outlet port to the outlet passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig, Lucas John Stoia
  • COMBUSTOR AND A METHOD FOR COOLING THE COMBUSTOR
    Publication number: 20140116060
    Abstract: A combustor includes a first shroud extending circumferentially inside the combustor and at least partially defining an inlet passage. A second shroud extends circumferentially inside the combustor. The second shroud defines an outlet passage. A first plate extends radially inside the second shroud downstream from the inlet passage of the first shroud and upstream from the outlet passage of the second shroud. The first plate generally defines an inlet port and an outlet port. A second plate extends radially around the first plate downstream from the inlet port and upstream from the outlet port of the first plate. A first fluid flow path extends from the inlet passage to the inlet port. A second fluid flow path extends from the outlet port to the outlet passage. A baffle extends from the first shroud to the first plate. The baffle separates the first and second fluid flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig, Lucas John Stoia
  • System for supplying a working fluid to a combustor
    Patent number: 8677753
    Abstract: A system for supplying a working fluid to a combustor includes a fuel nozzle, a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle, and a flow sleeve that circumferentially surrounds the combustion chamber. A plurality of fuel injectors are circumferentially arranged around the flow sleeve to provide fluid communication through the flow sleeve to the combustion chamber. A distribution manifold circumferentially surrounds the plurality of fuel injectors, and a fluid passage through the flow sleeve and into the distribution manifold provides fluid communication through the flow sleeve to the plurality of fuel injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, John Charles Intile, Lucas John Stoia