Patents by Inventor Richard C. Charron

Richard C. Charron 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).

  • Publication number: 20140010644
    Abstract: A transition duct assembly for a turbine engine includes a transition duct with an inner liner removably received therein. The duct is hollow with an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. The duct can have an inlet end and an outlet end. The inner peripheral surface of the duct can be convergent along a majority of the length of the duct when moving from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof. The liner is hollow body with an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. The outer peripheral surface of the liner can be correspondingly convergent to the inner peripheral surface of the duct. The inner peripheral surface of the liner can define an internal flow passage through the assembly. Such a construction permits the use of different materials for the liner and the duct and can allow the liner to be readily removed and replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Richard C. Charron, Daniel J. Pierce
  • Publication number: 20130139523
    Abstract: A can annular industrial gas turbine engine, including: a single-piece rotor shaft spanning a compressor section (82), a combustion section (84), a turbine section (86); and a combustion section casing (10) having a section (28) configured as a full hoop. When the combustion section casing is detached from the engine and moved to a maintenance position to allow access to an interior of the engine, a positioning jig (98) is used to support the compressor section casing (83) and turbine section casing (87).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Gerald A. Myers, Richard C. Charron
  • Publication number: 20130081399
    Abstract: A casing for a can annular gas turbine engine, including: a compressed air section (40) spanning between a last row of compressor blades (26) and a first row of turbine blades (28), the compressed air section (40) having a plurality of openings (50) there through, wherein a single combustor/advanced duct assembly (64) extends through each opening (50); and one top hat (68) associated with each opening (50) configured to enclose the associated combustor/advanced duct assembly (64) and seal the opening (50). A volume enclosed by the compressed air section (40) is not greater than a volume of a frustum (54) defined at an upstream end (56) by an inner diameter of the casing at the last row of compressor blades (26) and at a downstream end (60) by an inner diameter of the casing at the first row of turbine blades (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventors: David J. Wiebe, David A. Little, Richard C. Charron
  • Publication number: 20130061570
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor (26) disposed in a combustion air plenum (65) and a transition piece (28) for the combustor disposed in a separate cooling air plenum (58, 67). The combustion air plenum may receive combustion air (50) from a high-pressure compressor stage (22A). The cooling air plenum may receive cooling air (52) from an intermediate-pressure compressor stage (22B) at lower temperature and pressure than the combustion air. This cools the transition piece using less air than prior systems, thus making the gas turbine engine (20) more efficient and less expensive, because less expensive materials are needed and/or higher combustion temperatures are allowed. The cooling air may exit the cooling air plenum through holes (62) in a downstream portion (61) of the transition piece. An outer wall (72) on the transition piece may provide forced convection along the transition piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: RICHARD C. CHARRON, David A. Little
  • Patent number: 8276389
    Abstract: An arrangement (10) for conveying combustion gas from a plurality of can annular combustors to a turbine first stage blade section of a gas turbine engine, the arrangement (10) including a plurality of interconnected integrated exit piece (IEP) sections (16) defining an annular chamber (18) oriented concentric to a gas turbine engine longitudinal axis (20) upstream of the turbine first stage blade section. Each respective IEP (16) includes a first flow path section (40) receiving and fully bounding a first flow from a respective can annular combustor along a respective common axis (22) there between, and delivering a partially bounded first flow to a downstream adjacent IEP section (42). Each respective IEP further includes a second flow path section (112) receiving a partially bounded second flow from an upstream adjacent IEP (66) and delivering at least part of the second flow to the turbine first stage blade section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Charron, Raymond S. Nordlund, Jay A. Morrison, Ernie B. Campbell, Daniel J. Pierce, Matthew D. Montgomery, Jody W. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8230688
    Abstract: An arrangement for delivering gasses from can combustors of a can annular gas turbine combustion engine to a turbine first stage section including a first row of turbine blades, the arrangement including a flow-directing structure for each combustor, wherein each flow-directing structure includes a straight path and an annular chamber end, wherein the annular chamber ends together define an annular chamber for delivering the gas flow to the turbine first stage section, wherein gasses flow from respective combustors, through respective straight paths, and into the annular chamber as respective straight gas flows, and wherein the annular chamber is configured to unite the respective straight gas flows along respective shear planes to form a singular annular gas flow, and wherein the annular chamber is configured to impart circumferential motion to the singular annular gas flow before the singular annular gas flow exits the annular chamber to the first row of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody W. Wilson, Raymond S. Nordlund, Richard C. Charron
  • Patent number: 8210819
    Abstract: An airfoil structure, shim, and retention member combination includes an airfoil structure, a retention member and a shim. The airfoil structure may define a first recess. The retention member may define a second recess. The first and second recesses may define a cavity. The shim may include a main body and a plurality of first fins extending outwardly from a first side of the main body. The first fins may further extend transverse to a longitudinal axis of the main body. The shim may be positioned in the cavity such that the first fins extend in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David J Wiebe, John W Finneran, Jeffery W Samuelson, Richard C Charron
  • Publication number: 20120121381
    Abstract: A cooling system for a transition duct for routing a gas flow from a combustor to the first stage of a turbine section in a combustion turbine engine is disclosed. The transition duct may have a multi-panel outer wall formed from an inner panel having an inner surface that defines at least a portion of a hot gas path plenum and an intermediate panel positioned radially outward from the inner panel such that at least one cooling chamber is formed between the inner and intermediate panels. The transition duct may also include an outer panel. The inner, intermediate and outer panels may include one or more metering holes for passing cooling fluids between cooling chambers for cooling the panels. The intermediate and outer panels may be secured with an attachment system coupling the panels to the inner panel such that the intermediate and outer panels may move in-plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Richard C. Charron, Daniel J. Pierce, Jay A. Morrison, Ching-Pang Lee, Kenneth K. Landis, Walter Marussich
  • Publication number: 20110203282
    Abstract: An arrangement (10) for conveying combustion gas from a plurality of can annular combustors to a turbine first stage blade section of a gas turbine engine, the arrangement (10) including a plurality of interconnected integrated exit piece (IEP) sections (16) defining an annular chamber (18) oriented concentric to a gas turbine engine longitudinal axis (20) upstream of the turbine first stage blade section. Each respective IEP (16) includes a first flow path section (40) receiving and fully bounding a first flow from a respective can annular combustor along a respective common axis (22) there between, and delivering a partially bounded first flow to a downstream adjacent IEP section (42). Each respective IEP further includes a second flow path section (112) receiving a partially bounded second flow from an upstream adjacent IEP (66) and delivering at least part of the second flow to the turbine first stage blade section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Richard C. Charron, Raymond S. Nordlund, Jay A. Morrison, Ernie B. Campbell, Daniel J. Pierce, Matthew D. Montgomery, Jody W. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7862296
    Abstract: A turbine vane attachment system configured to eliminate movement of a turbine vane relative to a turbine vane carrier. The turbine vane attachment system may include a base attached to a turbine airfoil. The base may be configured to contact a wedge support along a plane that is generally nonparallel and nonorthogonal with a longitudinal axis of the airfoil. A bolt may connect the base with the wedge support. The bolt may change a distance between a channel in the base and an outer bearing surface. The turbine vane may be positioned in a vane carrier such that tongues extending from the vane carrier are positioned in the channels. As the bolt is advanced, the wedge support is moved laterally along the support surface of the base and the channels engage the tongues, thereby preventing movement of the turbine vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Finneran, Jeffery W. Samuelson, Richard C. Charron
  • Publication number: 20100077719
    Abstract: An arrangement for delivering gasses from can combustors of a can annular gas turbine combustion engine to a turbine first stage section including a first row of turbine blades, the arrangement including a flow-directing structure for each combustor, wherein each flow-directing structure includes a straight path and an annular chamber end, wherein the annular chamber ends together define an annular chamber for delivering the gas flow to the turbine first stage section, wherein gasses flow from respective combustors, through respective straight paths, and into the annular chamber as respective straight gas flows, and wherein the annular chamber is configured to unite the respective straight gas flows along respective shear planes to form a singular annular gas flow, and wherein the annular chamber is configured to impart circumferential motion to the singular annular gas flow before the singular annular gas flow exits the annular chamber to the first row of blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jody W. Wilson, Raymond S. Nordlund, Richard C. Charron
  • Publication number: 20090214349
    Abstract: An airfoil structure, shim and retention member combination is provided. The combination comprises an airfoil structure, a retention member and a shim. The airfoil structure may comprise a first recess. The retention member may comprising a second recess. The first and second recesses may define a cavity. The shim may comprise a main body and a plurality of first fins extending outwardly from a first side of the main body. The first fins may further extend transverse to a longitudinal axis of the main body. The shim may be positioned in the cavity such that the first fins extend in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS POWER GENERATION, INC.
    Inventors: David J. Wiebe, John W. Finneran, Jeffery W. Samuelson, Richard C. Charron
  • Publication number: 20090053056
    Abstract: A turbine vane attachment system configured to eliminate movement of a turbine vane relative to a turbine vane carrier. The turbine vane attachment system may include a base attached to a turbine airfoil. The base may be configured to contact a wedge support along a plane that is generally nonparallel and nonorthogonal with a longitudinal axis of the airfoil. A bolt may connect the base with the wedge support. The bolt may change a distance between a channel in the base and an outer bearing surface. The turbine vane may be positioned in a vane carrier such that tongues extending from the vane carrier are positioned in the channels. As the bolt is advanced, the wedge support is moved laterally along the support surface of the base and the channels engage the tongues, thereby preventing movement of the turbine vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Finneran, Jeffery W. Samuelson, Richard C. Charron