Patents by Inventor Richard W. Stickles
Richard W. Stickles 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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Patent number: 7895841Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate reducing NOx emissions in turbine engines is provided. The method includes providing an annular shell including a plurality of circumferentially extending panels. The plurality of circumferentially extending panels includes a first panel positioned at an upstream end of the shell and a second panel positioned downstream from, and adjacent to, the first panel. The method also includes forming a plurality of primary dilution holes in the first panel and forming a plurality of secondary dilution holes in the second panel. The dilution holes are configured to discharge dilution air into the shell.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Arthur Wesley Johnson, Richard W. Stickles, Willard J. Dodds, David L. Burrus
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Publication number: 20080010991Abstract: A method and apparatus to facilitate reducing NOx emissions in turbine engines is provided. The method includes providing an annular shell including a plurality of circumferentially extending panels. The plurality of circumferentially extending panels includes a first panel positioned at an upstream end of the shell and a second panel positioned downstream from, and adjacent to, the first panel. The method also includes forming a plurality of primary dilution holes in the first panel and forming a plurality of secondary dilution holes in the second panel. The dilution holes are configured to discharge dilution air into the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2006Publication date: January 17, 2008Inventors: Arthur Wesley Johnson, Richard W. Stickles, Willard J. Dodds, David L. Burrus
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Patent number: 6708498Abstract: A swirl cup for a gas turbine engine combustor includes a tubular body having an inlet at one end for receiving a fuel injection nozzle, an outlet at an opposite end for discharging the fuel, and an annular septum therebetween. A row of first swirl vanes is attached to the septum adjacent the body inlet, and a row of second swirl vanes is attached to the septum adjacent the first swirl vanes and spaced upstream from the body outlet. Air from the first and second swirl vanes is swirled directly around the injected fuel without a flow barrier or venturi therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2003Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard W. Stickles, John L. Halpin
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Publication number: 20030226361Abstract: A swirl cup for a gas turbine engine combustor includes a tubular body having an inlet at one end for receiving a fuel injection nozzle, an outlet at an opposite end for discharging the fuel, and an annular septum therebetween. A row of first swirl vanes is attached to the septum adjacent the body inlet, and a row of second swirl vanes is attached to the septum adjacent the first swirl vanes and spaced upstream from the body outlet. Air from the first and second swirl vanes is swirled directly around the injected fuel without a flow barrier or venturi therebetween.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2003Publication date: December 11, 2003Inventors: Richard W. Stickles, John L. Halpin
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Patent number: 6550251Abstract: A swirl cup for a gas turbine engine combustor includes a tubular body having an inlet at one end for receiving a fuel injection nozzle, an outlet at an opposite end for discharging the fuel, and an annular septum therebetween. A row of first swirl vanes is attached to the septum adjacent the body inlet, and a row of second swirl vanes is attached to the septum adjacent the first swirl vanes and spaced upstream from the body outlet. Air from the first and second swirl vanes is swirled directly around the injected fuel without a flow barrier or venturi therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1997Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard W. Stickles, John L. Halpin
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Patent number: 6474070Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor includes outer and inner liners joined together at an annular dome. Outer and inner air swirlers and cooperating fuel injectors are mounted in two rows in the combustor dome. The fuel injectors are joined to a common fuel manifold for simultaneously channeling fuel thereto over an operating range from idle to full power for reducing exhaust emissions.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 1998Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Allen M. Danis, Byron A. Pritchard, Jr., Keith K. Taylor, Richard W. Stickles, Willard J. Dodds, Donald L. Gardner
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Patent number: 5404709Abstract: A combustor apparatus is provided for a gas turbine engine including a circumferential ring of injectors. A fuel manifold provides a source of fuel for the injectors. The combustor apparatus includes a plurality of first fuel flow paths between the manifold and all of the injectors. Fuel is provided to all of the injectors via these first flow paths. At least one second fuel flow path including an electronically switchable valve is coupled between the manifold and a selected one of the injectors to provide additional fuel thereto at certain times when special engine operating conditions, such as demand for initial ignition, crossfire and altitude relight are sensed.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1994Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas L. Mac Lean, Richard W. Stickles
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Patent number: 5345757Abstract: A combustor apparatus is provided for a gas turbine engine including a circumferential ring of injectors. A fuel manifold provides a source of fuel for the injectors. The combustor apparatus includes a plurality of first fuel flow paths between the manifold and all of the injectors. Fuel is provided to all of the injectors via these first flow paths. At least one second fuel flow path including an electronically switchable valve is coupled between the manifold and a selected one of the injectors to provide additional fuel thereto at certain times when special engine operating conditions, such as demand for initial ignition, crossfire and altitude relight are sensed.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1993Date of Patent: September 13, 1994Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas L. MacLean, Richard W. Stickles
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Patent number: 5307637Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided with a combustor dome plate film cooling means having an annular slotted ring to provide a film starting means upstream of a multi-hole film cooled single wall metal dome plate which is annular in shape. One particular embodiment provides a starting slot in the form of a plurality of rings surrounding the edges of the air/fuel nozzle inlet apertures in the dome plate. The cooling holes are disposed in concentric circles about the apertures and angled along radii emanating from the center of the apertures. This produces a cooling film emanating radially from the ring like circular slots around each air/fuel nozzle inlet aperture in the dome plate. Another embodiment provides a starting slot in the form of circumferential rails circumferentially disposed about the inner and outer circumferential edges of dome plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1992Date of Patent: May 3, 1994Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard W. Stickles, Howard L. Foltz, Keith K. Taylor, George E. Cook, Thomas MacLean, Willard J. Dodds
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Patent number: 5239818Abstract: An annular combustor includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending dilution poles disposed in an intermediate zone thereof between a forward combustion zone and an aft combustion zone. Adjacent ones of the dilution poles define therebetween a throat for receiving the combustion gases from the forward zone. The dilution poles include circumferentially facing dilution holes for injecting dilution air into the throats for mixing with the combustion gases being channeled therethrough. The dilution poles are effective for blocking the combustion gases at a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart locations and accelerating the combustion gases through the throats for reducing residence time in the throat. The dilution air is injected through the dilution holes for improved penetration into the combustion gases in the throats for mixing therewith to form lean combustion gases which undergo final combustion in the aft zone for reducing NO.sub.x emissions.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1992Date of Patent: August 31, 1993Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard W. Stickles, Willard J. Dodds, Paul E. Sabla, George E. Cook, Craig L. Loconti, Gary MacHolloway
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Patent number: 4969326Abstract: An axial flow compressor for a bypass type jet engine has a low pressure stage which includes a one-piece, annular hoop shroud mounted to the airfoil of each of the rotor blades in the low pressure stage to divide the airflow entering the compressor into an outer, bypass airflow path and an inner airflow path directed to the higher pressure stages of the compressor. The hoop shroud is formed of circumferentially wound, parallel fibers such as silicone carbide fibers embedded in a metal matrix material such as titanium, wherein the volume ratio of the hoop shroud is approximately one-third fibers and two-thirds metal matrix material.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1988Date of Patent: November 13, 1990Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William D. Blessing, Richard W. Stickles