Patents by Inventor Stephen Hugh Black

Stephen Hugh Black 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: 20160248304
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for cooling or cleaning a slip ring assembly of a generator of a wind turbine. The slip ring assembly is at least partially enclosed in a slip ring compartment. In addition, the slip ring assembly includes an electrically conductive slip ring mounted to the rotatable shaft and a fixed conductive ring assembly having slip-ring contacting members mounted thereon. The conduit assembly is configured to direct fluid into the slip ring compartment so as to cool or clean the slip ring compartment. Further, the conduit assembly extends from a first end to a second end. More specifically, the first end is configured at or before an inlet of the generator assembly, whereas the second end is configured at the slip ring compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Brian Andreson, Adam Lord, Stephen Hugh Black, Allen Michael Ritter
  • Patent number: 9267691
    Abstract: A clamp assembly for facilitating attachment and removal of a first component to or from a second component includes plural clamp bodies, each having at least two mutually perpendicular surfaces arranged about the first component. A substantially rigid ring is located between one surface of the clamp body and a surface of the first component. At least one fastener is provided for each of the plural clamp bodies, adapted to extend through a respective one of the plural clamp bodies and into the second component. Tooling is provided to allow for simultaneous tightening or loosening of all bolts on a single combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Alan Davi, Rahul Jaikaran Chillar, Stephen Hugh Black, John William Herbold
  • Publication number: 20130167537
    Abstract: A clamp assembly for facilitating attachment and removal of a first component to or from a second component includes plural clamp bodies, each having at least two mutually perpendicular surfaces arranged about the first component. A substantially rigid ring is located between one surface of the clamp body and a surface of the first component. At least one fastener is provided for each of the plural clamp bodies, adapted to extend through a respective one of the plural clamp bodies and into the second component. Tooling is provided to allow for simultaneous tightening or loosening of all bolts on a single combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Alan DAVI, Rahul Jaikaran CHILLAR, Stephen Hugh BLACK, John William HERBOLD
  • Publication number: 20120167388
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for disassembling turbine components. A system is provided that includes a turbine tool. The turbine tool is configured to loosen an interference fit between a first component and a second component of a turbine system. The turbine tool is also configured to apply a thermal medium to an inner portion of the first component of the turbine system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen Hugh Black, Richard Francis Gutta, Anil Mishra, Kumaran Vale Mudaliar
  • Patent number: 6484505
    Abstract: A combustor for a turbine includes a combustor liner; a first flow sleeve surrounding the liner, the flow sleeve having a plurality of rows of cooling holes formed about a circumference of the flow sleeve; and a transition piece connected to the combustor liner and the flow sleeve and adapted to carry hot combustion gases to a stage of the turbines. The transition piece is surrounded by a second flow sleeve which directs cooling air to the transition piece. One of the plurality of rows of cooling holes in the first flow sleeve is located adjacent the transition piece, and cooling conduits are mounted in the cooling holes of at least the first of the plurality of rows of cooling holes to direct impingement cooling air against the surface of the liner while diverting crossflow cooling air around the impingement cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Mark Brown, David Orus Fitts, Stephen Hugh Black
  • Patent number: 6438961
    Abstract: A burner for use in a combustion system of a heavy-duty industrial gas turbine includes a fuel/air premixer having an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and an annular mixing passage. The fuel/air premixer mixes fuel and air into a uniform mixture for injection into a combustor reaction zone. The burner also includes an inlet flow conditioner disposed at the air inlet of the fuel/air premixer for controlling a radial and circumferential distribution of incoming air. The pattern of perforations in the inlet flow conditioner is designed such that a uniform air flow distribution is produced at the swirler inlet annulus in both the radial and circumference directions. The premixer includes a swozzle assembly having a series of preferably air foil shaped turning vanes that impart swirl to the airflow entering via the inlet flow conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Sterling Tuthill, William Theodore Bechtel, II, Jeffrey Arthur Benoit, Stephen Hugh Black, Robert James Bland, Guy Wayne DeLeonardo, Stefan Martin Meyer, Joseph Charles Taura, John Luigi Battaglioli
  • Publication number: 20010052229
    Abstract: A burner for use in a combustion system of a heavy-duty industrial gas turbine includes a fuel/air premixer having an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and an annular mixing passage. The fuel/air premixer mixes fuel and air into a uniform mixture for injection into a combustor reaction zone. The burner also includes an inlet flow conditioner disposed at the air inlet of the fuel/air premixer for controlling a radial and circumferential distribution of incoming air. The pattern of perforations in the inlet flow conditioner is designed such that a uniform air flow distribution is produced at the swirler inlet annulus in both the radial and circumference directions. The premixer includes a swozzle assembly having a series of preferably air foil shaped turning vanes that impart swirl to the airflow entering via the inlet flow conditioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Sterling Tuthill, William Theodore Bechtel, Jeffrey Arthur Benoit, Stephen Hugh Black, Robert James Bland, Guy Wayne DeLeonardo, Stefan Martin Meyer, Joseph Charles Taura, John Luigi Battaglioli
  • Patent number: 6205765
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of applying active, closed loop control to reduce combustion driven pressure oscillation in a single or multi-chamber combustion system in an industrial gas turbine, to increase operability and life of the parts, and in such a way as to require minimal input power. The invention combines the passive control of a two stage nozzle with active control thereby to reduce the requirements on the control device. This allows selection of a control device which will have an adequate life in an industrial environment and yet require minimal input power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Robert J. Iasillo, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Stephen Hugh Black
  • Patent number: 6123273
    Abstract: The dual-fuel nozzle for a gas turbine and combustor includes a liquid fuel nozzle surrounded by a gas fuel nozzle. A converging sleeve surrounds the converging outer wall of the combined liquid fuel and gaseous nozzle to form a duct of decreasing cross-sectional area in a downstream direction whereby air flow through the duct accelerates toward the conical droplet spray pattern emerging from the liquid fuel nozzle. An inside swirler is located upstream of the liquid fuel tip to swirl the air flowing through the duct. An outer swirler is provided about the downstream end of the sleeve, likewise to swirl air. The accelerated swirling air flow through the duct and outer swirling air flow preclude impingement of oil spray droplets onto metal surfaces of the nozzle and hence prevent carbon deposition thereon which would otherwise be deleterious to the liquid fuel and gaseous nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Loprinzo, James R. Maughan, H. Lindsay Morton, Stephen Hugh Black, Anthony John Dean, William Theodore Bechtel, II, Andrew Luts
  • Patent number: 5896742
    Abstract: A cross-fire tube for connecting adjacent combustors in a gas turbine includes a hollow tubular body having couplings at opposite free ends thereof, the hollow tubular body having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape with a maximum diameter region about mid-way between the couplings, tapering in opposite directions to smaller diameters at the free ends. A plurality of purge holes are located in the maximum diameter region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Stephen Hugh Black, John Luigi Battaglioli, William Theodore Bechtel, II
  • Patent number: 5833141
    Abstract: The dual-fuel nozzle includes a liquid fuel nozzle surrounded by an air/gas premixing cup. The cup has a base comprised of swirler vanes surrounding the outer tube of the liquid fuel nozzle. The tip of the liquid fuel nozzle extends to adjacent the open end of the premixing cup opposite the swirler vanes. The interior surface and outer surface of the premix cup and the tip of the liquid fuel nozzle, respectively, at the outer end of the cup are contoured, i.e., tapered complementarily inwardly to avoid recirculation of air in the annulus between the liquid fuel nozzle and the cup. Air recirculation is also prevented, thereby inhibiting flame holding adjacent the base of the cup by providing a smooth transition for air flow through the openings of the swirler at the base of the cup and into the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Theodore Bechtel, II, Stephen Hugh Black, Anthony John Dean, Andrew Luts