Patents Assigned to Solar Turbines Inc.
  • Patent number: 8818078
    Abstract: A method of measuring creep strain in a gas turbine engine component, where at least a portion of the component has a material disposed thereon, and where the material has a plurality of markings providing a visually distinct pattern. The method may include capturing an image of at least a portion of the markings after an operational period of the gas turbine engine, and determining creep strain information of the component. The creep strain information may be determined by correlating the image captured after the operational period to an image captured before the operational period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Telfer, Michael A. Coe, Brent A. Cottom, Jeffrey R. Price
  • Patent number: 8814222
    Abstract: A self-sealing and self-centering tube made of metal, having a tube axis, and configured to form part of a secondary system in a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The self-sealing and self-centering tube includes a tube having a tube wall, an inward end, an outward end, a first seal section located towards the inward end, a second seal section towards the outward end, and an extension section located between the second seal section and the outward end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Carl Brill
  • Patent number: 8801394
    Abstract: A system for driving a pump includes a gas turbine engine having an output shaft, and a torque converter including an input shaft coupled to the output shaft of the gas turbine engine and an output shaft configured to be coupled to an input shaft of a pump. The system further includes a controller coupled to the torque converter, wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a pressure at at least one of a pump inlet and a pump outlet, and control a speed of the output shaft of the torque converter based on the signal indicative of pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8778091
    Abstract: A system and method for washing a gas turbine engine. The method for washing the gas turbine engine includes coupling a pressurized air supply assembly to an air supply and to a secondary air system, cranking a compressor rotor assembly of the gas turbine engine, supplying pressurized offline buffer air from the air supply to the pressurized air supply assembly, and spraying a cleaner into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: John Frederick Lockyer
  • Publication number: 20140169959
    Abstract: A sealing system is provided for a flanged joint. The sealing system includes a split seal and a spring. The split seal includes a radial outer surface, an axial outer surface, and a chamfered surface inclined with respect to the radial outer surface and the axial outer surface. The spring is disposed in urging contact with the chamfered surface and configured to apply an axial force, and a radial force on the axial outer surface, and the radial outer surface respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: Alejandro Manriquez
  • Publication number: 20140137565
    Abstract: When starting a dual fuel turbine engine on liquid fuel, a flow of air assist into a combined pilot gaseous fuel and air assist tube is supplied. The velocity of the flow of air assist is increased as it is expelled through an outlet of the tube. The flow of air assist is directed into a first end of a pilot injector barrel. Additional air is drawn into the first end of the pilot injector barrel from an enclosure containing both the first end of the pilot injector barrel and the tube outlet. Liquid pilot fuel is supplied at a second end of the pilot injector barrel, and this fuel is atomized by the flow of the air assist and additional air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Zdzislaw Twardochleb, Robert Anthony Corr, II
  • Patent number: 8727624
    Abstract: A bearing assembly having a cylindrical outer bearing shell. The outer bearing shell including a first annular outer land, a second annular outer land, and a recess therebetween. The outer bearing shell further including a first positioning bore having a first bore diameter and a second positioning bore having a second bore diameter. The second bore diameter may be smaller than the first bore diameter. A diameter of the first annular outer land may be larger than a diameter of the second annular outer land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Carl Brill, Gary Paul Vavrek, Qingxuan Michael Zhang, Paul Edward Pickett
  • Patent number: 8695352
    Abstract: A baffle assembly for a housing of a combustor system of a gas turbine engine is provided. The baffle assembly includes a baffle retainer and a baffle. The baffle retainer includes a retainer tube and a collar. The retainer tube is received within a bleed port of the housing. The collar is defined at an upper end of the retainer tube and is configured to rest against the housing. The baffle includes a baffle tube rigidly attached to an inner surface of the retainer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan J. Bohney, Christopher J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 8689455
    Abstract: An alignment tool is disclosed for aligning a first shaft assembly and a second shaft assembly to be connected by a coupling device. The alignment tool includes: a housing assembly having a first end and a second end, and a front plate assembly coupled to the first end of the housing assembly. The front plate assembly forms a cavity within the housing, and the front plate assembly has a stationary support housing disposed within the cavity and aligned with the first shaft assembly in the radial direction. The alignment tool also includes a core assembly having a rotatable core shaft disposed within the support housing of the front plate assembly and aligned with the first shaft assembly in the radial direction, the core assembly configured to receive an alignment device for aligning the first shaft assembly and the second shaft assembly in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Danny Ferrel Smith, Jack Harvey Cabeen, James Charles Burgin, Lars Roesvill Mazanti
  • Patent number: 8672606
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor having first annular connection structure at a forward end portion of an air inlet housing of the compressor. The gas turbine engine may also include intake ducting having second annular connection structure adjacent a central passage of the intake ducting. The first annular connection structure and the second annular connection structure may form at least part of an interface between the air inlet housing and the intake ducting during operation of the gas turbine engine. The first and second annular connection structures may have shapes allowing the first annular connection structure to be moved through and beyond the second annular connection structure in a forward direction, the forward direction being opposite a direction of compressed air flow in the compressor during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel James Glynn, Charles Cornelius, Ian Trevor Brown, Daniel James Doll, Jason Michael Robertson
  • Publication number: 20140017989
    Abstract: A power system enclosure is provided. The power system enclosure includes a box, and a ventilation system. The ventilation system includes an enclosure inlet, and an enclosure exhaust. The enclosure inlet and the enclosure exhaust are disposed outside the box. The enclosure inlet is connected to the box to allow entry of air. The enclosure exhaust includes an enclosure exhaust, and one or more gas detectors. The exhaust duct is connected to the box to route gases from the box. The gas detectors are disposed in the enclosure exhaust to detect and generate a signal indicative of a presence of carbon monoxide in the gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Sunder Ganesan, Lazaro de Jesus Herrera, Gerard Joseph Schnee, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140013767
    Abstract: A baffle assembly for a housing of a combustor system of a gas turbine engine is provided. The baffle assembly includes a baffle retainer and a baffle. The baffle retainer includes a retainer tube and a collar. The retainer tube is received within a bleed port of the housing. The collar is defined at an upper end of the retainer tube and is configured to rest against the housing. The baffle includes a baffle tube rigidly attached to an inner surface of the retainer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan J. Bohney, Christopher J. Meyer
  • Patent number: 8621873
    Abstract: A system for moving an auxiliary component of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The system may have a mobile support platform configured to support the auxiliary component during operation of the gas turbine engine. The system may further have at least one guide assembly operably connected to the mobile support platform and configured to guide movement of the mobile support platform. The system may also have a drive assembly operably connected to the mobile support platform and configured to impart movement of the mobile support platform between an elevated position and a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Michael Robertson, Ian Trevor Brown, Steven Gastelum, Daniel James Doll, John Raymond Hawley
  • Patent number: 8596983
    Abstract: A damper for a turbine rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The damper may have a forward plate. The damper may further have an aft plate including a larger surface area than the forward plate. The aft plate may have at least one aperture for regulating a flow of gas through the aft plate. The damper may also have a longitudinal structure connecting the forward plate and the aft plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Dong Kim, Yungmo Kang, Yong Weon Kim
  • Patent number: 8590151
    Abstract: A power system includes a gas turbine engine, which may include a gear box. The gear box may include a pipe connection configured to receive a removable pipe. The power system may also include a moveable support configured to fasten to the pipe connection to at least partially support the gear box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Trevor Brown, Daniel James Doll, Jason Michael Robertson, Danny Ferrel Smith
  • Publication number: 20130306830
    Abstract: A skid assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first segment having a first engine support structure and a second segment having one or more second engine support structures. The first engine support structure configured to support a gas producer group of the gas turbine engine and the one or more second engine support structures configured to support a turbine power group of the gas turbine engine. A replaceable member removably attached to the first segment and the second segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Acuna, Pablo Alfonso Olachea QuiƱones
  • Patent number: 8587136
    Abstract: A mobile power system includes a first transportable body including a generator assembly and a second transportable body including a turbine assembly. One end of the second transportable body is attached to and faces an end of the first transportable body such that the first and second transportable bodies are generally collinear. The mobile power system also includes a third transportable body including auxiliary equipment and a fourth transportable body including electrical equipment. The third transportable body includes a portion that is generally aligned with at least a portion of the first and second transportable bodies along a direction that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the third transportable body. The third transportable body is located between the fourth transportable body and the first and second transportable bodies. The first, second, third, and fourth transportable bodies are substantially parallel and are separately transportable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventor: James Vernon Williams
  • Publication number: 20130283799
    Abstract: A resonance damper for damping acoustic oscillations within a combustor housing of a gas turbine engine is provided. The resonance damper includes a container, an opening, and a pipe. The container is configured to be attached to an interior wall of the combustor housing and has a cavity. The opening is provided on the container. The pipe is rigidly connected to the opening to define the resonance damper with the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Carey, Leonel O. Arellano
  • Publication number: 20130255260
    Abstract: A resonance damper for damping acoustic oscillations within a combustor housing of a gas turbine engine is provided. The resonance damper comprises a baffle plate, multiple openings, and multiple tubes. The baffle plate is configured to be attached to an interior wall of the combustor housing. The baffle plate defines a cavity with the interior wall of the combustor housing. The openings are provided on the baffle plate. Each of the tubes is received within each of the openings to define the resonance damper with the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Carey, Leonel O. Arellano, Stuart A. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 8528334
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine combustor including a catalyst coated surface forming a passage for feed gas flow and a channel for oxidant gas flow establishing an axial gas flow through a flow conditioner disposed at least partially within an inner wall of the injector. The flow conditioner includes a length with an interior passage opening into upstream and downstream ends for passage of the axial gas flow. An interior diameter of the interior passage smoothly reduces and then increases from upstream to downstream ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Partha Dutta, Kenneth O. Smith, Frank J. Ritz