Patents Assigned to Solar Turbines
  • Variable frequency drive power ride thru
    Patent number: 9605597
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor adjacent the compressor, a turbine adjacent the combustor, a shaft, a motor, a variable frequency drive, a stored energy source and a ride thru unit. The motor is coupled to the shaft. The variable frequency drive is electrically connected to the motor and to an AC power source. The ride thru unit electrically connects to the variable frequency drive, the AC power source and the stored energy source. The ride thru unit includes at least one DC to DC voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Rachel Bruno, Daniel Fingleton, Scott Hitoshi Kato
  • Ceramic pedestal and shield for gas path temperature measurement
    Patent number: 9598976
    Abstract: A mounting stand for a temperature sensor is disclosed. The mounting stand includes a base, a pedestal, and a shield. The pedestal extends from the base to a pedestal end distal to the base. The pedestal includes a first hollow cylinder shape forming a bore there through. The shield includes a second hollow cylinder shape extending from the base about the pedestal and extending beyond the pedestal to a shield end distal to the base forming a flow region between the pedestal and the shield. The shield also includes a first aspiration hole extending through the second hollow cylinder shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Michal Peter Siorek, Kevin Liu, Hassan Nehari
  • Compact squeeze film damper bearing
    Patent number: 9599152
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a rotary machine is disclosed herein. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing, a squeeze film cylinder, a damper spring, and a journal bearing. The squeeze film cylinder is located within the bearing housing. The damper spring includes a first portion, a second portion, and a spring portion. The first portion is located proximal the first end. The second portion is located proximal the second end. The spring portion extends axially between the first portion and the second portion and is located within the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Jess Lee Freeman, David Howard Moulton, William Courtney Krehbiel
  • Method of remanufacturing a machine component
    Patent number: 9593595
    Abstract: A method is provided for remanufacturing a machine component having multiple holes. The holes are provided to match in alignment with corresponding holes of an adjacent component in a machine assembly. First and second sets of holes are selected from the holes of the machine component on the basis of being located within first and second limits of positional tolerance with respect to corresponding holes of the adjacent component. Each hole from the first set of holes is bored to define openings in axial alignment with holes of the adjacent component. Each hole from the second set of holes is bored to an enlarged diameter and then plugged with a deformable insert. Each of these inserts is then drilled to define openings in axial alignment with holes of the adjacent component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Irene Nava, Glenn R McClintic
  • Inner premix tube air wipe
    Patent number: 9592480
    Abstract: An inner premix tube for a fuel injector of a gas turbine engine includes a transition end, a tip end, and a premix tube inner surface. The transition end includes an annular disk portion with an annular disk shape and a redirection portion extending radially inward and axially from the annular disk portion. The transition end also includes a plurality of wipe passages extending through the transition end. The tip end includes a cylindrical portion with a hollow right circular cylinder shape. The premix tube inner surface is a radially outer surface including the redirection portion outer surface and the cylindrical portion outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald James Cramb, James Scott Piper, Sean Kelly Spivey, Michael John Ramotowski, Matthew Mayer
  • MONITORING SYSTEM FOR TURBOMACHINERY
    Publication number: 20170038275
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The method includes periodically receiving sensor data for the gas turbine engine at a monitoring device from a monitoring system server. The method also includes the monitoring device determining whether the tags for each group of a plurality of groups are in the sensor data and correlating the tags with the groups. The method further includes displaying one of the groups on an output display of the monitoring device including the tag name and the sensor value for each tag correlated with the group displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Garrett Linn Schiff, Thompson Hoang An Pham, Fabrice Mario Murgia, Neal Watkins, Vijaya Shankar Sadasivan, Ramanath Vasamsetty, Frances Julia Kemp, Anbarasu Sanjeevi, Andrea Monti, Alessio De Stefano, John Gregory Scabarozi, Marco Ezra Leon, Venkatesh Canchi, Paul F. Cameron, Joseph Stinson McElhinney, IV, Miguel J. Estupinan, Christian Marcus Cook
  • Monitoring System for a Gas Turbine Engine
    Publication number: 20170038277
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a plurality of turbomachinery systems is disclosed herein. In embodiments, the system includes a monitoring system data provider, a plurality of monitoring system servers, and a monitoring device. The monitoring system data provider periodically receives sensor data over a network from the plurality of turbomachinery systems and stores the sensor data in a monitoring system data store. The plurality of monitoring system servers connect to the monitoring system data provider and provide the sensor data for one of the turbomachinery systems to the monitoring device connected to a first monitoring system server of the plurality of monitoring system servers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Frances Julia Kemp, Andrea Monti, Fabio Cabella, Andrea Fabretto, Alessio De Stefano, Venkatesh Canchi, Kevin Scott Orr, Mark Steven Frickle, Dario Abruzzo
  • Monitoring System for a Gas Turbine Engine
    Publication number: 20170039836
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a plurality of turbomachines is disclosed herein. In embodiments, the method includes a fleet data system receiving first event data from a first monitoring connection system and second event data from a second monitoring connection system. The method also includes the fleet data system determining from the first event data and the second event data whether an event has occurred. The method further includes the fleet data system issuing an alert when the fleet data system has determined that the event has occurred, the alert including an event name, an event status, and a timestamp related to when the event occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Garrett Linn Schiff, Thompson Hoang An Pham, Fabrice Mario Murgia, Neal Watkins, Vijaya Shankar Sadasivan, Ramanath Vasamsetty, Pankaj Yogendra Tiwari, Frances Julia Kemp, Anbarasu Sanjeevi, Andrea Monti, Alessio De Stefano, James Anthony Gilbert, Marco Ezra Leon, Venkatesh Canchi, Paul F. Cameron, Joseph Stinson McElhinney, IV, Miguel J. Estupinan
  • Monitoring System for Turbomachinery
    Publication number: 20170038276
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a plurality of turbomachinery systems is disclosed herein. In embodiments, the system includes a network remote management tools module, and a plurality of monitoring devices. The network remote management tools module includes a diagnostic module and a management module. The diagnostic module monitors the operation of the plurality of turbomachinery systems and the system including the plurality of monitoring devices. The management module updates and maintains the system including the plurality of monitoring devices. A monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring device includes a device remote management module that manages the system through the network remote management tools module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Frances Julia Kemp, Andrea Monti, Alessio De Stefano, Andrea Fabretto, Fabio Cabella, Dario Abruzzo, Venkatesh Canchi
  • MONITORING SYSTEM FOR TURBOMACHINERY
    Publication number: 20170037742
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a plurality of turbomachines is disclosed herein. The method includes a fleet data system periodically receiving first event data from a first monitoring connection system and second event data from a second monitoring connection system. The method also includes the fleet data system storing the first event data and the second event data related to events that have occurred over a predetermined timeframe and sending at least the event data related to the events from the first event data to a monitoring device. The event data includes an event name, an event status, and a timestamp related to when the event occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Garrett Linn Schiff, Thompson Hoang An Pham, Fabrice Mario Murgia, Neal Watkins, Pankaj Yogendra Tiwari, Frances Julia Kemp, Anbarasu Sanjeevi, Andrea Monti, Alessio De Stefano, John Gregory Scabarozi, Marco Ezra Leon, Venkatesh Canchi, Paul F. Cameron, Joseph Stinson McElhinney, IV, Miguel J. Estupinan
  • Tri-lobe bearing for a gearbox
    Patent number: 9562602
    Abstract: A bearing for a gearbox, the bearing having a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body defines a hollow interior chamber. The cylindrical body has a gear supporting section. The gear supporting section has a cross-section formed by three lobes equally distributed around a circumference of the cylindrical body. Each of the lobes has a land portion having a first radius over at least 20% of the lobe. Each lobe also has a tapered portion that gradually slopes from the first radius of the land portion to a reduced radius region that is smaller than the first radius. The tapered portion is formed over less than 80% of each lobe. Each lobe also has an opening formed in the reduced radius region and a flow passage fluidly connecting the hollow interior of the cylindrical body with the opening formed in the reduced radius region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward William Sieveking, Yuanhong Guan
  • Fuel control module gas vent manifold
    Patent number: 9518741
    Abstract: A fuel control module including a gas vent manifold is disclosed. The gas vent manifold includes a first gas vent portion including a first gas vent connection and a second gas vent portion including a second gas vent connection. The gas vent manifold also includes a condensation portion extending between the first gas vent portion and the second gas vent portion. The gas vent manifold further includes a condensation drain port fluidly connected to the condensation portion. The gas vent manifold also includes a plurality of connection ports. Each connection port is configured to fluidly couple the gas vent manifold to a vent line of one or more pneumatic valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Darren Matthew Stratton, Behnood Miri
  • COMBUSTION STABILITY LOGIC DURING OFF-LOAD TRANSIENTS
    Publication number: 20160348593
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The method includes detecting an off-load transient of the gas turbine engine. The method includes reducing a total flow of fuel to a combustor section of the gas turbine engine to a first reduced flow in response to detecting the off-load transient. The method includes adjusting a position of an inlet guide vane in response to detecting the off-load transient until either an on-load transient is detected or until an amount of time elapsed since detection of the off-load transient exceeds a maximum override time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Fabrizio Oliverio
  • Compressor blade for gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9506347
    Abstract: A compressor blade for a gas turbine engine includes a root configured to engage a hub of the gas turbine engine, and an airfoil radially extending a distance from the root to a tip. The airfoil includes a suction side, a pressure side, a leading edge connecting the suction and pressure sides, and a trailing edge connecting the suction and pressure sides opposite the leading edge. The distance that the airfoil extends from the root to the tip may be divided into a plurality of radially adjacent regions. At least one, but not all, of the plurality of radially adjacent regions may have a substantially constant thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Jeremiah W. Key
  • EXHAUST FUME ISOLATOR FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINE
    Publication number: 20160341633
    Abstract: Exhaust ducting for a gas turbine engine includes a lower plenum, an upper plenum, an exhaust fume isolator, and an inner duct seal positioned between the upper plenum and the exhaust fume isolator. The lower plenum is in flow communication with an exhaust collector of the gas turbine engine. The upper plenum is adjacent and in flow communication with the lower plenum. The exhaust fume isolator includes an isolation chamber and mixed exhaust ducting. The isolation chamber is adjacent the upper plenum and in flow communication with the enclosure. The mixed exhaust ducting is in flow communication with the isolation chamber and extends from the isolation chamber to the enclosure exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Xing Ouyang
  • CONTROLLED-LEAK COMBUSTOR GROMMET
    Publication number: 20160334102
    Abstract: A grommet for a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The grommet includes a lower platform and a raised platform. The lower platform includes a plurality of top slots located in the top surface and a plurality of bottom slots located in the bottom surface. Each top slot and bottom slot may extend radially along the lower platform. The plurality of top slots may be spaced equidistantly from one another along the circumference of the lower platform. The plurality of bottom slots may be spaced equidistantly from one another along the circumference of the lower platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Crosby Hayhurst Johnson, Yong Weon Kim, Ted Edwin Groocock
  • Post processing finite element analysis geometry
    Patent number: 9489476
    Abstract: A method for designing a component for a circumferential machine is disclosed. The method includes selecting one or more seed nodes, creating a cylindrical coordinate system, and selecting an output subset. The method further includes creating a node set from the one or more seed nodes based on a selected feature of the component to be analyzed. The method yet further includes extracting an output for the node set from the finite element analysis module for each load cycle and presenting a result from the extracted output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Marc Dye, Angelo Vincent Marasco
  • ONLINE ESTIMATION OF SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF GAS FUEL
    Publication number: 20160320061
    Abstract: A method for determining an estimate of the specific gravity of a fuel for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The gas turbine engine includes a fuel control valve and one or more fuel injectors. The method includes determining a first estimate of the specific gravity based on an orifice flow model of the fuel control valve. The method also includes determining a second estimate of the specific gravity based on a combined orifice flow model of the one or more fuel injectors. The method further includes recursively filtering the first estimate and the second estimate to determine a third estimate of the specific gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Chad M. Holcomb, Richard C. Whalen, Robert Hiroshi Moroto
  • Actuator to valve calibration of a fuel control valve assembly
    Patent number: 9476363
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a fuel control valve assembly including a valve and an actuator is disclosed. The method includes determining an encoder offset by actuating the valve until a predetermined value for the effective flow area is measured to obtain an actual calibration encoder count and comparing the actual calibration encoder count to an initial calibration encoder count. The method also includes adjusting an alignment encoder count and a maximum encoder count by an amount of the encoder offset. The method further includes associating the adjusted alignment encoder count with an alignment command value and the adjusted maximum encoder count with a maximum command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Louis James Bertsch, IV, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Display screen with graphical user interface
    Patent number: D778302
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Marco Ezra Leon, Garrett Linn Schiff, Neal Watkins, Thompson Hoang An Pham, Fabrice Mario Murgia, Vijaya Shankar Sadasivan, Pankaj Yogendra Tiwari