Patents Assigned to Solar Turbines
  • Exhaust collector with curved side panel
    Patent number: 9476324
    Abstract: An exhaust collector for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The exhaust collector includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a side panel. The side panel includes a circumferential portion, a first contoured portion, and a second contoured portion. The circumferential portion extends about the exhaust collector axis with a constant radius. The first contoured portion and the second contoured portion are each between the circumferential portion and the exhaust outlet and include a plurality of curved sections with alternating concavity. Each of the plurality of curved sections extends from the front panel to the rear panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Kiyoto Hirako, Brian Alan Fox, Leslie John Faulder
  • Fixture for vertical lathe machine
    Patent number: 9469000
    Abstract: A vertical lathe fixture is provided. The vertical lathe fixture includes a main body and a sub-plate. The sub-plate includes a top surface and a bottom surface defining a thickness of the sub-plate therebetween. The top surface of the sub-plate is configured to be coupled to the main body and the bottom surface is configured to be coupled to a chuck of a vertical lathe machine. The sub-plate also includes a center pad provided at a center of the top surface. The center pad is configured to centrally align the sub-plate with respect to the main body. The sub-plate further includes a plurality of receiving pads provided in a radial pattern on the top surface and in relation to the center pad. The receiving pads are configured to hold the main body in a stationary position with respect to the sub-plate during rotation of the vertical lathe fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas C. Schacht, Diana L. Rojo Gallegos, David Rodriguez
  • Heat exchanger for power system
    Patent number: 9470460
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger for a power system. The heat exchanger includes a housing. The housing includes a first side and a second side. The second side is configured to be received in a receptacle of a power system enclosure. The heat exchanger includes at-least one heat exchange tube supported between one or more of side walls of the housing. The heat exchanger includes a screen attached to the second side of the housing. The screen includes at-least one inlet opening for the heat exchange tube, and at-least one outlet opening for the heat exchange tube. The heat exchanger further includes a flange attached to the first side of the housing wherein the flange is configured to be removably attached to an outer surface around the receptacle of the power system enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony R. Stimus, Alexander J. Quinn, Cesar G. Carpio, Eric Kai-Shun Lin, Donald H. Cameron
  • Cooled turbine blade with double compound angled holes and slots
    Patent number: 9464528
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine. The turbine blade includes a base having a blade root, a platform, a cooling air inlet, and a base air passageway. The turbine blade also includes an airfoil section adjoined to the base and having an outer wall, an airfoil air passageway, a plurality of trailing edge slots in fluid communication with the airfoil air passageway and a plurality of directional film holes through the outer wall in fluid communication with the airfoil air passageway. The plurality of directional film holes includes a first portion configured to discharge the cooling air toward a tip end, and a second portion configured to discharge the cooling air toward the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Luzeng Zhang, Juan Yin, Hee Koo Moon
  • MODULE MOUNTING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160290554
    Abstract: A module mounting system for a structure is provided. The module mounting system includes a supporting member having at least one slot. The module mounting system also includes at least one mounting assembly coupled to the at least one slot. The at least one mounting assembly is adapted to couple the supporting member with the structure. The at least one mounting assembly is movable within the at least one slot. The at least one mounting assembly includes a first mounting member. The at least one mounting assembly also includes a second mounting member having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is received within the at least one slot. The first mounting member is coupled with the second mounting member through a first fastening member. The first mounting member and the second mounting member are coupled with the structure through a second fastening member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicholas O. Saintarbor, David C. Taylor, Christopher M Moffatt, Darren M. Stratton
  • CAST NOZZLE WITH SPLIT AIRFOIL
    Publication number: 20160281517
    Abstract: A nozzle segment for a turbine nozzle of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The nozzle segment includes an upper endwall, a lower endwall spaced apart from the upper endwall, a pressure portion, and a suction portion. The pressure portion extends between the upper endwall and the lower endwall adjacent a first side of the nozzle segment. The suction portion is spaced apart from the pressure portion and extends between the upper endwall and the lower endwall adjacent a second side of the nozzle segment. The second side is opposite the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Yong Weon Kim, Garrett P. Prins
  • Fuel injector with a diffusing main gas passage
    Patent number: 9447976
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a gas gallery and a gas passage. The gas gallery is an annular passage configured to circumferentially distribute gas fuel. The gas passage includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is distal to the gas gallery and includes an inlet area with a circular shape. The outlet adjoins the gas gallery and includes an outlet area including an annular sector shape. The gas passage is configured to diffuse the gas fuel and discharge the gas fuel from the outlet and into the gas gallery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher Zdzislaw Twardochleb, Rasoul Z. Paydar
  • MODULAR POWER PLANT ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20160248230
    Abstract: A modular power plant assembly for distributed power generation includes a power generator assembly, to generate electrical power, mounted on a trailer. An AC/DC distribution panel electrically coupled to the power generator assembly is mounted on the power generator assembly. A Medium Voltage module electrically coupled to the power generator assembly is mounted on the trailer. The AC/DC distribution panel and the Medium Voltage module together control and distribute the electrical power generated by the power generator assembly. A plurality of auxiliary components to supply fuel and air to the power generator assembly are mounted adjacent to the power generator assembly on a skid attached to the trailer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Dalia El Tawy, Anthony R. Stimus, Steffen Thompson, SCOTT RANGE, James R. Hickle, Varadharajan Sampathkumar, Silvio Cafaro, Fabrizio Longhi, Roberto Giarda, Gerlando Sorce
  • Controlling a gas compressor having multiple magnetic bearings
    Patent number: 9410554
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas compressor is disclosed. The method includes communicating feedback data about two magnetic bearings to a computer including a multi-core processor via a communication link. The method also includes processing the feedback data about the two magnetic bearings where the feedback data for each of the two magnetic bearings is processed on separate cores of the multi-core processor in parallel and issuing a bearing control command to each of the two magnetic bearings in response to the feedback data. The method further includes communicating the bearing control commands to the two magnetic bearings from the computer via the communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Lei Zhu, Jason Wing-Bin Fong, David B. Jahnz, Roman Braunstein
  • METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A METALLIC COMPONENT
    Publication number: 20160222791
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metallic component is disclosed. The method includes forming a metallic component with a support structure using an additive manufacturing process. The support structure includes support walls arranged to form flow passages with a predetermined cross-sectional area. The method also includes placing the metallic component with the support structure into a chamber and sealing the chamber. The method further includes introducing a fuel mixture into the chamber after sealing the chamber. The method still further includes igniting the fuel mixture in the chamber to remove one or more of the support walls of the support structure from the metallic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas John Chipman Rogers
  • Method for controlling a gas compressor having a magnetic bearing
    Patent number: 9404533
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas compressor having a magnetic bearing. The method includes communicating digital feedback data from a magnetic bearing system to a computer via a communication link, processing the feedback data with the computer and issuing a bearing control command in response to the feedback data, communicating the bearing control command from the computer to the magnetic bearing system via a communication link, providing operational processing and control of the gas compressor with the computer, and providing operational processing and control of the compressor driver with the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Lei Zhu, Roman Braunstein, David B. Jahnz
  • Gas turbine engine compressor rotor assembly and balancing system
    Patent number: 9404367
    Abstract: A method for balancing a compressor rotor assembly including a forward weldment (211) and an aft weldment (212) includes pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) of the compressor rotor assembly (210) with compressor disks (220) prior to populating the compressor disks (220) with circumferentially installed compressor rotor blades (230). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) includes measuring a rotational balance of the aft weldment (212). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) also includes determining a number of underplatform weights (260) needed and a location for each underplatform weight (260) within a circumferential slot (236) of one the compressor disks (220). Pre-balancing the aft weldment (212) further includes mounting each underplatform weight (260) in the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Cory Patrick Muscat, Laura Elizabeth McDonald, James Eric Miller, Gary Paul Vavrek
  • System and method for aligning a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9394829
    Abstract: A system and method for aligning a gas turbine engine. The system and method includes installing an alignment mount, determining whether the gas turbine engine is aligned and/or in a sufficiently aligned condition, and modifying a vertical position of the gas turbine engine at the alignment mount in response. The alignment mount includes an engine attachment, a ground attachment, and an expansion member configured to allow the engine attachment and the ground attachment to move relative to each other and maintain a load path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Jack Harvey Cabeen, Manuel Estevez, III, Edward William Sieveking, Bruno Enriquez Struck
  • ACTUATOR TO VALVE CALIBRATION OF A FUEL CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20160201575
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Louis James Bertsch, IV, Roy Thomas Collins
  • CRIMPED INSERT FOR IMPROVED TURBINE VANE INTERNAL COOLING
    Publication number: 20160201489
    Abstract: An insert tube of a turbine vane is disclosed. The insert tube includes a pressure side wall, a suction side wall opposite and spaced apart from the pressure side wall, a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The insert tube includes a plurality of cooling channels spaced along the pressure side wall. The insert tube includes an indented portion located between the trailing edge and the pressure side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yong Weon Kim, Tsuhon Lin, Jeffrey Stephen Carullo
  • Sealing system for flanged joint
    Patent number: 9388743
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Alejandro Manriquez
  • Air blocker ring assembly with leading edge configuration
    Patent number: 9388986
    Abstract: An air blocker ring assembly including a proximal end and a distal end, a blocker ring, and a blocker ring support cooperating with the blocker ring to form a circumferentially extending split line at an interface between the blocker ring and the blocker ring support. The proximal end of the proximal ring assembly has a circumferential leading edge, and the circumferentially extending split line is located at least one of radially inside or radially outside the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan C. Wilson, Bruno E. Struck
  • Display screen or portion thereof with icon
    Patent number: D766935
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Thompson Hoang An Pham, Fabrice Mario Murgia, Neal Watkins, Roy Thomas Collins, Cody Wayne Allen, Paul F. Cameron, Marco Ezra Leon, Jonathan Bendert
  • Display screen or portion thereof with icon
    Patent number: D766936
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Thompson Hoang An Pham, Fabrice Mario Murgia, Neal Watkins, Roy Thomas Collins, Cody Wayne Allen, Paul F. Cameron, Marco Ezra Leon, Jonathan Bendert
  • Display screen or portion thereof with icon
    Patent number: D769268
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Thompson Hoang An Pham, Fabrice Mario Murgia, Neal Watkins, Roy Thomas Collins, Cody Wayne Allen, Paul F. Cameron, Marco Ezra Leon, Jonathan Bendert