Patents Examined by Eric Linderman
  • Patent number: 10151325
    Abstract: A gas turbine diffuser for use with a gas turbine power system is provided. The diffuser includes an annular inner wall and an annular outer wall circumscribing the inner wall such that a gas path is defined between the inner and outer walls. The diffuser further includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced struts extending from the inner wall to the outer wall across the gas path. At least one of the struts has a flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Moorthi Subramaniyan, Manjunath Bangalore Chengappa, Pradeep Patel
  • Patent number: 10151241
    Abstract: A regenerative gas turbine combustor is provided that enable to reduce an amount of leakage of compressed air before preheating to compressed air after the preheating. The regenerative gas turbine combustor is such that a compressed air passage between a combustor inner cylinder 10 and a tail cylinder 12, and a combustor outer cylinder 7 is blocked by a division wall 15 at a position between a bleeding port 13 and an injection port 14, and compressed air is preheated in a regenerator 4 and then the compressed air thus preheated is burnt together with fuel. This combustor includes seal rings 17a-17c, a holder 16 installed on the inner circumferential portion of the division wall 15 and having ring grooves 25a-25c for holding the respective seal rings 17a-17c, and gaps 20 provided between the inner circumferential surfaces of the ring grooves 25a-25c and the outer circumferential surfaces of the seal rings 17a-17c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Fukuda, Yasuyuki Watanabe, Hironori Tsukidate
  • Patent number: 10139111
    Abstract: A secondary fuel stage (14) of a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The combustor has a main combustion zone (43) upstream of the secondary fuel stage to ignite working gas The secondary fuel stage includes a nozzle (18) with dual outlets (20, 22) oriented with a circumferential component to inject an air-fuel mixture (24) into the combustor. The nozzle is effective to entrain the air-fuel mixture with the working gas (44) such that a peak temperature (46) of the working gas at a location downstream of the secondary fuel stage is less than a peak temperature (50) of working gas if the air-fuel mixture were injected into the combustor with a single outlet nozzle (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Walter R. Laster, Scott M. Martin, Juan Enrique Portillo Bilbao, Jacob Hardes, Timothy A. Fox
  • Patent number: 10138815
    Abstract: A system is provided with a turbine combustor having a first diffusion fuel nozzle, wherein the first diffusion fuel nozzle is configured to produce a diffusion flame. The system includes a turbine driven by combustion products from the diffusion flame in the turbine combustor. The system also includes an exhaust gas compressor, wherein the exhaust gas compressor is configured to compress and route an exhaust gas from the turbine to the turbine combustor along an exhaust recirculation path. In addition, the system includes a first catalyst unit disposed along the exhaust recirculation path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Richard A. Huntington, Sulabh K. Dhanuka, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy
  • Patent number: 10132499
    Abstract: A fuel injection device for supplying a fuel to a compressed air includes: a pilot fuel injector; a main fuel injector located at an outer periphery of the pilot fuel injector; and an air injection unit located between an outlet end portion of the pilot fuel injector and the main fuel injector. The air injection unit includes: a partition wall plate separating the air injection unit from a combustion chamber; a flame stabilization plate provided at a downstream side of the partition wall plate; a first opening at a downstream side between the flame stabilization plate and the outlet end portion of the pilot fuel injector; and a second opening provided in the partition wall plate and through which the compressed air is supplied. The flame stabilization plate includes an inclined portion inclined in a radially outward and downstream direction with respect to an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
    Inventors: Ryusuke Matsuyama, Masayoshi Kobayashi, Atsushi Horikawa, Hitoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10132498
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a liner associated with a combustor of an aircraft engine, comprising: a thermal barrier coating, and a base metal, wherein the thermal barrier coating comprises a contoured surface on a flowpath side proximate to an exit of a hole formed by the thermal barrier coating and the base metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Steven W. Burd
  • Patent number: 10113507
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thrust reverser cascade element of an aircraft gas turbine with a rigid frame and with several thrust reverser profiles mounted in the frame, wherein the thrust reverser cascade element is made of fiber-plastic composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Aleksa Starovic, Moritz Kuhtz, Werner Hufenbach
  • Patent number: 10107140
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil segment includes inner and outer platforms that are joined by at least one airfoil. The airfoil includes leading and trailing edges that are joined by spaced apart first and second sides to provide an exterior airfoil surface. The airfoil includes film cooling holes that have external breakout points that are located in substantial conformance with the Cartesian coordinates set forth in one of Tables 1 and 2. The Cartesian coordinates are provided by an axial coordinate, a circumferential coordinate, and a radial coordinate, relative to a zero-coordinate, and the film cooling holes have a diametrical surface tolerance relative to the specified coordinates of 0.20 inches (5.0 mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohammed Ennacer, Russell J. Bergman, Jason B. Moran
  • Patent number: 10094567
    Abstract: A dual-fuel burning gas turbine combustor having a diffusive combustion burner to burn a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel placed at the axis of the gas turbine combustor and a plurality of pre-mixing combustion burners to burn a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel placed on an outer circumferential side of the diffusive combustion burner, each pre-mixing combustion burner having a liquid fuel nozzle, a plurality of gaseous fuel spray holes, a plurality of air holes, and a pre-mixing chamber to mix gaseous fuel and air, wherein each pre-mixing combustion burner has a double pipe sleeve at a connected portion between end cover and the pre-mixing combustion burner, and the double pipe sleeve has an inner sleeve having a gaseous fuel flow path, an outer sleeve positioned on an outer circumferential side of the inner sleeve, and a circular spacing formed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shota Igarashi, Hirokazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10094566
    Abstract: A system having a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine and a combustor coupled to the turbine. The combustor includes a combustion chamber, one or more fuel nozzles upstream from the combustion chamber, and a head end having an end cover assembly. The end cover assembly includes an oxidant inlet configured to receive an oxidant flow, a central oxidant passage, and at least one fuel supply passage. The central oxidant passage is in fluid communication with the oxidant inlet, and the central oxidant passage is configured to route the oxidant flow to the one or more fuel nozzles. The at least one fuel supply passage is configured to receive a fuel flow and route the fuel flow into the one or more fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Bradford David Borchert, Jesse Edwin Trout, Scott Robert Simmons, Almaz Valeev, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Igor Petrovich Sidko, Leonid Yul'evich Ginesin
  • Patent number: 10077739
    Abstract: A cascade-variable area fan nozzle system (the “CVAFN System”) is provided. The CVAFN system may comprise a cascade portion and a variable area fan nozzle (“VAFN”) portion. The VAFN portion may include a VAFN panel. The cascade and VAFN panel may be integrally formed with one another. The CVAFN system may include an actuation system (e.g., a jack screw) that is configured to translate the cascade and VAFN panel forward and aft. The cascade and VAFN panel may be translated aft in response to activation of the thrust reverser and/or CVAFN system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Norman J. James
  • Patent number: 10066581
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aeroengine after-body assembly comprising an exhaust casing made of metal having a plurality of arms extending radially between an inner shroud and an outer shroud. The assembly comprises at least one axisymmetric part made of composite material extending between an upstream end fastened to said exhaust casing and a downstream end that is free. In accordance with the invention, the axisymmetric part has an annular portion at its upstream end, which annular portion includes a plurality of slots defining between them a plurality of resilient fastener tabs. Each slot co-operates with an arm of the exhaust casing, which further includes fastener parts attached to the resilient fastening tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN NACELLES
    Inventors: Gautier Mecuson, Eric Conete, Benoit Carrere, Eric Philippe
  • Patent number: 10060629
    Abstract: A combustor is provided. The combustor may comprise an axial fuel delivery system, and a radial fuel delivery system aft of the axial fuel delivery system. The radial fuel delivery system may be configured to direct fuel at least partially towards the axial fuel delivery system. A radial fuel delivery system is also provided. The system may comprise a combustor including a combustor liner, a mixer coupled to the combustor liner, and a nozzle disposed within the mixer, wherein the mixer and the nozzle are configured to direct fuel in a direction at least partially forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wookyung Kim, Zhongtao Dai, Kristin Kopp-Vaughan
  • Patent number: 10041415
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion chamber for a gas turbine with a combustion chamber head and a heat shield which are designed in one piece, with the heat shield being provided with at least one recess, in which is arranged a burner or an annular sleeve enclosing the burner, with a burner seal being provided between the heat shield and the burner, characterized in that the heat shield is provided in the area of the recess with an annular groove, in which is arranged at least one elastic sealing element forming the burner seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Carsten Clemen, Michael Ebel
  • Patent number: 10040563
    Abstract: An aircraft engine variable area fan nozzle structure disposed abaft a thrust reverser, including a sleeve translatable over a cascade array, comprises two semi cylindrical segments that can be axially translated and radially tilted to enlarge the fan duct exhaust area in order to optimize exhaust pressure and associated noise in high thrust circumstances such as on take-off, and to constrict that area under lower thrust conditions such as cruise. A pair of angularly adjacent segments can be moved by an actuator anchored to the fixed engine framework and independently of the thrust reverser translating sleeve. The tilting movement is imposed by the pivoting links of each segment to carriages that ride in a non-linear trackway secured to a thrust reverser translating sleeve. The actuator can be of a dual concentric type which can independently drive the trust reverser and nozzle segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Inventor: Geoffrey P. Pinto
  • Patent number: 10036321
    Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing gas turbine compartment ventilation discharge air. In one embodiment, a system may include a gas turbine engine having a compressor. The system also may include a gas turbine compartment disposed about the gas turbine engine. Moreover, the system may include an inlet bleed heat (IBH) manifold in fluid communication with the compressor. The gas turbine compartment may be in fluid communication with the IBH manifold for providing the IBH manifold with ventilation discharge air from the gas turbine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Joseph Klosinski, Pierre Antoine Semel
  • Patent number: 10012387
    Abstract: In one aspect, a fuel supply system may include a fuel injector having a primary and a secondary pilot fuel nozzle in fluid communication with a primary and a secondary fuel circuit, respectively, and a main fuel nozzle in fluid communication with a main fuel circuit. The fuel injector may also define a by-pass fuel circuit connected between the primary circuit and the secondary circuit and/or the main circuit. The system may also include a primary fuel manifold configured to be fluidly connected to the primary pilot fuel nozzle via the primary fuel circuit. Moreover, the system may include a by-pass valve provided in operative association with the by-pass fuel circuit. The by-pass valve may be configured to be opened such that a portion of the fuel flowing through the primary circuit from the primary fuel manifold is directed to the secondary circuit and/or the main circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Alfred Albert Mancini, Duane Douglas Thomsen
  • Patent number: 10006636
    Abstract: A liquid fuel cartridge assembly for a gas turbine combustor comprising an elongated stem provided with a fuel injector tip at an aft end of said stem, said injector tip provided with a pilot fuel passage extending to a pilot fuel orifice; a plurality of air channels surrounding said pilot fuel passage and in communication with plural air holes; an annular main fuel passage surrounding said plurality of air channels and in communication with plural fuel exit holes; and a plurality of substantially radially oriented air supply holes in said stem upstream but proximate to a forward end of said tip in communication with said plurality of air channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leonid Yulievich Ginessin, Borys Borysovich Shershnyov
  • Patent number: 9995220
    Abstract: The described gas turbine engine fuel manifold includes one or more fuel conduits defined within a ring-shaped manifold body, each of the fuel conduits being fluidly connected to a respective separate group of fuel injection nozzles. Each of the fuel conduits, which extend from a conduit inlet to a conduit end, include a first portion extending continuously between the conduit inlet and an inflexion of the conduit, and a second portion downstream of the first portion and connected thereto in serial flow communication, the second portion extending between the inflexion and the conduit end. The inflexion being a single exit of the first portion such that fuel flows uninterrupted between the conduit inlet and the inflexion. The respective separate group of fuel injection nozzles of the fuel conduit fluidly communicating exclusively with the second portion of the fuel conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eduardo David Hawie, Nigel Caldwell Davenport, Jian-Ming Zhou
  • Patent number: 9989257
    Abstract: A fuel system includes a fuel supply system. A plurality of fuel nozzles are connected in fluid communication with the fuel supply system to supply fuel from a fuel source to be issued for combustion from the fuel nozzles. A cooling system is included, wherein at least one of the fuel nozzles includes a cooling circuit in addition to a fuel circuit for issuing fuel from the fuel supply system for combustion. The cooling circuit includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is in fluid communication with the cooling system for circulation of coolant through the cooling circuit and back to the cooling system out the outlet of the cooling circuit for cooling the fuel circuit with the fuel circuit staged off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventors: Lev A. Prociw, Timothy Griffith