Patents Examined by Katheryn Malatek
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Patent number: 10655542Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a drive train starter system. The drive train starter system includes a generator mechanically coupled to a drive train of a gas turbine system and an exciter system electrically coupled to the generator and configured to provide a magnetic field. The drive train starter system additionally includes a load commutated inverter (LCI) electrically coupled to the generator and configured to provide electrical power to the generator and a controller communicatively coupled to the generator, the exciter system, and the LCI. The controller is configured to start up the drive train via the LCI and the generator up to less than a drive train operating speed, wherein the generator is converting electricity into mechanical motion; drive the drive train via a gas turbine up to the drive train operating speed; and to drive the drive train via the generator at the drive train operating speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Brian Allen Rittenhouse, Karl Dean Minto
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Patent number: 10655860Abstract: A thrust increasing device includes: a fuel injector that ejects fuel toward a jet flow; an ignition device that is disposed downstream from the fuel injector; a cylindrical duct that surrounds a combustion region; a flame holder that is disposed in the duct; and a swirling flow generating part that maintains an axial flow of the jet flow in an axial direction of the duct in an outer region of the duct in a radial direction inside the duct and that converts the jet flow to a swirling flow centered on an axis of the duct in an inner region of the duct in the radial direction inside the duct.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: IHI CorporationInventors: Shinji Tanaka, Jun Hosoi, Katsuyoshi Takahashi, Nagayoshi Hiromitsu
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Patent number: 10648670Abstract: An assembly for a turbine engine includes a combustor bulkhead, a swirler and a mounting strap. The swirler includes a mounting lug and a tubular swirler body that extends along an axis. The mounting lug projects radially out from the swirler body. The mounting strap is attached to the combustor bulkhead. The mounting lug is axially restrained between the combustor bulkhead and the mounting strap.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2015Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Andreas Sadil, Russell B. Hanson, Raymond Lamoureux, Dave J. Hyland
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Patent number: 10634351Abstract: A heat shield for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an outer edge surface with an outlet of an edge cooling passage, the edge cooling passage oriented to direct cooling air generally upstream relative to a combustion gas flow.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: James P. Bangerter, Robert Sze
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Patent number: 10619500Abstract: A face seal includes a seal carrier defining an axis and having a pilot flange, a seal element disposed at least partially in the seal carrier, and a retaining plate connected to one axial end of the seal carrier. The retaining plate has an axial step disposed circumferentially about the retaining plate. The axial step is interfaced with the pilot flange.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Alexander J. Maret, Jonathan Logan Miller
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Patent number: 10612424Abstract: A method for operating a gas and steam turbine installation, wherein the heat contained in the expanded flue gas of the gas turbine is used to generate steam for the steam turbine. If a critical operating state arises, the temperature of the expanded flue gas is reduced by introducing water into the expanded flue gas in the flue gas duct between the gas turbine and the waste-heat steam generator connected downstream with regard to flow, wherein the amount of water to be introduced is determined in dependence on the flue gas temperature. The flue gas temperature is measured before water is introduced into the flue gas, an average combustion temperature of the combustion chamber of the gas turbine is determined from the flue gas temperature, and the amount of water to be introduced is set on the basis of the combustion temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thorsten Lauzat, Denis Tschetschik
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Patent number: 10598374Abstract: A method of inducing swirl in pressurized air flowing through an air passageway of a fuel nozzle of a gas turbine engine includes inducing swirl in the pressurized air at an exit of the air passageway, by directing the pressurised air through helicoidal grooves formed at a downstream end of the air passageway. The swirling pressurized air exiting the air passageway is then directed into a mixing zone at a downstream end of the fuel nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Yen-Wen Wang, Nigel Davenport
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Patent number: 10591165Abstract: A fuel nozzle body having a rearward end and a front end with an outer tube which extends from the rearward end to the front end and has radial openings for a first fuel in the region of the front end, and an inner tube which is arranged concentrically to the outer tube and which opens in the region of the front end into a nozzle head, which has additional openings for a second fuel, wherein, in the region of the front end, the inner tube is guided in the outer tube by two fits which are arranged axially between the radial openings and the additional openings, and wherein the first fit closest to the radial openings is configured as a circumferential web around the inner tube, and wherein the second fit is configured with at least one interruption on the perimeter.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Christian Beck, Andreas Böttcher, Christopher Grandt, Thomas Hauser, Patrick Lapp, Stefan Reich
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Patent number: 10578030Abstract: A method of adjusting a fuel flow rate in a turbine engine propelling an aircraft, including: obtaining a first estimate of a flow rate of fuel injected into a combustion chamber of the turbine engine propelling an aircraft and as delivered by a fuel metering device of the turbine engine; obtaining a second estimate of the fuel flow rate, which second estimate is more accurate than the first estimate for at least one range of fuel flow rate values and being delivered by an estimator device having a flow meter; and adjusting the fuel flow rate threshold value with help of a difference evaluated between the first estimate and the second estimate, the threshold value being for use in an open loop for regulating the turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Christophe Javelot, Cedrik Djelassi, Bruno Robert Gaully, Ismail Sylla
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Patent number: 10563866Abstract: An annular combustion chamber wall arrangement includes an annular wall and a plurality of tiles and each tile is secured to and is spaced from a further annular wall. The first surface of each tile faces the annular wall and the second surface of each tile faces away from the annular wall. Each tile has a plurality of pedestals extending away from the first surface towards the annular wall and/or a plurality of effusion cooling apertures extending through the tile from the first surface to the second surface. At least one of the tiles has the pedestals and/or the effusion cooling apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern which provides the tile with a more uniform stiffness in all directions to reduce the possibility of cracking of the tile. In one predetermined pattern the pedestals are arranged in a Fermat's (parabolic) spiral with the pedestals arranged with Fibonacci number ordering.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2015Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Quentin Luc Balandier, Douglas Alexander Chalmers
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Patent number: 10544740Abstract: A gas turbine engine including an engine core and a cooling air system is disclosed herein. The cooling air system is fluidly coupled between a compressor section of the engine core and a turbine section of the engine core to conduct pressurized air from the compressor section to the turbine section to cool components of the turbine section.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: Behram V. Kapadia
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Patent number: 10539029Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a cover plate for a gas turbine engine is provided. The cover plate includes a cover plate body that extends from a disc blade attachment radially along an outside surface of a disc web to a disc bore of a disc creating a cavity between the cover plate body and the disc web of the disc, and an attachment protrusion extending from the inner most end of the cover plate body toward the disc bore, and wherein the attachment protrusion is configured to engage with a retention ring.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Nicholas Waters Oren, Steven D. Porter
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Patent number: 10533424Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a hub having an outer periphery, a first plurality of blades arranged on the outer periphery of the hub, and a second plurality of blades arranged on the outer periphery of the hub. The first plurality of blades is made of a first material and has a first elastic modulus over density ratio. The first plurality of blades has a first natural frequency. The second plurality of blades is made of a second material and has a second elastic modulus over density ratio. The second elastic modulus over density ratio is different from the first elastic modulus over density ratio. The second plurality of blades has a second natural frequency different from the first natural frequency. A method of fabricating a bladed rotor is also presented.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventor: Bruce Fielding
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Patent number: 10533750Abstract: A cross-flame duct for connecting adjacent combustors together in a gas turbine to guard against flameout conditions within the combustors, whereby the cross-flame duct includes first and second ducts forming a slip joint to prevent stress from developing within the cross-flame duct is disclosed. The cross-flame duct remains flexible during turbine operation due to the slip joint, thereby preventing damaging thermal and mechanical stresses from developing within the cross-flame duct and enhancing the useful life of the cross-flame duct and associated components. The first and second ducts include cooling chambers positioned between outer sleeves and inner housings and maintained with one or more standoffs to reduce thermal stress and gradients or prevent material loss due to overheating or burning. The cooling chambers are supplied with cooling fluids via one or more fluid ports extending through the outer sleeves enabling air to flow through the cooling chambers and into the combustors.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Daniel W. Garan, Richard L. Thackway, David P. Holzapfel, Stephen A. Ramier, Charalambos Polyzopoulos, Kevin J. Spence, Joseph Scott Markovitz
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Patent number: 10502161Abstract: A thrust reverser system may comprise a cascade radially positioned about a centerline of an engine or a nacelle centerline. Various cascade features may be positioned at a constant radius from the centerline while other features vary according to station and/or circumferential position.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: ROHR, INC.Inventor: Sara C. Crawford
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Patent number: 10502085Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a furcated nozzle that has at least a first duct that extends from a first propulsor to a first trailing end duct opening and a second duct that extends from a second propulsor to a second trailing end duct opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Wesley K. Lord, Jesse M. Chandler, Gabriel L. Suciu
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Patent number: 10502132Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for a gas turbine engine including an offtake located within the air flow of the engine. The offtake has an inlet and a louver covering the inlet. The louver has multiple airfoils arranged to direct the air flow into the inlet of the offtake.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Antonio Guijarro Valencia, Vittorio Michelassi
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Patent number: 10472048Abstract: A spinner for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The spinner may include a body extending between a first and second end comprised of a cured chopped unidirectional fiber pre-impregnated material. The body may have a generally conical shape and may further be plated with a metal or metal alloy.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Colin J. Kling, Shari L. Bugaj, James T. Roach
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Patent number: 10450958Abstract: A turbine and so on capable of enabling high reliability are provided. In the turbine of an embodiment, a turbine rotor is accommodated in a turbine casing, and is rotated by a working medium which is introduced after flowing in an inlet pipe of a combustor. A sleeve is provided at the turbine casing, and accommodates the inlet pipe therein. Here, the sleeve is thicker than the inlet pipe, and a cooling fluid whose temperature is lower than the working fluid flows between the inlet pipe and the sleeve.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Tsuguhisa Tashima, Shogo Iwai, Masao Ito, Shunsuke Takae
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Patent number: 10443500Abstract: The invention refers to a transition piece of a combustor of a gas turbine including an impingement cooling zone, a sequential disposed liner having at least one cooling arrangement and a closing plate with respect to the sequential disposed liner. The sequential disposed liner has a cooling channel structure. The cooling channel structure forms a closed loop cooling scheme or a quasi-closed loop cooling scheme. The cooling channel structure is operatively connected to a cooling medium to cool at least one part of the sequential disposed liner.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AGInventor: Michael Thomas Maurer