Patents Examined by Rene Ford
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Patent number: 9624870Abstract: An adaptive fan system for a variable cycle turbofan engine having at least one turbine, includes a shaft structured to receive mechanical power from a turbine in the variable cycle turbofan engine and a first fan stage that is coupled directly to the shaft and is driven directly by the shaft. A transmission system is coupled to the shaft and a second fan stage is coupled to the shaft via the transmission system and is driven by the shaft via the transmission system. The transmission system is structured to selectively vary a speed between high and low speeds at which power is supplied from the shaft to the second fan stage relative to at least one of the shaft and the first fan stage, wherein the first fan stage and the second fan stage are configured to rotate in the same direction and at the same high speed to increase the mechanical power of the turbine.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2011Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Ress, Jr., Steve Stratton, Matthew J. Starr
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Patent number: 9605550Abstract: An improved seal assembly for use with a combustion liner assembly is employed with a gas turbine engine so as to control fluid flow. The seal assembly has a bi-metal sealing member that is affixed to a first surface that is proximal to a second perpendicular surface that is not in contact with the first surface, thus providing a potential fluid flow path. Upon heating, the bi-metal sealing member “uncoils” contacting the second perpendicular surface, thus blocking the flowpath between the two surfaces. Various metals may be provided to provide predetermined sealing characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: Charles Bryce Graves
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Patent number: 9593851Abstract: A combustor (10) includes a combustion chamber (18), a liner (12) surrounding the combustion chamber, and a flow sleeve (52) surrounding the liner. An annular passage is between the liner and the flow sleeve, and a fuel injector (50) is located partially in the annular passage and extending through the liner into the combustion chamber. The fuel injector includes an outer tube, an inner tube, and a flow passage. A method of supplying a fuel to a combustor includes flowing a diluent inside an outer tube extending along a liner and flowing a liquid or gaseous fuel inside an inner tube extending inside a portion of the outer tube. The method further includes flowing the diluent and the liquid or gaseous fuel through the liner and into a combustion chamber surrounded by the liner.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Borys Borysovych Shershnyov, Geoffrey David Myers, Leonid Yulyevich Ginesin
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Patent number: 9581025Abstract: An aircraft power plant is disclosed having a plurality of bladed rotors in flow communication driven by separate work producing devices. The work producing devices can take a variety of forms including an internal combustion engine and electric motor, for example. The bladed rotors can be associated with an aircraft pylon and can be driven independently to separate operating conditions to provide optimum performance. For example, the bladed rotors can be driven to separate operating conditions that improve a noise signature or performance of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: David John Howard Eames
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Patent number: 9567910Abstract: A fuel manifold and fuel injector arrangement for a gas turbine engine combustion chamber comprises an annular combustion chamber casing arranged around the combustion chamber. A plurality of circumferentially spaced fuel injectors supply fuel into the combustion chamber and a fuel manifold supplies fuel to each of the fuel injectors. The fuel manifold comprises a plurality of flexible fuel pipes and a plurality of T piece connectors. The stem of each connector is mounted on an outer end of a respective one of the fuel feed arms and each flexible fuel pipe interconnects an arm of one connector with an arm of an adjacent connector. Each connector is arranged such that the arms are arranged at angles to the planes containing the axis of the casing and perpendicular to the axis of the casing respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventor: Simon Fuller
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Patent number: 9562476Abstract: An apparatus includes a gas turbine engine flow device having an inner member and a surrounding member. The inner member has a first coefficient of thermal expansion; and the surrounding member at least partially surrounds the inner member and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The surrounding member includes at least two walls that form a variable flow gap therebetween. The inner member is oriented relative to the at least two walls of the surrounding member such that, based on the difference in the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion, the inner member expands relatively greater than the surrounding member or the surrounding member expands relatively greater than the inner member, according to a temperature change to correspondingly enlarge or reduce the size of the variable flow gap between the at least two walls.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: Thomas E. Bastnagel
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Patent number: 9556795Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle tip assembly having a substantially monolithically formed nozzle body. The nozzle body has an annular outlet chamber for issuing a spray from the nozzle tip. A feed channel is in fluid communication with the outlet chamber through a feed passage. A heat shield void substantially surrounds the feed channel(s).Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Delavan IncInventors: Jason A. Ryon, Brett A. Pfeffer, Matthew R. Donovan, Philip E. Buelow
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Patent number: 9546574Abstract: A device capable of collecting a condensate from a working fluid is disclosed. The condensate can take the form of a liquid and can be injected into a flow path of an engine. In one form the engine is a gas turbine engine and the liquid is injected upstream of a combustor. The liquid can be produced using a component that cools the working fluid to condense a vapor within it. In one non-limiting form the component is part of a refrigeration system. In addition to producing condensate, the refrigeration system can cool the working fluid to be used as cooled cooling air to a turbine of a gas turbine engine. In another non-limiting embodiment a liquid derived from a blackwater containing waste from an organism can be delivered in whole or in part to a flow path of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2011Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: Robert T. Duge
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Patent number: 9541292Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a combustor. The combustor comprises an annular combustor chamber formed between an inner liner and an outer liner spaced apart from the inner liner. An annular fuel manifold has fuel nozzles distributed circumferentially on the fuel manifold, the fuel manifold and fuel nozzles positioned entirely inside the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Oleg Morenko
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Patent number: 9534785Abstract: A seal for sealing a combustor heat shield against an interior surface of a combustor shell, the seal comprising: a first sealing surface on the interior surface of the combustor shell; and a second sealing surface on a rail on an edge of a heat shield, wherein each of the first and second sealing surfaces include first and second projections defining a non-linear leakage path between the projections.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Nigel Davenport, Yen-Wen Wang
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Patent number: 9534783Abstract: A combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a heat shield panel mounted to a support shell and an insert at least partially between opposed surfaces of the support shell and the heat shield panel, the insert exposed to a combustion chamber, and the insert being flush with a hot side of the heat shield.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: James A. Dierberger, Masamichi Hongoh, Dennis J. Sullivan
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Patent number: 9518739Abstract: The build-up of carbon deposition on the front face of a combustor heat shield is discouraged by jetting air out from the front face of the heat shield with sufficient momentum to push approaching fuel droplets or rich fuel-air mixture way from the heat shield.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Tin Cheung John Hu, Robert Sze, Honza Stastny
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Patent number: 9500367Abstract: The present application provides a pilot manifold system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The pilot manifold system may include a casing with a casing manifold, an end cover connected to the casing and having an end cover passage in communication with the casing manifold, and a fuel nozzle mounted about the end cover. The fuel nozzle may include a pilot system in communication with the end cover passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Brandon Taylor Overby
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Patent number: 9500372Abstract: A multi-zone combustor is provided and includes a pre-mixer configured to output a first mixture to a primary zone of a combustor section and a stepped center body disposable in an annulus defined within the pre-mixer. The stepped center body includes an outer body configured to output at a first radial and axial step a second mixture to a secondary zone of the combustor section and an inner body disposable in an annulus defined within the outer body and configured to output at a second radial and axial step a third mixture to a tertiary zone of the combustor section.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leonid Yulevich Ginesin, Borys Borysovich Shershnyov, Andrey Pavlovich Subbota, Almaz Kamilevich Valeev
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Patent number: 9500103Abstract: The present application provides a combined cycle system. The combined cycle system may include a heat recovery steam generator with a first low pressure section and a second low pressure section, a steam turbine with a low pressure steam section in communication with the second low pressure section of the heat recovery steam generator, and a duct burner positioned upstream of the heat recovery steam generator.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark David Kehmna, Seyfettin Can Gulen
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Patent number: 9488105Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine is presented. The assembly includes a gas supply pipe passing through a bore in a flange of the gas turbine for supplying gas to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine and a sleeve surrounding the gas supply pipe, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is sealingly coupled to the gas supply pipe, and wherein the sleeve is adapted to be sealingly coupled to the flange at the second end such that the sleeve extends along a thickness of the flange.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Andreas Böttcher, Timothy A. Fox, Daniel W. Garan, Thomas Grieb, Jens Kleinfeld, Tobias Krieger, Stephen A. Ramier, David M. Ritland, Marcus Zurhorst
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Patent number: 9482181Abstract: A jet engine nacelle has one thrust reverser device which includes a deflection means and one cowl translatable in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the nacelle. The cowl can translate between a closed position and an open position. In the open position, the cowl ensures the aerodynamic continuity of the nacelle and covers the deflection means. In the open position, the cowl opens a passage into the nacelle and uncovers the deflection means. The thrust reverser device moreover includes one blocking flap pivotably mounted by one end attached to a rear portion of the deflection means, and slidingly connected to the moving cowl. The pivoting end is also translatably connected to the rear portion of the deflection means.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2013Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: AIRCELLEInventors: Herve Hurlin, Olivier Kerbler, Nicolas Dezeustre, Loic Le Boulicaut
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Patent number: 9464576Abstract: A system including a fuel-supply system including, an auxiliary-fuel-gas compressor configured to compress a fuel for use by a gas-turbine system, an expander configured to generate power by expanding an oxidant from the gas-turbine system, and a motor/generator configured to function in a motor mode and in a generator mode, wherein the motor/generator drives fuel compression with the auxiliary fuel-gas compressor in the motor mode, and the motor/generator generates power in the generator mode as the expander uses oxidant from the gas-turbine system to drive the motor/generator.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hua Zhang, Wenjie Wu, Yongjiang Hao
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Patent number: 9464574Abstract: A method for running up a stationary gas turbine is provided. The turbine has a combustion chamber, the burners of which have a pilot burner and a main burner and by which various types of fuel are introduced into the combustion chamber for burning. The method, carried out while a rotor of the gas turbine is accelerating from a standstill to a nominal speed, includes feeding fuel of a first type of fuel to the pilot burners and feeding fuel of the first type of fuel to the main burners. In order to provide a method in which a comparatively low supply pressure is required in the fuel supply system and in which combustion vibrations that put the machine at risk are avoided during the running-up process, it is proposed that fuel of a second type of fuel is fed to the burner before the nominal speed is reached.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Eberhard Deuker, Berthold Kostlin, Jurgen Meisl, Dennis Nehlsen, Kai-Uwe Schildmacher
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Patent number: 9441546Abstract: The combustor has a laser ignitor mounted to the casing, remotely from the liner of the combustion chamber. The laser ignitor has an igniter beam path for igniting the fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber, the igniter beam path extending at least partially across the air plenum surrounding the liner and into the combustion chamber through a corresponding beam path aperture provided in the liner.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Nigel Davenport, Bhawan Patel, Eduardo Hawie