Patents Examined by Rene Ford
  • Patent number: 9140452
    Abstract: Combustor for a turbine having a housing in which an air collecting chamber, a combustion antechamber, and a combustion chamber are formed. A combustor head plate is arranged in the housing so that the combustor head plate separates the combustion antechamber from the combustion chamber. A baffle plate is arranged in the combustion antechamber so that the baffle plate divides the combustion antechamber into a first sub-chamber adjoining an air supply fluidically connected with the air collecting chamber and a second sub-chamber adjoining the combustor head plate. Wherein baffle plate has a plurality of through-passages that fluidically connect the first sub-chamber with the second sub-chamber so that air that has flowed into the first sub-chamber from the air collecting chamber via the air supply can flow into the second sub-chamber via the through-passages and to a back surface of the combustor head plate facing the second sub-chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Frank Reiss, Jaman El Masalme
  • Patent number: 9140184
    Abstract: A supercharging system includes a fan providing an air flow, and a prime mover that drives the fan. A duct directs a first portion of the air flow to a gas turbine system, a main bypass subsystem diverts a second portion of the air flow to a heat recovery steam generator; and a drive bypass subsystem that diverts a third portion of the air flow to the prime mover. The prime mover may be one of an aeroderivative gas turbine, a gas turbine, a reciprocating engine, a steam turbine and an induction motor and a variable frequency drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Timothy Tah-teh Yang, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Kurt Waldner, Tedd Sellers
  • Patent number: 9121412
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a spool, a turbine coupled to drive the spool and a propulsor that is coupled to be driven by the turbine through the spool. A gear assembly is coupled between the propulsor and the spool such that rotation of the spool drives the propulsor at a different speed than the spool. The propulsor includes a hub and a row of propulsor blades that extends from the hub. The row includes no more than 16 of the propulsor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Jun Jiang, Becky E. Rose, Jason Elliott, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 9121279
    Abstract: A system and method for tuning a gas turbine combustion system having a plurality of seals positioned between the combustion system and the turbine inlet is disclosed. The system and method provide ways of permitting a predetermined amount of compressed air to bypass the combustion system and enter the turbine so as to control emissions and dynamics of the combustion system. The seals contain a plurality of holes to meter airflow passing therethrough and are positioned such that they can be removed from the engine and modified to increase or decrease the amount of air passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sherman Craig Creighton, Charles Ellis, David John Henriquez, Peter Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 9097210
    Abstract: A system and method includes a thrust system; a generator for providing electric power to at least one electromechanical actuator of the thrust system; a turbine for driving the generator; a speed control valve for metering propellant to the turbine; and a gear assembly for connecting the turbine, the generator, and the speed control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Zachary J. Delong, Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 9097208
    Abstract: A system for converting liquid fuel into gaseous fuel is provided. The system may have a supply of liquid fuel. The system may also have a combustor, and one or more pumps in fluid communication with the supply. The one or more pumps may be configured to pump liquid fuel from the supply into the combustor. The system may also have a compressor in fluid communication with an inlet of the combustor, and a turbine in fluid communication with an outlet of the combustor. The turbine may be connected to drive the compressor and the one or more pumps. The system may also have a heat exchanger in fluid communication with an outlet of the turbine and an outlet of the one or more pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron Foege
  • Patent number: 9097180
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a heavy duty gas turbine includes a bearing lubrication assembly coupled to the bearing and an oil and vapor extraction assembly disposed in a cavity defined by a bell mouth hood in an air inlet duct. A high volume vacuum blower is coupled to the oil and vapor extraction assembly to provide a relative negative pressure. An oil and vapor separator is disposed downstream from the high volume vacuum blower. The lubrication system also includes a control subsystem that maintains a cavity pressure lower than an air inlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio
  • Patent number: 9027350
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a combustor with a combustion liner having inner and outer walls is disclosed herein. The gas turbine engine further includes a swirler system adapted to receive a fuel injector and a flow splitter operable to bifurcate an airflow exiting the swirler system into a first bifurcated flow and a second bifurcated flow. A shroud is positioned downstream of the flow splitter and is configured to deflect the first bifurcated flow in a first direction radially inward and the second bifurcated flow in a second direction radially outward. The second bifurcated flow cools both of the inner and outer walls of the combustor liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy Carl Roesler
  • Patent number: 9021783
    Abstract: The engine (10) includes at least one firing tube (12) wherein an exhaust stream (32) from the firing tube (12) drives a turbine (30). A scroll ejector attenuator (40) is secured between and in fluid communication with an outlet end (28) of the firing tube (12) and an inlet (76) of the turbine (30). The attenuator (40) defines a turning, narrowing passageway (72) that extends a distance the exhaust stream (32) travels before entering the turbine (30) to attenuate shockwaves and mix the pulsed exhaust stream (32) into an even stream with minimal temperature differences to thereby enhance efficient operation of the turbine (30) without any significant pressure decline of exhaust stream (32) pressure and without any backpressure from the attenuator (40) on the firing tube (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Michael J. Cuozzo
  • Patent number: 9016068
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor, a first turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, a second turbine section in fluid communication with the first turbine section, and a mid-turbine frame located axially between the first turbine section and the second turbine section. An oil system includes a first oil system component that houses oil. A first connector mechanically connects the first oil system component to the mid-turbine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Octavio Martin, Jorge I. Farah
  • Patent number: 9010081
    Abstract: A power plant includes a gas turbine unit adapted to feed flue gases into a boiler of a steam turbine unit, to be then diverted into a recirculated flow and discharged flow. The recirculated flow is mixed with fresh air forming a mixture that is fed into a gas turbine unit compressor. The discharged flow is fed into a CO2 capture unit that is an amine based or chilled ammonia based CO2 capture unit. A cooler for the flue gases can be configured as a shower cooler located upstream of the CO2 capture unit. The plant can also include a washing unit to neutralize ammonia drawn by the flue gases that can be fed with nitric acid gathered at the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Eribert Benz, Gian-Luigi Agostinelli, Andreas Brautsch, Gisbert Wolfgang Kaefer, Felix Güthe
  • Patent number: 9003810
    Abstract: An aircraft nacelle includes at its outside wall a cowl moveable relative to the nacelle so as to block or unblock an opening. The cowl includes an articulation and locking/unlocking elements distant from the upstream edge of the cowl that include elements for limiting the appearance of scooping phenomena. The limiting elements include at least one lock integral with the rest of the nacelle or respectively the cowl that can occupy a locked state in which part of the lock interferes with the cowl or respectively the rest of the nacelle and prevents a deformation that includes a radial component of the cowl, and another free state in which the part no longer interferes with the cowl or respectively the rest of the nacelle and allows the opening movement of the cowl, with the switch from one state to the next being generated by a gas pressure variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Alain Porte, Frederic Chelin, Thierry Surply
  • Patent number: 8997451
    Abstract: An engine and pod assembly for an aircraft includes a pod receiving an engine having an air intake. A rotating nose cone extends on the nose cone, as well as a device for limiting the formation of ice. The device includes means for creating a circumferential heterogeneity of ice on the nose cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: François Dufresne de Virel, Michel Pealat, Patrick Joyez, Bruce Pontoizeau, Jean-François Lacuisse, Sylvie Wintenberger
  • Patent number: 8991151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for actuating a plurality of actuators (15) that can move a mobile panel of an aircraft nacelle. Said system comprises at least two motors (16) that can drive the actuators (15), the two motors (16) being controlled and supplied by at least two separate control units (33, 35), and the actuators (15) being mechanically interconnected by a mechanical transmission (37). The invention also relates to a nacelle comprising such an actuating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Aircelle, Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventors: Hakim Maalioune, Vincent Le-Coq, Fernand Rodriguez, Pierre Moradell-Casellas
  • Patent number: 8991186
    Abstract: A fuel control system comprises a metering valve operable to control the flow of fuel between a supply line and a delivery line, a spill valve operable to control fuel flow within the supply line, a pressure raising valve connected to the delivery line, and a control servo valve movable between a thrust control mode in which it modifies the control of the spill valve to reduce the fuel flow delivered via the metering valve and an outlet of the pressure raising valve, and a windmill relight position in which it modifies the control of the pressure raising valve to allow fuel delivery through the outlet of the pressure raising valve at a reduced system pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Engine Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Daniel James Bickley, Michael Griffiths
  • Patent number: 8973365
    Abstract: A combustor liner may include an annular inner liner and an annular outer liner with a plurality of air holes thereon. The outer liner may be positioned circumferentially around the inner liner such that an annular cooling space is defined between the inner and the outer liner. The combustor liner may also include at least one resonator coupled to the outer liner such that a base of the resonator is separated from the outer liner to form a gap with an external surface of the outer liner. The combustor liner may also include a throat extending from the base of the resonator penetrating the inner liner and the outer liner. The combustor liner may further include a grommet assembly that allows for relative thermal expansion between the inner liner and the outer liner proximate the throat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Corr, Peter Sykes, Bruno Struck, Kenneth G. Thomas, Richard Braeutigam, Danny Gauce, Alexander Krichever, Vu Phi, Timothy Caron
  • Patent number: 8973370
    Abstract: A supersonic nacelle design employing a bypass flow path internal to the nacelle and around the engine is disclosed herein. A set of aerodynamic vanes may be used to shape a supersonic airflow within a bypass around an engine. The vanes may be capable of compressing the supersonic airflow into a subsonic airflow, direct the subsonic airflow around the engine, and then expand the subsonic airflow into a supersonic exhaust. The vanes may shape the airflow by reducing sonic boom strength, cowl drag, and airframe interference drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy R. Conners
  • Patent number: 8961115
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine section has a rotor carrying a plurality of blades. The blades have airfoils which define a radially outer tip. A blade outer air seal is positioned radially outwardly of the tips of the blades. The blade outer air seal is provided by at least a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments, which slide circumferentially relative to each other to adjust an inner diameter of an inner surface of the blade outer air seal segments. An actuator actuates the blade outer air seal segments to slide towards each other to control a clearance between the inner periphery of the blade outer air seal segments and the radially outer tip of the blade airfoils. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William E. Rhoden, Peter L. Jalbert
  • Patent number: 8959926
    Abstract: A turbomachine including an intermediate casing including, fastened to the end thereof, an outer casing of a high pressure compressor, and an air bleed mechanism bleeding air downstream from the stream through the compressor and including an outlet connected to an air reinjection mechanism reinjecting air upstream from the compressor via an annular manifold surrounding the inner wall of the intermediate casing and situated radially between the inner wall and an outer wall defining a secondary flow stream of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Eric Stephan Bil, Michel Gilbert Roland Brault
  • Patent number: 8955325
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for increasing the burn efficiency of fuel in a jet engine by charging the intake air molecules and inversely charging the fuel molecules, while reducing the fuel droplet size using a fuel-atomizing transducer in the air/fuel path. Generally speaking, an apparatus (and method) for increasing fuel burning efficiency in a jet engine is described, comprising: an intake air high voltage charger; a fuel injector downstream of the intake air charger; a fuel atomizer formed from an acutely angled transducer in a flow path of the fuel, wherein the atomized fuel is charged to an opposite voltage to that of the intake air; and an ignitor for igniting the atomized charged fuel and charged intake air for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Stuart H. Rubin