Patents Examined by Steven Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9239029
    Abstract: A nozzle arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes an engine nozzle and an ejector nozzle arranged axially downstream thereof. A gap S is formed between the outlet of the engine nozzle and the inlet of the ejector nozzle, and a flange which reduces the gap S is arranged at the outlet of the engine nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Otfrid Herrmann
  • Patent number: 9239007
    Abstract: A supercharging system for a gas turbine system includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine and a shaft. The supercharging system includes a fan assembly that provides an air stream and a torque converter coupled to the shaft and the fan assembly. The supercharging system also includes a subsystem for conveying a first portion of the air stream output to the compressor; and a bypass subsystem for optionally conveying a second portion of the air stream output to other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston I. Scipio
  • Patent number: 9234461
    Abstract: An environmental defense shield includes symmetric airfoil-shaped vanes contributing to and positioned around a plenum space and positioned in front of a turbine engine. An annular band stiffener is set into the vanes, which projects forward in a diminishing size, the vanes merging together to create or attaching to a solid nose. The environmental defense shield serves to protect the engine from debris while also smoothing airflow into the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Shield Aerodynamics LLC
    Inventor: Dennis Snyder
  • Patent number: 9217370
    Abstract: A micro-turbine engine, consisting of at least a compressor, combustor, and turbine, is a complicated fluid flow device that controls the flow rate and thermodynamic properties of a working fluid in order to generate shaft power. Existing micro-turbines are costly to manufacture because they are designed with sophisticated contours and exotic materials. The present invention discloses a method for designing a micro-turbine with stacked layers of structure, each of which is designed with vertically simple geometry such that it can be manufactured using conventional machining technology. The resulting micro-turbine is low cost compared to existing alternatives in the target range of power outputs and applications. The present invention also describes a method for connecting the micro-turbine to an electrical generator to generate power. Lastly, the method for designing the micro-turbine is applied to heat exchangers, Rankine engines, fluid mixers, and other fluid flow devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Dynamo Micropower Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Wang, Jason Ethier, Hardy Shen
  • Patent number: 9217570
    Abstract: An axial flow fuel nozzle for a gas turbine includes a plurality of annular passages for delivering materials for combustion. An annular air passage receives compressor discharge air, and a plurality of swirler vane slots are positioned adjacent an axial end of the annular air passage. A first next annular passage is disposed radially inward of the annular air passage and includes first openings positioned adjacent an axial end of the first annular passage and downstream of the swirler vane slots. A second next annular passage is disposed radially inward of the first annular passage and includes second openings positioned adjacent an axial end of the second annular passage and downstream of the first openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nishant Govindbhai Parsania, Geoffrey D. Myers, Gregory Allen Boardman
  • Patent number: 9194328
    Abstract: A fan variable area nozzle (FVAN) includes a flap assembly which varies a fan nozzle exit area. An actuator system drives a sliding drive ring relative a multitude of slider tracks mounted to a fan nacelle to adjust each flap of the flap assembly through the flap linkage to pitch the flap assembly about a circumferential hinge line to vary the diameter of the annular fan nozzle exit area between the fan nacelle and the core nacelle. The FVAN may be separated into a multiple of drive ring sectors which are each independently adjustable by an associated actuator of the actuator system to provide a low profile drag asymmetrical fan nozzle exit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Gukeisen
  • Patent number: 9194584
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ener-Core Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Jim Watts
  • Patent number: 9194294
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine static structure housing that includes a compressor section and a turbine section. A core nacelle encloses the engine static structure to provide a core compartment. An oil tank is arranged in the core compartment and is axially aligned with the compressor section. Fan and core nacelles define an annular bypass flow path. The core nacelle provides a core compartment and includes an opening into the core compartment. The oil tank is arranged in the core compartment and includes a portion aligned with the opening that is exposed to the bypass flow path. The engine static structure is supported relative to a fan case by a radial structure. The oil tank is mounted to the engine static structure. An oil fill tube is mounted to the fan case and is fluidly connected to the oil tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Nathan Snape, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 9170023
    Abstract: Provided is a control method for a gas turbine plant having a first and a second combustors in series, such that combustion gases produced in the first combustor flows into the second combustor. The second combustor having a fuel lance with internal partitions, for injecting at least one fuel and a gas having a mixture of inert gas and support air into the second combustor. The partitions enable the gas to carry, and/or veil, at least one of the fuels as the fuel exits the lance. A variable of the second combustor is measured and the inert gas to support air mixture varies in response to variations of the variable so as to at least partially compensate for the operational effects of the variable on the operation of the second combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Felix Guethe, Jonas Hurter, Giovanni Cataldi, Gijsbertus Oomens, Manfred Wirsum, Franz Joos
  • Patent number: 9157366
    Abstract: A disclosed gas turbine engine includes a first fan section including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis, a compressor in fluid communication with the first fan section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor and a first turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor. The first turbine section includes a low pressure turbine that drives the first fan section. A second fan section is supported between the first fan section and the compressor and is driven by a second turbine section disposed between the second fan section and the compressor for driving the second fan section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 9151229
    Abstract: The speed of a high-pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine may be determined using known centrifugal pump affinity relationships for a fuel pressure apparatus, fuel pressure apparatus input and output pressures, and gear ratios for a mechanical linkage between the high-pressure turbine and the fuel pressure apparatus. The technique avoids wear-related variations in gas pressure based measurements and also applies to fuel pressure apparatus using both single pump and multiple pump configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Tyler J. Selstad
  • Patent number: 9140189
    Abstract: Embodiments can provide systems and methods for detecting fuel leaks in gas turbine engines. According to one embodiment, there is disclosed a method for detecting a fuel leak in a gas turbine engine. The method may include adjusting a control valve to correspond with a desired fuel flow. The method may also include determining an actual fuel flow based at least in part on an upstream pressure in a fuel manifold and one or more gas turbine engine parameters. The method may also include comparing the desired fuel flow with the actual fuel flow. Moreover, the method may include determining a difference between the desired fuel flow and the actual fuel flow, wherein the difference indicates a fuel leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Derrick Simons, Douglas Dean
  • Patent number: 9140214
    Abstract: A system and method of reducing noise caused by jet engines is provided. The method comprises the steps of using the afterburner to heat the exhaust gas flow while simultaneously reducing power to the core engine. Together these two operations reduce the pressure of the exhaust gas in the nozzle area while holding the exhaust gas velocity constant, which maintains engine thrust while decreasing engine noise. The method may be supplemented by altering the location of the afterburner flames to create an inverted exhaust velocity profile, thereby decreasing engine noise even further.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred M. Stern
  • Patent number: 9133770
    Abstract: An enclosure assembly for enclosing a portion of a fuel delivery system of an engine, such as a portion of a fuel nozzle body that extends away from the engine, is disclosed herein. The enclosure assembly includes a nozzle body cover portion operable to enclose a fuel nozzle body. The enclosure assembly also includes a fuel line cover portion unitary with the nozzle body cover portion and operable to enclose a portion of a fuel supply line connected to the fuel nozzle body. Both the nozzle body cover portion and the fuel line cover portion are defined by a first and second half-shells operable to cooperate together in a clam shell arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Henkle, Thomas R. Bowman, Ronald P. Porter
  • Patent number: 9133722
    Abstract: A system for supplying an injection fluid to a combustor is disclosed. The system includes a transition duct comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The passage defines a combustion chamber. The system further includes a tube providing fluid communication for the injection fluid to flow through the transition duct and into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, James Scott Flanagan, Won-Wook Kim, Kevin Weston McMahan
  • Patent number: 9133769
    Abstract: In a gas turbine, an exhaust casing and an exhaust chamber are connected by an exhaust chamber support that can absorb thermal expansion, and the exhaust chamber and an exhaust duct are connected by an exhaust duct support that can absorb thermal expansion. An insulator is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the exhaust chamber, and the exhaust chamber support and the exhaust duct support are disposed outside the insulator in the form of a plurality of strips. Because the thermal stress at a connection portion of the exhaust chamber is reduced, the durability is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hashimoto, Kenichi Arase
  • Patent number: 9126691
    Abstract: An access door is provided in a housing for a gas turbine engine, with the access door being movable to an access position independent of any required movement of any cowl door or a fan duct door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cloft, Robert L. Gukeisen
  • Patent number: 9121348
    Abstract: A combustion device for hydrogen-rich gas is provided. Before entering a chamber, fuel and air are non-premixed for avoiding flushback. A vortex generator and a fuel sprayer are combined to mix fuel and air for enhancing burning effect. Vortex flame is generated with stabilizing aerodynamics of flow provided through vortex breakdown. A flameholder is formed downstream an injector to maintain stable combustion. Cooling air is introduced from a sheath to cool down a high-temperature gas, which leaves the combustion chamber and drives a turbine for turning a power generator. Thus, the present invention effectively mixes fuel and air, avoids flushback and prevents combustor damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH, ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, Executive Yuan, R.O.C.
    Inventors: Yau-Pin Chyou, Shenqyang Shy, Chien-Chia Liu, Chih-Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 9115668
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thrust reversal device (1) for a turbojet engine nacelle, characterized in that: (i) the movable cowl (3) is provided with at least one driving lead screw (30) having at least one peripheral groove over at least part of the length thereof, whereby said groove can engage with a stationary guide means (31) of the nacelle so as to rotate the lead screw during the translational movement of the movable cowl; and (ii) the lead screw is associated with at least one means for transmitting (32, 35, 36) the rotational movement thereof towards at least one drive system (33, 34, 25) of the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: AIRCELLE
    Inventor: Guy Bernard Vauchel
  • Patent number: 9109466
    Abstract: A diffuser (30) expanding a gas flow (F) upstream of a heat recovery steam generator (32) of a combined cycle power plant (34). An outer wall (44) of the diffuser includes a smoothly lofted backward facing step (46) effective to fix a location of a flow recirculation bubble (56) under conditions conducive to flow separation. The step has a varying step height (Hpeak, HvaIley) about a circumference of the step edge (62). The varying step height segments the recirculation bubble into small cells (66) located downstream of each peak (58) of the step height and reducing a reattachment length (L) of the bubble, thereby facilitating a reduction of the overall length of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kin Pong Lo, John K. Eaton