Patents Examined by Vikansha Dwivedi
  • Patent number: 9228537
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for flowing fluid through a passageway block. In one embodiment, a passageway block comprises a first passage and a second passage, each of the first passage and the second passage including inlets and outlets to the passageway block, none of the inlets and outlets being concentric with one another; but within the passageway block, for at least a portion, a third passage concentrically surrounds the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neil Xavier Blythe, Harsha Vardhana
  • Patent number: 9225207
    Abstract: Teeth-shaped portions 11b of a magnet 11 are formed in such a way that a part of the plane of projection of each of the teeth-shaped portions protrudes in a circumferential direction with respect to that of one of teeth 8b and 9b which is viewed from an axial direction of a first stator core 8 and a second stator core 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideaki Arita, Takashi Goto
  • Patent number: 9206733
    Abstract: A turbocharger pressurizes an airflow for delivery to an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block, a cylinder head, and an oil supply passage formed in at least one of the cylinder block and the cylinder head. The turbocharger includes a bearing housing having a mounting flange for direct mounting to one of the cylinder block and the cylinder head to thereby establish fluid communication with the oil supply passage. The bearing housing also includes a journal bearing, a thrust bearing assembly, and a rotating assembly. The mounting flange defines an oil feed opening configured to correspond to an oil supply passage in one of the cylinder block and the cylinder head and to direct oil to the journal bearing and the thrust bearing assembly when the mounting flange is attached to the engine. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Richard Lee Balsley, II
  • Patent number: 9200571
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a flange and a pre-mix tube. The flange includes a first end that is configured to couple to an end cover of the combustor, and a second end that is opposite said first end. The pre-mix tube is coupled at a first end to the flange second end. The flange and the pre-mix tube are fabricated to operate at a natural frequency that is different from an operating frequency of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, Scott R. Simmons, Marcus B. Huffman
  • Patent number: 9194340
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cycle piston engine power system in which a compression ignition or spark ignition reciprocating piston engine is made non-emissive via a semi-closed cycle, in a manner which produces saleable CO2 product at pressure. The cycle piston engine power system can includes, among other elements, a piston engine for generating power and exhaust gas; a water cooling and separation unit which receives the exhaust gas and cools and removes water from the exhaust gas to create CO2 gas supply; a mixing pressure vessel which receives at least a portion of the CO2 gas supply from the water cooling and separation unit and mixes the CO2 gas supply with oxygen to create a working fluid to be provided to the piston engine; and an oxygen generator for providing oxygen to the mixing pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Enhanced Energy Group LLC
    Inventor: Paul M. Dunn
  • Patent number: 9181874
    Abstract: A turbine may include a turbine housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and defining a housing interior space configured to be subjected to a through-flow of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine. A turbine rotor may be rotatably mounted in the turbine housing about an axis of rotation defining an axial direction. An exhaust gas sensor may be arranged in a measurement space of the turbine housing the exhaust gas sensor configured to determine at least one part of a gas component of the exhaust gas carried in the turbine housing. A feed line may be arranged in the turbine housing having a feed opening and a discharge line arranged in the turbine housing having a discharge opening for feeding and discharging exhaust gas at least one of in and out of the measurement space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: BOSCH MAHLE TURBO SYSTEMS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Marc Brueck, Sascha Klett, Martin Rauscher, Hartmut Weiss
  • Patent number: 9181873
    Abstract: A method is provided for CO2 separation from a combined-cycle power plant with exhaust-gas recirculation and CO2 separation. The hot-gas flow is split into a recirculation flow and an exhaust-gas flow before the final turbine stage in the turbine. A first partial flow remains in the turbine and carries out expansion work in the conventional form, before its waste heat is dissipated, for example in a waste-heat boiler, and the gases are recirculated into the inlet flow of the gas turbine. A second partial flow is diverted before the final turbine stage, and emits its waste heat in an HRSG/heat exchanger, before CO2 is separated from the exhaust-gas flow at an increased pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jürgen Hoffmann, Hans Peter Knopfel, Hans E. Wettstein
  • Patent number: 9175629
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a suitable engine torque response during a transient condition is presented. In one example, when a desired inlet manifold pressure is greater than a throttle inlet pressure of a first throttle, a second throttle positioned upstream from the first throttle is opened to increase the throttle inlet pressure. The method may provide an appropriate torque response while minimizing impact on fuel economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Matthew John Gerhart, Julia Helen Buckland, Suzanne Kay Wait, Michael Howard Shelby, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, John Eric Rollinger, Gopichandra Surnilla, Naginder Gogna
  • Patent number: 9163560
    Abstract: A method is provided for switching over a gas turbine burner operation from liquid fuel to gas fuel and vice-versa, with the burner comprising nozzles for feeding a premixed gas fuel, nozzles for injecting a pilot gas fuel and nozzles for injecting a liquid fuel. According to the method, while the liquid fuel and the premix gas fuel are regulated to switch over from liquid fuel to gas fuel operation or vice-versa, the pilot gas fuel is controlled at a substantially constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Thiemo Meeuwissen, Stanka Kokanovic, Susanne Renate Schell, Rudolf Lachner
  • Patent number: 9151171
    Abstract: A hot gas path system for a gas turbine including a stepped inlet ring at an intersection between a downstream end of a combustor basket and an upstream end of a transition is disclosed. The heat shield may be positioned downstream from a combustor basket and proximate to an intersection between the collar and the axially extending cylindrical wall. The stepped inlet ring may be coupled to the transition section and may extend upstream from the transition section. An upstream end of the stepped inlet ring may be positioned radially outward from the combustor basket such that at least a portion of the stepped inlet ring overlaps a portion of the combustor basket. A spring clip may be positioned between the combustor basket and the stepped inlet ring such that the spring clip seals at least a portion of a gap between the combustor basket and the stepped inlet ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Muzaffer Sutcu, Timothy A. Fox, William R. Ryan
  • Patent number: 9151489
    Abstract: An electrolytic power plant using an electrolysis device which requires one part of the electric energy which is produced by the power plant. The electrolysis device forms a variable load for the constant control network frequency and produces hydrogen and oxygen. The power plant has an oxygen pump, a buffer container, an oxygen distribution line, and an oxygen pump that are used for the accumulated oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: STEAG New Energies GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Dengel, Heinz-Kurt Dörr
  • Patent number: 9151182
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of removing heat from internal areas of a turbomachine. Embodiments of the present invention may incorporate a suction device and a control system. Operatively, these elements may collectively discharge remnants of a heated fluid and/or gas from those internal areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Harold Edward Miller
  • Patent number: 9127693
    Abstract: To include a cooling passage leading from a latter stage of a compressor, via an external cooler, to a hollow part provided in a load coupling that couples a rotor of the compressor and a rotor of a turbine to each other, and also leading from the hollow part to the latter stage of the compressor, and a centrifugal compressor that raises air pressure in the hollow part with rotation of the load coupling, in the hollow part. Therefore, pressure of the air in the hollow part is raised by the centrifugal compressor by using a centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the load coupling at the time of operating the gas turbine. Cooled air flows from the hollow part to between compressor rotor blades and compressor vanes at the latter stage, and then flows into the hollow part, thereby enabling to efficiently reduce temperature in the hollow part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hashimoto, Kenichi Arase
  • Patent number: 9121309
    Abstract: A gas turbine including at least one compressor, one combustion chamber, and at least one turbine including at least one rotor and at least one generator coupled to the at least one rotor is provided. The at least one turbine is coupled to the at least one compressor. Once the gas turbine is shut down, the at least one generator can be used as a motor in order to drive the at least one rotor for a predetermined time period following shutdown of the gas turbine and thereby effect a uniform cooling of the rotor. A method of operating a gas turbine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Geiger
  • Patent number: 9121403
    Abstract: A door assembly that includes a receptacle for a pump cassette can be closed to position the cassette into contact with a control assembly for operating the pump cassette. A force assembly having a movable member is capable of applying force to the pump cassette to press the pump cassette against the control assembly. The movable member may be an expandable member, such as a bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Richard J. Lanigan, James D. Dale
  • Patent number: 9109513
    Abstract: A loss of heat that can be recovered in a heat recovery steam generator is eliminated, whereby a combined cycle electric power generation plant with high heat recovery efficiency is provided. A combined cycle electric power generation plant is adopted that includes a heat recovery steam generator 30 that generates steam for driving a steam turbine 20 using heat of exhaust gas of a gas turbine 10, a cooling air cooler 71 that causes high-pressure feed water supplied from a low-pressure economizer 37 of the heat recovery steam generator 30 and compressed air for turbine cooling extracted from a compressor 11 of the gas turbine 10 to perform heat exchange to heat the high-pressure feed water to thereby cool the compressed air, and a fuel gas heater 72 that causes the compressed air cooled in the cooling air cooler 71 and a fuel gas of the gas turbine 10 to perform heat exchange to further cool the compressed air to thereby heat the fuel gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Issaku Fujita, Toru Osone, Kazuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9097140
    Abstract: A ventilation arrangement for an annular cavity located about the core engine of a gas turbine, the annular cavity having an axis and an inner wall located about the axis and an outer wall radially spaced from the inner wall, the outer wall being interposed between the cavity and an engine bypass duct. The ventilation arrangement comprises a plurality of ventilation ducts passing through said outer wall and providing for fluid communication between the bypass duct and the cavity and a flow diverter arranged at an oblique angle to a radial alignment with said axis so as to induce in the ventilation flow from said ducts a vortical flow within the cavity about the inner wall such that said vortical flow has a vortex width of magnitude substantially equal to that of a diameter of the annular cavity. The ducts may be shaped to provide the flow diverter. The internal geometry of the ducts may provide for a sudden expansion to control the exit profile of the flow into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Zahid M. Hussain
  • Patent number: 9091170
    Abstract: A one-stage stator vane cooling structure consisting of: a plurality of linking members that are provided between a plurality of combustors disposed in the circumferential direction of a gas turbine; and cooling holes that are provided in each of the one-stage stator vanes to discharge a cooling gas from the inside to the outside of the one-stage stator vanes in order to cool the one-stage stator vanes on the periphery of the stagnation line of the combustion gas flowing in from the plurality of combustors; in which the cooling holes are formed at positions that are determined according to the relative positions of the one-stage stator vanes and the linking members disposed near the one-stage stator vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuro Sakamoto, Eisaku Ito
  • Patent number: 9068508
    Abstract: A mounting method and system for supporting and positioning an internal fuel manifold relative to a combustor in a fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine. The method includes positioning the fuel manifold within a gas generator casing, applying a heat shield around a radially extending fuel inlet connected to the fuel manifold, and using the heat shield to at least partially support the fuel manifold within the gas generator casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jason Fish, Bryan Olver
  • Patent number: 9068535
    Abstract: A variable flow valve with position feedback is disclosed. The variable flow valve includes a housing having an inlet port and a discharge port and one or more control ports, and also includes a piston connected to a primary valve to open and close fluid communication between an inlet port and a discharge port of the housing. The housing and the piston intermesh to define an inner chamber and an outer chamber each in fluid communication with its own control port. A control port valve opens and closes at least one of the control ports to control access to a source of pressure change. A position sensor is part of the position feedback and communicates the position of the primary valve, relative to the discharge port, to a controller that operates the control port valve to hold the primary valve in a position where the discharge port is partially open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Dayco IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Graichen, Dave Fletcher, Craig Markyvech