Patents by Inventor Brian Christopher Towle

Brian Christopher Towle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11920789
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an outer liner that at least partially defines a combustion chamber. The outer liner extends between an aft end and a forward end generally along an axial direction within an outer casing of the gas turbine engine. The outer liner includes an inner surface facing the combustion chamber and an outer surface facing away from the combustion chamber. The combustor assembly includes a radial damper assembly disposed against the outer liner at a plurality of circumferential points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Willard Marusko, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Patent number: 11898494
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a combustion section with a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end. A structural member is positioned in or around at least a portion of the combustion section. Additionally, a piston ring holder is provided attached to the structural member at a first end and positioned proximate to the aft end of the liner at a second end. The piston ring holder is a bimetallic member including a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Publication number: 20220205392
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a combustion section with a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end. A structural member is positioned in or around at least a portion of the combustion section. Additionally, a piston ring holder is provided attached to the structural member at a first end and positioned proximate to the aft end of the liner at a second end. The piston ring holder is a bimetallic member including a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Patent number: 11149646
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a combustion section with a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end. A structural member is positioned in or around at least a portion of the combustion section. Additionally, a piston ring holder is provided attached to the structural member at a first end and positioned proximate to the aft end of the liner at a second end. The piston ring holder is a bimetallic member including a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Publication number: 20210310657
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an outer liner that at least partially defines a combustion chamber. The outer liner extends between an aft end and a forward end generally along an axial direction within an outer casing of the gas turbine engine. The outer liner includes an inner surface facing the combustion chamber and an outer surface facing away from the combustion chamber. The combustor assembly includes a radial damper assembly disposed against the outer liner at a plurality of circumferential points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Willard Marusko, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Patent number: 10935242
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and combustor assembly is generally provided. The gas turbine engine may include an outer casing while the combustor assembly may include a liner and a damper assembly. The liner may at least partially define a combustion chamber extending between an aft end and a forward end generally along an axial direction within the outer casing. The liner may include an inner surface facing the combustion chamber and an outer surface facing away from the combustion chamber. The damper assembly may extend between the outer casing and the outer surface of the liner. The damper assembly may include a selectively separable support and damper spring. The damper spring may be disposed between the support and the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Willard Marusko, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Patent number: 10401030
    Abstract: Components and methods for forming components are provided. For example, a method for forming a component includes laying up a plurality of plies to form a component preform that defines an axis of symmetry and a circumferential direction. Laying up the plurality of plies includes overlapping ends of the plurality of plies to define overlap regions and offsetting the overlap regions along the circumferential direction such that any radial line drawn from the axis of symmetry through the plies passes through only one overlap region. In another embodiment, a component includes a body that is symmetric about an axis of symmetry and that defines a circumferential direction and a radial direction. The body is formed from a plurality of plies and has a substantially uniform thickness. Ends of the plurality of plies are overlapped to define a plurality of overlap regions, which are offset along the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle, Darrell Glenn Senile, Gregory Scott Phelps, Jeffrey Douglas Johnson
  • Publication number: 20190137101
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor assembly includes a liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber and extending between an aft end a forward end generally along an axial direction. The combustor assembly also includes an annular dome including an enclosed surface defining a slot for receipt of the forward end of the liner. A cap is positioned at the forward end of the liner and at least partially positioned within the slot defined by the enclosed surface of the annular dome. The cap includes a surface configured to contact at least one of the enclosed surface of the annular dome and the forward end of the liner. Such a configuration may form a substantially airtight seal between the forward end of the liner and the annular dome despite a relative thermal expansion between the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Daniel Kirtley, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle, Chad Holden Sutton
  • Patent number: 10197278
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor assembly includes a liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber and extending between an aft end a forward end generally along an axial direction. The combustor assembly also includes an annular dome including an enclosed surface defining a slot for receipt of the forward end of the liner. A cap is positioned at the forward end of the liner and at least partially positioned within the slot defined by the enclosed surface of the annular dome. The cap includes a surface configured to contact at least one of the enclosed surface of the annular dome and the forward end of the liner. Such a configuration may form a substantially airtight seal between the forward end of the liner and the annular dome despite a relative thermal expansion between the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Daniel Kirtley, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle, Chad Holden Sutton
  • Patent number: 10168051
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor assembly generally includes an annular dome and a liner. The liner at least partially defines a combustion chamber and includes the forward end received within a slot defined by the annular dome. A mounting assembly attaches the forward end of the liner to the annular dome. The mounting assembly includes a pin extending through the slot and the forward end of the annular dome. The mounting assembly also includes a grommet positioned in an opening in the forward end of the liner. The grommet is also positioned around the pin to protect the liner during operation of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Publication number: 20180017258
    Abstract: Components and methods for forming components are provided. For example, a method for forming a component includes laying up a plurality of plies to form a component preform that defines an axis of symmetry and a circumferential direction. Laying up the plurality of plies includes overlapping ends of the plurality of plies to define overlap regions and offsetting the overlap regions along the circumferential direction such that any radial line drawn from the axis of symmetry through the plies passes through only one overlap region. In another embodiment, a component includes a body that is symmetric about an axis of symmetry and that defines a circumferential direction and a radial direction. The body is formed from a plurality of plies and has a substantially uniform thickness. Ends of the plurality of plies are overlapped to define a plurality of overlap regions, which are offset along the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle, Darrell Glenn Senile, Gregory Scott Phelps, Jeffrey Douglas Johnson
  • Publication number: 20180010797
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and combustor assembly is generally provided. The gas turbine engine may include an outer casing while the combustor assembly may include a liner and a damper assembly. The liner may at least partially define a combustion chamber extending between an aft end and a forward end generally along an axial direction within the outer casing. The liner may include an inner surface facing the combustion chamber and an outer surface facing away from the combustion chamber. The damper assembly may extend between the outer casing and the outer surface of the liner. The damper assembly may include a selectively separable support and damper spring. The damper spring may be disposed between the support and the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Mark Willard Marusko, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle
  • Publication number: 20170059160
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor assembly includes a liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber and extending between an aft end a forward end generally along an axial direction. The combustor assembly also includes an annular dome including an enclosed surface defining a slot for receipt of the forward end of the liner. A cap is positioned at the forward end of the liner and at least partially positioned within the slot defined by the enclosed surface of the annular dome. The cap includes a surface configured to contact at least one of the enclosed surface of the annular dome and the forward end of the liner. Such a configuration may form a substantially airtight seal between the forward end of the liner and the annular dome despite a relative thermal expansion between the components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Daniel Kirtley, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle, Chad Holden Sutton
  • Publication number: 20170059166
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor assembly generally includes an annular dome and a liner. The liner at least partially defines a combustion chamber and includes the forward end received within a slot defined by the annular dome. A mounting assembly attaches the forward end of the liner to the annular dome. The mounting assembly includes a pin extending through the slot and the forward end of the annular dome. The mounting assembly also includes a grommet positioned in an opening in the forward end of the liner. The grommet is also positioned around the pin to protect the liner during operation of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas John BLOOM, Michael Alan STIEG, Brian Christopher TOWLE
  • Publication number: 20170058778
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a combustion section with a liner extending between a forward end and an aft end. A structural member is positioned in or around at least a portion of the combustion section. Additionally, a piston ring holder is provided attached to the structural member at a first end and positioned proximate to the aft end of the liner at a second end. The piston ring holder is a bimetallic member including a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle