Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Gans

Bruce E. Gans 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: 5374129
    Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing support for a rotor includes a bearing, and a mounting for the bearing affording a clearance space between the rotor and the bearing. A hydrostatic feed pocket is carried by the mounting for receiving a fluid under pressure and supplying the fluid under pressure into the clearance space to provide a fluid film between the bearing and the mounting. A pump supplies fluid under pressure to the pocket. A pressure fluctuation damper is disposed between the pump and the pocket enabling the fluid to provide a bearing support having simultaneously a low dynamic stiffness for damping rotor vibration and a high static stiffness for locating the bearing relative to mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: John H. Vohr, Bruce E. Gans
  • Patent number: 5201585
    Abstract: An improved fluid film bearing having a squeeze film damper tailored to the dynamic vibration characteristics of a turbomachine. Compact cantilevered spring bars support the squeeze film damper and thin fluid film bearing surface against the rotor shaft. The spring bars fit compactly within the bearing. The squeeze film damper includes oil plenums that provide a reservoir of fluid and prevent air from entering the damper and thin fluid film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Gans, John H. Vohr
  • Patent number: 3934553
    Abstract: In a combined cycle power plant, gas turbine exhaust gas is passed through a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) wherein it may be reheated upstream from a boiler tube section prior to passing through the boiler tube section in a non-contact heat exchange relation with a feedwater supply to produce steam for driving a steam turbine. A plurality of air-atomized, liquid fuel wall burners are utilized, each in combination with a "vee"-shaped flameholder to heat the gas turbine exhaust gas. Each wall burner may be disposed in a recessed opening in the HRSG duct wall and each wall burner has a nozzle portion which may be directed upstream relative to the exhaust gas flow. Each flameholder is approximately parallel to its respective wall burner nozzle axis having one end fixed to the duct wall, upstream from the nozzle axis, and a free end disposed within the HRSG duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James M. Freeman, Jr., Bruce E. Gans, Sotiris Lambiris, Donald E. Woodmansee