Patents by Inventor Clifford E. Johnson

Clifford E. Johnson 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).

  • Publication number: 20090084100
    Abstract: A combustor assembly is provided comprising a combustor casing; a liner coupled to the combustor casing; a burner assembly coupled to the combustor casing; and at least one resonator assembly. The resonator assembly comprises a resonator outer plate having at least one opening, a resonator side wall coupled to the resonator outer plate, and a resonator inner plate defined by a portion of the liner. The resonator inner plate is coupled to the resonator side wall and has at least one slot formed therein having an aspect ratio of at least 4:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS POWER GENERATION, INC.
    Inventors: Clifford E. Johnson, Joachim Lepers, Samer P. Wasif
  • Patent number: 7503177
    Abstract: A method for monitoring combustion dynamics of a can annular combustor (12) of a gas turbine engine includes monitoring respective dynamic operating conditions of cans (16) of the can annular combustor with respective dynamic operating condition sensors (20) associated with each of the cans. The method also includes grouping the cans into two or more groups according to their respective dynamic operating conditions and identifying a sensor providing an anomalous dynamic operating condition reading for at least one of the cans. The method further includes determining a need to service the identified sensor according to the associated can's group membership.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Bland, Clifford E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7413053
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to an acoustic resonator with improved impingement cooling effectiveness. The resonator includes a plate with an inside face and an outside face. A plurality of passages extend through the plate. The resonator includes a side wall that extends from and about the plate. A plurality of cooling tubes are attached to the resonator plate such that an inner passage of each cooling tube is in fluid communication with a respective passage in the resonator plate. The resonator can be secured to a surface of a turbine engine combustor component to define a closed cavity. The ends of the cooling tubes are spaced from the surface. Thus, a coolant can enter the passages in the plate and can be directed to the surface so as to impingement cool the surface. The cooling tubes can minimize coolant loss by dispersion in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: Samer P. Wasif, Clifford E. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080041058
    Abstract: One or more Helmholtz-type resonators (270) is/are provided at the junction (260) of a combustor (220) and a combustion chamber (240) of a gas turbine engine (100). In one embodiment, adjacent Helmholtz-type resonators (290, 291, 292), which may be separated by respective baffles (285), have different volumes that help provide for damping different undesired combustion-generated acoustic pressure waves. In some embodiments, a structural member (435) may be provided between adjacent Helmholtz-type resonators (425, 426, 427, 428) at the junction. At least one of the plurality of Helmholtz-type resonators comprises one or more inlet openings (480), and one or more exit openings (482). Embodiments (370, 425-429) are described in which Helmholtz-type resonators provided at the junction are enlarged in size using various approaches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Clifford E. Johnson, Samer P. Wasif
  • Patent number: 4207691
    Abstract: An off-highway earth-moving vehicle of the scraper type which includes a tractor section and scraper section interconnected by a draft frame providing rolling rigidity, each section having a pair of ground-engaging wheels. A floating axle assembly is provided on the tractor section permitting independent movement of the tractor wheels in the following of ground contours. The scraper section is driven by a prime mover having a torque converter for coupling to the rear axle. The prime mover, in addition, drives an AC synchronous generator which is electrically connected to an induction motor in the tractor section. The motor in turn is drivingly coupled, via a second torque converter, to the tractor wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: John H. Hyler, Walter E. Lott, Clifford E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4207692
    Abstract: An off-highway earth-moving vehicle of the scraper type which includes a tractor section and scraper section interconnected by a draft frame providing rolling rigidity, each section having a pair of ground-engaging wheels. A floating axle assembly is provided on the tractor section permitting independent movement of the tractor wheels in the following of ground contours. The scraper section is driven by a first engine having a first torque converter coupled to the scraper wheels. The tractor section is driven by a second engine having a second torque converter coupled to the tractor wheels. The sections of the vehicle are so proportioned in size and weight that the weight applied to the scraper wheels under both loaded and unloaded conditions is approximately twice the weight applied to the tractor wheels and the torque converters in the sections are so proportioned that at normal operating engine r.p.m. the power supplied to the scraper wheels is approximately twice the power supplied to the tractor wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: John H. Hyler, Walter E. Lott, Clifford E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 3934361
    Abstract: An idler construction for an elevator used for earth moving purposes at the front of a scraper bowl, the elevator having a frame which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the region of the scraper blade supporting a pair of endless chains with transversely arranged flights. The chains are driven at the upper end of the frame and trained about rollers at the lower end so that the flights sweep the loosened soil backwardly into the bowl. Idler wheels are mounted upon brackets intermediate the ends of the frame members for supporting the return runs of the respective chains in a shallow apex spaced from the elevator frame, the idlers being coaxial and alined with the chains and having cylindrically surfaced rims of durable resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Clifford E. Johnson, Dale O. Freeburg, John H. Hyler