Patents by Inventor David William Cihlar
David William Cihlar 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).
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Patent number: 11092341Abstract: A process includes manufacturing a gas turbine fuel injector body having a stub flange extending radially outward about a circumference of the gas turbine fuel injector body. The stub flange is sized to engage a stepped ledge along a central opening of a mounting flange. The central opening is sized to receive the gas turbine fuel injector body. A gas turbine fuel injector includes a gas turbine fuel injector body and a mounting flange. A method of mounting a gas turbine fuel injector includes placing a stub flange of a gas turbine fuel injector body between a surface of an injector boss and a stepped ledge of a mounting flange. The method also includes securing the gas turbine fuel injector to the injector boss with a plurality of bolts, each bolt extending through a mounting hole in the mounting flange and into a threaded hole in the injector boss.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Benjamin Lamar Daniel, Kassy Moy Hart, David William Cihlar, Steven Charles Woods, Jonathan Glenn Reed
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Patent number: 10436450Abstract: A staged injector in a combustor of a gas turbine. The staged injector may include an injector tube comprising a lateral wall enclosing an injection passageway that extends between an outlet and inlet. An outboard segment of the injector tube may include an exterior face. A cover may be formed about the outboard segment so form a surrounding plenum. The cover may include a side wall that radially overlaps the outboard segment and forms a first portion of the surrounding plenum therebetween. A ceiling wall of the cover may form a second portion of the surrounding plenum. A screening plate may be formed within the side wall of the cover that includes a multitude of apertures configured to fluidly connect the first portion of the surrounding plenum with a feed cavity formed exterior to the side wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Crawley, David William Cihlar, Jun Cai
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Patent number: 10422533Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for a combustor including an axially staged fuel injector includes an injector body having an inner wall and a boss that is rigidly connected to the injector body the boss includes an inner wall. The inner wall of the boss and the inner wall of the injector body together define a flow passage of the fuel injector assembly. The injector body defines an inlet to the flow passage and the boss defines an outlet of the flow passage.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jun Cai, David William Cihlar, Hasan Karim
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Patent number: 10344978Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a combustor having an annularly shaped liner that at least partially defines a hot gas path of the combustor. A flow sleeve circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the liner. The flow sleeve is radially spaced from the liner to form a cooling flow annulus therebetween. A bluff body extends radially between the flow sleeve and the liner through the cooling flow annulus. A guide vane is disposed within the cooling flow annulus and extends between the flow sleeve and the liner proximate to the bluff body.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew Grady Godfrey, Christopher Paul Willis, David William Cihlar, David Philip Porzio
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Patent number: 10309653Abstract: A bundled tube fuel nozzle includes a forward plate, a first intermediate plate and an outer sleeve defining a fuel plenum, a second intermediate plate axially spaced from the first intermediate plate where the first intermediate plate, the second intermediate plate and the outer sleeve define a purge air plenum, an aft plate axially spaced from the second intermediate plate where the second intermediate plate, the aft plate and the outer sleeve define a cooling air plenum and an annular wall that extends from the second intermediate plate to the aft plate. The annular wall defines a cooling flow channel within the bundled tube fuel nozzle. A plurality of apertures is defined proximate to a cool side of the aft plate and provide for fluid communication between the cooling flow channel and the cooling air plenum.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, David William Cihlar, Timothy James Purcell
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Patent number: 10228141Abstract: An axial fuel staging (AFS) system for a combustor is provided. The AFS system includes a secondary fuel injector, an injector housing surrounding the secondary fuel injector, and a conduit assembly in flow communication with the secondary fuel injector. The conduit assembly includes a first conduit for conveying fuel to the secondary fuel injector, and a second conduit circumscribing the first conduit such that a channel is defined between the first conduit and the second conduit. The first conduit and the second conduit terminate within the injector housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David William Cihlar, Christopher Paul Willis, Marissa Ann Singley, Jonathan Glenn Reed
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Patent number: 10228140Abstract: A gas-only cartridge for a fuel nozzle includes a flange that defines a plurality of apertures for receiving a gaseous fuel, an outer tube that is coupled to the flange and an inner tube that extends axially within the outer tube. The inner tube and the outer tube define a fuel passage therebetween and the fuel passage is in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures of the flange. A fuel distribution tip is disposed at a downstream end of the gas-only cartridge and defines a plurality of fuel ports circumferentially spaced along and annularly arranged about an outer surface of the fuel distribution tip. The fuel ports are in fluid communication with the fuel passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, William David York
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Patent number: 10203114Abstract: A sleeve assembly for a combustion system is provided. The sleeve assembly includes a liner defining a combustion chamber having a flow axis and a primary combustion zone. The liner has a forward end and an aft end such that the liner circumscribes the flow axis. The sleeve assembly also includes a shell circumscribing the liner such that a cooling duct is defined between the liner and the shell. The shell includes a unisleeve having a forward end and an aft end. The aft end of the unisleeve is positioned axially upstream of the aft end of the liner, defining a gap between the aft end of the liner and the aft end of the unisleeve. The unisleeve is mounted to the liner at circumferentially spaced locations along an axial plane between the forward end and the aft end of the unisleeve.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David William Cihlar, Jonathan Hale Kegley, Andrew Grady Godfrey, Christopher Paul Willis
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Publication number: 20180209651Abstract: A fuel injector assembly for a combustor including an axially staged fuel injector includes an injector body having an inner wall and a boss that is rigidly connected to the injector body the boss includes an inner wall. The inner wall of the boss and the inner wall of the injector body together define a flow passage of the fuel injector assembly. The injector body defines an inlet to the flow passage and the boss defines an outlet of the flow passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Jun Cai, David William Cihlar, Hasan Karim
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Publication number: 20180202663Abstract: A process includes manufacturing a gas turbine fuel injector body having a stub flange extending radially outward about a circumference of the gas turbine fuel injector body. The stub flange is sized to engage a stepped ledge along a central opening of a mounting flange. The central opening is sized to receive the gas turbine fuel injector body. A gas turbine fuel injector includes a gas turbine fuel injector body and a mounting flange. A method of mounting a gas turbine fuel injector includes placing a stub flange of a gas turbine fuel injector body between a surface of an injector boss and a stepped ledge of a mounting flange. The method also includes securing the gas turbine fuel injector to the injector boss with a plurality of bolts, each bolt extending through a mounting hole in the mounting flange and into a threaded hole in the injector boss.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Benjamin Lamar DANIEL, Kassy Moy HART, David William CIHLAR, Steven Charles WOODS, Jonathan Glenn REED
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Publication number: 20180163968Abstract: A combustor includes an inlet flow conditioner having a sleeve and a conditioner plate. The conditioner plate defines a plurality of apertures. The sleeve extends axially from the conditioner plate to a forward plate of a nozzle segment. The sleeve, the conditioner plate and the forward plate define an inlet flow plenum. The inlet flow plenum is in fluid communication with an inlet of a tube that defines a premix passage of the nozzle segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Donald Mark Bailey, David William Cihlar, Lucas John Stoia
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Patent number: 9803555Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine combustor is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel tube and an attachment assembly. The fuel tube extends from a downstream injector (e.g., a late lean injector) towards a mounting ring of the combustor and is moveably attached to the mounting ring using the attachment assembly. Accordingly, the exemplary fuel delivery system may provide fuel to a downstream injector while accommodating a thermal expansion or contraction of the fuel tube along an axial direction of the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Joseph Rohrssen, David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
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Publication number: 20170268776Abstract: The present disclosure is directed a combustor. The combustor includes an annularly shaped liner having a downstream end that is rigidly connected to an aft frame. A flow sleeve circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the liner and is radially spaced from the liner to form a cooling flow annulus therebetween. A plurality of fuel injector assemblies is circumferentially spaced about the flow sleeve. Each fuel injector assembly extends radially through the flow sleeve and the liner. Each fuel injector assembly is rigidly connected to the flow sleeve and to the liner. An aft portion of the flow sleeve terminates axially short of the aft frame to form an axial gap between the aft end and the aft frame to allow for unrestrained axial expansion and contraction of the aft end.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Christopher Paul Willis, David William Cihlar, Jonathan Hale Kegley, Andrew Grady Godfrey, David Philip Porzio
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Publication number: 20170268784Abstract: A staged injector in a combustor of a gas turbine. The staged injector may include an injector tube comprising a lateral wall enclosing an injection passageway that extends between an outlet and inlet. An outboard segment of the injector tube may include an exterior face. A cover may be formed about the outboard segment so form a surrounding plenum. The cover may include a side wall that radially overlaps the outboard segment and forms a first portion of the surrounding plenum therebetween. A ceiling wall of the cover may form a second portion of the surrounding plenum. A screening plate may be formed within the side wall of the cover that includes a multitude of apertures configured to fluidly connect the first portion of the surrounding plenum with a feed cavity formed exterior to the side wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Carolyn Ashley Crawley, David William Cihlar, Jun Cai
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Publication number: 20170268783Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for mounting an axially staged fuel injector assembly. The system includes an annularly shaped liner that at least partially defines a hot gas path of a combustor. The liner defines an injector opening that extends radially through the liner. A flow sleeve circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the liner and is radially spaced from the liner to form a cooling flow annulus therebetween. An annular injector boss extends radially from the liner through the flow sleeve. The injector boss includes a first end portion that extends circumferentially about the injector opening and a second end portion that is disposed radially outwardly from an outer surface of the flow sleeve. The injector boss is formed to receive a fuel injector. The present disclosure is also directed to a method for mounting an axially staged fuel injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: David William Cihlar, Jonathan Hale Kegley, Christopher Paul Willis, Jonathan Glenn Reed
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Publication number: 20170268779Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a combustor having an annularly shaped liner that at least partially defines a hot gas path of the combustor. A flow sleeve circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the liner. The flow sleeve is radially spaced from the liner to form a cooling flow annulus therebetween. A bluff body extends radially between the flow sleeve and the liner through the cooling flow annulus. A guide vane is disposed within the cooling flow annulus and extends between the flow sleeve and the liner proximate to the bluff body.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Andrew Grady Godfrey, Christopher Paul Willis, David William Cihlar, David Philip Porzio
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Publication number: 20170254537Abstract: A sleeve assembly for a combustion system is provided. The sleeve assembly includes a liner defining a combustion chamber having a flow axis and a primary combustion zone. The liner has a forward end and an aft end such that the liner circumscribes the flow axis. The sleeve assembly also includes a shell circumscribing the liner such that a cooling duct is defined between the liner and the shell. The shell includes a unisleeve having a forward end and an aft end. The aft end of the unisleeve is positioned axially upstream of the aft end of the liner, defining a gap between the aft end of the liner and the aft end of the unisleeve. The unisleeve is mounted to the liner at circumferentially spaced locations along an axial plane between the forward end and the aft end of the unisleeve.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: David William Cihlar, Jonathan Hale Kegley, Andrew Grady Godfrey, Christopher Paul Willis
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Publication number: 20170254539Abstract: A bundled tube fuel nozzle includes a forward plate, a first intermediate plate and an outer sleeve defining a fuel plenum, a second intermediate plate axially spaced from the first intermediate plate where the first intermediate plate, the second intermediate plate and the outer sleeve define a purge air plenum, an aft plate axially spaced from the second intermediate plate where the second intermediate plate, the aft plate and the outer sleeve define a cooling air plenum and an annular wall that extends from the second intermediate plate to the aft plate. The annular wall defines a cooling flow channel within the bundled tube fuel nozzle. A plurality of apertures is defined proximate to a cool side of the aft plate and provide for fluid communication between the cooling flow channel and the cooling air plenum.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, David William Cihlar, Timothy James Purcell
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Publication number: 20170254542Abstract: An axial fuel staging (AFS) system for a combustor is provided. The AFS system includes a secondary fuel injector, an injector housing surrounding the secondary fuel injector, and a conduit assembly in flow communication with the secondary fuel injector. The conduit assembly includes a first conduit for conveying fuel to the secondary fuel injector, and a second conduit circumscribing the first conduit such that a channel is defined between the first conduit and the second conduit. The first conduit and the second conduit terminate within the injector housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: David William Cihlar, Christopher Paul Willis, Marissa Ann Singley, Jonathan Glenn Reed
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Publication number: 20170241644Abstract: A gas-only cartridge for a fuel nozzle includes a flange that defines a plurality of apertures for receiving a gaseous fuel, an outer tube that is coupled to the flange and an inner tube that extends axially within the outer tube. The inner tube and the outer tube define a fuel passage therebetween and the fuel passage is in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures of the flange. A fuel distribution tip is disposed at a downstream end of the gas-only cartridge and defines a plurality of fuel ports circumferentially spaced along and annularly arranged about an outer surface of the fuel distribution tip. The fuel ports are in fluid communication with the fuel passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, William David York