Patents by Inventor Douglas S. Byrd
Douglas S. Byrd 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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Publication number: 20110132571Abstract: A geothermal heat exchange system for use in a gas turbine power plant that includes an inlet plenum that directs a flow of air to a compressor that compresses a flow of air that is then mixed with a fuel and combusted in a combustor such that the resulting flow of hot gas is directed through a turbine, the geothermal heat exchange system comprising means for exchanging heat between a ground and the flow of air moving through the inlet plenum.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2009Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Hua Zhang, Douglas S. Byrd, David W. Ball, JR., Rahul J. Chillar
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Publication number: 20110131982Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
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Patent number: 7926256Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
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Publication number: 20110042836Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioning system (ACS) for conditioning the airstream entering an air-consuming machine, such as, but not limiting of, a gas turbine. Conditioning may be considered a process that adjusts at least one physical property of the airstream. The physical property may comprise: a wet-bulb temperature, a dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, density, or the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the major components of the ACS may be located in a single structure, which may be considered a module. Depending on the application of the ACS, multiple modules may be physically and/or operationally integrated on the air-consuming machine. An alternate embodiment of the ACS may comprise a module having multiples stages. Here, each stage may operate independently other stages. Furthermore, each stage may use a separate fluid from other stages.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2009Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Jianmin Zhang, Douglas S. Byrd, James P. Tomey
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Publication number: 20100307164Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an air conditioning system (ACS) for conditioning the airstream entering an air-breathing machine, such as, but not limiting of, a gas turbine. Conditioning may be considered a process that adjusts at least one physical property of the airstream. The physical property may comprise: a wet-bulb temperature, a dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, density, or the like. In an embodiment of the present invention, the major components of the ACS may be located in a single structure, which may be considered a module. Depending on the application of the ACS, multiple modules may be physically and/or operationally integrated on the air-breathing machine. An ACS may comprise a non-media conditioning system and a media conditioning system. An embodiment of the ACS may provide the flexibility of operating in either an evaporative system mode or a chilling system mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: December 9, 2010Inventors: Jianmin Zhang, Douglas S. Byrd, James P. Tomey
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Publication number: 20100288474Abstract: A method and systems for a purged seal for an annular space are provided. The purged seal includes a first baffle element that extends from an inner surface of the annular space into the annular space at an oblique angle and a second baffle element that extends from an outer surface of the annular space above the first baffle element in a direction opposite gravity flow into the annular space wherein the second baffle element extends at an oblique angle. The system also includes a third baffle element that extends from the inner surface above the first baffle element in a direction of gravity flow into the annular space wherein the third baffle element extends into the annular space at an oblique angle with respect to the inner surface and wherein a distal end of the third baffle element is positioned proximate a distal end of the second baffle element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2009Publication date: November 18, 2010Inventors: Constantin Dinu, James Michael Storey, Aaron John Avagliano, Douglas S. Byrd, Shaoping Shi, Judeth Brannon Corry, Allyson Joy Jimenez Huyke
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Publication number: 20100162708Abstract: An assembly for delivering a supply of liquid fuel and a supply of purge air to a gas turbine engine, the assembly comprising: an annular dual-flow check valve for controlling the flow through concentric channels that have a common outlet, the annular dual-flow check valve comprising: an outer body and an inner body that define the concentric channels, which include an outer channel and an inner channel formed therein; a spring activated annular poppet that resides in the outer channel and has a range of motion in the axial direction; and an opening through the inner body that connects the outer channel to the inner channel; wherein the axial movement of the annular poppet is regulated by the pressure of the flow upstream of the annular poppet in the outer channel; and the axial range of motion of the annular poppet includes at least two axial positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Dean M. Erickson, David W. Smith, Douglas S. Byrd, Hua Zhang, Daniel B. Holcombe
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Publication number: 20100163120Abstract: An annular dual-flow check valve for controlling the flow through concentric channels that have a common outlet, comprising: an outer body and an inner body that define the concentric channels, which include an outer channel and an inner channel formed therein; a spring activated annular poppet that resides in the outer channel and has a range of motion in the axial direction; and an opening through the inner body that connects the outer channel to the inner channel; wherein: the axial movement of the annular poppet is regulated by the pressure of the flow upstream of the annular poppet in the outer channel; and the axial range of motion of the annular poppet includes at least two axial positions: a closed position where the annular poppet substantially covers the opening and a open position where at least a portion of the opening is not covered by the annular poppet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Dean M. Erickson, Douglas S. Byrd
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Publication number: 20100101545Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2008Publication date: April 29, 2010Inventors: Sam D. Draper, Douglas S. Byrd, Carl G. Schott, Rahul J. Chillar, Amit S. Toprani
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Publication number: 20100040482Abstract: An ejector comprising a motive inlet, a motive nozzle separably secured to the motive inlet, a suction chamber about the motive nozzle, a suction fluid inlet to the suction chamber, a mixing tube in fluid communication with the suction chamber and the motive nozzle, a diffuser in fluid communication with the mixing tube and distal the suction chamber and the motive nozzle, and an outlet from the diffuser is provided. A nozzle comprising at least two concentric arc nozzle portions is also provided. An ejector comprising a mixing tube including a flexible layer adapted to compress or stretch, thereby allowing a mixing tube diameter to change is further provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kenneth Neil Whaling, Dean Matthew Erickson, Hua Zhang, David Wesley Ball, JR., James L. Davis, Michael Savale, Douglas S. Byrd
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Patent number: 7559701Abstract: A method for assembling a Fabry-Perot interferometer includes depositing a first metal layer on an end portion of a ferrule, depositing a second metal layer on a back portion of a die, placing the first metal layer and the second metal layer in contact with each other with respective first and second orifices aligned with respect to each other, and bonding the ferrule to the die by thermo compression. The resulting interferometer includes a glass die with a cavity, a silicon diaphragm disposed over the opening of the cavity and bonded to the glass die, a ferrule bonded to the glass die by thermo compression with the first and second orifices being aligned to each other, and an optical fiber inserted through the other end of the ferrule in direct contact to a back portion of the die and aligned with the first orifice.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2007Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Aaron Jay Knobloch, David Mulford Shaddock, David Richard Esler, Marco Francesco Aimi, Douglas S. Byrd, David Robert O'Connor, Stacey Joy Kennerly
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Publication number: 20090158735Abstract: A portion of the exhaust generated by a turbomachine is recirculated through an inlet portion by an exhaust gas recirculation system. The system reduces the level of constituents within the exhaust before the exhaust is recirculated. The turbomachine may be utilized to drive the exhaust gas through the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: Rahul J. Chillar, Douglas S. Byrd, Robert W. Tylor, Joel R. Hibshman II
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Publication number: 20080232745Abstract: A method for assembling a Fabry-Perot interferometer includes depositing a first metal layer on an end portion of a ferrule, depositing a second metal layer on a back portion of a die, placing the first metal layer and the second metal layer in contact with each other with respective first and second orifices aligned with respect to each other, and bonding the ferrule to the die by thermo compression. The resulting interferometer includes a glass die with a cavity, a silicon diaphragm disposed over the opening of the cavity and bonded to the glass die, a ferrule bonded to the glass die by thermo compression with the first and second orifices being aligned to each other, and an optical fiber inserted through the other end of the ferrule in direct contact to a back portion of the die and aligned with the first orifice.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2007Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Aaron Jay Knobloch, David Mulford Shaddock, David Richard Esler, Marco Francesco Aimi, Douglas S. Byrd, David Robert O'Connor, Stacey Joy Kennerly
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Patent number: 7178401Abstract: The accelerometer includes an inertial mass, a fixed base and at least one or more supports/sensors for supporting the mass from the base rendering the support system statically indeterminate. The supports/sensors are preferably double-ended dual beam tuning forks suspended between mounting pads and vibrated by an oscillator. By adding one or more supports/sensors beyond those supports/sensors necessary for a statically determinate support system, the support system is rendered statically indeterminate and therefore sensitive in one or more directions.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Douglas S. Byrd
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Patent number: 6842718Abstract: A portable auxiliary cooling system for cooling electrical power transformers is provided with an intelligent controller that is programmable for functioning in a plurality of different operational modes. A plurality of sensors monitor cooling system equipment operation, transformer top oil temperature and transformer current. The cooling system controller includes a user-interface panel, a modem and/or other digital communications circuitry, data storage memory and a computer or microprocessor that performs real-time heat removal rate computations and automatically controls heat pump and fan operation in response to the computed results. System performance data, sensor readings and alarm condition indications are indicated on a user-interface panel and may also be provided to a remote station or operator using conventional digital communication facilities.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Douglas S. Byrd, Thomas R. Anderson, Francis E. Ricard, Ken Lambach
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Publication number: 20040158428Abstract: A portable auxiliary cooling system for cooling electrical power transformers is provided with an intelligent controller that is programmable for functioning in a plurality of different operational modes. A plurality of sensors monitor cooling system equipment operation, transformer top oil temperature and transformer current. The cooling system controller includes a user-interface panel, a modem and/or other digital communications circuitry, data storage memory and a computer or microprocessor that performs real-time heat removal rate computations and automatically controls heat pump and fan operation in response to the computed results. System performance data, sensor readings and alarm condition indications are indicated on a user-interface panel and may also be provided to a remote station or operator using conventional digital communication facilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2003Publication date: August 12, 2004Inventors: Douglas S. Byrd, Thomas R. Anderson, Francis E. Ricard, Ken Lambach
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Patent number: 6612307Abstract: An oxygen conserver having sensing and delivery ports simultaneously connected with a patient by a dual cannula. Inhalation by a patient produces a partial vacuum to move a sensing diaphragm to a venting position and cause a delivery diaphragm to move to an open position for supplying oxygen to the patient through the delivery port. A manually operable control valve enables continuous oxygen flow through the delivery port independently of operation of the sensing diaphragm.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2001Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Western/Scott Fetzer CompanyInventor: Douglas S. Byrd
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Publication number: 20020073998Abstract: An oxygen conserver having sensing and delivery ports simultaneously connected with a patient by a dual cannula. Inhalation by a patient produces a partial vacuum to move a sensing diaphragm to a venting position and cause a delivery diaphragm to move to an open position for supplying oxygen to the patient through the delivery port. A manually operable control valve enables continuous oxygen flow through the delivery port independently of operation of the sensing diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2001Publication date: June 20, 2002Inventor: Douglas S. Byrd
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Patent number: 6158457Abstract: A gas pressure reduction apparatus has a high pressure inlet port and low pressure outlet port. A spring-biased piston is operatively interposed between the inlet and outlet ports. The apparatus includes a metal part with a high pressure passage communicating the inlet port with the piston. The high pressure passage has a portion with a relatively constricted flow area, whereby compression of gas flowing through the passage yields heat of compression that heats the metal part. The apparatus further includes a plastic part configured to engage and support the metal part in an operative position in which the inlet port communicates with an outlet port on a pressure vessel outlet valve.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1999Date of Patent: December 12, 2000Assignee: Western/Scott Fetzer CompanyInventors: Douglas S. Byrd, David R. Greene, Douglas A. Bosnik, Byron A. Crampton
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Patent number: 5906773Abstract: Significant savings of space inside a mass transfer tower can be obtained by use of a liquid distributor system with efficient uniform distribution from conduits such as troughs, pipes or deck distributors using flow spreader devices located predominantly below the conduit enabling closer spacing of liquid distribution points within the tower.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Norton CompanyInventors: Gail W. Hausch, Douglas S. Byrd