Patents by Inventor Edward C. Vickers

Edward C. Vickers 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: 6622383
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle including a nozzle stem having an annular overhang and a heat shield secured to the overhang is described. More specifically, and in one embodiment, the nozzle stem includes an upstream end and a downstream end. The annular overhang is intermediate to the upstream end and the downstream end of the stem. The heat shield includes a first end and a second end, and the heat shield is welded to the annular overhang at the heat shield first end. An annular air gap is between the nozzle stem and the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: George E. Moertle, Edward C. Vickers, Scott Brensike, Clifford S. Creevy, Peter W. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6220815
    Abstract: A retainer which, in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, is used in a gas turbine engine inter-stage seal assembly to retain an annular seal ring flange of a seal ring against an annular platform flange extending radially inwardly from an inner platform of an annular nozzle stage having nozzle vanes. The retainer includes a body having a central portion through which a bore is formed around a bore axis and a central tab extends radially outwardly from the central portion with respect to the bore axis. First and second arms, respectively, extend in opposite respective first and second tangential directions, with respect to the bore axis, away from the central portion and each other. Axial spacers extend aftwardly from first and second free ends of the first and second arms, respectively and anti-rotation feet with rounded ends depend from the first and second free ends in an opposite direction from which the central tab extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward A. Rainous, Daniel J. Barber, Edward C. Vickers, Gregory P. Maue, William E. Cody, Sharon L. Yee, Kevin W. McMahan
  • Patent number: 6149075
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle including a nozzle stem having an annular overhang and a heat shield secured to the overhang is described. More specifically, and in one embodiment, the nozzle stem includes an upstream end and a downstream end. The annular overhang is intermediate to the upstream end and the downstream end of the stem. The heat shield includes a first end and a second end, and the heat shield is welded to the annular overhang at the heat shield first end. An annular air gap is between the nozzle stem and the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George E. Moertle, Edward C. Vickers, Scott Brensike, Clifford S. Creevy, Peter W. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5630319
    Abstract: A dome assembly for a multiple annular combustor is disclosed as including an annular dome plate having at least two radial domes, wherein each of the radial domes include a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein. A heat shield is positioned within each of the openings, with a threaded forward end located upstream of the dome plate and an aft end located downstream of the dome plate. A retainer nut with threads formed on an annular surface thereof is matingly engagable with the forward end of each heat shield. When the retainer nut is tightened onto the heat shield forward end, the heat shield is mechanically attached to the dome plate. Preferably, at least one centerbody extends axially downstream from either the radially outer or inner side of the aft end. The dome assembly includes a ferrule within each of the dome plate openings for receiving an air/fuel mixer therein, the ferrule having an annular sealing flange extending radially therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jan C. Schilling, Edward C. Vickers
  • Patent number: 4679400
    Abstract: Means for axially attaching a variable turbine vane array to a combustor in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The attachment means are configured so that substantially all of the axial load on the array is transmitted through the walls of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James S. Kelm, Harvey M. Maclin, Edward C. Vickers, Thomas G. Wakeman
  • Patent number: 4534166
    Abstract: A swirler for a gas turbine engine combustor is disclosed for simultaneously controlling combustor flow rate, swirl angle, residence time and fuel-air ratio to provide three regimes of operation. A first regime is provided in which fuel-air ratio is less than stoichiometric, NOx is produced at one level, and combustor flow rate is high. In a second regime, fuel-air ratio is nearly stoichiometric, NOx production is less than that of the first regime, and combustor flow rate is low. In a third regime, used for example at lightoff, fuel-air ratio is greater than stoichiometric and the combustor flow rate is less than in either of the other regimes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: James S. Kelm, Edward C. Vickers, Jesse J. Williams, Jack R. Taylor