Patents by Inventor Frank J. Ritz

Frank J. Ritz 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: 8528334
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine combustor including a catalyst coated surface forming a passage for feed gas flow and a channel for oxidant gas flow establishing an axial gas flow through a flow conditioner disposed at least partially within an inner wall of the injector. The flow conditioner includes a length with an interior passage opening into upstream and downstream ends for passage of the axial gas flow. An interior diameter of the interior passage smoothly reduces and then increases from upstream to downstream ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Partha Dutta, Kenneth O. Smith, Frank J. Ritz
  • Publication number: 20130125548
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine combustor including a catalyst coated surface forming a passage for feed gas flow and a channel for oxidant gas flow establishing an axial gas flow through a flow conditioner disposed at least partially within an inner wall of the injector. The flow conditioner includes a length with an interior passage opening into upstream and downstream ends for passage of the axial gas flow. An interior diameter of the interior passage smoothly reduces and then increases from upstream to downstream ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: SOLAR TURBINES INC.
    Inventors: Partha Dutta, Kenneth O. Smith, Frank J. Ritz
  • Publication number: 20080280238
    Abstract: A fuel injector and a combustor including a fuel injector that enables a combustor to burn a lean fuel/oxider gas mixture while providing low emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and a method of combustion. The fuel injector includes three fuel/oxider flow path channels. The first channel includes a flow balancing insert and provides a relatively straight flow. The second channel includes at least one angled vane that imparts a swirl to the flow. The third channel is a central tube, the first channel annularly surrounding the third channel, the second channel annularly surrounding the first channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth O. Smith, Waseem A. Nazeer, Frank J. Ritz