Patents by Inventor Frederick Ehrwulf VAN ALEN

Frederick Ehrwulf VAN ALEN 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: 11788471
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • Publication number: 20220136442
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • Patent number: 11242801
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • Publication number: 20200102889
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • Patent number: 10473031
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf Van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • Patent number: 10428742
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and method of operation are provided. The gas turbine engine may include a variable geometry component operably driven by a component actuator. The component actuator may be in fluid communication with a primary line having a valve associated therewith. The method may include determining a demand pressure associated with actuating the variable geometry component using the component actuator. The method may also include adjusting a position of the valve based on the demand pressure to generate a fuel pressure at the component actuator that is greater than or equal to the demand pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Frederick Ehrwulf van Alen
  • Patent number: 9957891
    Abstract: Cooling flow recirculation in fuel manifolds, such as fuel manifolds associated with gas turbine engines is disclosed. An example system for jet pump driven recirculation of manifold cooling flow according to at least some aspects of the present disclosure may include a flow split valve having a spool valve disposed therein, the flow split valve having a pilot manifold and a main manifold attached thereto; a jet pump fluidically coupled to the pilot manifold, the jet pump being arranged to drive recirculation of a cooling flow through the main manifold via a cooling flow circuit in a pilot only mode of operation; and/or a fuel nozzle in fluid communication with the pilot manifold and the main manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Frederick Ehrwulf Van Alen
  • Publication number: 20170350323
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and method of operation are provided. The gas turbine engine may include a variable geometry component operably driven by a component actuator. The component actuator may be in fluid communication with a primary line having a valve associated therewith. The method may include determining a demand pressure associated with actuating the variable geometry component using the component actuator. The method may also include adjusting a position of the valve based on the demand pressure to generate a fuel pressure at the component actuator that is greater than or equal to the demand pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventor: Frederick Ehrwulf van Alen
  • Publication number: 20150089953
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing fuel leakage in a gas turbine engine are provided. A fuel accumulation system includes a control valve section fluidly coupled to a fuel manifold passage and an accumulator valve section fluidly coupled at a first side to the control valve section. The control valve section is configured to control expansion of a fluid flowing in the fuel manifold passage. The accumulator valve section is configured to receive fluid expanded in the fuel manifold passage via the control valve section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Allen Ellsworth, Frederick Ehrwulf Van Alen, Thomas Vander Ng
  • Publication number: 20130061599
    Abstract: Cooling flow recirculation in fuel manifolds, such as fuel manifolds associated with gas turbine engines is disclosed. An example system for jet pump driven recirculation of manifold cooling flow according to at least some aspects of the present disclosure may include a flow split valve having a spool valve disposed therein, the flow split valve having a pilot manifold and a main manifold attached thereto; a jet pump fluidically coupled to the pilot manifold, the jet pump being arranged to drive recirculation of a cooling flow through the main manifold via a cooling flow circuit in a pilot only mode of operation; and/or a fuel nozzle in fluid communication with the pilot manifold and the main manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Frederick Ehrwulf VAN ALEN