Patents by Inventor Gary Hildebrandt

Gary Hildebrandt 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).

  • Fuel control for starting a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 7481061
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel flow to a combustor (18) of a gas turbine engine (10) during startup of the engine includes determining a relationship between Cv and valve position for a flow control valve (e.g., 24) in a fuel supply (20) to the combustor as a function of at least one real time parameter of fuel (30) in the fuel supply. The method also includes determining a value of the at least one parameter of the fuel before initiating a flow of the fuel to the combustor, and then calculating a first actual Cv value for the flow control valve at a target flow rate using the determined value of the parameter. The method then includes positioning the flow control valve to a first position corresponding to the actual Cv value based upon the determined relationship between Cv and valve position, and initiating the flow of fuel to the combustor through the flow control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish B. Gadde, Damien G. Teehan, Jatinder P. Singh, Gary Hildebrandt, Danny W. Kozachuk, Joseph L. Kollar
  • Fuel control for starting a gas turbine engine
    Publication number: 20070101724
    Abstract: A method of controlling fuel flow to a combustor (18) of a gas turbine engine (10) during startup of the engine includes determining a relationship between Cv and valve position for a flow control valve (e.g., 24) in a fuel supply (20) to the combustor as a function of at least one real time parameter of fuel (30) in the fuel supply. The method also includes determining a value of the at least one parameter of the fuel before initiating a flow of the fuel to the combustor, and then calculating a first actual Cv value for the flow control valve at a target flow rate using the determined value of the parameter. The method then includes positioning the flow control valve to a first position corresponding to the actual Cv value based upon the determined relationship between Cv and valve position, and initiating the flow of fuel to the combustor through the flow control valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: Satish Gadde, Damien Teehan, Jatinder Singh, Gary Hildebrandt, Danny Kozachuk, Joseph Kollar