Patents by Inventor Heath Michael Ostebee

Heath Michael Ostebee 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: 9316397
    Abstract: A system including a multi-tube fuel nozzle, including a first plate having a first plurality of openings, a plurality of tubes extending through the first plurality of openings in the first plate, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet, and a resilient metallic seal disposed along the first plate about the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9309809
    Abstract: Additive manufacturing techniques may be utilized to construct effusion plates. Such additive manufacturing techniques may include defining a configuration for an effusion plate having one or more internal cooling channels. The manufacturing techniques may further include depositing a powder into a chamber, applying an energy source to the deposited powder, and consolidating the powder into a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the defined configuration. Such methods may be implemented to construct an effusion plate having one or more channels with a curved cross-sectional geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee, Daniel Gerritt Wegerif
  • Patent number: 9303873
    Abstract: A system including a plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles each having a plurality of tubes extending in an axial direction, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet, and a fuel nozzle housing, including an outer wall extending circumferentially about a central axis, a plurality of radial walls extending from the outer wall inwardly toward the central axis, a plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles disposed within the outer wall, wherein the plurality of radial walls separate the plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles from one another, and the plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles are disposed in the plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles a mounting structure including a plurality of radial support arms extending outwardly from the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9291352
    Abstract: A system including a multi-tube fuel nozzle, including a plurality of tubes extending in an axial direction relative to a central axis of the multi-tube fuel nozzle, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet; and an inlet flow conditioner, including a plate extending in a radial direction relative to the central axis of the multi-tube fuel nozzle; an outer wall extending circumferentially about the plate, wherein the outer wall is coupled to the plate; and a plurality of air openings in the plate, the outer wall, or a combination thereof, wherein the plurality of air openings are disposed upstream from the air inlets in the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20160076578
    Abstract: A nut anti-rotation cap includes an end wall having an inner surface configured to be operatively coupled to an end of a threaded mechanical fastener. Also included is at least one sidewall extending from the end wall, wherein the at least one sidewall is a solid wall configured to be secured to a nut engaged with the threaded mechanical fastener and to enclose an exposed portion of the threaded mechanical fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Carmine Bellino, Heath Michael Ostebee, Lucas John Stoia, Christopher Paul Willis
  • Publication number: 20160067759
    Abstract: The present application provides a hole reducing tool. The hole reducing tool includes a punch with a conical tip and a pilot and a slide hammer assembly attached to the punch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Carmine Bellino, Daniel James Dorriety, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9278386
    Abstract: The present application provides a hole reducing tool. The hole reducing tool includes a punch with a conical tip and a pilot and a slide hammer assembly attached to the punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Carmine Bellino, Daniel James Dorriety, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20160033134
    Abstract: A nozzle for use in a combustor of a combustion turbine engine, the nozzle including: radial sections defined by sidewalls; a gap formed between opposing sidewalls of adjacent ones of the radial sections; a groove formed on each of the sidewalls that define the gap, the grooves positioned correspondingly so to together form a pocket; and a seal having a zigzagging profile disposed within the pocket. The pocket may intercept the gap over a seal length, and the seal may extend longitudinally within the pocket such that the zigzagging profile intersects the gap over the seal length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20160033133
    Abstract: A micro-mixer nozzle for use in a combustor of a combustion turbine engine, the micro-mixer nozzle including: a fuel plenum defined by a shroud wall connecting a periphery of a forward tube sheet to a periphery of an aft tubesheet; a plurality of mixing tubes extending across the fuel plenum for mixing a supply of compressed air and fuel, each of the mixing tubes forming a passageway between an inlet formed through the forward tubesheet and an outlet formed through the aft tubesheet; and a wall mixing tube formed in the shroud wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener, Jason Thurman Stewart, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9103551
    Abstract: A substantially wedge-shaped sector nozzle includes a nozzle body having inner and outer arcuate segments connected by diverging radial side plates and a nozzle plate at an aft end of the nozzle body formed with an array of fuel orifices. One of the diverging radial side plates supports a radially-oriented leaf seal assembly adapted to seal against a flat plate of an adjacent similarly-shaped sector nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20150107255
    Abstract: A turbomachine combustor assembly includes a combustor including a combustor body extending from a head end to a second end through a combustion zone. At least one injector is configured and disposed to introduce a first combustible fluid into the combustion zone at the head end of the combustor body. At least one late lean injector (LLI) is configured and disposed to introduce a second combustible fluid downstream of the first combustible fluid. An external fluid delivery system is fluidically connected to the at least one LLI. The external fluid delivery system includes at least one combustible fluid delivery conduit that extends from a first end fluidically connected to the LLI to a second end external to the turbomachine combustor assembly. The second end is configured and disposed to deliver the second combustible mixture to the LLI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20150059177
    Abstract: A method for removing an end cap assembly from a combustor cap assembly includes inserting a push rod through an opening in a back plate portion of the cap assembly. One end of the push rod is engaged with a radial support feature of the end cap assembly and a substantially linear force is applied to the push rod. The force is distributed to the radial support feature, thereby preventing damage to a cap plate portion of the end cap assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Carmine Bellino, Patrick Shawn Reilly, James Carroll Baummer, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20140367495
    Abstract: A fuel injection head for use in a fuel injection nozzle comprises a monolithic body portion comprising an upstream face, an opposite downstream face, and a peripheral wall extending therebetween. A plurality of pre-mix tubes are integrally formed with and extend axially through the body portion. Each of the pre-mix tubes comprises an inlet adjacent the upstream face, an outlet adjacent the downstream face, and a channel extending between the inlet and the outlet. Each pre-mix tube also includes at least one fuel injector that at least partially extends outward from an exterior surface of the pre-mix tube, wherein the fuel injector is integrally formed with the pre-mix tube and is configured to facilitate fuel flow between the body portion and the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: James Christopher Monaghan, Thomas Edward Johnson, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20140338344
    Abstract: A system including a plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles each having a plurality of tubes extending in an axial direction, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet, and a fuel nozzle housing, including an outer wall extending circumferentially about a central axis, a plurality of radial walls extending from the outer wall inwardly toward the central axis, a plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles disposed within the outer wall, wherein the plurality of radial walls separate the plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles from one another, and the plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles are disposed in the plurality of fuel nozzle receptacles a mounting structure including a plurality of radial support arms extending outwardly from the outer wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20140338354
    Abstract: A system including a multi-tube fuel nozzle, including a plurality of tubes extending in an axial direction relative to a central axis of the multi-tube fuel nozzle, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet; and an inlet flow conditioner, including a plate extending in a radial direction relative to the central axis of the multi-tube fuel nozzle; an outer wall extending circumferentially about the plate, wherein the outer wall is coupled to the plate; and a plurality of air openings in the plate, the outer wall, or a combination thereof, wherein the plurality of air openings are disposed upstream from the air inlets in the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20140338355
    Abstract: A system including a multi-tube fuel nozzle, including a first plate having a first plurality of openings, a plurality of tubes extending through the first plurality of openings in the first plate, wherein each tube of the plurality of tubes includes an air inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel-air mixture outlet, and a resilient metallic seal disposed along the first plate about the plurality of tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20140216048
    Abstract: The present application provides a variable volume combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The variable volume combustor may include a liner, a number of micro-mixer fuel nozzles positioned within the liner, and a linear actuator so as to maneuver the micro-mixer fuel nozzles axially along the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Heath Michael Ostebee, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener
  • Publication number: 20140216051
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor for use with flow of fuel and a flow of air in a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a number of micro-mixer fuel nozzles positioned within a liner and an air bypass system position about the liner. The air bypass system variably allows a bypass portion of the flow of air to bypass the micro-mixer fuel nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Heath Michael Ostebee, Christopher Paul Keener
  • Publication number: 20140216049
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a number of fuel nozzles, a pre-nozzle fuel injection system supporting the fuel nozzles, and a linear actuator to maneuver the fuel nozzles and the pre-nozzle fuel injection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Keener, Thomas Edward Johnson, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Publication number: 20140216039
    Abstract: The present application provides a combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a number of micro-mixer fuel nozzles and a fuel injection system for providing a flow of fuel to the micro-mixer fuel nozzles. The fuel injection system may include a number of support struts supporting the fuel nozzles and for providing the flow of fuel therethrough. The fuel injection system also may include a number of aerodynamic fuel flanges connecting the micro-mixer fuel nozzles and the support struts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay, Christopher Paul Keener, Thomas Edward Johnson, Heath Michael Ostebee