Patents by Inventor Jason Thurman Stewart

Jason Thurman Stewart 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: 11015809
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine that includes: an elongated centerbody; an elongated peripheral wall formed about the centerbody so to define a primary flow annulus therebetween; a primary fuel supply and a primary air supply in fluid communication with an upstream end of the primary flow annulus; and a pilot nozzle. The pilot nozzle may be formed in the centerbody and include: axially elongated mixing tubes defined within a centerbody wall; a fuel port positioned on the mixing tubes for connecting each to a secondary fuel supply; and a secondary air supply configured so to fluidly communicate with an inlet of each of the mixing tubes. A plurality of the mixing tubes may be formed as canted mixing tubes that are configured for inducing a swirling flow about the central axis in a collective discharge therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 10215415
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly includes a centerbody and a cartridge that extends axially through the centerbody. The cartridge defines a purge air passage within the centerbody. The cartridge includes a tip portion that is defined by a tip body. The tip body defines a throat portion and a mouth portion which is defined downstream from the throat portion. The tip body further defines a plurality of injection ports circumferentially spaced around the throat portion. The injection ports provide for fluid communication between the purge air passage and the throat portion of the tip body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 9982892
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body having a pilot air passage and a pilot fuel passage defined therein. A pilot nozzle having a plurality of premix passages is disposed within a downstream end portion of the center body. Each premix passage includes an inlet that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage, an outlet that is positioned axially downstream from the inlet and a fuel port that is in fluid communication with the pilot fuel passage. An outer sleeve is coaxially aligned with and radially spaced from the center body so as to define an annular passage therebetween. A strut extends radially outwardly from the center body to the outer sleeve. The fuel nozzle assembly further includes an inlet passage that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The inlet passage extends through the outer sleeve, the strut and the center body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Dereck Joseph Ouellet, Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson
  • Patent number: 9803867
    Abstract: A premix pilot nozzle includes a tip portion having a downstream surface that extends between a downstream end of an inner wall of the tip portion and a downstream end of an outer wall of the tip portion. The downstream end of the inner wall terminates axially upstream from the downstream end of the outer wall. At least a portion of the downstream surface is curvilinear. The tip portion further comprises a plurality of axially extending premix tubes annularly arranged about the tip portion. Each premix tube defines a premix flow passage through the tip portion. Each premix tube also includes an outlet that is axially offset from the downstream surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 9784452
    Abstract: A system including a first multi-tube fuel nozzle including a plurality of first tubes extending in an axial direction, wherein each first tube of the plurality of first tubes includes a first air inlet, a first fuel inlet, and a first fuel-air mixture outlet, a second multi-tube fuel nozzle including a plurality of second tubes extending in an axial direction, wherein each second tube of the plurality of second tubes includes a second air inlet, a second fuel inlet, and a second fuel-air mixture outlet, and an aft plate including a plurality of first tube apertures and a plurality of second tube apertures, wherein the plurality of first tubes extend to the plurality of first tube apertures, and the plurality of second tubes extend to the plurality of second tube apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Keener, Jason Thurman Stewart, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9759426
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Christopher Paul Keener, Jason Thurman Stewart, Heath Michael Ostebee
  • Patent number: 9714767
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body, a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body and that includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that each defines a premix passage and a fuel port. The premix passage of each premix tube is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a purge air cartridge assembly that extends axially within the pilot air passage. The purge air cartridge assembly includes a feed tube portion and a tip portion that define a purge air passage within the pilot air passage. The tip portion comprises an aft wall that extends at least partially through an opening defined by the premix tip. The aft wall includes a single axially extending orifice that is in fluid communication with the purge air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson, Bryan Wesley Romig
  • Publication number: 20170082290
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly includes a centerbody and a cartridge that extends axially through the centerbody. The cartridge defines a purge air passage within the centerbody. The cartridge includes a tip portion that is defined by a tip body. The tip body defines a throat portion and a mouth portion which is defined downstream from the throat portion. The tip body further defines a plurality of injection ports circumferentially spaced around the throat portion. The injection ports provide for fluid communication between the purge air passage and the throat portion of the tip body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventor: Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Patent number: 9587562
    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 providing the flow of fuel therethrough. The support struts may include an aerodynamic contoured shape so as to distribute evenly a flow of air to the micro-mixer fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Heath Michael Ostebee, Thomas Edward Johnson, Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener
  • Patent number: 9562689
    Abstract: A fuel flow passes through a micromixer section of a gas turbine that includes a plurality of mixing tubes for transporting a fuel/air mixture and a distribution plate including a plurality of distribution holes and a plurality of tube holes for accommodating the mixing tubes. Each of the mixing tubes includes a plurality of fuel holes through which fuel enters the mixing tubes. The tube holes and the mixing tubes form a plurality of annulus areas between the distribution plate and the mixing tubes. The distribution holes and the annulus areas are configured to pass the fuel flow through the distribution plate toward the fuel holes. A flow management device modifies an effective size of the annulus areas to control a distribution of the fuel flow through the distribution holes and the annulus areas of the distribution plate to provide a uniform fuel/air composition in each of the mixing tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener
  • Patent number: 9546789
    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, a fuel nozzle housing including a first outer wall extending circumferentially about a central axis, wherein the plurality of multi-tube fuel nozzles are disposed in the fuel nozzle housing, an inlet flow conditioner removably coupled to a first end portion of the first outer wall, wherein the inlet flow conditioner includes a plurality of air openings, and an aft plate assembly removably coupled to a second end portion of the first outer wall, wherein the aft plate assembly includes an aft plate having a plurality of tube apertures, and the plurality of tubes extend to the plurality of tube apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Keener, Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Publication number: 20160313006
    Abstract: A premix pilot nozzle includes a tip portion having a downstream surface that extends between a downstream end of an inner wall of the tip portion and a downstream end of an outer wall of the tip portion. The downstream end of the inner wall terminates axially upstream from the downstream end of the outer wall. At least a portion of the downstream surface is curvilinear. The tip portion further comprises a plurality of axially extending premix tubes annularly arranged about the tip portion. Each premix tube defines a premix flow passage through the tip portion. Each premix tube also includes an outlet that is axially offset from the downstream surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventor: Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Publication number: 20160305668
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body having a pilot air passage and a pilot fuel passage defined therein. A pilot nozzle having a plurality of premix passages is disposed within a downstream end portion of the center body. Each premix passage includes an inlet that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage, an outlet that is positioned axially downstream from the inlet and a fuel port that is in fluid communication with the pilot fuel passage. An outer sleeve is coaxially aligned with and radially spaced from the center body so as to define an annular passage therebetween. A strut extends radially outwardly from the center body to the outer sleeve. The fuel nozzle assembly further includes an inlet passage that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The inlet passage extends through the outer sleeve, the strut and the center body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Dereck Joseph Ouellet, Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson
  • Patent number: 9422867
    Abstract: The present application and the resultant patent provide 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 center hub for providing the flow of fuel therethrough. The center hub may include a first supply circuit for a first micro-mixer fuel nozzle and a second supply circuit for a second micro-mixer fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Heath Michael Ostebee, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay, Jason Thurman Stewart, Christopher Paul Keener
  • Publication number: 20160186663
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine that includes: an elongated centerbody; an elongated peripheral wall formed about the centerbody so to define a primary flow annulus therebetween; a primary fuel supply and a primary air supply in the primary flow annulus; and a pilot nozzle. The pilot nozzle may be formed in the centerbody and include: axially elongated mixing tubes defined within a centerbody wall; a fuel port positioned on the mixing tubes for connecting each to a secondary fuel supply; and a secondary air supply configured so to fluidly communicate with an inlet of each of the mixing tubes. A plurality of the mixing tubes may be formed as canted mixing tubes that are configured for inducing a swirling downstream flow, while a plurality of the mixing tubes may be axial mixing tubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Charlotte Cole Wilson, Roy Marshall Washam
  • Publication number: 20160186662
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine that includes: an elongated centerbody; an elongated peripheral wall formed about the centerbody so to define a primary flow annulus therebetween; a primary fuel supply and a primary air supply in fluid communication with an upstream end of the primary flow annulus; and a pilot nozzle. The pilot nozzle may be formed in the centerbody and include: axially elongated mixing tubes defined within a centerbody wall; a fuel port positioned on the mixing tubes for connecting each to a secondary fuel supply; and a secondary air supply configured so to fluidly communicate with an inlet of each of the mixing tubes. A plurality of the mixing tubes may be formed as canted mixing tubes that are configured for inducing a swirling flow about the central axis in a collective discharge therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventor: Jason Thurman Stewart
  • Publication number: 20160146460
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body, a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body and that includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that each defines a premix passage and a fuel port. The premix passage of each premix tube is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a purge air cartridge assembly that extends axially within the pilot air passage. The purge air cartridge assembly includes a feed tube portion and a tip portion that define a purge air passage within the pilot air passage. The tip portion comprises an aft wall that extends at least partially through an opening defined by the premix tip. The aft wall includes a single axially extending orifice that is in fluid communication with the purge air passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson, Bryan Wesley Romig
  • 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: 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