Patents by Inventor Jeffrey D. Melman

Jeffrey D. Melman 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: 8863528
    Abstract: A combustor assembly having a support assembly between a metal support assembly and a ceramic combustor can section that accommodates a thermal expansion difference therebetween. An air fuel mixer and an igniter are mounted to the support assembly secured to the ceramic combustion can which receives the ignition products of the ignited fuel and air mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, David J. Bombara, Jason Lawrence, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Patent number: 8572979
    Abstract: A combustor liner cap assembly is provided for use in a multiple fuel nozzle combustor of a gas turbine. The combustor liner cap assembly includes a tube plate having a plurality of fuel nozzle openings and a plurality of open ended premix tubes extending aft from the tube plate. Each premix tube has a forward end having a forward edge, the forward end being received in a corresponding one of the fuel nozzle openings. Each premix tube is secured to the tube plate aft of the forward edge of the forward end of the premix tube, for example, metallurgically bonded, such as by welding or brazing, to the tube plate or threaded into the tube plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Craig F. Smith, Hannes A. Alholm, Jonathan J. Eastwood, Dennis J. Duhamel, David A. Burns, Claude I. Barnett, Jr., Randy J. Danburg, Jeffrey D. Melman, David R. Wiley, Monica Pacheco-Tougas
  • Patent number: 8122727
    Abstract: A combustion system for an engine, such as a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustion system has a ceramic component, such as ceramic combustor liner, and at least one metal support component, such as a metal ring or a plurality of metal cones, for providing radial and axial support to the ceramic component. The at least one metal support component includes a structure, such as axial slots or radial slots, for minimizing stress and for increasing compliance of the metal support component with respect to the ceramic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Jason Lawrence, David J. Bombara, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Publication number: 20110314823
    Abstract: A combustor liner cap assembly is provided for use in a multiple fuel nozzle combustor of a gas turbine. The combustor liner cap assembly includes a tube plate having a plurality of fuel nozzle openings and a plurality of open ended premix tubes extending aft from the tube plate. Each premix tube has a forward end having a forward edge, the forward end being received in a corresponding one of the fuel nozzle openings. Each premix tube is secured to the tube plate aft of the forward edge of the forward end of the premix tube, for example, metallurgically bonded, such as by welding or brazing, to the tube plate or threaded into the tube plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Craig F. Smith, Hannes A. Alholm, Jonathan J. Eastwood, Dennis J. Duhamel, David A. Burns, Claude I. Barnett, JR., Randy J. Danburg, Jeffrey D. Melman, David R. Wiley, Monica Pacheco-Tougas
  • Patent number: 8083465
    Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine exhaust case strut heat shield vane includes removing a damaged portion of the vane, solution heat treating the vane, attaching a replacement section to the vane, and relieving local stresses in an attachment area between the replacement section and the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Herbst, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Patent number: 7762076
    Abstract: A combustor assembly includes a metal section having an axial slot that receives a ceramic section. A clamp is received about the axial slot to secure the metal section and ceramic section together. Tabs on the metal section, a gasket between the metal section and the ceramic section, and springs within the clamp deform an amount that is greater than a thermal expansion difference between the metal section and the ceramic section to maintain a clamping force of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Jason Lawrence, David J. Bombara, David C. Jarmon, Michael T. Weber, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Publication number: 20100101232
    Abstract: A combustion system for an engine, such as a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustion system has a ceramic component, such as ceramic combustor liner, and at least one metal support component, such as a metal ring or a plurality of metal cones, for providing radial and axial support to the ceramic component. The at least one metal support component includes a structure, such as axial slots or radial slots, for minimizing stress and for increasing compliance of the metal support component with respect to the ceramic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Jason Lawrence, David J. Bombara, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Publication number: 20100061846
    Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine exhaust case strut heat shield vane includes removing a damaged portion of the vane, solution heat treating the vane, attaching a replacement section to the vane, and relieving local stresses in an attachment area between the replacement section and the vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Herbst, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Patent number: 7647779
    Abstract: A combustion system for an engine, such as a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustion system has a ceramic component, such as ceramic combustor liner, and at least one metal support component, such as a metal ring or a plurality of metal cones, for providing radial and axial support to the ceramic component. The at least one metal support component includes a structure, such as axial slots or radial slots, for minimizing stress and for increasing compliance of the metal support component with respect to the ceramic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Jason Lawrence, David J. Bombara, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Publication number: 20080010990
    Abstract: A combustor assembly includes a metal section having an axial slot that receives a ceramic section. A clamp is received about the axial slot to secure the metal section and ceramic section together. Tabs on the metal section, a gasket between the metal section and the ceramic section, and springs within the clamp deform an amount that is greater than a thermal expansion difference between the metal section and the ceramic section to maintain a clamping force of the clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Jason Lawrence, David J. Bombara, David C. Jarmon, Michael T. Weber, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Patent number: 6098407
    Abstract: A premixing, tangential entry fuel injector (10) for a gas turbine engine features a secondary fuel-air injection insert (40) positively secured to a centerbody shell (38) by a braze joint (98). A secondary fuel supply tube (42), positively secured to both a centerbody base (36) and to the insert (40), is curved in at least two dimensions. In an exemplary embodiment, the tube is coiled into a spiral shape covering a single 360.degree. cycle. During engine operation, the centerbody expands axially in response to elevated temperatures in the engine's interior, causing the insert (40) to be displaced away from the base (36). The curvature of the tube allows the tube to flex slightly to accommodate the displacement. Ideally the curvature of the tube is such that the tube's natural frequency is well above the maximum vibratory frequency that the tube will experience during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Korzendorfer, Jeffrey D. Melman, Alan J. Goetschius
  • Patent number: 6038862
    Abstract: A vibration damper 38 for a fuel nozzle 24 having a central axis about which are disposed an inner 34 and outer 36 concentric fuel tubes. The damper includes a sleeve 40 and at least two legs 42, each leg having a radial portion extending from the sleeve and a resilient, longitudinally extending portion 46. The sleeve engages the inner tube while the longitudinally extending portions of the legs bear against the inner surface 37 of the outer tube to dampen vibrations between the concentric tubes. Besides damping objectionable vibratory forces experienced by the fuel tubes in the fuel nozzle, the present invention offers minimal fuel flow blockage in the concentric fuel tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Melman, Aaron S. Butler