Patents by Inventor Kevin Lee Kunkle

Kevin Lee Kunkle 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).

  • Methods and apparatus for a nitrogen purge system
    Patent number: 8176721
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process. The method further includes recirculating fuel within at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby removing heat from at least a portion of the fuel system and facilitating a transfer of operating fuel modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Lee Kunkle, Steven William Backman, David John Chrisfield, David William Smith
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR A NITROGEN PURGE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100192537
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process. The method further includes recirculating fuel within at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby removing heat from at least a portion of the fuel system and facilitating a transfer of operating fuel modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin Lee Kunkle, Steven William Backman, David John Chrisfield, David William Smith
  • Methods and apparatus for a combustion turbine nitrogen purge system
    Patent number: 7730711
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process, such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Lee Kunkle, Steven William Backman, David William Smith
  • Methods and apparatus for a combustion turbine fuel recirculation system and nitrogen purge system
    Patent number: 7721521
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system is provided. The method includes removing fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system using a gravity drain process. The method also includes channeling nitrogen into at least a portion of the fuel system to facilitate removing air and residual fuel from at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby mitigating a formation of carbonaceous precipitate particulates. The method further includes removing air and nitrogen from at least a portion of the fuel system during a fuel refilling process using a venting process such that at least a portion of the fuel system is substantially refilled with fuel and substantially evacuated of air and nitrogen. The method also includes removing air from at least a portion of the refilled fuel system using a venting process. The method further includes recirculating fuel within at least a portion of the fuel system, thereby removing heat from at least a portion of the fuel system and facilitating a transfer of operating fuel modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Lee Kunkle, Steven William Backman, David John Chrisfield, David William Smith
  • ENCLOSURE FOR A GAS TURBINE AND METHOD FOR ENCLOSING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090049842
    Abstract: Disclosed is an enclosure for a gas turbine, the enclosure including an enclosure section configured to partially enclose the gas turbine, and at least one other enclosure section, the at least one other enclosure section being configured to assemble with the enclosure section in a manner that associates the at least one other enclosure section with the enclosure section, wherein said at least one other enclosure section and said enclosure section are configured to substantially enclose the gas turbine when the at least one other enclosure section is associated with the enclosure section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew John Canham, Kevin Lee Kunkle, Scott Walter Leyers, Robert Kenneth Mccormack