Patents by Inventor Kevin Richard Graziano

Kevin Richard Graziano 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).

  • Publication number: 20240026799
    Abstract: A seal assembly at a rotor-stator interface includes at least one non-contacting seal interface and at least one rub detection feature. The rub detection feature(s) is configured to generate a signal upon the rotor and the stator making contact at the rotor-stator interface and causing wear above a certain threshold at the rotor-stator interface. The seal assembly also includes at least one sensor arranged at the rotor-stator interface. The sensor is configured to sense the signal. The seal assembly further includes a controller communicatively coupled with the sensor(s). The controller is configured to receive the signal and estimate at least one of an amount and a location of the wear at the rotor-stator interface based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Narendra Anand Hardikar, Deepak Trivedi, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Scott Alan Schimmels, Kevin Richard Graziano
  • Patent number: 11761386
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Publication number: 20220290620
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Patent number: 11359554
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Michael Scott McCambridge, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Patent number: 11268446
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and method of starting, the gas turbine engine having a rotor comprising at least a shaft mounted compressor and turbine, with a casing surrounding the rotor. The method comprises an acceleration phase, a bowed-rotor cooling phase, during the acceleration, and a combustion phase. The bowed-rotor cooling phase comprises a time where the rotational speed of the rotor is maintained below a bowed-rotor threshold speed until a non-bowed condition is satisfied, wherein the air forced through the gas turbine engine cools the rotor. The combustion phase occurs after the bowed-rotor cooling phase and upon reaching the combustion speed, wherein fuel is supplied to the gas turbine engine is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Garrett, III, Mark Edward Linz, Tod Robert Steen, Thomas Charles Swager, Andrew Todd Lehmann, Michael Scott McCambridge, Robert Charles Hon, Thomas Earl Gillingham, Daniel Roy Kiracofe, Kenneth Kirchmayer, Joseph Roger Broda, Kevin Richard Graziano, Steven Alan Ross, Amid Ansari
  • Patent number: 11261803
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel nozzle cleaning during engine operation is provided. The steps or operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition, in which the first fuel flow condition provides a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a second fuel flow condition, in which the second fuel flow condition provides the fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber equal at the first fuel flow condition and the second fuel flow condition, and operating the fuel system at a third fuel flow condition after operating the fuel system at the second fuel flow condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Publication number: 20210277838
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a fuel nozzle during engine operation is provided. Operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer at a first oxidizer flow condition to the combustion chamber, wherein the first oxidizer flow condition comprises an environmental parameter; operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition to produce a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber; comparing the environmental parameter to a first environmental parameter threshold; and transitioning the fuel system to a second fuel flow condition corresponding to a cleaning condition at the fuel nozzle if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than the first environmental threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Michael Scott McCambridge, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Publication number: 20210277796
    Abstract: A method and system for fuel nozzle cleaning during engine operation is provided. The steps or operations include operating the compressor section to provide the flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a first fuel flow condition, in which the first fuel flow condition provides a fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber, operating the fuel system at a second fuel flow condition, in which the second fuel flow condition provides the fuel-oxidizer ratio at the combustion chamber equal at the first fuel flow condition and the second fuel flow condition, and operating the fuel system at a third fuel flow condition after operating the fuel system at the second fuel flow condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Scott McCambridge, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Eric John Kress, Kevin Richard Graziano, Brendon Matthew Leeker
  • Publication number: 20200240329
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and method of starting, the gas turbine engine having a rotor comprising at least a shaft mounted compressor and turbine, with a casing surrounding the rotor. The method comprises an acceleration phase, a bowed-rotor cooling phase, during the acceleration, and a combustion phase. The bowed-rotor cooling phase comprises a time where the rotational speed of the rotor is maintained below a bowed-rotor threshold speed until a non-bowed condition is satisfied, wherein the air forced through the gas turbine engine cools the rotor. The combustion phase occurs after the bowed-rotor cooling phase and upon reaching the combustion speed, wherein fuel is supplied to the gas turbine engine is turned on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Amid Ansari, Joseph Roger Broda, Thomas Earl Gillingham, Kevin Richard Graziano, Robert Charles Hon, Kenneth Kirchmayer, Daniel Roy Kiracofe, Andrew Todd Lehmann, Michael Scott McCambridge, Tod Robert Steen, Thomas Charles Swager
  • Patent number: 10724443
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbine engine that includes actuating a starter motor of the turbine engine such that a motoring speed of the turbine engine increases, and actuating a plurality of variable stator vanes of the turbine engine such that the plurality of variable stator vanes are at least partially open to control the motoring speed of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Charles Hon, Thomas Charles Swager, Andrew Todd Lehmann, Michael Scott McCambridge, Thomas Earl Gillingham, Joseph Roger Broda, Kevin Richard Graziano, Amid Ansari, Kenneth Lee Kirchmayer, Tod Robert Steen, Daniel Roy Kiracofe
  • Patent number: 10502139
    Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine engine having a rotor comprising at least a shaft-mounted compressor and turbine, with a casing surrounding the rotor includes an acceleration phase, a bowed-rotor cooling phase, during the acceleration, and a combustion phase. The bowed-rotor cooling phase comprises a time where the rotational speed of the rotor is maintained below a bowed-rotor threshold speed until a non-bowed condition is satisfied, wherein the air forced through the gas turbine engine cools the rotor. The combustion phase occurs after the bowed-rotor cooling phase and upon reaching the combustion speed, wherein fuel is supplied to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Alan Ross, Mark Edward Linz, Joseph Daniel Garrett, III, Amid Ansari, Joseph Roger Broda, Thomas Earl Gillingham, Kevin Richard Graziano, Robert Charles Hon, Kenneth Kirchmayer, Daniel Roy Kiracofe, Andrew Todd Lehmann, Michael Scott McCambridge, Tod Robert Steen, Thomas Charles Swager
  • Publication number: 20170342908
    Abstract: A method of operating a turbine engine that includes actuating a starter motor of the turbine engine such that a motoring speed of the turbine engine increases, and actuating a plurality of variable stator vanes of the turbine engine such that the plurality of variable stator vanes are at least partially open to control the motoring speed of the turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Charles Hon, Thomas Charles Swager, Andrew Todd Lehmann, Michael Scott McCambridge, Thomas Earl Gillingham, Joseph Roger Broda, Kevin Richard Graziano, Amid Ansari, Kenneth Kirchmayer, Tod Robert Steen, Daniel Roy Kiracofe
  • Publication number: 20160348588
    Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine engine having a rotor comprising at least a shaft mounted compressor and turbine, with a casing surrounding the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Steven Alan Ross, Mark Edward Linz, Joseph Daniel Garrett, III, Amid Ansari, Joseph Roger Broda, Thomas Earl Gillingham, Kevin Richard Graziano, Robert Charles Hon, Kenneth Kirchmayer, Daniel Roy Kiracofe, Andrew Todd Lehmann, Michael Scott McCambrige, Tod Robert Steen, Thomas Charles Swager