Patents by Inventor Kevin Weston McMahan

Kevin Weston McMahan 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: 20130167543
    Abstract: A transition nozzle for use with a turbine assembly is provided. The transition nozzle includes a liner defining a combustion chamber therein, a wrapper circumscribing the liner such that a cooling duct is defined between the wrapper and the liner, a cooling fluid inlet configured to supply a cooling fluid to the cooling duct, and a plurality of ribs coupled between the liner and the wrapper such that a plurality of cooling channels are defined in the cooling duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, David Richard Johns
  • Patent number: 8459041
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a leaf seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Patent number: 8448450
    Abstract: A support assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The support assembly includes a transition duct extending between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section. The transition duct has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis. The support assembly further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the transition duct. The plurality of protrusions are configured to allow movement of the transition duct about at least one axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, James Scott Flanagan
  • Patent number: 8438856
    Abstract: A combustor for an industrial turbine includes a single transition piece transitioning directly from a combustor head-end to a turbine inlet. The transition piece includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface bounds an interior space for combusted gas flow from the combustor head-end to the turbine inlet. The outer surface at least partially defines an area for compressor discharge air flow. The transition piece includes a plurality of apertures configured to allow compressor discharge air flow into the interior space. Each of the plurality of apertures extends from an entry portion on the outer surface to an exit portion on the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald James Chila, Kevin Weston McMahan
  • Publication number: 20130111912
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a flexible metallic seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Publication number: 20130115048
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a convolution seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Publication number: 20130111911
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a leaf seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Patent number: 8418468
    Abstract: A combustor section is provided and includes a segmented annular manifold mounted upstream from a fuel nozzle support in a section of a passage through which an oxidizer flows, each segment of the manifold being substantially axially aligned and including a body to accommodate fuel internally that is formed to define injection holes through which the fuel is injected into the passage through which the oxidizer flows upstream of the fuel nozzle support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Almaz Valeev, Chunyang Wu
  • Publication number: 20130086914
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. The turbine system includes a transition duct having an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The turbine system further includes a turbine section connected to the transition duct. The turbine section includes a plurality of shroud blocks at least partially defining a hot gas path, a plurality of buckets at least partially disposed in the hot gas path, and a plurality of nozzles at least partially disposed in the hot gas path. At least one of a shroud block, a bucket, or a nozzle includes means for withstanding high temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard
  • Patent number: 8398090
    Abstract: A spring loaded seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a gap between adjacent turbine components. The seal assembly may generally include a turbine seal and a spring member. The turbine seal may extend between the adjacent turbine components and may be configured to seal the gap defined between the turbine components. The spring member may be configured to engage the turbine seal so as to maintain the seal in sealing engagement with the adjacent turbine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Mehmet Demiroglu, Timur Rustamovich Repikov
  • Patent number: 8353165
    Abstract: A combustor assembly that includes a casing that includes a plenum, a combustor liner positioned within the plenum and defining a combustion chamber there within, and a transition piece that includes a forward portion that is coupled to the combustion liner and an aft portion that extends from the forward portion. The aft portion includes a transition piece frame. The transition piece frame includes an upstream surface, a downstream surface, and a radially inner surface extending between the upstream and downstream surfaces. The radially inner surface includes a leading edge that extends between the radially inner surface and the upstream surface. A plurality of first cooling passages extend from the upstream surface to the downstream surface. Each of the first cooling passages is oriented obliquely with respect to the leading edge from the upstream surface towards the downstream surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila
  • Publication number: 20130008178
    Abstract: A support assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The support assembly includes a transition duct extending between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section. The transition duct has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis. The support assembly further includes an annular contact member extending from the transition duct. The contact member is configured to allow movement of the transition duct about at least one axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, James Scott Flanagan
  • Publication number: 20130008177
    Abstract: A support assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The support assembly includes a transition duct extending between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section. The transition duct has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis. The support assembly further includes a plurality of protrusions extending from the transition duct. The plurality of protrusions are configured to allow movement of the transition duct about at least one axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, James Scott Flanagan
  • Publication number: 20120324897
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transferring heat from a transition nozzle. The transition nozzle includes a transition portion, a nozzle portion integrally formed with the transition portion, and at least one surface feature configured to transfer heat away from the transition portion and/or the nozzle portion. The transition portion is oriented to channel the combustion gases towards the nozzle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, David Richard Johns
  • Publication number: 20120328421
    Abstract: A turbine assembly includes a fuel nozzle configured to mix fuel and air and a transition nozzle oriented to receive the fuel and air mixture from the fuel nozzle. The transition nozzle includes a transition portion and a nozzle portion integrally formed with the transition portion. The transition nozzle includes a plurality of openings oriented to channel air to facilitate cooling the transition portion and/or the nozzle portion. The transition portion is oriented to channel combustion gases towards the nozzle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, David Richard Johns
  • Publication number: 20120324898
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for use with a turbine engine that includes a rotor assembly. The combustor assembly includes a casing that includes a plenum and a combustor liner that is spaced a distance from the plenum and that defines a combustion chamber therein. A transition nozzle extends between the combustor liner and the rotor assembly for channeling combustion gases from the combustion chamber to the rotor assembly. The transition nozzle includes a transition portion and a nozzle portion integrally formed with the transition portion. An annular flowsleeve is coupled radially outward from the transition nozzle such that an annular flow path is defined between the flowsleeve and the transition nozzle. The flowsleeve includes a plurality of openings extending through an outer surface of the flowsleeve for providing flow communication between the plenum and the annular flow path to facilitate impingement cooling of the flowsleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, David Richard Johns
  • Publication number: 20120304653
    Abstract: A loading assembly for a turbine system is disclosed. The loading assembly includes a transition duct and a load member. The transition duct extends between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section, and has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The load member extends from the transition duct and is configured to transfer a load between the transition duct and an adjacent transition duct along at least one of the longitudinal axis, the radial axis, or the tangential axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Publication number: 20120304665
    Abstract: A mount device and mounting assembly for a turbine system are disclosed. The mounting assembly includes a transition duct extending between a fuel nozzle and a turbine section. The transition duct has an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The mounting assembly further includes a mount device connecting the transition duct to the turbine section. The mount device is configured to allow movement of the outlet about at least two axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronnie Ray Pentecost, James Scott Flanagan
  • Publication number: 20120304656
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a body configured to flow hot gases of combustion between a forward end and an aft end. Additionally, the body may include a plurality of raised sections spaced apart circumferentially around an outer perimeter of the body. The raised sections may generally extend lengthwise between the forward and aft ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, Kevin Weston McMahan, Arthur Samuel Peck, David William Cihlar
  • Patent number: 8322976
    Abstract: A turbine includes a static member, a moveable member fluidly connected to the static member, and a flexible seal. The flexible seal includes a spring component having a base section mounted to one of the static member and the moveable member of the turbine and a plurality of biasing members. Each of the plurality of biasing members includes a first portion extending from the base section and a cantilevered portion. The flexible seal further includes a seal component provided on the cantilevered portion of each of the plurality of biasing members. The seal component is biased into contact with the other of the static member and the moveable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald James Chila, Kevin Weston McMahan, Timur Repikov