Patents by Inventor Mark Allan Hadley

Mark Allan Hadley 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: 9360221
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a compressor and at least one combustor downstream from the compressor. The combustor includes a burner having an inner shroud extending axially along at least a portion of the burner, an outer shroud radially separated from the inner shroud and extending axially along at least a portion of the burner, and a plurality of stator vanes extending radially between the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The stator vanes have an inner end proximate the inner shroud and an outer end proximate the outer shroud. The burner further includes a vortex tip at one of either the inner end or the outer end of the stator vanes. The vortex tip provides a gap between the inner end and the inner shroud or the outer end and the outer shroud, and the vortex tip includes a plurality of fuel ports. The gas turbine further includes a turbine downstream from the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jesse Blair Butler, David Leach, Kevin Weston McMahan, Mark Allan Hadley, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Patent number: 9353948
    Abstract: A combustor and a method for reducing a temperature gradient of a combustor component are provided. The combustor includes a coating applied to at least a portion thereof with the coating serving to alter the emissivity of the at least a portion to which it is applied. The method includes applying a coating on at least one of a combustor liner and a flow sleeve, wherein the coating alters the emissivity exhibited where applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Mark Allan Hadley, Joel Meier Haynes, Brian Gene Brzek
  • Patent number: 9303872
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided and includes a member defining a flowpath through which a first fluid flows, the flowpath having a cross-section with transverse elongate and short axes, a head defining a plenum storing a supply of a second fluid and a system fluidly coupled to the flowpath and the plenum to inject the second fluid from the plenum and into the flowpath at first and second locations along the elongate axis. The injected second fluid is formed into jets at the first and second locations, the first fluid entrains the jets such that the injected second fluid flows through the flowpath and mixes with the first fluid, and the short axis has a sufficient dimension such that the jets remain spaced from a sidewall of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Allan Hadley, Jun Cai, Lucas John Stoia, Geoffrey David Myers, Jayaprakash Natarajan
  • Patent number: 9222673
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle is provided. The fuel nozzle includes a nozzle body, a plurality of swirler vanes, and at least one outlet. The nozzle body includes a back plate, a front plate, and a mixing zone defined therebetween. The back plate includes at least one inlet defined therein and the front plate includes at least one discharge defined therein. The plurality of swirler vanes are positioned between the back plate and the front plate and spaced circumferentially about the mixing zone. Each of the plurality of swirler vanes direct air obliquely into the mixing zone. The at least one outlet is defined within at least one of the nozzle body and the plurality of swirler vanes, the at least one outlet configured to inject fuel into said mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Mark Allan Hadley, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay
  • Patent number: 9212823
    Abstract: A combustor having a combustion chamber is provided with an external flow sleeve and a combustor liner surrounding the combustion chamber. A plurality of flow channels are provided on the combustor liner and a plurality of nozzles are disposed at predetermined locations on the flow channels. The locations of the nozzles are selected to provide different mixing times for fuel injected through the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Ronald James Chila, Mark Allan Hadley, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay, Sarah Lori Crothers
  • Patent number: 9121609
    Abstract: Disclosed is a combustor including a baffle plate having at least one through baffle hole and at least one fuel nozzle extending through the at least one baffle hole. At least one shroud is secured to the baffle plate and includes at least one piston ring disposed at the shroud. The at least one piston ring is configured to meter a flow of diluent between the at least one shroud and the at least one fuel nozzle. Further disclosed is a method for providing diluent to a combustor including providing a piston ring gap defined by at least one piston ring disposed at a baffle plate and a fuel nozzle extending through a through hole in the baffle plate. The diluent is flowed through the piston ring gap toward at least one airflow hole in the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jesse Ellis Barton, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Mark Allan Hadley, Glenn David Nelson, Robert Joseph Rohrssen, John Drake Vanselow
  • Patent number: 8984893
    Abstract: A system for augmenting gas turbine power output includes a compressed air supply, and a compressed air storage plenum in fluid communication with the compressed air supply. The compressed air storage plenum is configured to store a compressed air from the compressed air supply for later use. The system further includes an inlet plenum sealingly coupled to an inlet of the gas turbine. The inlet plenum is in fluid communication with the compressed air storage plenum so as to route the compressed air from the compressed air storage plenum into the inlet of the compressor during augmented operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Stewart Schroder, Thomas Edward Wickert, Mark Allan Hadley
  • Patent number: 8887506
    Abstract: A fuel injector having an injector body, a mixing circuit, and at least one injector is provided. The injector body has a plurality of manifolds, an inlet, and an outlet. The manifolds are configured for receiving fuel, and the inlet is configured for receiving air. The mixing circuit is positioned within the injector body. The mixing circuit is configured for receiving fuel from at least one of the manifolds, and air from the inlet to create an air-fuel mixture that exits the outlet. The least one fuel injector is positioned radially outwardly from the mixing circuit. The at least one injector receives fuel from at least one of the plurality of manifolds and injects fuel to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jun Cai, Mark Allan Hadley, Jayaprakash Natarajan, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 8863526
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided and includes a first tube, having first and second opposing ends, which is supplied with fuel, and one or more second tubes disposed within the first tube, each of the one or more second tubes being supplied with air and having sidewalls defining injection holes through which the fuel enters the one or more second tubes to mix with the air, and an outlet end of the sidewalls corresponding to the second end of the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Allan Hadley, Rajani Kumar Akula, Jayaprakesh Natarajan, Chetan Babu Velkur
  • Publication number: 20140305127
    Abstract: A system for augmenting gas turbine power output includes a compressed air supply, and a compressed air storage plenum in fluid communication with the compressed air supply. The compressed air storage plenum is configured to store a compressed air from the compressed air supply for later use. The system further includes an inlet plenum sealingly coupled to an inlet of the gas turbine. The inlet plenum is in fluid communication with the compressed air storage plenum so as to route the compressed air from the compressed air storage plenum into the inlet of the compressor during augmented operation of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Stewart Schroder, Thomas Edward Wickert, Mark Allan Hadley
  • Patent number: 8720206
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for inducing combustion dynamics within turbine engines to remove combustion deposits within the turbine engine during operation of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Mark Allan Hadley, Geoffrey D. Myers, Sam D. Draper
  • Publication number: 20140123652
    Abstract: A gas turbine includes a compressor and at least one combustor downstream from the compressor. The combustor includes a burner having an inner shroud extending axially along at least a portion of the burner, an outer shroud radially separated from the inner shroud and extending axially along at least a portion of the burner, and a plurality of stator vanes extending radially between the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The stator vanes have an inner end proximate the inner shroud and an outer end proximate the outer shroud. The burner further includes a vortex tip at one of either the inner end or the outer end of the stator vanes. The vortex tip provides a gap between the inner end and the inner shroud or the outer end and the outer shroud, and the vortex tip includes a plurality of fuel ports. The gas turbine further includes a turbine downstream from the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jesse Blair Butler, David Leach, Kevin Weston McMahan, Mark Allan Hadley, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Publication number: 20140097276
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle is provided. The fuel nozzle includes a nozzle body, a plurality of swirler vanes, and at least one outlet. The nozzle body includes a back plate, a front plate, and a mixing zone defined therebetween. The back plate includes at least one inlet defined therein and the front plate includes at least one discharge defined therein. The plurality of swirler vanes are positioned between the back plate and the front plate and spaced circumferentially about the mixing zone. Each of the plurality of swirler vanes direct air obliquely into the mixing zone. The at least one outlet is defined within at least one of the nozzle body and the plurality of swirler vanes, the at least one outlet configured to inject fuel into said mixing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Mark Allan Hadley, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay
  • Publication number: 20140060063
    Abstract: A combustor having a combustion chamber is provided with an external flow sleeve and a combustor liner surrounding the combustion chamber. A plurality of flow channels are provided on the combustor liner and a plurality of nozzles are disposed at predetermined locations on the flow channels. The locations of the nozzles are selected to provide different mixing times for fuel injected through the nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Ronald James Chila, Mark Allan Hadley, Johnie Franklin McConnaughhay, Sarah Lori Crothers
  • Patent number: 8607570
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle tip for use with a combustor and a method of assembling the fuel nozzle tip are provided. The fuel nozzle tip includes a fuel tube and an air collar coupled to the fuel tube. The fuel tube includes a first plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings and a second plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel openings. The fuel tube is configured to channel fuel into a mixing zone defined within the combustor. The air collar includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced air openings configured to discharge air into the mixing zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Allan Hadley, John Lipinski, Jesse Ellis Barton
  • Publication number: 20130318991
    Abstract: A combustion system including a combustor; a combustor liner disposed within the combustor is provided. At least one primary fuel nozzle is provided to provide fuel to a primary combustion zone disposed proximate to the upstream end of the combustor liner. A transition duct is coupled to the downstream end of the combustor liner. A secondary nozzle assembly is disposed proximate to the downstream end of the combustor to provide fuel to a secondary combustion zone at locations predetermined to reduce peak thermal loads on the surface area of the transition duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Wei Chen, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia, Mark Allan Hadley
  • Publication number: 20130298562
    Abstract: A fuel injector having an injector body, a mixing circuit, and at least one injector is provided. The injector body has a plurality of manifolds, an inlet, and an outlet. The manifolds are configured for receiving fuel, and the inlet is configured for receiving air. The mixing circuit is positioned within the injector body. The mixing circuit is configured for receiving fuel from at least one of the manifolds, and air from the inlet to create an air-fuel mixture that exits the outlet. The least one fuel injector is positioned radially outwardly from the mixing circuit. The at least one injector receives fuel from at least one of the plurality of manifolds and injects fuel to the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun Cai, Mark Allan Hadley, Jayaprakash Natarajan, Lucas John Stoia
  • Patent number: 8567199
    Abstract: Disclosed is a combustor including a baffle plate having at least one through baffle hole and at least one fuel nozzle extending through the at least one baffle hole. A plurality of injection holes extend through the at least one fuel nozzle and are configured to meter a flow of diluent into the combustor. Further disclosed is a method for providing diluent to a combustor including providing a plurality of openings located at at least one fuel nozzle extending through a through hole in a baffle plate. The diluent is flowed through the plurality of openings toward at least one airflow opening in the at least one fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jesse Ellis Barton, Jonathan Dwight Berry, Mark Allan Hadley, Patrick Benedict Melton
  • Publication number: 20130160457
    Abstract: A combustor and a method for reducing a temperature gradient of a combustor component are provided. The combustor includes a coating applied to at least a portion thereof with the coating serving to alter the emissivity of the at least a portion to which it is applied. The method includes applying a coating on at least one of a combustor liner and a flow sleeve, wherein the coating alters the emissivity exhibited where applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, Mark Allan Hadley, Joel Meier Haynes, Brian Gene Brzek
  • Patent number: 8429915
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided, including a fuel injector body, a plurality of fuel vanes, and a plurality of fuel pegs. The injector body includes a manifold and an inlet. The manifold is configured for receiving fuel, and the inlet is configured for receiving air. The fuel vanes are located within the injector body and are positioned in a direction that is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the injector body to orient the air flowing from the inlet. The plurality of fuel pegs are fluidly connected to the manifold and are arranged within the plurality of fuel vanes. The plurality of fuel pegs are each spaced at a distance that is about equal between each of the plurality of fuel pegs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Allan Hadley, David Kenton Felling