Patents by Inventor Mark Michael D'Andrea

Mark Michael D'Andrea 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: 8147178
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine centrifugal compressor axial forward thrust apparatus bleeds impeller tip aft bleed flow from between an annular centrifugal compressor impeller of a high pressure rotor and a diffuser directly downstream of the impeller. The apparatus then uses the aft bleed flow to pressurize an annular cavity extending radially between an inner combustor casing and the rotor and extending axially between forward and aft thrust balance seals. Forward and aft thrust balance lands are in sealing engagement with the forward and aft thrust balance seals on the high pressure rotor respectively. An annular stator plenum in fluid communication with the annular cavity is bounded in part by a forward end wall having conical diffusion holes therethrough which may be axially or circumferentially or axially and circumferentially angled. The forward thrust balance seal may be on an aft conical arm of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Ottaviano, Robert John Parks, John Lawrence Noon, Mark Michael D'Andrea, Thomas Michael Regan, Aaron Todd Williams
  • Patent number: 8087249
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine cooling system includes an impeller and a diffuser directly downstream of the impeller, a bleed for bleeding clean cooling air from downstream of the diffuser, and one or more channels in fluid communication with the bleed. Each of the channels having a generally radially extending section followed by a generally axially aftwardly extending section terminating at an annular cooling air plenum connected to accelerators. The radially and axially aftwardly extending sections may be connected by a bend section of the cooling air channel and the axially aftwardly extending section may be angled radially inwardly going from the bend section to the cooling air plenum. Each of the cooling channels includes an inner wall formed by a forward end wall extending radially outwardly from an inner combustor casing, an annular cover covering a radially inner portion of the forward end wall, and the inner combustor casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Ottaviano, Robert John Parks, John Lawrence Noon, Mark Michael D'Andrea, Thomas Michael Regan
  • Publication number: 20100158668
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine centrifugal compressor axial forward thrust apparatus bleeds impeller tip aft bleed flow from between an annular centrifugal compressor impeller of a high pressure rotor and a diffuser directly downstream of the impeller. The apparatus then uses the aft bleed flow to pressurize an annular cavity extending radially between an inner combustor casing and the rotor and extending axially between forward and aft thrust balance seals. Forward and aft thrust balance lands are in sealing engagement with the forward and aft thrust balance seals on the high pressure rotor respectively. An annular stator plenum in fluid communication with the annular cavity is bounded in part by a forward end wall having conical diffusion holes therethrough which may be axially or circumferentially or axially and circumferentially angled. The forward thrust balance seal may be on an aft conical arm of the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Ottaviano, Robert John Parks, John Lawrence Noon, Mark Michael D'Andrea, Thomas Michael Regan, Aaron Todd Williams
  • Publication number: 20100154433
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine cooling system includes an impeller and a diffuser directly downstream of the impeller, a bleed for bleeding clean cooling air from downstream of the diffuser, and one or more channels in fluid communication with the bleed. Each of the channels having a generally radially extending section followed by a generally axially aftwardly extending section terminating at an annular cooling air plenum connected to accelerators. The radially and axially aftwardly extending sections may be connected by a bend section of the cooling air channel and the axially aftwardly extending section may be angled radially inwardly going from the bend section to the cooling air plenum. Each of the cooling channels includes an inner wall formed by a forward end wall extending radially outwardly from an inner combustor casing, an annular cover covering a radially inner portion of the forward end wall, and the inner combustor casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Ottaviano, Robert John Parks, John Lawrence Noon, Mark Michael D'Andrea, Thomas Michael Regan
  • Patent number: 6844520
    Abstract: A method facilitates manufacturing a combustor for a gas turbine engine. The combustor includes an inner and an outer liner, a dome, and flanges. The method comprises assembling the inner and outer liner such that each includes a series of liner panels, positioning a spatter shield against a downstream side of the inner and outer liners, wherein the spatter shield comprises molybdenum, positioning a mounting flange against the downstream side of the inner and outer liners, such that the spatter shield is positioned at least partially between the mounting flange and the inner and outer liners, and coupling the mounting flange to the inner and outer liners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Michael D'Andrea, Adrian Fredrick Crowe
  • Publication number: 20040255461
    Abstract: A method facilitates manufacturing a combustor for a gas turbine engine. The combustor includes an inner and an outer liner, a dome, and flanges. The method comprises assembling the inner and outer liner such that each includes a series of liner panels, positioning a spatter shield against a downstream side of the inner and outer liners, wherein the spatter shield comprises molybdenum, positioning a mounting flange against the downstream side of the inner and outer liners, such that the spatter shield is positioned at least partially between the mounting flange and the inner and outer liners, and coupling the mounting flange to the inner and outer liners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Michael D'Andrea, Adrian Fredrick Crowe
  • Publication number: 20040060909
    Abstract: A method facilitates manufacturing a combustor for a gas turbine engine. The combustor includes an inner and an outer liner, a dome, and flanges. The method comprises assembling the inner and outer liner such that each includes a series of liner panels, positioning a spatter shield against a downstream side of the inner and outer liners, wherein the spatter shield comprises molybdenum, positioning a mounting flange against the downstream side of the inner and outer liners, such that the spatter shield is positioned at least partially between the mounting flange and the inner and outer liners, and coupling the mounting flange to the inner and outer liners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Mark Michael D'Andrea, Adrian Fredrick Crowe