Patents by Inventor Michael A. Benjamin

Michael A. Benjamin 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: 20260243430
    Abstract: A turbine engine has a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The combustion section has a combustion liner and dome wall collectively forming at least a portion of a combustion chamber. The dome wall has a fuel nozzle opening. The combustion section has a fuel nozzle assembly extending through the fuel nozzle opening. The fuel nozzle assembly has a gaseous fuel supply, a compressed air supply, a mixer, a fuel nozzle and a first swirler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2026
    Publication date: August 20, 2026
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, Michael T. Bucaro, Sibtosh Pal, Andrew Joseph Wickersham, Karthikeyan Sampath
  • Patent number: 12710175
    Abstract: A combustion section for a turbine engine. The combustion section has a wall and a fuel nozzle. The wall at least partially forms a combustion chamber. The fuel nozzle opens to the combustion chamber through the wall. The fuel nozzle has a fuel nozzle body and a swirler. The fuel nozzle body defines a central channel. The swirler is provided within the central channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2026
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Prithiviraaj Pet T, Pabitra Badhuk, Karthikeyan Sampath, Aritra Chakraborty, Michael T. Bucaro, Michael A. Benjamin, Sibtosh Pal, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Narasimha Chiranthan Ranganatha, Joseph Zelina
  • Publication number: 20260227066
    Abstract: A combustor comprising a dome wall, an annular liner, a combustion chamber, a set of fuel cups, and a set of dilution passages for each fuel cup of the set of fuel cups. The set of fuel cups circumferentially spaced along the dome wall relative to the combustor centerline. The set of dilution passages terminating in a plurality of slots spaced about the corresponding fuel cup in the set of fuel cups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2026
    Publication date: August 6, 2026
    Inventors: Pabitra Badhuk, Michael T. Bucaro, Pradeep Naik, Perumallu Vukanti, Arijit Sinha Roy, Sibtosh Pal, Bhavya Naidu Panduri, Aritra Chakraborty, Ajoy Patra, R Narasimha Chiranthan, Michael A. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 12698898
    Abstract: A turbine engine can utilize a combustor to combust fuel to drive the turbine, which drives the engine. A fuel nozzle assembly can supply fuel to the combustor for combustion or ignition of the fuel. The fuel nozzle assembly can include a swirler and a fuel nozzle to supply a mixture of fuel and air for combustion. Increasing efficiency and carbon-containing emission needs benefit from the use of alternative fuels, which combust at higher temperatures than traditional fuels, requiring improved fuel introduction without the occurrence of flame holding or flashback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2025
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2026
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Perumallu Vukanti, Michael T. Bucaro, Ajoy Patra, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, Sripathi Mohan, R Narasimha Chiranthan, Joseph Zelina
  • Publication number: 20260218907
    Abstract: A combustion section for a turbine engine. The combustion section has a wall and a fuel nozzle. The wall at least partially forms a combustion chamber. The fuel nozzle opens to the combustion chamber through the wall. The fuel nozzle has a fuel nozzle body and a swirler. The fuel nozzle body defines a central channel. The swirler is provided within the central channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Prithiviraaj Pet T, Pabitra Badhuk, Karthikeyan Sampath, Aritra Chakraborty, Michael T. Bucaro, Michael A. Benjamin, Sibtosh Pal, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Narasimha Chiranthan Ranganatha, Joseph Zelina
  • Publication number: 20260218903
    Abstract: An engine can utilize a combustor to combust fuel to drive the engine. A fuel nozzle assembly can supply fuel to the combustor for combustion or ignition of the fuel. The fuel nozzle assembly can include a swirler and a fuel nozzle to supply a mixture of fuel and air for combustion. The fuel nozzle can include both a primary and secondary fuel passage, and an additional air passage to provide for greater flame control, fuel provision, or local fuel and air mixing prior to combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2024
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventors: Michael T. Bucaro, Ajoy Patra, Pradeep Naik, Perumallu Vukanti, R Narasimha Chiranthan, Clayton S. Cooper, Michael A. Benjamin, Steven C. Vise, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Krishnakumar Venkatesan, V
  • Publication number: 20260218904
    Abstract: A combustion section for a turbine engine. The combustion section has a wall and a fuel nozzle. The wall at least partially forms a combustion chamber. The fuel nozzle opens to the combustion chamber through the wall. The fuel nozzle has a fuel nozzle body and a swirler. The fuel nozzle body defines a central channel. The swirler is provided within the central channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Publication date: July 30, 2026
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Prithiviraaj Pet T, Pabitra Badhuk, Karthikeyan Sampath, Aritra Chakraborty, Michael T. Bucaro, Michael A. Benjamin, Sibtosh Pal, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Narasimha Chiranthan Ranganatha, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 12693019
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, comprising a compressor section, combustion section, and turbine section in serial flow arrangement, with the combustion section comprising: a combustor liner that at least partially defines a combustion chamber; and a gaseous fuel nozzle assembly fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber and comprising: a rich fuel supply configured to provide a rich mixture of gaseous fuel and air; a lean fuel supply configured to provide a lean mixture of gaseous fuel and air, the lean mixture having a lower equivalence ratio than the rich mixture; a rich fluid passage fluidly coupled to the rich fuel supply to emit the rich mixture into the combustion chamber; and a lean fluid passage fluidly coupled to the lean fuel supply to emit the lean mixture into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2026
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Karthikeyan Sampath, Michael A. Benjamin, Sibtosh Pal, Michael T. Bucaro, Prithiviraaj Pet T, Pabitra Badhuk, Clayton S. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20260194227
    Abstract: A turbine engine has a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The combustion section has a combustor liner and dome wall collectively forming at least a portion of a combustion chamber. The dome wall has a fuel nozzle opening. The combustion section has a fuel nozzle assembly extending through the fuel nozzle opening. The fuel nozzle assembly has a first body, a second body, a first swirler and a second swirler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2026
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Karthikeyan Sampath, Michael A. Benjamin, Sibtosh Pal, Michael T. Bucaro, Andrew Joseph Wickersham, Steven C. Vise
  • Publication number: 20260168674
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, comprising: a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in a serial flow arrangement, with the combustion section comprising: a combustor liner that at least partially defines a combustion chamber; and a fuel-air mixer fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber and comprising: a mixing tube defining a mixing channel including a mixing tube inlet, a mixing tube outlet fluidly coupled with the combustion chamber, and a mixing channel centerline, the mixing tube inlet including a fuel inlet to receive fuel and an air inlet to receive air; a first set of air jets fluidly coupled with the mixing channel and axially spaced downstream of the mixing tube inlet; and a second set of air jets fluidly coupled with the mixing channel and axially spaced downstream of the first set of air jets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Inventors: Prithiviraaj Pet T, Karthikeyan Sampath, Pradeep Naik, Pabitra Badhuk, Aritra Chakraborty, Sibtosh Pal, Michael A. Benjamin, Michael T. Bucaro
  • Patent number: 12655980
    Abstract: An engine can utilize a combustor to combust fuel to drive the engine. A fuel nozzle assembly can supply fuel to the combustor for combustion or ignition of the fuel. The fuel nozzle assembly can include a swirler and a fuel nozzle to supply a mixture of fuel and air for combustion. The fuel nozzle assembly can be configured to increase lateral provision of fuels to reduce flame scrubbing on combustor liners for the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Ajoy Patra, Michael T. Bucaro, Perumallu Vukanti, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Saket Singh, Clayton S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 12655981
    Abstract: A coupling assembly for a turbine engine. The coupling assembly includes a cold side component, a hot side component, and a fastening mechanism. The cold side component and the hot side component together at least partially form a combustion chamber. The fastening mechanism couples the hot side component to the cold side component. The fastening mechanism includes a stud disposed through the cold side component and a cap positioned on the stud. The cap defines a hollow interior and includes one or more first cap cooling holes. The one or more first cap cooling holes operably direct cooling air into the hollow interior such that the hollow interior provides a cushion of air between the combustion chamber and the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2025
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Nath, Michael A. Benjamin, Daniel D. Brown, Sibtosh Pal, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 12644415
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a hydrogen fuel delivery assembly configured to deliver a hydrogen fuel flow, a compressor section configured to compress air flowing therethrough to provide a compressed air flow, and a combustor including a combustion chamber having a burner length and a burner dome height. The combustion chamber is configured to combust a mixture of the hydrogen fuel flow and the compressed air flow. The combustion chamber can be characterized by a combustor size rating between one inch and seven inches. In more detail, the combustion chamber can be characterized by the combustor size rating between one inch and seven inches at a core air flow parameter between two and one half kN and sixty kN, in which the combustor size rating is a function of the core air flow parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Benjamin, Manampathy G. Giridharan
  • Patent number: 12644604
    Abstract: A pilot fuel nozzle assembly includes a fuel nozzle, a swirler, and a vented pilot venturi. The vented pilot venturi has an annular wall with an oxidizer flow passage therein. An expansion flow surface portion of the venturi has a larger diameter at an outlet than at a throat of the venturi. A plurality of venturi oxidizer outlet ports extend through the expansion flow surface to the oxidizer flow passage within the annular wall to provide a flow of oxidizer through the venturi wall into a mixing cavity of the venturi and at an outlet end of the venturi. The oxidizer outlet ports are circumferentially spaced about a circumference of the expansion flow surface, and may be arranged in a plurality of rows. The oxidizer outlet ports may be angled with respect to the expansion flow surface and may angled circumferentially in a co-swirl direction with the swirler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hiranya Nath, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, Gurunath Gandikota
  • Publication number: 20260139838
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a compression section, combustion section, and turbine section in serial flow arrangement and defining an engine centerline. The combustion section has a combustor including a combustor liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber exhausting at a combustion chamber outlet, with the combustor liner having an inner liner and an outer liner. A liquid fuel injector configured to inject a first mixture comprised of liquid fuel and air or atomized liquid fuel and air into the combustion chamber and a gaseous fuel injector is configured to inject a second mixture comprised of gaseous fuel and air or atomized fuel and air into the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2024
    Publication date: May 21, 2026
    Inventors: Andrew J. Wickersham, Hiranya Nath, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, Sibtosh Pal, Clayton S. Cooper
  • Publication number: 20260132923
    Abstract: A combustion section of a turbine engine having a primary combustion chamber and a secondary combustion chamber. The primary combustion chamber is defined, at least in part, by a combustor liner and a dome wall. A set of primary fuel nozzles have outlets located at the dome wall, wherein the outlets of the set of primary fuel nozzles are fluidly coupled with the primary combustion chamber. At least one opening located in an outer liner axially aft of the dome wall fluidly couples the secondary combustion chamber and the primary combustion chamber. A set of secondary fuel nozzles are fluidly coupled with the secondary combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2024
    Publication date: May 14, 2026
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Perumallu Vukanti, Clayton S. Cooper, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, R Narasimha Chiranthan
  • Patent number: 12613036
    Abstract: A turbine engine has a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The combustion section has a combustion liner and dome wall collectively forming at least a portion of a combustion chamber. The dome wall has a fuel nozzle opening. The combustion section has a fuel nozzle assembly extending through the fuel nozzle opening. The fuel nozzle assembly has a gaseous fuel supply, a compressed air supply, a mixer, a fuel nozzle and a first swirler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2026
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, Michael T. Bucaro, Sibtosh Pal, Andrew Joseph Wickersham, Karthikeyan Sampath
  • Patent number: 12601485
    Abstract: An engine can utilize a combustor to combust fuel to drive the engine. A fuel nozzle assembly can supply fuel to the combustor for combustion or ignition of the fuel. The fuel nozzle assembly can include a swirler and a fuel nozzle to supply a mixture of fuel and air for combustion. Increasing efficiency and meeting emission needs can be met with the use of alternative fuels, which combust at higher temperatures or higher speeds than traditional fuels, requiring improved fuel introduction without the occurrence of flame holding or flashback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Perumallu Vukanti, Michael T. Bucaro, Steven C. Vise, Ajoy Patra, R Narasimha Chiranthan, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Michael A. Benjamin, Clayton S. Cooper, Dharmaraj Pachaiappan
  • Publication number: 20260098639
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, comprising: a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in a serial flow arrangement, with the combustion section comprising: a combustor liner that at least partially defines a combustion chamber; and a fuel nozzle assembly, comprising: a liquid fuel supply to supply a liquid fuel; a hydrogen fuel supply to supply a gaseous hydrogen fuel; and a fuel nozzle body defining a fuel nozzle assembly centerline, the fuel nozzle body fluidly coupled with the liquid fuel supply and the hydrogen fuel supply to provide the liquid fuel and the gaseous hydrogen fuel to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2024
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Inventors: Michael A. Benjamin, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Steven C. Vise
  • Publication number: 20260098640
    Abstract: A turbine engine can combust fuel to drive a turbine, which drives the engine. A fuel nozzle can supply fuel for combustion or ignition of the fuel. The fuel nozzle can include a central body defining a first fuel passage terminating at a first orifice. An annular first wall circumferentially surrounds the central body and is spaced therefrom to define a first airflow passage therebetween. A set of first swirler vanes is circumferentially spaced about the central body and disposed within the first airflow passage. The fuel nozzle can supply a mixture of fuel and air for combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2024
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sampath, Pradeep Naik, Clayton S. Cooper, Sibtosh Pal, Michael T. Bucaro, Steven C. Vise, Michael A. Benjamin, Andrew J. Wickersham