Patents by Inventor Michael Christopher Gibson

Michael Christopher Gibson 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: 10030869
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body including a sleeve having an inner surface and a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body within the sleeve and defines a pilot air passage within the center body. The pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that define premix passages in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. At least one of the premix tubes includes a fuel port. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a pilot fuel flow path that is defined radially between the pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly and the inner surface of the sleeve and a fuel plenum that is at least partially defined between the sleeve inner surface and an outer surface of the premix tip. The fuel ports provide for fluid communication between the fuel plenum and the premix passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Gibson, Dereck Joseph Ouellet
  • Patent number: 9982892
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body having a pilot air passage and a pilot fuel passage defined therein. A pilot nozzle having a plurality of premix passages is disposed within a downstream end portion of the center body. Each premix passage includes an inlet that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage, an outlet that is positioned axially downstream from the inlet and a fuel port that is in fluid communication with the pilot fuel passage. An outer sleeve is coaxially aligned with and radially spaced from the center body so as to define an annular passage therebetween. A strut extends radially outwardly from the center body to the outer sleeve. The fuel nozzle assembly further includes an inlet passage that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The inlet passage extends through the outer sleeve, the strut and the center body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Dereck Joseph Ouellet, Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson
  • Patent number: 9714767
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body, a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body and that includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that each defines a premix passage and a fuel port. The premix passage of each premix tube is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a purge air cartridge assembly that extends axially within the pilot air passage. The purge air cartridge assembly includes a feed tube portion and a tip portion that define a purge air passage within the pilot air passage. The tip portion comprises an aft wall that extends at least partially through an opening defined by the premix tip. The aft wall includes a single axially extending orifice that is in fluid communication with the purge air passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson, Bryan Wesley Romig
  • Publication number: 20160305668
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body having a pilot air passage and a pilot fuel passage defined therein. A pilot nozzle having a plurality of premix passages is disposed within a downstream end portion of the center body. Each premix passage includes an inlet that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage, an outlet that is positioned axially downstream from the inlet and a fuel port that is in fluid communication with the pilot fuel passage. An outer sleeve is coaxially aligned with and radially spaced from the center body so as to define an annular passage therebetween. A strut extends radially outwardly from the center body to the outer sleeve. The fuel nozzle assembly further includes an inlet passage that is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The inlet passage extends through the outer sleeve, the strut and the center body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Bryan Wesley Romig, Dereck Joseph Ouellet, Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson
  • Publication number: 20160146459
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body including a sleeve having an inner surface and a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body within the sleeve and defines a pilot air passage within the center body. The pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that define premix passages in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. At least one of the premix tubes includes a fuel port. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a pilot fuel flow path that is defined radially between the pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly and the inner surface of the sleeve and a fuel plenum that is at least partially defined between the sleeve inner surface and an outer surface of the premix tip. The fuel ports provide for fluid communication between the fuel plenum and the premix passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Gibson, Dereck Joseph Ouellet
  • Publication number: 20160146460
    Abstract: A premix fuel nozzle assembly includes a center body, a pilot premix fuel nozzle assembly that extends axially through the center body and that includes a premix tip having a plurality of premix tubes that each defines a premix passage and a fuel port. The premix passage of each premix tube is in fluid communication with the pilot air passage. The premix fuel nozzle assembly further includes a purge air cartridge assembly that extends axially within the pilot air passage. The purge air cartridge assembly includes a feed tube portion and a tip portion that define a purge air passage within the pilot air passage. The tip portion comprises an aft wall that extends at least partially through an opening defined by the premix tip. The aft wall includes a single axially extending orifice that is in fluid communication with the purge air passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Thurman Stewart, Michael Christopher Gibson, Bryan Wesley Romig
  • Publication number: 20150308345
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly having an inlet region of a fuel nozzle base assembly that provides more uniform flow of fuel within the fuel nozzle assembly. The embodiments described herein provide fuel flow conditioning components that manage fuel uniformity within a fuel annulus and make more efficient use of allocated space, thereby overcoming spatial constraints imposed on the overall fuel nozzle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stacy Ann Holzman, Michael Christopher Gibson, Dereck Joseph Ouellet, Bryan Wesley Romig, Jason Thurman Stewart