Patents by Inventor Neal W. Grooms

Neal W. Grooms 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).

  • Replaceable orifice for combustion tuning and related method
    Patent number: 8333077
    Abstract: A boss and orifice plate assembly comprising an annular boss adapted to be secured in a hole formed in a combustor component, said boss formed with an annular seat supporting a replaceable orifice plate, and an annular retaining ring groove adjacent said seat, said seat extending radially inwardly of said annular retaining ring groove; and a retaining ring seated in said retaining ring groove and at least partially and resiliently engaged between a surface of said groove and a surface of said orifice plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lebegue, Neal W. Grooms
  • REPLACEABLE ORIFICE FOR COMBUSTION TUNING AND RELATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20120006031
    Abstract: A boss and orifice plate assembly comprising an annular boss adapted to be secured in a hole formed in a combustor component, said boss formed with an annular seat supporting a replaceable orifice plate, and an annular retaining ring groove adjacent said seat, said seat extending radially inwardly of said annular retaining ring groove; and a retaining ring seated in said retaining ring groove and at least partially and resiliently engaged between a surface of said groove and a surface of said orifice plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeffrey LEBEGUE, Neal W. GROOMS
  • Replaceable orifice for combustion tuning and related method
    Patent number: 8047008
    Abstract: A combustor assembly having a transition piece and at least one orifice assembly in the transition piece, the orifice assembly comprising: a boss having an outside periphery and an inside periphery, the inside periphery including an annular seat and an upstanding flange formed with an annular, inwardly facing retaining ring groove, the boss fixed within an opening in the transition piece; an orifice plate having a bottom surface that is adapted to be received on the annular seat; and a retaining ring located in the retaining ring groove and at least partially engaged with the orifice plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lebegue, Neal W. Grooms
  • Replaceable orifice for combustion tuning and related method
    Publication number: 20090241553
    Abstract: A combustor assembly having a transition piece and at least one orifice assembly in the transition piece, the orifice assembly comprising: a boss having an outside periphery and an inside periphery, the inside periphery including an annular seat and an upstanding flange formed with an annular, inwardly facing retaining ring groove, the boss fixed within an opening in the transition piece; an orifice plate having a bottom surface that is adapted to be received on the annular seat; and a retaining ring located in the retaining ring groove and at least partially engaged with the orifice plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lebegue, Neal W. Grooms