Patents by Inventor Nicholas R. Overman

Nicholas R. Overman 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: 11920791
    Abstract: A trapped vortex reverse flow combustor for a gas turbine includes a first dome structure having a plurality of first-dome vortex driver airflow openings for providing a first vortex generating mid airflow therethrough to a trapped vortex cavity. A second dome structure is arranged downstream of the first dome structure and includes a plurality of second-dome vortex driver airflow openings providing a first vortex generating outer airflow therethrough to the trapped vortex cavity, and a plurality of primary driver airflow openings providing a primary driver airflow therethrough radially inward of the trapped vortex cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Overman
  • Patent number: 11905837
    Abstract: A sealing system for sealing between components. The sealing system includes a first component, a second component, and a seal assembly including a seal member. The first component includes a first component surface, and the second component includes a second component surface. The second component surface is oriented in a direction transverse to the first contact surface. The seal member has a plurality of contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface is configured to contact the first component surface and to slide relative to the first component surface. The second contact surface is configured to contact the second component surface and to slide relative to the second component surface. The second contact surface is oriented in a direction transverse to the first contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Overman
  • Patent number: 11898755
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine has a combustor liner including an outer liner and an inner liner, a combustion chamber being defined between the outer liner and the inner liner. The combustion chamber includes a primary combustion zone at an upstream end of the combustion chamber. The combustor also includes an outer liner expanded primary volume portion, and a secondary outer liner portion. One of the outer liner expanded primary volume portion and the secondary outer liner portion is movable to adjust a volume of the primary combustion zone by opening and closing access to the outer liner expanded primary volume portion so as to increase and to decrease the volume of the primary combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Nath, Michael A. Benjamin, Nicholas R. Overman
  • Publication number: 20230400187
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine has a combustor liner including an outer liner and an inner liner, a combustion chamber being defined between the outer liner and the inner liner. The combustion chamber includes a primary combustion zone at an upstream end of the combustion chamber. The combustor also includes an outer liner expanded primary volume portion, and a secondary outer liner portion. One of the outer liner expanded primary volume portion and the secondary outer liner portion is movable to adjust a volume of the primary combustion zone by opening and closing access to the outer liner expanded primary volume portion so as to increase and to decrease the volume of the primary combustion zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Nath, Michael A. Benjamin, Nicholas R. Overman
  • Patent number: 11828469
    Abstract: An adaptive trapped vortex combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustion chamber, a fuel injector, and one or more chutes. The combustion chamber is defined by an outer liner, an inner liner, and a dome, and includes a primary combustion zone within the combustion chamber defining a vortex cavity for a trapped vortex, the vortex cavity having a volume therein, a secondary combustion zone within the combustion chamber, and an opening from the primary combustion zone to the secondary combustion zone. The fuel injector injects a fuel into the primary combustion zone. The one or more chutes provide an air flow to the primary combustion zone and/or the secondary combustion zone. A feature of the adaptive trapped vortex combustor is controllable such that a residence time of the fuel in the vortex cavity is controllable based on an operating condition of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Overman, Aaron J. Glaser
  • Patent number: 11815025
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor may include a primary fuel passage having a primary fuel outlet. A secondary fuel passage having a secondary fuel outlet. A valve located within the secondary fuel passage. The valve may include a stationary hub having a plurality of first angled surfaces. The valve may include a movable sleeve having a plurality of second angled surfaces. Each of the plurality of first angled surfaces aligns axially with a respective one of the plurality of second angled surfaces to define a slot therebetween. The valve is movable between a plurality of positions to open, to close, or to partially open the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Overman
  • Publication number: 20230358170
    Abstract: A diffuser for a combustor of a turbomachine engine. The diffuser includes a body having a first annular surface and a second annular surface that define a passage, the passage being configured to cause air to flow along the passage to a first component of the combustor. The first annular surface includes an opening that is configured to cause air to flow in a direction away from the passage to a second component of the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Juntao Zhang, Nicholas R. Overman, Steven C. Vise, Andrew Wickersham, Michael A. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11802693
    Abstract: A swirler apparatus for a combustor, including: primary and secondary swirlers disposed axially adjacent to each other along a swirler centerline; the primary swirler including a plurality of primary swirl vanes arrayed around the swirler centerline, each primary swirl vane including opposed sides bounded between opposed forward and aft edges and opposed leading and trailing edges; wherein the forward edge is oriented at a first vane angle with respect to a radial direction; wherein the aft edge is oriented at a second vane angle with respect to the radial direction; wherein the second vane angle is different from the first vane angle; and the secondary swirler including a plurality of secondary swirl vanes arrayed around the swirler centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Allen M. Danis, Nicholas R. Overman, Steven Clayton Vise, Michael Anthony Benjamin, James Matthew Rogers
  • Publication number: 20230304414
    Abstract: A sealing system for sealing between components. The sealing system includes a first component, a second component, and a seal assembly including a seal member. The first component includes a first component surface, and the second component includes a second component surface. The second component surface is oriented in a direction transverse to the first contact surface. The seal member has a plurality of contact surfaces including a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface is configured to contact the first component surface and to slide relative to the first component surface. The second contact surface is configured to contact the second component surface and to slide relative to the second component surface. The second contact surface is oriented in a direction transverse to the first contact surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Overman
  • Publication number: 20230280034
    Abstract: An adaptive trapped vortex combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustion chamber, a fuel injector, and one or more chutes. The combustion chamber is defined by an outer liner, an inner liner, and a dome, and includes a primary combustion zone within the combustion chamber defining a vortex cavity for a trapped vortex, the vortex cavity having a volume therein, a secondary combustion zone within the combustion chamber, and an opening from the primary combustion zone to the secondary combustion zone. The fuel injector injects a fuel into the primary combustion zone. The one or more chutes provide an air flow to the primary combustion zone and/or the secondary combustion zone. A feature of the adaptive trapped vortex combustor is controllable such that a residence time of the fuel in the vortex cavity is controllable based on an operating condition of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Overman, Aaron J. Glaser
  • Publication number: 20230266006
    Abstract: A swirler assembly includes a swirler having primary swirler with a primary swirler venturi, a swirler ferrule plate connected to the primary swirler, and a fuel nozzle disposed in the swirler ferrule plate. The swirler ferrule plate has an aft wall, an annular conical wall, and an annular cavity wall that together form an annular cavity. The annular cavity includes a plurality of inlet orifices, and at least one outlet orifice. A flow of oxidizer through the plurality of inlet orifices into the annular cavity incurs a first pressure drop from a first pressure of a pressure plenum to a second pressure lower than the first pressure, and a flow of the oxidizer from the annular cavity through the at least one outlet orifice into the primary swirler venturi incurs a second pressure drop from the second pressure to a third pressure lower than the second pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Shai Birmaher, Kwanwoo Kim, Saket Singh, Perumallu Vukanti, Karthikeyan Sampath, Steven C. Vise, Nicholas R. Overman, Michael A. Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20230266002
    Abstract: A swirler assembly includes a swirler having a primary swirler with a primary swirler venturi, a swirler ferrule plate connected upstream to the primary swirler, and a fuel nozzle disposed in the swirler ferrule plate. The swirler ferrule plate has an annular pressure drop cavity with oxidizer inlet orifices in fluid communication with the swirler, and at least one outlet orifice in fluid communication with the primary swirler venturi. A second flow of oxidizer to the swirler incurs a first pressure drop, a third flow of the oxidizer from the swirler to the annular pressure drop cavity incurs a second pressure drop, and a fourth flow of the oxidizer from the annular pressure drop cavity to the primary swirler venturi incurs a third pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Shai Birmaher, Kwanwoo Kim, Saket Singh, Perumallu Vukanti, Karthikeyan Sampath, Steven C. Vise, Nicholas R. Overman, Michael A. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11578870
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for spraying fuel in an augmented gas turbine engine. The embodiments may include a spray bar with a fuel injection aperture configured to inject a fuel jet into a fuel conduit; the fuel conduit having a fuel window to discharge the fuel jet into a core exhaust flow of an augmented gas turbine engine; a first channel directing a first air stream into the fuel conduit; and a second channel directing a second air stream into the fuel conduit. The first air stream and the second air stream cooperatively shape the fuel jet coming out of the fuel window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brett A. Rich, Michael A. Benjamin, Nicholas R. Overman, Aaron J. Glaser
  • Publication number: 20220356846
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor may include a primary fuel passage having a primary fuel outlet. A secondary fuel passage having a secondary fuel outlet. A valve located within the secondary fuel passage. The valve may include a stationary hub having a plurality of first angled surfaces. The valve may include a movable sleeve having a plurality of second angled surfaces. Each of the plurality of first angled surfaces aligns axially with a respective one of the plurality of second angled surfaces to define a slot therebetween. The valve is movable between a plurality of positions to open, to close, or to partially open the slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Overman
  • Publication number: 20220349581
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for spraying fuel in an augmented gas turbine engine. The embodiments may include a spray bar with a fuel injection aperture configured to inject a fuel jet into a fuel conduit; the fuel conduit having a fuel window to discharge the fuel jet into a core exhaust flow of an augmented gas turbine engine; a first channel directing a first air stream into the fuel conduit; and a second channel directing a second air stream into the fuel conduit. The first air stream and the second air stream cooperatively shape the fuel jet coming out of the fuel window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Brett A. Rich, Michael A. Benjamin, Nicholas R. Overman, Aaron J. Glaser
  • Publication number: 20220333780
    Abstract: A swirler apparatus for a combustor, including: primary and secondary swirlers disposed axially adjacent to each other along a swirler centerline; the primary swirler including a plurality of primary swirl vanes arrayed around the swirler centerline, each primary swirl vane including opposed sides bounded between opposed forward and aft edges and opposed leading and trailing edges; wherein the forward edge is oriented at a first vane angle with respect to a radial direction; wherein the aft edge is oriented at a second vane angle with respect to the radial direction; wherein the second vane angle is different from the first vane angle; and the secondary swirler including a plurality of secondary swirl vanes arrayed around the swirler centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Allen M. Danis, Nicholas R. Overman, Steven Clayton Vise, Michael Anthony Benjamin, James Matthew Rogers
  • Patent number: 11448175
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a combustor includes a fuel body, a primary fuel passage having a primary fuel outlet, and a secondary fuel passage having a secondary fuel outlet, the secondary fuel passage being non-concentric with the primary fuel passage. The primary fuel outlet and the secondary fuel outlet are non-parallel. An axial centerline of the primary fuel outlet is angled with respect to an axial centerline of the primary fuel passage and an axial centerline of the secondary fuel outlet is colinear with an axial centerline of the secondary fuel passage. Also provided is a method of introducing non-concentric, non-parallel fuel flows to a combustor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Overman
  • Patent number: 11428411
    Abstract: A venturi for a swirler assembly of a combustor for a gas turbine engine. The venturi has an annular wall having internal diameter of a forward end of the annular wall that is larger than an internal diameter of a middle portion of the annular wall, which is smaller than an internal diameter of an aft end of the annular wall. The internal surface of the annular wall has a plurality of grooves extending in a longitudinal direction from the forward end of the annular wall to the aft end of the annular wall. The plurality of grooves are angled with respect to a centerline axis of the annular wall and may be spiraled about the internal surface of the annular wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Clayton S. Cooper, Nicholas R. Overman, Steven C. Vise
  • Patent number: 11408610
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for spraying fuel in an augmented gas turbine engine. The embodiments may include a spray bar with a fuel injection aperture to inject a fuel jet into a fuel conduit; the fuel conduit having a fuel window to discharge the fuel jet into a core exhaust flow of an augmented gas turbine engine; a first airflow conduit having a first orifice to discharge a first air stream into the core exhaust flow; and a second airflow conduit having a second orifice to discharge a second air stream into the core exhaust flow. The first orifice and the second orifice may be paired with the fuel window to cooperatively shape the fuel jet coming out of the fuel window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brett A. Rich, Michael A. Benjamin, Nicholas R. Overman, Aaron J. Glaser
  • Publication number: 20220243915
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful for spraying fuel in an augmented gas turbine engine. The embodiments may include a spray bar with a fuel injection aperture to inject a fuel jet into a fuel conduit; the fuel conduit having a fuel window to discharge the fuel jet into a core exhaust flow of an augmented gas turbine engine; a first airflow conduit having a first orifice to discharge a first air stream into the core exhaust flow; and a second airflow conduit having a second orifice to discharge a second air stream into the core exhaust flow. The first orifice and the second orifice may be paired with the fuel window to cooperatively shape the fuel jet coming out of the fuel window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Brett A. Rich, Michael A. Benjamin, Nicholas R. Overman, Aaron J. Glaser