Patents by Inventor Patrick Benedict Melton
Patrick Benedict Melton 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).
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Patent number: 10436445Abstract: An assembly for controlling a gap between a liner and a stationary nozzle within a gas turbine includes an annular liner having an aft frame that is disposed at an aft end of the liner, and a mounting bracket that is coupled to the aft frame. The assembly further includes a turbine having an outer turbine shell and an inner turbine shell that at least partially defines an inlet to the turbine. A stationary nozzle is disposed between the aft frame and the inlet. The stationary nozzle includes a top platform portion having a leading edge that extends towards the aft frame and a bottom platform portion. A gap is defined between the aft end of the aft frame and the leading edge of the top platform portion. The mounting bracket is coupled to the outer turbine shell, and stationary nozzle is coupled to the inner turbine shell.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Christopher Paul Willis, Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
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Patent number: 10309653Abstract: A bundled tube fuel nozzle includes a forward plate, a first intermediate plate and an outer sleeve defining a fuel plenum, a second intermediate plate axially spaced from the first intermediate plate where the first intermediate plate, the second intermediate plate and the outer sleeve define a purge air plenum, an aft plate axially spaced from the second intermediate plate where the second intermediate plate, the aft plate and the outer sleeve define a cooling air plenum and an annular wall that extends from the second intermediate plate to the aft plate. The annular wall defines a cooling flow channel within the bundled tube fuel nozzle. A plurality of apertures is defined proximate to a cool side of the aft plate and provide for fluid communication between the cooling flow channel and the cooling air plenum.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2016Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, David William Cihlar, Timothy James Purcell
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Patent number: 10232440Abstract: A method for fabricating a main body of a trapped vortex fuel injector having a main body defining a fuel circuit. The method includes determining three-dimensional information of the main body including the fuel circuit where the fuel circuit is fully circumscribed within the main body and extends between an annular portion and a semi-annular portion of the main body and where the three-dimensional information of the main body further includes a plurality of fuel injection ports which provide for fluid communication between the fuel circuit and a trapped vortex pre-mix zone. The method further includes converting the three-dimensional information into a plurality of slices that define a cross-sectional layer of the main body and successively forming each layer of the main body by fusing a metallic powder using laser energy or electron beam energy.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Patrick Benedict Melton
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Patent number: 10228140Abstract: A gas-only cartridge for a fuel nozzle includes a flange that defines a plurality of apertures for receiving a gaseous fuel, an outer tube that is coupled to the flange and an inner tube that extends axially within the outer tube. The inner tube and the outer tube define a fuel passage therebetween and the fuel passage is in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures of the flange. A fuel distribution tip is disposed at a downstream end of the gas-only cartridge and defines a plurality of fuel ports circumferentially spaced along and annularly arranged about an outer surface of the fuel distribution tip. The fuel ports are in fluid communication with the fuel passage.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, William David York
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Patent number: 9964308Abstract: A combustor cap assembly includes an impingement plate coupled to an annular shroud and a cap plate which is coupled to the impingement plate to form an impingement air plenum therebetween. The combustor cap assembly further includes a flow conditioning plate coupled to a forward end portion of the shroud. The flow conditioning plate includes an inner band portion, an outer band portion and an annular portion. The annular portion defines a plurality of flow conditioning passages. The inner band portion at least partially defines a cooling air plenum within the combustor cap assembly. The inner band portion defines an exhaust channel which is in fluid communication with the impingement air plenum and an exhaust outlet. The flow conditioning plate further defines a cooling air passage which provides for cooling air flow into the cooling air plenum.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Carolyn Ashley Antoniono, Jonathan Hale Kegley, Lucas John Stoia, Patrick Benedict Melton, William Francis Carnell, Jr.
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Patent number: 9869279Abstract: A system includes a turbine combustor, which includes a first wall disposed about a combustion chamber, a second wall disposed about the first wall, and a third wall disposed about the second wall. The third wall is configured to combine an exhaust gas with an oxidant and the combustion chamber is configured to combust a mixture of a fuel, the oxidant, and the exhaust gas.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignees: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANYInventors: Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton, Bryan Wesley Romig, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy
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Patent number: 9803555Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine combustor is provided. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel tube and an attachment assembly. The fuel tube extends from a downstream injector (e.g., a late lean injector) towards a mounting ring of the combustor and is moveably attached to the mounting ring using the attachment assembly. Accordingly, the exemplary fuel delivery system may provide fuel to a downstream injector while accommodating a thermal expansion or contraction of the fuel tube along an axial direction of the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Joseph Rohrssen, David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, Lucas John Stoia
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Patent number: 9765973Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The multi-tube fuel nozzle includes multiple mixing tubes. Each mixing tube includes an annular wall disposed about a central passage and an air inlet region configured to be disposed about a fuel injector extending into the central passage. The central passage extends from an upstream end to a downstream end of the annular wall relative to a direction of flow through the central passage. The air inlet region includes an air entry surface of the annular wall that gradually decreases in diameter in the direction of flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ronald James Chila, Patrick Benedict Melton, Gregory Allen Boardman, James Harold Westmoreland
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Patent number: 9759425Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle. The multi-tube fuel nozzle includes multiple fuel injectors. Each fuel injector is configured to extend into a respective premixing tube of a plurality of mixing tubes. Each fuel injector includes a body, a fuel passage, and multiple fuel ports. The fuel passage is disposed within the body and extends in a longitudinal direction within a portion of the body. The multiple fuel ports are disposed along the portion of the body and coupled to the fuel passage. A space is disposed between the portion of the body with the fuel ports and the respective premixing tube.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: James Harold Westmoreland, Ronald James Chila, Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Publication number: 20170254539Abstract: A bundled tube fuel nozzle includes a forward plate, a first intermediate plate and an outer sleeve defining a fuel plenum, a second intermediate plate axially spaced from the first intermediate plate where the first intermediate plate, the second intermediate plate and the outer sleeve define a purge air plenum, an aft plate axially spaced from the second intermediate plate where the second intermediate plate, the aft plate and the outer sleeve define a cooling air plenum and an annular wall that extends from the second intermediate plate to the aft plate. The annular wall defines a cooling flow channel within the bundled tube fuel nozzle. A plurality of apertures is defined proximate to a cool side of the aft plate and provide for fluid communication between the cooling flow channel and the cooling air plenum.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2016Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, David William Cihlar, Timothy James Purcell
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Publication number: 20170241644Abstract: A gas-only cartridge for a fuel nozzle includes a flange that defines a plurality of apertures for receiving a gaseous fuel, an outer tube that is coupled to the flange and an inner tube that extends axially within the outer tube. The inner tube and the outer tube define a fuel passage therebetween and the fuel passage is in fluid communication with the plurality of apertures of the flange. A fuel distribution tip is disposed at a downstream end of the gas-only cartridge and defines a plurality of fuel ports circumferentially spaced along and annularly arranged about an outer surface of the fuel distribution tip. The fuel ports are in fluid communication with the fuel passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton, William David York
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Patent number: 9650958Abstract: A combustor cap for a combustor chamber of a combustion system is provided. The combustor cap includes a plate member including: a plurality of openings for accommodating a plurality of fuel nozzles of the combustion system; a cooling passage extending through a plane of the plate member; an entrance opening to the cooling passage; and an exit opening from the cooling passage to a side of the plate member opposite to the combustion chamber.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Patent number: 9650959Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion within a combustion chamber. The system includes a plurality of fuel injectors and a plurality of mixing tubes, wherein each mixing tube has a first portion for receiving one of the plurality of fuel injectors and a second portion having a mixing chamber that is configured to mix fuel and air. The length of the mixing chamber varies among the plurality of mixing tubes to allow for different mixing times.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, Ronald James Chila, Sarah Lori Crothers
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Patent number: 9651259Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system having components for premixing fuel and air prior to combustion within a combustion chamber. The system includes a plurality of mixing tubes configured to receive and to mix fuel and air. Each mixing tube is paired with a fuel injector, and the fuel injector is positioned axially within a portion of the mixing tube. Fuel is injected from the fuel injector into the respective mixing tube, and air flows radially into each mixing tube through one or more apertures formed on the mixing tube. The fuel and air are mixed within the mixing tube and are deposited into a combustion chamber for combustion.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland
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Patent number: 9631812Abstract: A support frame for assembling a combustion module for a gas turbine includes a base plate disposed at a bottom end of the support frame and a support plate that is vertically separated from the base plate by one or more vertical support members. The support plate defines an opening that is sized to allow a portion of the combustion module to pass therethrough. A support block extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate where the support block defines one or more fastener holes for connecting an aft end of a combustion liner of the combustion module to the support block. A central support column extends vertically from the base plate towards the support plate. A horizontal support extends radially outward from the central support column to align the combustion liner with the opening in the support plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Lucas John Stoia, Richard Martin DiCintio, William Michael Poschel, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Patent number: 9625157Abstract: A system includes a multi-tube fuel nozzle assembly. The multi-tube fuel nozzle assembly includes a support structure defining an interior volume configured to receive an air flow. The combustor cap assembly also includes multiple mixing tubes disposed within the interior volume. Each mixing tube of the multiple mixing tubes is configured to mix air and fuel to form an air-fuel mixture. The multi-tube fuel nozzle assembly further includes a combustor cap coupled to the support structure. The combustor cap includes multiple furcating nozzles integrated within the combustor cap. Each furcating nozzle of the multiple furcating nozzles is coupled to a respective mixing tube of the multiple mixing tubes. Also, each furcating nozzle of the multiple furcating nozzles is configured to receive a flow of the air-fuel mixture and to partition the flow of the air-fuel mixture into multiple air-fuel mixture flows.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Patrick Benedict Melton, James Harold Westmoreland, III, Timothy Purcell
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Patent number: 9581335Abstract: A system for retaining a fuel nozzle premix tube includes a retention plate and a premix tube which extends downstream from an outlet of a premix passage defined along an aft side of a fuel plenum body. The premix tube includes an inlet end and a spring support feature which is disposed proximate to the inlet end. The premix tube extends through the retention plate. The spring retention feature is disposed between an aft side of the fuel plenum and the retention plate. The system further includes a spring which extends between the spring retention feature and the retention plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: David William Cihlar, Patrick Benedict Melton
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Publication number: 20170050242Abstract: A method for fabricating a main body of a trapped vortex fuel injector having a main body defining a fuel circuit. The method includes determining three-dimensional information of the main body including the fuel circuit where the fuel circuit is fully circumscribed within the main body and extends between an annular portion and a semi-annular portion of the main body and where the three-dimensional information of the main body further includes a plurality of fuel injection ports which provide for fluid communication between the fuel circuit and a trapped vortex pre-mix zone. The method further includes converting the three-dimensional information into a plurality of slices that define a cross-sectional layer of the main body and successively forming each layer of the main body by fusing a metallic powder using laser energy or electron beam energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventor: Patrick Benedict Melton
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Patent number: 9574498Abstract: An aft frame for a transition duct of a gas turbine combustor includes a main body having an outer rail, an inner rail, a first side rail circumferentially separated from an opposing second side rail, a forward portion, an aft portion and an outer surface. An inlet port extends through the outer surface and an exhaust port extends through the forward portion. A serpentine cooling passage is defined within the main body beneath the outer surface. The serpentine cooling passage is in fluid communication with the inlet port and the exhaust port. A conduit may be connected to the exhaust port for routing a compressed working fluid away from aft frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Elizabeth Angelyn Fadde, Patrick Benedict Melton, David William Cihlar, Richard Martin DiCintio
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Patent number: 9551490Abstract: A system for cooling a fuel injector extending into a combustion gas flow field includes a liner that defines a combustion gas flow path within a combustor and a fuel injector that extends through the liner. The fuel injector includes a main body having an annular first portion that extends outward from the liner and a second portion that extends from the first portion inward into the combustion gas flow path. The main body defines a cooling channel that is fully circumscribed within the main body and that extends between the first portion and the second portion. A cooling air inlet is defined within the annular first portion and is in fluid communication with the cooling channel. A cooling air outlet is in fluid communication with the cooling channel and is defined within the second portion downstream from the cooling air inlet.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Richard Martin DiCintio, Patrick Benedict Melton