Patents by Inventor Paul Lacy

Paul Lacy 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: 8209986
    Abstract: A protection system for a pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine, includes: a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish a fuel delivery plenum; and a plurality of fuel mixing tubes that extend through at least a portion of the fuel delivery plenum, each of the plurality of fuel mixing tubes including at least one fuel feed opening fluidly connected to the fuel delivery plenum; at least one thermal fuse disposed on an exterior surface of at least one tube, the at least one thermal fuse including a material that will melt upon ignition of fuel within the at least one tube and cause a diversion of fuel from the fuel feed opening to at least one bypass opening. A method and a turbine engine in accordance with the protection system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York
  • Publication number: 20120156054
    Abstract: A process for creating a near-surface cooling passage in an air-cooled turbomachine component. The process entails forming a channel in a surface of a surface region of the component so that the channel is open at the surface and fluidically connected to a first cooling passages within the component. A metallic layer is then deposited on the surface and over the channel without filling the channel. The metallic layer closes the channel at the surface of the surface region to define therewith a second cooling passage within the component that is fluidically connected to the first cooling passages. A coating system is then deposited on the metallic layer to define an outermost surface of the component. The second cooling passage is closer to the outermost surface of the component than the first cooling passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, David Vincent Bucci, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Dennis William Cavanaugh
  • Patent number: 8176739
    Abstract: The low emission combustor includes a combustor housing defining a combustion chamber having a plurality of combustion zones. A liner sleeve is disposed in the combustion housing with a gap formed between the liner sleeve and the combustor housing. A secondary nozzle is disposed along a centerline of the combustion chamber and configured to inject a first fluid comprising air, at least one diluent, fuel, or combinations thereof to a downstream side of a first combustion zone among the plurality of combustion zones. A plurality of primary fuel nozzles is disposed proximate to an upstream side of the combustion chamber and located around the secondary nozzle and configured to inject a second fluid comprising air and fuel to an upstream side of the first combustion zone. The combustor also includes a plurality of tertiary coanda nozzles. Each tertiary coanda nozzle is coupled to a respective dilution hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrei Tristan Evulet, Balachandar Varatharajan, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ahmed Mostafa ElKady, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Publication number: 20120085103
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a shim for sealing two adjacent turbine transition pieces is disclosed. The shim includes a circumferential member that includes a first lateral flange and a second lateral flange. Further, the first and second lateral flanges each comprise a tab configured to mate to a first surface plane and the first and second lateral flanges are configured to mate to a second surface plane, wherein the first and second surface planes are substantially parallel. In addition, the shim includes a first flange extending substantially perpendicular from the circumferential member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Mehmet Demiroglu, Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate
  • Patent number: 8147121
    Abstract: A pre-mixing apparatus for a turbine engine includes a main body having an inlet portion, an outlet portion and an exterior wall that collectively establish at least one fluid delivery plenum, and a plurality of fluid delivery tubes extending through at least a portion of the at least one fluid delivery plenum. Each of the plurality of fluid delivery tubes includes at least one fluid delivery opening fluidly connected to the at least one fluid delivery plenum. With this arrangement, a first fluid is selectively delivered to the at least one fluid delivery plenum, passed through the at least one fluid delivery opening and mixed with a second fluid flowing through the plurality of fluid delivery tubes prior to being combusted in a combustion chamber of a turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Balachandar Varatharajan, Willy Steve Ziminsky, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Ertan Yilmaz, Patrick Benedict Melton, Baifang Zuo, Christian Xavier Stevenson, David Kenton Felling, Jong Ho Uhm
  • Patent number: 8117845
    Abstract: A method for assembling a premixing injector is provided. The method includes providing a centerbody including a center axis and a radially outer surface, and providing an inlet flow conditioner. The inlet flow conditioner includes a radially outer wall, a radially inner wall, and an end wall coupled substantially perpendicularly between the outer wall and the inner wall. Each of the outer wall and the end wall include a plurality of openings defined therein. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the end wall define a first passage therebetween. The method also includes coupling the inlet flow conditioner to the centerbody such that the inlet flow conditioner substantially circumscribes the centerbody, such that the inner wall is substantially parallel to the centerbody outer surface, and such that a second passage is defined between the centerbody outer surface and the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gilbert Otto Kraemer, Balachandar Varatharajan, Ertan Yilmaz, Baifang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20120036858
    Abstract: A combustor liner is disclosed. The combustor liner includes an upstream portion, a downstream end portion extending from the upstream portion along a generally longitudinal axis, and a cover layer associated with an inner surface of the downstream end portion. The downstream end portion includes the inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a plurality of microchannels. The downstream end portion further defines a plurality of passages extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The plurality of microchannels are fluidly connected to the plurality of passages, and are configured to flow a cooling medium therethrough, cooling the combustor liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Mert Enis Berkman
  • Patent number: 8104286
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle including a swirler assembly that includes a shroud, a hub, and a plurality of vanes extending between the shroud and the hub. Each vane includes a pressure sidewall and an opposite suction sidewall coupled to the pressure sidewall at a leading edge and at a trailing edge. At least one suction side fuel injection orifice is formed adjacent to the leading edge and extends from a first fuel supply passage to the suction sidewall. A fuel injection angle is oriented with respect to the suction sidewall. The suction side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel outward from the suction sidewall. At least one pressure side fuel injection orifice extends from a second fuel supply passage to the pressure sidewall and is substantially parallel to the trailing edge. The pressure side fuel injection orifice is configured to discharge fuel tangentially from the trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Baifang Zuo, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20110293423
    Abstract: An article is described, including an inner surface which can be exposed to a first fluid; an inlet; and an outer surface spaced from the inner surface, which can be exposed to a hotter second fluid. The article further includes at least one row or other pattern of passage holes. Each passage hole includes an inlet bore extending through the substrate from the inlet at the inner surface to a passage hole-exit proximate to the outer surface, with the inlet bore terminating in a chevron outlet adjacent the hole-exit. The chevron outlet includes a pair of wing troughs having a common surface region between them. The common surface region includes a valley which is adjacent the hole-exit; and a plateau adjacent the valley. The article can be an airfoil. Related methods for preparing the passage holes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Publication number: 20110271689
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a compressor discharge casing of a gas turbine engine is designed to receive discharge air from a compressor and to direct a first portion of the discharge air into a combustor of the gas turbine engine and a second portion of the discharge air into a nozzle assembly of a gas turbine to cool components of the gas turbine. A heat transfer device is configured to receive a cooling fluid and to cool the second portion of the discharge air with the cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ashok Kumar Anand, Raymond Edward Chupp, Andres Jose Garcia-Crespo, Ross James Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20110259017
    Abstract: A cooling system for a hot gas path component is disclosed. The cooling system may include a component layer and a cover layer. The component layer may include a first inner surface and a second outer surface. The second outer surface may define a plurality of channels. The component layer may further define a plurality of passages extending generally between the first inner surface and the second outer surface. Each of the plurality of channels may be fluidly connected to at least one of the plurality of passages. The cover layer may be situated adjacent the second outer surface of the component layer. The plurality of passages may be configured to flow a cooling medium to the plurality of channels and provide impingement cooling to the cover layer. The plurality of channels may be configured to flow cooling medium therethrough, cooling the cover layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ronald Scott Bunker, Gary Michael Itzel
  • Publication number: 20110252802
    Abstract: A premixer is provided and includes a peripheral wall defining a mixing chamber therein through which a flow path for a fluid is defined, a nozzle including an annular splitter plate disposed in the flow path within the mixing chamber, the splitter plate including a trailing edge defined in relation to a predominant direction of fluid flow along the flow path and being formed to define a fuel line therein, which is receptive of oil fuel and an annular array of fuel injectors disposed at the trailing edge, which are each fluidly communicative with the fuel line and configured to inject at least the oil fuel into the flow path with the oil fuel being substantially atomized upon injection or substantially immediately after the injection by interaction with the fluid flowing along the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Thomas Edward Johnson, William David York, Baifang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20110241297
    Abstract: An integral seal and sealant package includes a prefabricated seal element having multiple surfaces; a high-temperature sealant composition engaged with one or more of the multiple surfaces; and a backer material enclosing the prefabricated seal element and the high-temperature sealant composition. The backer material has composition permitting the backer material to be installed with the seal element and the sealant composition between adjacent components to be sealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Victor John MORGAN, Benjamin Paul LACY
  • Publication number: 20110225947
    Abstract: A combustor assembly of a turbine engine is provided with a mechanical air regulation unit which selectively varies the amount of air being delivered into a combustion zone of the combustor based upon a pressure of a fuel being supplied to the combustor. A first type of air regulation unit would act to increase the amount of air entering the combustion zone when greater amounts of a high heat value fuel are being delivered to the fuel nozzles of the combustor. A second type of air regulation unit could act to decrease the amount of air entering the combustion zone when greater amounts of a low heat value fuel are being delivered into the combustor through fuel nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Roy Marshall Washam, Thomas Edward Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110223004
    Abstract: The present subject matter discloses a turbine component including a platform and an airfoil extending radially upward from the platform. A plurality of curved cooling passages may be defined in the platform. Each of the curved cooling passages may have at least one end disposed at an exterior surface of the platform. Additionally, each of the cooling passages may be configured to direct a cooling medium through the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gary Michael Itzel, Bin Wei
  • Publication number: 20110197587
    Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle includes at least one tube disposed in the nozzle having a venturi shaped profile defining a gas flow path including an inlet operative to receive a first gas, at least one port operative to emit a second gas into the gas flow path, and an outlet operative to emit a mixture of the first gas and the second gas into a combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Baifang Zuo, Thomas Edward Johnson, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Ertan Yilmaz, Willy Steve Ziminsky
  • Publication number: 20110185572
    Abstract: A process and system are provided for forming shaped air holes, such as for use in turbine blades. Aspects of the disclosure relate to forming shaped portions of air holes using a short pulse laser, forming a metered hole corresponding to each shaped portion, and separately finishing the shaped portion using a short-pulse laser. In other embodiments, the order of these operations may be varied, such as to form the shaped portions and to finish the shaped portions using the short-pulse laser prior to forming the corresponding metered holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bin Wei, Jon Conrad Schaeffer, Ronald Scott Bunker, Wenwu Zhang, Kathleen Blanche Morey, Jane Marie Lipkin, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Wilbur Douglas Scheidt
  • Publication number: 20110164511
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for connecting, configuring and testing new wireless devices and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Terrence Poon, Scott Potter, Curtis Govan, Macarlo Namie, Paul Lacy, Amit Gupta
  • Publication number: 20110072824
    Abstract: A nozzle includes an inlet, an outlet, and an axial centerline. A shroud surrounding the axial centerline extends from the inlet to the outlet and defines a circumference. The circumference proximate the inlet is greater than the circumference at a first point downstream of the inlet, and the circumference at the first point downstream of the inlet is less than the circumference at a second point downstream of the first point. A method for supplying a fuel through a nozzle directs a first airflow along a first path and a second airflow along a second path separate from the first path. The method further includes injecting the fuel into at least one of the first path or the second path and accelerating at least one of the first airflow or the second airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: BAIFANG ZUO, WILLY STEVE ZIMINSKY, THOMAS EDWARD JOHNSON, JOHN CHARLES INTILE, BENJAMIN PAUL LACY
  • Patent number: 7886991
    Abstract: An injection nozzle having a main body portion with an outer peripheral wall is disclosed. The nozzle includes a plurality of fuel/air mixing tubes disposed within the main body portion and a fuel flow passage fluidly connected to the plurality of fuel/air mixing tubes. Fuel and air are partially premixed inside the plurality of the tubes. A second body portion, having an outer peripheral wall extending between a first end and an opposite second end, is connected to the main body portion. The partially premixed fuel and air mixture from the first body portion gets further mixed inside the second body portion. The second body portion converges from the first end toward said second end. The second body portion also includes cooling passages that extend along all the walls around the second body to provide thermal damage resistance for occasional flame flash back into the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Baifang Zuo, Thomas Edward Johnson, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Willy Steve Ziminsky