Patents by Inventor Robert Eleazar Mendoza

Robert Eleazar Mendoza 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).

  • Publication number: 20140294559
    Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The method includes determining whether the gas turbine engine fuel system is in a steady state mode or a transient mode. The method also includes modifying the gas turbine engine power output by modifying a pressure set point of the fuel system while maintaining a fuel control valve in a steady state when in the steady state mode. The method further includes modifying the gas turbine engine output by modifying the position of the fuel control valve while maintaining the pressure set point of the fuel system constant when in the transient mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Chad M. Holcomb, Robert Eleazar Mendoza
  • Publication number: 20130239577
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive system for a load is disclosed. The drive system may have an electric motor/generator and a gas turbine engine. The engine may have a combustor, and main and pilot flow paths via which fuel is supplied to the combustor. The engine may be operable in low and standard emissions modes. A proportion of the fuel that is supplied to the combustor via the pilot flow path may be greater in the standard emissions mode than in the low emissions mode. The method may include determining an engine power requirement of the load, and whether the engine power requirement of the load is sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric motor/generator if the engine power requirement of the load is not sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Steven Howard DeMoss, Robert Eleazar Mendoza, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Patent number: 8468835
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive system for a load is disclosed. The drive system may have an electric motor/generator and a gas turbine engine. The engine may have a combustor, and main and pilot flow paths via which fuel is supplied to the combustor. The engine may be operable in low and standard emissions modes. A proportion of the fuel that is supplied to the combustor via the pilot flow path may be greater in the standard emissions mode than in the low emissions mode. The method may include determining an engine power requirement of the load, and whether the engine power requirement of the load is sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric motor/generator if the engine power requirement of the load is not sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Howard DeMoss, Robert Eleazar Mendoza, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Patent number: 8028512
    Abstract: A combustion control system for a turbine engine is disclosed. The combustion control system includes a fuel injector having a main fuel supply and pilot fuel supply coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The combustion control system also includes a sensor coupled to a transfer tube. The transfer tube is fluidly coupled to the combustor, and the sensor is configured to detect a pressure pulse in the combustor. A semi-infinite coil is also coupled to the transfer tube. The combustion control system also includes a controller electrically connected to the sensor. The controller is configured to compare an amplitude of the pressure pulse within a frequency range to a threshold amplitude, and adjust the pilot fuel supply in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eleazar Mendoza, Paul Elliot Morrison, Marco Ezra Leon, Tiziano Marco Bognuda, Satoshi Ito, Shari Turner, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20100242495
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive system for a load is disclosed. The drive system may have an electric motor/generator and a gas turbine engine. The engine may have a combustor, and main and pilot flow paths via which fuel is supplied to the combustor. The engine may be operable in low and standard emissions modes. A proportion of the fuel that is supplied to the combustor via the pilot flow path may be greater in the standard emissions mode than in the low emissions mode. The method may include determining an engine power requirement of the load, and whether the engine power requirement of the load is sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode. Additionally, the method may include operating the electric motor/generator if the engine power requirement of the load is not sufficiently large to operate the engine in the low emissions mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Steven Howard DeMoss, Robert Eleazar Mendoza, Roy Thomas Collins
  • Publication number: 20090133379
    Abstract: A combustion control system for a turbine engine is disclosed. The combustion control system includes a fuel injector having a main fuel supply and pilot fuel supply coupled to a combustor of the turbine engine. The combustion control system also includes a sensor coupled to a transfer tube. The transfer tube is fluidly coupled to the combustor, and the sensor is configured to detect a pressure pulse in the combustor. A semi-infinite coil is also coupled to the transfer tube. The combustion control system also includes a controller electrically connected to the sensor. The controller is configured to compare an amplitude of the pressure pulse within a frequency range to a threshold amplitude, and adjust the pilot fuel supply in response to the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Robert Eleazar Mendoza, Paul Elliot Morrison, Marco Ezra Leon, Tiziano Marco Bognuda, Satoshi Ito