Patents by Inventor Stanley Kevin Widener

Stanley Kevin Widener 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: 10961864
    Abstract: A passive flow modulation device according to an embodiment includes: a pressure sensitive main valve controlling a flow of a cooling fluid from a first area to a second area through an orifice; and a temperature sensitive pilot valve coupled to the pressure sensitive main valve, the temperature sensitive pilot valve configured to open at a predetermined temperature in the first area, causing a pressurization of the pressure sensitive main valve, wherein the pressurization of the pressure sensitive main valve actuates the pressure sensitive main valve to an open position, allowing the cooling fluid to flow from the first area to the second area through the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carlos Miguel Miranda, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10920673
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine including a primary compressor, a combustion section disposed downstream from the primary compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustion section. A pipe assembly defines an extraction-air circuit between an extraction port of the primary compressor and an inlet port of the turbine. The gas turbine further includes an extraction-air conditioning system. The extraction-air conditioning system includes a secondary compressor having an inlet and an outlet. Both the inlet and the outlet are fluidly coupled to the extraction-air circuit at respective locations defined along the pipe assembly between the extraction port of the primary compressor and the inlet port of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10830442
    Abstract: A segmented annular combustion system with dual fuel capability includes an alternating arrangement of fuel injection modules and integrated combustor nozzles. The fuel injection module includes a bundled tube fuel nozzle portion and fuel injection lances, which are fluidly coupled via conduits to respective fuel plenums. A liquid fuel cartridge is disposed within the bundled tube fuel nozzle portion, within one of the plurality of fuel injection lances, or within both the bundled tube fuel nozzle portion and one of the plurality of fuel injection lances. A gas turbine having the segmented annular combustion system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, James Scott Flanagan
  • Patent number: 10815828
    Abstract: Hot gas path (HGP) components for turbine systems are disclosed. The HGP component may include a body including a forward end, an aft end, and an inner portion positioned adjacent a hot gas flow path for the turbine system. The body may also include an outer portion formed radially opposite the inner portion, and a plurality of nozzles extending through the outer portion. Additionally, body may include an intermediate portion formed between the inner portion and the outer portion, and a plurality of venturi extending through the intermediate portion. The plurality of venturi may be in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10753208
    Abstract: Airfoils including a plurality of nozzles and venturi. The airfoils may include a body including an inner wall defining a high pressure fluid chamber, and a plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the inner wall. Each high pressure nozzle may be in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid chamber. The airfoil body may also include an intermediate wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the inner wall to define a low pressure fluid chamber formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall, and a plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the intermediate wall. Each low pressure venturi may be in fluid communication with the low pressure fluid chamber. Additionally, the airfoil body may include an outer wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the intermediate wall to define a cooling channel formed between the intermediate wall and the outer wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10738712
    Abstract: A bypass valve for a combustor, including: a housing; an opening in the housing; a pneumatically actuated component within the housing; a passage coupling the opening in the housing and a duct of the combustor; a chamber formed by the housing and the pneumatically actuated component, the chamber containing a volume of air; and a control valve for controlling a pressure within the chamber to selectively displace the pneumatically actuated component to open and close the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Carlos Miguel Miranda
  • Patent number: 10731471
    Abstract: A gas turbine that includes a rotor blade that includes an airfoil. The airfoil may include non-integral portions in which: a base portion is made from a first material; and a top portion is made from a second material. The airfoil may include a connector securing the base portion to the top portion of the airfoil, wherein the connector comprises a wire-lock connector that includes: a tab extending from one of the base portion and the top portion; a complimentary slot for receiving the tab formed in the other one of the base portion and the top portion; a first groove formed in a side of the tab; a second groove formed in a side of the slot; a retaining aperture formed cooperatively via an alignment of the first and second grooves upon the tab being received into the slot; and a retaining wire housed within the retaining aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner, James Zhang, Peter de Diego
  • Patent number: 10712007
    Abstract: A flow modulator for a fuel nozzle, including: a fixed outer tube, the fixed outer tube including a set of apertures; a movable inner tube concentrically positioned within the fixed outer tube, the movable inner tube including a set of apertures; and a pneumatically actuated component for displacing the movable inner tube within the fixed outer tube to selectively align the set of apertures of the fixed outer tube with the set of apertures of the movable inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20200208527
    Abstract: A gas turbine that includes a rotor blade that includes an airfoil. The airfoil may include non-integral portions in which: a base portion is made from a first material; and a top portion is made from a second material. The airfoil may include a connector securing the base portion to the top portion of the airfoil, wherein the connector comprises a wire-lock connector that includes: a tab extending from one of the base portion and the top portion; a complimentary slot for receiving the tab formed in the other one of the base portion and the top portion; a first groove formed in a side of the tab; a second groove formed in a side of the slot; a retaining aperture formed cooperatively via an alignment of the first and second grooves upon the tab being received into the slot; and a retaining wire housed within the retaining aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, John McConnell Delvaux, Matthew Troy Hafner, James Zhang, Peter de Diego
  • Patent number: 10690056
    Abstract: A segmented annular combustion system includes an alternating arrangement of fuel nozzles and integrated combustor nozzles. The fuel nozzles deliver fuel to the primary combustion zones. The integrated combustor nozzles include an inner liner segment, an outer liner segment, and a fuel injection panel extending between the liner segments. The fuel injection panel includes injection outlets on one or both side walls to deliver a combustible mixture to the secondary combustion zones. Each fuel injection panel, which provides a boundary between adjacent primary and secondary combustion zones, includes an aft end that defines a turbine nozzle. The segmented annular combustion system is part of a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, James Scott Flanagan, Joseph Vincent Citeno, Kevin Weston McMahan
  • Publication number: 20200173306
    Abstract: Hot gas path (HGP) components for turbine systems are disclosed. The HGP component may include a body including a forward end, an aft end, and an inner portion positioned adjacent a hot gas flow path for the turbine system. The body may also include an outer portion formed radially opposite the inner portion, and a plurality of nozzles extending through the outer portion. Additionally, body may include an intermediate portion formed between the inner portion and the outer portion, and a plurality of venturi extending through the intermediate portion. The plurality of venturi may be in fluid communication with the plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Publication number: 20200173289
    Abstract: Airfoils including a plurality of nozzles and venturi. The airfoils may include a body including an inner wall defining a high pressure fluid chamber, and a plurality of high pressure nozzles extending through the inner wall. Each high pressure nozzle may be in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid chamber. The airfoil body may also include an intermediate wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the inner wall to define a low pressure fluid chamber formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall, and a plurality of low pressure venturi extending through the intermediate wall. Each low pressure venturi may be in fluid communication with the low pressure fluid chamber. Additionally, the airfoil body may include an outer wall positioned adjacent to and surrounding the intermediate wall to define a cooling channel formed between the intermediate wall and the outer wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10641491
    Abstract: A segmented annular combustion system includes integrated combustor nozzles, each of which has a fuel injection panel disposed radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment. The fuel injection panel includes an aft end portion, a first side wall, a second side wall, premixing channels defined between the first side wall and the side wall, and injection outlets defined along at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall. The aft end portion defines a turbine nozzle portion. An interior portion between the first side wall and the second side wall includes walls that extend between the first and second side walls, thereby partitioning the interior portion into discrete air cavities. The air cavities and the liner segments may be cooled by impingement inserts or panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes
  • Patent number: 10605459
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an integrated combustor nozzle for a segmented annular combustion system. The integrated combustor nozzle includes an outer liner segment, an inner liner segment, and a fuel injection panel extending radially between the outer liner segment and the inner liner segment. The fuel injection panel includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and a plurality of premixing channels between the first and second side walls, each of the premixing channels having an outlet on one of the first and second side walls. The aft end of the fuel injection panel defines a turbine nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Stanley Kevin Widener, Michael John Hughes, Matthew Troy Hafner, Joseph Vincent Citeno
  • Patent number: 10337739
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine, including: a combustor chamber; a casing enclosing the combustor chamber and defining an area therebetween for passing compressor discharge air into the combustor chamber for use in combustion; and at least one passive bypass valve for selectively extracting a portion of the compressor discharge air from the area between the combustor chamber and the casing to adjust a temperature in the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Carlos Miguel Miranda
  • Publication number: 20180355750
    Abstract: A passive flow modulation device according to an embodiment includes: a pressure sensitive main valve controlling a flow of a cooling fluid from a first area to a second area through an orifice; and a temperature sensitive pilot valve coupled to the pressure sensitive main valve, the temperature sensitive pilot valve configured to open at a predetermined temperature in the first area, causing a pressurization of the pressure sensitive main valve, wherein the pressurization of the pressure sensitive main valve actuates the pressure sensitive main valve to an open position, allowing the cooling fluid to flow from the first area to the second area through the orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Carlos Miguel Miranda, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10107498
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide injection systems for fuel and air. According to one embodiment, an injection system can include a mixing zone embedded within a surface of a turbine nozzle and positioned between a first outlet and a second outlet, the turbine nozzle separating a combustor of a power generation system from a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the first outlet is oriented substantially in opposition to the second outlet; a first injection conduit for delivering a carrier gas to the mixing zone through the first outlet; and a second injection conduit for delivering a fuel to the mixing zone through a second outlet; wherein the carrier gas and the fuel intermix within the mixing zone upon leaving the first injection conduit and the second injection conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stanley Kevin Widener, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10094571
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: a first injector located on a surface of a turbine nozzle of a turbine stage positioned downstream of a reheat combustor, wherein the turbine stage includes the turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a second injector located on a wall of the reheat combustor; and at least one conduit in fluid communication with each of the first injector and the second injector, wherein the at least one conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to an aft section of the reheat combustor through at least one of the first injector and the second injector, and wherein the aft section is positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10094569
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber positioned between a first turbine stage of a power generation system and a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage comprises a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; a plurality of injectors positioned on a wall of the reaction chamber; and a conduit in fluid communication with the plurality of injectors, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of fuel from a fuel supply line to the reaction chamber through the plurality of injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener
  • Patent number: 10094570
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus including: an injector in fluid communication with an aft section of a reheat combustor in a power generation system, the aft section being positioned downstream of a combustion reaction zone in the reheat combustor, and positioned upstream of a turbine stage of the power generation system, wherein the turbine stage includes a turbine nozzle and a turbine blade row; and a conduit in fluid communication with the injector, wherein the conduit delivers at least one of a fuel from a fuel supply line and a carrier gas to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Gregory Thomas Foster, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Krishnakumar Venkataraman, Stanley Kevin Widener