Patents by Inventor Stephen R. Thomas

Stephen R. Thomas 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: 8752389
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle configured to channel fluid toward a combustion chamber within a gas turbine engine and a method for assembling the same are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a first hollow tube fabricated from a first material that has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second tube fabricated from a second material that has a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The second tube is coupled within the first tube such that the first tube substantially circumscribes the second tube, and the second tube thermally expands approximately at a same rate as the first tube during fuel nozzle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas, Donald Mark Bailey
  • Patent number: 8505304
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use with a combustion chamber defined within a gas turbine engine and a method for assembling the same are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a swirler assembly and a burner tube that is coupled to a support flange in a detachable manner such that an inner surface of the burner tube circumscribes an outer surface of the swirler assembly during fuel nozzle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas, Donald Mark Bailey, David Martin Johnson
  • Patent number: 7861528
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle having a dedicated circuit to cool the diffusion tip with lower part count and reduced complexity. More specifically, the proposed design uses an independent circuit to cool the tip with diffusion fuel or purge air. An impingement plate may be provided to augment the cooling effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100180599
    Abstract: A swirl vane is independently connectable to a central hub assembly of a gas turbine. The swirl vane includes a structural body and at least one fuel delivery passage including a corresponding at least one fuel port defined within the structural body. At least one connecting tab is cooperable with the structural body and is connectable to the central hub assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen R. Thomas, Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons
  • Publication number: 20100132364
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for use with a combustion chamber defined within a gas turbine engine and a method for assembling the same are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a swirler assembly and a burner tube that is coupled to a support flange in a detachable manner such that an inner surface of the burner tube circumscribes an outer surface of the swirler assembly during fuel nozzle operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas, Donald Mark Bailey, David Martin Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100107639
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle configured to channel fluid toward a combustion chamber within a gas turbine engine and a method for assembling the same are provided. The fuel nozzle includes a first hollow tube fabricated from a first material that has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second tube fabricated from a second material that has a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The second tube is coupled within the first tube such that the first tube substantially circumscribes the second tube, and the second tube thermally expands approximately at a same rate as the first tube during fuel nozzle operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas, Donald Mark Bailey
  • Publication number: 20090050710
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle having a dedicated circuit to cool the diffusion tip with lower part count and reduced complexity. More specifically, the proposed design uses an independent circuit to cool the tip with diffusion fuel or purge air. An impingement plate may be provided to augment the cooling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Scott Simmons, Stephen R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20040255588
    Abstract: A catalytic preburner includes a flame burner, a catalyst, a primary fuel inlet, a secondary fuel inlet, and an air inlet. The flame burner is located in a primary zone of the housing and the catalyst element is disposed downstream of the primary zone. The primary fuel inlet and the air inlet are configured to supply fuel and air to the flame burner. The secondary fuel inlet and the air inlet are configured to supply fuel and air to a secondary zone within the housing located upstream of the catalyst element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Kare Lundberg, Stephen R. Thomas, Ralph A. Dalla Betta, Jon G. McCarty, David K. Yee
  • Publication number: 20020142220
    Abstract: An electrical cell or battery (10, 44, 62) is provided which employs an elemental metal composition including quantities of elemental magnesium and elemental iron, together with electrodes (36, 38, 52, 60, 80, 82) operatively coupled with the metal composition. The current-generating composition also includes a minor amount of an alkali metal salt such as sodium chloride, and variable amounts of water. The metal fraction of the composition preferably includes from about 30-90% by weight elemental magnesium and from about 10-70% by weight elemental iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6322723
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method of producing hydrogen gas. The method comprises the steps of: providing in a reaction container a composition including respective quantities of particulate elemental magnesium, particulate elemental iron, an additional elemental metal selected from the group consisting of particulate elemental aluminum and particulate elemental zinc at a level of from about 1-10% by weight, an alkali metal salt and water; causing said composition to react in said container to generate hydrogen gas; and recovering said evolved hydrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hydronics, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6184432
    Abstract: Methods and products for thermally degrading unwanted substances is provided which involves contacting such substances with a particulate metal composition in the presence of water and an alkali metal salt, and causing sufficient heat to be generated during such contacting to degrade the substance. The particulate metal compositions include respective quantities of particulate iron and magnesium, and optionally quantities of particulate aluminum and zinc. The compositions generate temperatures on the order of 300-550° F. during such thermal degradations, along with quantities of hydrogen gas and water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hydronics, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6117206
    Abstract: Methods and products for thermally degrading unwanted substances is provided which involves contacting such substances with a particulate metal composition in the presence of water and an alkali metal salt, and causing sufficient heat to be generated during such contacting to degrade the substance. The particulate metal compositions include respective quantities of particulate iron and magnesium, and optionally quantities of particulate aluminum and zinc. The compositions generate temperatures on the order of 300-550.degree. F. during such thermal degradations, along with quantities of hydrogen gas and water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hydronics, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6113806
    Abstract: Methods and products for thermally degrading unwanted substances is provided which involves contacting such substances with a particulate metal composition in the presence of water and an alkali metal salt, and causing sufficient heat to be generated during such contacting to degrade the substance. The particulate metal compositions include respective quantities of particulate iron and magnesium, and optionally quantities of particulate aluminum and zinc. The compositions generate temperatures on the order of 300-550.degree. F. during such thermal degradations, along with quantities of hydrogen gas and water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hydronics, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6018091
    Abstract: Methods and products for thermally degrading unwanted substances is provided which involves contacting such substances with a particulate metal composition in the presence of water and an alkali metal salt, and causing sufficient heat to be generated during such contacting to degrade the substance. The particulate metal compositions include respective quantities of particulate iron and magnesium, and optionally quantities of particulate aluminum and zinc. The compositions generate temperatures on the order of 300-550.degree. F. during such thermal degradations, along with quantities of hydrogen gas and water vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Quantum Marketing Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5832713
    Abstract: A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Luis R. Maese, Ram Srinivasan, Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5673553
    Abstract: A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Luis R. Maese, Ram Srinivasan, Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4866296
    Abstract: An interrupt system for a circuit includes a single-pole, double-throw selector switch. The circuit may comprise an ignition circuit including a coil and a distributor normally innerconnected by a distributor wire. The selector switch has a first terminal, a second terminal connected to the coil and a third terminal connected to the distributor. The selector switch is movable between a first position connecting the first and second terminals and a second position connecting the second and third terminals. A delay switch is connected to the first and third terminals and has a normally closed position. The delay switch opens automatically in response to electrical current flowing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Inventor: Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4558279
    Abstract: A novel and improved method to detect indirectly a temperature of an object employing nuclear magnetic resonance techniques (NMR). The method involves obtaining an NMR spectrum to determine chemical shift, relaxation times, spin-spin couplings or quadrupole couplings for an element of a compound having at least one conformational isomer wherein the compound is influenced by a temperature of the object. Uniquely, the present invention may detect temperature in the body of an animal. Further, the present invention discloses a novel method to determine and monitor thermal physiological states in an animal as well as determine and monitor thermal states in an object. Because of the unique and advantageous non-invasive, non-destructive and non-ionizing properties, the present invention may be employed in an object or animal continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignees: University of Cincinnati, Children's Hospital Research Foundation
    Inventors: Jerome L. Ackerman, Leland C. Clark, Jr., Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: RE38784
    Abstract: A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Vericor Power Systems LLC
    Inventors: Luis R. Maese, Ram Srinivasan, Stephen R. Thomas
  • Patent number: RE38815
    Abstract: A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Vericor Power Systems LLC
    Inventors: Luis R. Maese, Ram Srinivasan, Stephen R. Thomas