Patents by Inventor Steven Clayton Vise

Steven Clayton Vise 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: 11473780
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle engine and method for operation. The engine includes an inner wall assembly and an upstream wall assembly each extended from a longitudinal wall into a gas flowpath. An actuator adjusts a depth of the detonation combustion region into the gas flowpath between the inner wall assembly and the upstream wall assembly. The engine flows an oxidizer through the gas flowpath and the inner wall captures a portion of the oxidizer. The engine further adjusts the captured flow of oxidizer via the upstream wall and flows a first flow of fuel to the captured flow of oxidizer to produce rotating detonation gases. The engine flows the detonation gases downstream and to mix with the flow of oxidizer, and flows and burns a second flow of fuel to the detonation gases/oxidizer mixture to produce thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Steven Clayton Vise, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina
  • Publication number: 20220290864
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle engine including an inner wall assembly defining a detonation combustion region upstream thereof extended from a longitudinal wall into a gas flowpath. An actuator adjusts a depth of the detonation combustion region into the gas flowpath. A method for operating the engine includes flowing an oxidizer through the gas flowpath; capturing a portion of the flow of oxidizer via the inner wall; flowing a first flow of fuel to the captured flow of oxidizer; producing a rotating detonation gases via a mixture of the first flow of fuel and the captured flow of oxidizer; flowing at least a portion of the detonation gases downstream to mix with the flow of oxidizer; flowing a second flow of fuel to the mixture of detonation gases and oxidizer; and burning the mixture of the second flow of fuel and the detonation gases/oxidizer mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Steven Clayton Vise, Athur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Josep Zelina
  • Patent number: 11415321
    Abstract: A method for regulating jet wakes in a combustor including: directing compressed fluid into a passageway between a casing and a combustor liner; directing a combustion gas along a combustion zone; discharging a first portion of compressed fluid from the passageway into the combustion zone via a first through-hole which is disposed on a section of a combustor panel in a first circumferential row; and discharging a second portion of the compressed fluid from the passageway into the combustion zone via second through-holes, wherein the second through-holes are disposed on a section of the panel, spaced apart axially and circumferentially, and adjacent to the first through-hole, wherein the second through-holes include a first set of through-holes and a second set of through-holes, the first set of through-holes in a second row and the second set of through-holes in a third row, wherein the second and third rows extend circumferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mayank Krisna Amble, Perumallu Vukanti, Steven Clayton Vise, Michael Anthony Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11408356
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a combustion system comprising a fuel nozzle defining at least one main fuel circuit and at least one pilot fuel circuit is generally provided. The method includes determining an overall flow of fuel, the overall flow of fuel defining a sum total fuel through the main fuel circuit and the pilot fuel circuit; determining a plurality of ranges of ratios of main fuel flow through the main fuel circuit versus pilot fuel flow through the pilot circuit from the overall flow of fuel, wherein each range of ratios is based on a combustion criterion different from one another; determining a resultant range of ratios of main fuel flow versus pilot fuel flow based on a hierarchy of combustion criteria, wherein the hierarchy of combustion criteria provides a priority ranking of the combustion criterion; and flowing the overall flow of fuel to the main fuel circuit and the pilot fuel circuit based on the resultant range of ratios of main fuel flow versus pilot fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Clayton Vise, Duane Douglas Thomsen, Richard Wade Stickles, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Donald Lee Gardner, George ChiaChun Hsiao, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Shai Birmaher
  • Patent number: 11359578
    Abstract: A ramjet engine and system and method for operation is generally provided. The ramjet includes a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines an inlet section, a combustion section, and an exhaust section. A fuel nozzle assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall. The fuel nozzle assembly defines a nozzle throat area. The fuel nozzle assembly is moveable along a radial direction to adjust the nozzle throat area based at least on a difference in pressure of a flow of fluid at an inlet of the inlet section and a pressure of the flow of fluid at the fuel nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Steven Clayton Vise, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 11320147
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle engine including an inner wall assembly defining a detonation combustion region upstream thereof extended from a longitudinal wall into a gas flowpath. An actuator adjusts a depth of the detonation combustion region into the gas flowpath. A method for operating the engine includes flowing an oxidizer through the gas flowpath; capturing a portion of the flow of oxidizer via the inner wall; flowing a first flow of fuel to the captured flow of oxidizer; producing a rotating detonation gases via a mixture of the first flow of fuel and the captured flow of oxidizer; flowing at least a portion of the detonation gases downstream to mix with the flow of oxidizer; flowing a second flow of fuel to the mixture of detonation gases and oxidizer; and burning the mixture of the second flow of fuel and the detonation gases/oxidizer mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Steven Clayton Vise, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 11280495
    Abstract: A flow device for a combustor assembly defining a longitudinal axis around which the flow device is positioned is provided. The flow device includes a body extended around the longitudinal axis. The body includes a first wall and a second wall separated longitudinally from one another along the longitudinal axis. A fuel injector passage is defined through the body coaxial to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of vane walls is extended radially between the first wall and the second wall relative to the longitudinal axis. A radial flow passage is extended between the plurality of vane walls and the fuel injector passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gurunath Gandikota, Steven Clayton Vise, Perumallu Vukanti, Mayank Krisna Amble, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Nicholas Ryan Overman, Karthikeyan Sampath, Allen Michael Danis, Craig Douglas Young
  • Patent number: 11268438
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a combustor, the combustor including combustor liner having a plurality of dilution openings. The combustor receives a flow of fuel that is ignited and mixed with dilution air to form a flow of combustion gases. The flow of combustion gases travels through the combustor to a turbine section of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Clayton Vise, Allen Michael Danis, Jayanth Sekar, Pradeep Naik, Perumallu Vukanti, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Karthikeyan Sampath
  • Patent number: 11226101
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine swirler that includes a tubular body having a forward face, an aft end, and a throat. A plurality of primary swirl vanes that is positioned between the aft end and the forward face. A plurality of secondary swirl vanes that is positioned between the primary swirl vanes and the aft end. The plurality of primary swirl vanes and the plurality of secondary swirl vanes are configured such that the throat is fluidly connected to a plenum that is positioned outside of the tubular body. A tubular ferrule is positioned such that it joins the body at the forward face thereof. Each of the primary swirl vanes extend radially inwardly to a vane lip. The secondary swirl vanes extend radially inwardly for swirling air therefrom. The body also includes a tubular Venturi that extends aft from between the primary swirler vanes and the secondary swirler vanes for radially separating air swirled therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sampath, Saket Singh, Gurunath Gandikota, Perumallu Vukanti, Pradeep Naik, Steven Clayton Vise
  • Patent number: 11143106
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a propulsion system including a wall defining a combustion chamber inlet, a combustion chamber outlet, and a combustion chamber therebetween, a nozzle assembly disposed at the combustion chamber inlet, the nozzle assembly configured to provide a fuel/oxidizer mixture to the combustion chamber, a turbine nozzle coupled to the wall and positioned at the combustion chamber outlet, wherein the turbine nozzle defines a cooling circuit within the turbine nozzle, and a casing positioned radially adjacent to the wall, wherein a channel structure is positioned between the casing and the wall, the channel structure in fluid communication with the cooling circuit within the turbine nozzle, and wherein a flowpath is formed between the wall and the casing, the flowpath in fluid communication from the cooling circuit at the turbine nozzle to the nozzle assembly to provide a flow of oxidizer to the thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Zelina, Sibtosh Pal, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Steven Clayton Vise
  • Patent number: 11131461
    Abstract: A method and system of effervescent atomization of liquid fuel for a rotating detonation combustor (RDC) for a propulsion system is provided. The method includes flowing liquid fuel through a fuel injection port of a nozzle assembly of the RDC system; flowing a gas through the fuel injection port of the nozzle assembly volumetrically proportional to the liquid fuel; producing a gas-liquid fuel mixture at the fuel injection port by mixing the flow of gas and the flow of liquid fuel; flowing an oxidizer through a nozzle flowpath of the RDC system; producing an oxidizer-gas-liquid fuel mixture by mixing the gas-liquid fuel mixture and the flow of oxidizer within the nozzle flowpath; and igniting the oxidizer-gas-liquid fuel mixture within a combustion chamber of the RDC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Joseph Zelina, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Steven Clayton Vise
  • Publication number: 20210278085
    Abstract: A flow device for a combustor assembly defining a longitudinal axis around which the flow device is positioned is provided. The flow device includes a body extended around the longitudinal axis. The body includes a first wall and a second wall separated longitudinally from one another along the longitudinal axis. A fuel injector passage is defined through the body coaxial to the longitudinal axis. A plurality of vane walls is extended radially between the first wall and the second wall relative to the longitudinal axis. A radial flow passage is extended between the plurality of vane walls and the fuel injector passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Gurunath Gandikota, Steven Clayton Vise, Perumallu Vukanti, Mayank Krisna Amble, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Nicholas Ryan Overman, Karthikeyan Sampath, Allen Michael Danis, Craig Douglas Young
  • Patent number: 10890327
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor includes a liner defining at least in part a combustion chamber, a first side exposed to the combustion chamber, a second side opposite the first side, and a dilution hole extending from the second side to the first side. The liner includes an airflow feature on the first side of the liner adjacent to the dilution hole and extending into the combustion chamber to increase a cooling of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gurunath Gandikota, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Arvind Kumar Rao, Steven Clayton Vise, Perumallu Vukanti, Mayank Krisna Amble, Clayton Stuart Cooper
  • Publication number: 20210003281
    Abstract: A method for regulating jet wakes in a combustor including: directing compressed fluid into a passageway between a casing and a combustor liner; directing a combustion gas along a combustion zone; discharging a first portion of compressed fluid from the passageway into the combustion zone via a first through-hole which is disposed on a section of a combustor panel in a first circumferential row; and discharging a second portion of the compressed fluid from the passageway into the combustion zone via second through-holes, wherein the second through-holes are disposed on a section of the panel, spaced apart axially and circumferentially, and adjacent to the first through-hole, wherein the second through-holes include a first set of through-holes and a second set of through-holes, the first set of through-holes in a second row and the second set of through-holes in a third row, wherein the second and third rows extend circumferentially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Mayank Krisna Amble, Perumallu Vukanti, Steven Clayton Vise, Michael Anthony Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20200393128
    Abstract: A propulsion system defining a longitudinal centerline extended along a longitudinal direction is provided. The propulsion system includes an inlet section configured to provide an oxidizer to a rotating detonation combustion system positioned downstream of the inlet section. The rotating detonation combustion system includes a nozzle assembly positioned to provide a flow mixture of oxidizer and fuel to a combustion chamber, a centerbody forming an inner wall of the combustion chamber, an outer wall at least partially surrounding the centerbody, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall define a volume of the combustion chamber; and an actuation structure coupled to the nozzle assembly. The actuation structure is configured to expand and contract to displace the nozzle assembly along the longitudinal direction to alter the volume of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Joseph Zelina, Sibtosh Pal, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Steven Clayton Vise
  • Patent number: 10837643
    Abstract: A mixer assembly for a turbine engine is generally provided. The mixer assembly includes a vane assembly including a plurality of vanes configured to direct a flow of oxidizer to mix with a flow of fuel. The vane assembly includes a fluid diode disposed within a vane flow path between each pair of vanes of the vane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Steven Clayton Vise, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Allen Michael Danis
  • Patent number: 10816202
    Abstract: A combustor liner, a gas turbine engine including a combustor having the combustor liner, and a method for regulating jet wakes in the combustor are disclosed. The combustor liner includes a panel, at least one first through-hole, and a plurality of second through-holes including first and second set of through-holes. The at least one first through-hole is disposed on a section of the panel in a first row. The plurality of second through-holes is disposed on the section along axial and circumferential directions and arranged adjacent to the at least one first through-hole. The first set and the second set of through-holes are arranged in a second row and a third row respectively. The first, second, and third rows extend along the circumferential direction. The at least one first through-hole and the plurality of second through-holes collectively cover circumferential plane of the section along the first, second, and third rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mayank Krisna Amble, Perumallu Vukanti, Steven Clayton Vise, Michael Anthony Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20200248903
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine swirler that includes a tubular body having a forward face, an aft end, and a throat. A plurality of primary swirl vanes that is positioned between the aft end and the forward face. A plurality of secondary swirl vanes that is positioned between the primary swirl vanes and the aft end. The plurality of primary swirl vanes and the plurality of secondary swirl vanes are configured such that the throat is fluidly connected to a plenum that is positioned outside of the tubular body. A tubular ferrule is positioned such that it joins the body at the forward face thereof. Each of the primary swirl vanes extend radially inwardly to a vane lip. The secondary swirl vanes extend radially inwardly for swirling air therefrom. The body also includes a tubular Venturi that extends aft from between the primary swirler vanes and the secondary swirler vanes for radially separating air swirled therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sampath, Saket Singh, Gurunath Gandikota, Perumallu Vukanti, Pradeep Naik, Steven Clayton Vise
  • Patent number: 10641169
    Abstract: A hybrid combustion system, and method of operation, for a propulsion system is provided. The hybrid combustion system defines a radial direction, a circumferential direction, and a longitudinal centerline in common with the propulsion system extended along a longitudinal direction. The hybrid combustion system includes a rotating detonation combustion (RDC) system comprising an annular outer wall and an annular inner wall each generally concentric to the longitudinal centerline and together defining a RDC chamber and a RDC inlet, the RDC system further comprising a nozzle located at the RDC inlet defined by a nozzle wall. The nozzle defines a lengthwise direction extended between a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet along the lengthwise direction, and the nozzle inlet is configured to receive a flow of oxidizer. The nozzle further defines a throat between the nozzle inlet and the nozzle outlet, and wherein the nozzle defines a converging-diverging nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Clayton Vise, Joseph Zelina, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Sibtosh Pal
  • Publication number: 20200103117
    Abstract: A method and system of effervescent atomization of liquid fuel for a rotating detonation combustor (RDC) for a propulsion system is provided. The method includes flowing liquid fuel through a fuel injection port of a nozzle assembly of the RDC system; flowing a gas through the fuel injection port of the nozzle assembly volumetrically proportional to the liquid fuel; producing a gas-liquid fuel mixture at the fuel injection port by mixing the flow of gas and the flow of liquid fuel; flowing an oxidizer through a nozzle flowpath of the RDC system; producing an oxidizer-gas-liquid fuel mixture by mixing the gas-liquid fuel mixture and the flow of oxidizer within the nozzle flowpath; and igniting the oxidizer-gas-liquid fuel mixture within a combustion chamber of the RDC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Joseph Zelina, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Steven Clayton Vise