Patents by Inventor William Kirk

William Kirk 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: 8028529
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor including: a primary combustion chamber; a secondary combustion chamber downstream of the primary combustion chamber; a venturi having a venturi throat; a transition piece; a cap assembly attached to the primary combustion chamber, and an external turbulator member in operable communication with the cap assembly, wherein the primary combustion chamber includes a mixing hole arrangement for improving homogeneity of an air and fuel mixture in the combustor; the venturi throat is disposed within a predetermined distance upstream from the downstream end of the primary combustion chamber; the transition piece is composed of a duct body, with a plurality of dilution holes formed in the duct body; and the external turbulator member includes a step positioned at the second end of the centerbody, the step defining a radial distance about the second end of the centerbody.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Krishna K. Venkataraman, William Kirk Hessler, Predrag Popovic
  • Patent number: 8020385
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a combustor assembly, a cap assembly attached to the combustor assembly, a centerbody within the cap assembly, a wall of the centerbody having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion, and an external turbulator member in operable communication with the cap assembly. The external turbulator member is spaced from the wall to form a passage defined by a gap between the wall of the centerbody and the external turbulator. The external turbulator member includes a step positioned at the second end of the centerbody. The step defines a radial distance about the second end of the centerbody. The external turbulator member is formed having a step-to-gap ratio relative to the centerbody in a range of about 0.8 to about 1.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, William Kirk Hessler, Krishna Kumar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 7941923
    Abstract: A secondary fuel nozzle is formed by brazing and welding a central core, a cylindrical body, and a unitary secondary fuel nozzle portion. The central core has a central bore for receiving a liquid fuel cartridge, and at least two passages concentric with the central bore. The secondary fuel nozzle portion includes a base flange and a main shaft having a central bore for aligning with the central bore of the core and for receiving the liquid fuel cartridge, and a plurality of peripheral bores disposed at spaced locations about the central bore for flow communication with the concentric passages of the core. The core is brazed to the base flange and the cylindrical body is disposed around the core and welded to the base flange to define a one-piece secondary fuel nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William Kirk Hessler
  • Patent number: 7908863
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a secondary fuel nozzle assembly includes providing a nozzle portion defining a passageway configured to supply fuel. At least one peg is operatively coupled in fuel flow communication with the passageway. The at least one peg extends radially outward from the nozzle portion and defines at least one opening configured to direct a flow of fuel in a substantially upstream direction. A disc is positioned about the nozzle portion upstream of the at least one peg. The disc is positioned in communication with the at least one opening and configured to interfere with the flow of fuel to facilitate fuel atomization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William Kirk Hessler
  • Publication number: 20110041507
    Abstract: A combustion liner assembly for a gas turbine combustor includes a plurality of fuel nozzles disposed circumferentially about a central axis of the combustor, and a venturi section disposed downstream of the fuel nozzles and connected to a head end of the liner assembly. The venturi section defines an annular throat area downstream of the fuel nozzles. A liner sleeve is connected to and commences at a downstream end of the venturi section. At least a portion of the venturi section serves as a liner upstream of the liner sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: William Kirk Hessler, Jeffrey Lebegue, Predrag Popovic, Todd Daniel Paquin
  • Publication number: 20100287886
    Abstract: Methods for producing a can end having a moveable portion disposed beneath a tab are disclosed. In one embodiment, a can end having a center panel may be formed. A moveable portion may be formed in the center panel. The moveable portion may be in a downward position after it is formed. The can end may then be restrained such that a portion of the center panel that is adjacent to the moveable portion is unrestrained. While the can end is restrained, the moveable portion may be moved into an upward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Alejandro Saucedo, William A. Kirk, Henry S. Chorzempa, Danny L. Fundom
  • Publication number: 20100205970
    Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and apparatus providing secondary fuel nozzle assemblies. For example, a secondary fuel nozzle assembly can include a central portion having a proximal end and distal end, and defining a central passage therethrough, which can include at least one coiled tube extending through the central passage from the proximal end to the distal end; a flange having at least one main secondary fuel orifice in fluid communication with the central passage at the proximal end and at least one pilot orifice in fluid communication with the at least one coiled tube at the proximal end; and a tip portion having a proximal end and distal end, and defining at least one passage therethrough, which can be in fluid communication with the distal end of the at least one coiled tube and at least one orifice formed in the distal end of the tip portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Kirk Hessler, Richard Gene Lowe, Predrag Popovic
  • Publication number: 20100192587
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for use in a gas turbine engine and method of assembly is described. The combustor assembly includes a combustor liner having a slot that at least partially circumscribes the combustor liner. The slot is defined adjacent to a venturi throat region defined within the liner. The combustor assembly also includes a restrictor plate having at least one aperture defined therein. The restrictor plate is removably coupled within the combustor assembly such that the restrictor plate is inserted within the slot and extends at least partially across the venturi throat region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: William Kirk Hessler, Derrick Walter Simons, Jeffrey Scott Lebegue
  • Patent number: 7757491
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a fuel nozzle assembly includes providing a nozzle portion including a fuel passageway defined about a center axis of the fuel nozzle assembly. A longitudinal axis of a first peg is oriented to intersect the fuel nozzle assembly center axis such that a first plane is defined. The first peg defines a first opening having a centerline intersecting the first peg longitudinal axis and obliquely oriented with respect to the first plane. The first peg is coupled in flow communication with the fuel passageway such that the first peg extends radially outward from the nozzle portion and such that the first opening is configured to direct a flow of fuel in an oblique direction with respect to the fuel nozzle assembly center axis to facilitate fuel mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William Kirk Hessler
  • Publication number: 20100175257
    Abstract: A secondary fuel nozzle is formed by brazing and welding a central core, a cylindrical body, and a unitary secondary fuel nozzle portion. The central core has a central bore for receiving a liquid fuel cartridge, and at least two passages concentric with the central bore. The secondary fuel nozzle portion includes a base flange and a main shaft having a central bore for aligning with the central bore of the core and for receiving the liquid fuel cartridge, and a plurality of peripheral bores disposed at spaced locations about the central bore for flow communication with the concentric passages of the core. The core is brazed to the base flange and the cylindrical body is disposed around the core and welded to the base flange to define a one-piece secondary fuel nozzle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: William Kirk Hessler
  • Patent number: 7677472
    Abstract: A secondary fuel nozzle is formed by brazing and welding a central core, a cylindrical body, and a unitary secondary fuel nozzle portion. The central core has a central bore for receiving a liquid fuel cartridge, and at least two passages concentric with the central bore. The secondary fuel nozzle portion includes a base flange and a main shaft having a central bore for aligning with the central bore of the core and for receiving the liquid fuel cartridge, and a plurality of peripheral bores disposed at spaced locations about the central bore for flow communication with the concentric passages of the core. The core is brazed to the base flange and the cylindrical body is disposed around the core and welded to the base flange to define a one-piece secondary fuel nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William Kirk Hessler
  • Publication number: 20100043441
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes coupling a transition piece between a combustor liner and a nozzle assembly. The method also includes extending a first portion of a flow sleeve from the transition piece about at least a portion of the combustor liner. The method further includes coupling a second portion of the flow sleeve to the first portion of the flow sleeve such that the flow sleeve second portion extends from the flow sleeve first portion and at least partially about at least a portion of the transition piece. The flow sleeve second portion includes a scoop that cooperates with the transition piece to at least partially define a unitary cooling air passage that includes a unitary scoop-shaped opening. The scoop is oriented to introduce a substantially uniform cooling air flow to the transition piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: William Kirk Hessler, Predrag Popovic, Wei A. Chen, Tony Keith Davis
  • Publication number: 20100047015
    Abstract: The invention is a cost-effective method and formulation for cold paving applications that can be used to convert an unpaved surface, such as a gravel or dirt roadway, into a paved surface. The method includes applying an asphalt emulsion comprising asphalt, water, one or more emulsifiers, and a polymer to an existing unpaved surface to provide a layer of asphalt emulsion. An aggregate is then deposited over the emulsion layer to form a paved surface. The asphalt emulsion is formulated so that it can be used in a wide variety of conditions and with locally available aggregate. The set rate and viscosity of the asphalt emulsion can be selected so that it is able to penetrate partially into the unpaved surface to further improve the stability and rain resistance of the roadway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Koichi Takamura, Armin Burghart, William Kirk
  • Publication number: 20100018181
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a combustor assembly, a cap assembly attached to the combustor assembly, a centerbody within the cap assembly, a wall of the centerbody having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion, and an external turbulator member in operable communication with the cap assembly. The external turbulator member is spaced from the wall to form a passage defined by a gap between the wall of the centerbody and the external turbulator. The external turbulator member includes a step positioned at the second end of the centerbody. The step defines a radial distance about the second end of the centerbody. The external turbulator member is formed having a step-to-gap ratio relative to the centerbody in a range of about 0.8 to about 1.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Predrag Popovic, William Kirk Hessler, Krishna Kumar Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20100018211
    Abstract: A gas turbine transition piece includes a duct body having a forward end and an aft end, the duct body defining an enclosure for confining a flow of combustion products from a combustor to a turbine first stage nozzle. A plurality of dilution holes are formed in the duct body, located at selected X, Y, Z coordinates measured from a zero reference point at a center of an exit plane of the transition piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Krishna K. Venkataraman, William Kirk Hessler, Predrag Popovic
  • Publication number: 20090277177
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a fuel nozzle assembly includes providing a nozzle portion including a fuel passageway defined about a center axis of the fuel nozzle assembly. A longitudinal axis of a first peg is oriented to intersect the fuel nozzle assembly center axis such that a first plane is defined. The first peg defines a first opening having a centerline intersecting the first peg longitudinal axis and obliquely oriented with respect to the first plane. The first peg is coupled in flow communication with the fuel passageway such that the first peg extends radially outward from the nozzle portion and such that the first opening is configured to direct a flow of fuel in an oblique direction with respect to the fuel nozzle assembly center axis to facilitate fuel mixing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: William Kirk Hessler
  • Publication number: 20090223054
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a fuel nozzle is provided. The method includes providing a unitary portion of material including a first end face, a second end face, and a body extending therebetween. A passageway is fabricated to extend from the first end face to the second end face along a centerline of the portion of material. The method further includes fabricating a plurality of concentrically-aligned channels within the first end face, and fabricating a plurality of inlets that extend through at least one of the second end face and an outer surface of the body to at least one of the passageway and one of the plurality of channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Charles Richard Nyberg, II, William Kirk Hessler
  • Publication number: 20090199561
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a secondary fuel nozzle assembly includes providing a nozzle portion defining a passageway configured to supply fuel. At least one peg is operatively coupled in fuel flow communication with the passageway. The at least one peg extends radially outward from the nozzle portion and defines at least one opening configured to direct a flow of fuel in a substantially upstream direction. A disc is positioned about the nozzle portion upstream of the at least one peg. The disc is positioned in communication with the at least one opening and configured to interfere with the flow of fuel to facilitate fuel atomization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: William Kirk Hessler
  • Publication number: 20090092846
    Abstract: The invention is a method of treating, restoring or sealing a surface comprising applying an emulsion comprising a latex polymer, a cationic emulsifier, and optionally a recycling agent to the surface to wet the surface and depositing a surface treatment layer on the surface, wherein the depositing step occurs while the surface is wetted. The invention also includes a surface pretreatment composition comprising water, at least one acrylic latex polymer, an aromatic recycling agent, and at least one cationic emulsifier. Furthermore, the invention includes the surface resulting from the application of the emulsion used in the invention and concentrated emulsions for use with the surface treatment composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Koichi Takamura, Armin Burghart, William Kirk
  • Publication number: 20090019854
    Abstract: A dry low nitric oxides (NOx) emissions combustor includes a premixing chamber for mixing fuel and cooling gas and a combustion chamber positioned downstream of the premixing chamber for the combustion of pre-mixed fuel and cooling gas. The combustor further includes a venturi having generally annular walls including converging and diverging wall portions that define a constricted portion and positioned between the premixing chamber and the combustion chamber through which the premixed fuel and air pass to the combustion chamber. The walls defining a passage for cooling gas flow extending axially along the combustion chamber and having an exit for flowing cooling gas to the combustion chamber. A plurality of inlets at the converging and diverging wall portions ingest cooling gas into the passage to produce an impingement cooling effect. A plurality of tubulators disposed downstream of the inlets interact with the cooling gas to produce a turbulated cooling effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Derrick Walter Simons, William Kirk Hessler, Neal Grooms, Jeffrey Lebegue