In An Axial Direction Patents (Class 60/757)
  • Patent number: 5575154
    Abstract: Sleeves (28) are circumferentially spaced from one another about the liner of a combustor body (12) of a dry low NO.sub.x combustor. The sleeves carry dilution air into the dilution zone. Cooling air is supplied a venturi (20) to cool the venturi and the cooling air flows into the reaction volume. The dilution air sleeves penetrate sufficiently to thoroughly mix the dilution air with the core of hot gases of combustion and, by vorticity effects caused by the flow past the sleeves, thoroughly mix the generally annular flow of cooling air from the venturi with the hot gases of combustion. The thorough mixing of both the cooling air and dilution air inhibits or minimizes the formation of cold areas or streaks within the reaction volume such that CO to CO.sub.2 reactions are not quenched, affording reduced CO emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Anthony J. Loprinzo
  • Patent number: 5557918
    Abstract: A gas turbine apparatus for higher pressure and temperature ratio operation, improved thermal efficiency and minimized NO.sub.x emissions includes a high pressure compressor, a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine and combustion chambers for each of the turbines. A diffuser guides exhaust gas from the high pressure turbine and retards the velocity of the gases. A 180.degree. bend downstream of the diffuser changes the flow direction of the gases. Fuel lances extend into the bend at the outlet end to inject fuel into the gases after the direction change. The bend directs the gas and fuel into a reversal combustion chamber where the gases and fuel again changes direction by 180.degree., and a ring vortex in the flow is produced. The fuel and air is ignited and combusted, and the combusted gases directed into the low pressure turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Yau-Pin Chyou, Thomas Sattelmayer, Peter Senior
  • Patent number: 5528904
    Abstract: In a gas turbine liner, air metering passages are placed in dimples in a first liner sheet to provide an air chamber. A second liner sheet contains an air outlet for each dimple. The second sheet masks the metering passage and a portion of the dimple. A coating is applied to the second sheet and extends into the dimple but does not cover the metering passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Inventors: Charles R. Jones, George J. Kramer, Arthur Cordes
  • Patent number: 5483794
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooling apparatus with two spaced apart walls, one of which is a coolable wall, having a cooling flowpath between them wherein the cooling flowpath is converging in the direction of the cooling flow. In one embodiment the coolable wall is an afterburner cooling liner that includes a film cooling means on the hot side of the liner. Another embodiment provides a corrugated or wavy wall afterburner cooling liner wherein each wave includes a forward facing surface, from crest to trough of the wave in the direction of the hot gas flow, and an aft facing surface, from trough to crest. A high density pattern of multi-hole film cooling holes is disposed on the hotter of the two surfaces and a lower density pattern on the cooler one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Nicoll, John W. Vdoviak
  • Patent number: 5479772
    Abstract: A film starter structure for a combustor of a gas turbine engine which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending ribs formed on a radially inner surface of a forward section of an outer combustor liner adjacent a combustor dome. An annular ring overlays the ribs for defining a plurality of air passages. A support extends from the combustor dome and supports the outer liner about the dome. Compressor discharge air is introduced into the air passages and exits the air passages along the inner surface of the outer liner for establishing a cooling film barrier on the outer combustor liner surface. A spring seal between the combustor dome and the inner ring seats the dome within the ring and establishes a seal for preventing leakage air therebetween and allowing independent radial expansion of the liner and dome by compressing the spring seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ely E. Halila
  • Patent number: 5467592
    Abstract: A sectorized tubular structure able to resist implosion pressures, especially at the links between annular sectors. The tubular structure includes annular sectors interconnected by flat linking elements, each including at its ends at least one projection whose end enables the annular sectors to be supported. Thus, each linking element ensures the transmission of forces from one annular element to another. The unit is supported by fixing screws which are never in contact with the two annular sectors to be kept assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "Snecma"
    Inventor: Ollivier Carletti
  • Patent number: 5461866
    Abstract: When second shell section 18 diverges with respect to first shell section 16, the second liner panel 50 is located with a changing spacing from the shell. The liner is close to the shell at the upstream edge 68, and farther from the liner at the downstream end 57. The downstream end of the first liner panel 64 overlaps the second liner panel 50 on the gas side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis J. Sullivan, Aaron S. Butler, Mark A. Kelley
  • Patent number: 5458461
    Abstract: A wall adapted for use in a gas turbine engine between a first fluid and a second hotter fluid includes a first side over which is flowable the first fluid, and an opposite second side over which is flowable the second fluid. An elongate slot extends partly inwardly and perpendicularly from the second side toward the first side and is provided with the first fluid through a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart holes. The holes are aligned coplanar with the slot and longitudinally inclined to effect longitudinal overlapping of the first fluid inside the slot prior to discharge therefrom as a substantially continuous film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Chander Prakash, John H. Starkweather, Ronald D. Zerkle
  • Patent number: 5454221
    Abstract: Sleeves (28) are circumferentially spaced from one another about the liner of a combustor body (12) of a dry low NO.sub.x combustor. The sleeves carry dilution air into the dilution zone. Cooling air is supplied a venturi (20) to cool the venturi and the cooling air flows into the reaction volume. The dilution air sleeves penetrate sufficiently to thoroughly mix the dilution air with the core of hot gases of combustion and, by vorticity effects caused by the flow past the sleeves, thoroughly mix the generally annular flow of cooling air from the venturi with the hot gases of combustion. The thorough mixing of both the cooling air and dilution air inhibits or minimizes the formation of cold areas or streaks within the reaction volume such that CO to CO.sub.2 reactions are not quenched, affording reduced CO emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Anthony J. Loprinzo
  • Patent number: 5435139
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor 20 has a wall structure 22 including an outer wall 24 having a plurality of wall elements 26 attached thereto. Each wall element 26 has a flange 27 around its periphery which defines a chamber 28 between each wall element and the outer wall 24. Holes 30 in the outer wall 24 permit the flow of cooing air into each chamber 28 to provide impingement cooling of the wall elements 26. Holes 30 in the wall elements 26 permit the exhaustion of cooling air from the chambers to provide film cooling of the wall elements 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Stephen M. Cooper, Peter Fry
  • Patent number: 5419114
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a thermoelastic connection of a hot gas-carrying injector tube (8) to the flame tube (1) suspended in the combustion chamber housing (10) of a gas turbine. The injector tube (8) is connected by corrugated spacers (7) to a circumferential intermediate ring (6), which is attached to the lower flange of the flame tube (1) by detachable fastening elements (3, 4, 5). A circumferential cooling channel (annular space 15), into which cooling air is admitted, is formed between the cone of the injector tube (8) and the intermediate ring (6). The compressor air enters the combustion space (1, 8) of the combustion chamber (10) through the annular space (15) from below, as well as through the holes (11), especially through the circumferential gap (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: MAN Gutehoffnungshutte AG
    Inventors: Kurt Bauermeister, Emil Aschenbruck, Klaus D. Mohr, Alain Moreau, Michel Guillaux
  • Patent number: 5419681
    Abstract: A wall adapted for use in a gas turbine engine between a first and a hotter second fluid includes a first side over which is flowable the first fluid, and an opposite second side over which is flowable the second fluid. An elongate notch includes a forward surface extending inwardly from the second side and is disposed in flow communication with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart holes extending inwardly from the first side. The notch also includes an aft surface extending from the forward surface to the wall second side which is inclined at an acute discharge angle relative to the second side. The holes are disposed at an acute discharge angle relative to the second side for discharging the first fluid into the notch, and the notch discharge angle is smaller than the hole discharge angle for discharging the first fluid from the notch along the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ching-Pang Lee
  • Patent number: 5417545
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle assembly includes an annular array of nozzle guide vanes located downstream of a combustor discharge casing. Each nozzle guide vane includes an aerofoil portion which is cast integrally with a radially inner platform and a radially outer platform. The radially outer platform of each nozzle guide vane has an extension to provide a smooth transition of the gases from the combustor discharge casing to the nozzle guide vanes. Two rows of cooling holes are provided in the extension to film cool the inner surface of the platform. A method is described to calculate the diameter of each of the cooling holes so that a uniform flow of cooling air passes over the inner surface of the each platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Ian W. R. Harrogate
  • Patent number: 5407133
    Abstract: A first metal sheet (34) has openings (46) in registration with depressions (40) in a second contacting metal sheet (36). Each depression has a downstream wall (42) at an angle of 24.degree. from the plane of the sheets. A metering hole (56) in the depression amidst cooling air in a direction to first impinge against an overlaying portion (48) of the first plate, before it diffuses along the downstream wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: George P. Liang
  • Patent number: 5402635
    Abstract: The current invention concerns a combustor having a coupling for a cross-flame tube. The coupling has inner and outer sleeves that form an annular passage therebetween. Holes in the outer sleeve place the annular passage in flow communication with cooling air in the combustion system chamber, thereby causing the cooling air to flow over the proximal end of the outer sleeve. A baffle is formed on the inner sleeve and has a pattern of raised and depressed areas. The raised areas form lands that are attached to the combustor wall. The depressed areas form passages with the wall that direct the cooling air from the annular passage so that it flows over the surface of the combustor inner wall, thereby preventing over heating of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin D. Smith, Jeffrey C. Eddy
  • Patent number: 5329773
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a low cost combustor liner cooling system combining the benefits of high internal heat removal with improved film cooling by employing a large number of strategically positioned, laser-drilled cooling passages. Cooling air flows through these specially tailored passages to absorb heat from the liner prior to injection as a protective film on the interior surface. The passages are set in staggered rows on a thickened portion of the liner and have a rough internal heat transfer surface and an exit with a steep injection angle to evenly distribute the cooling film along the interior surface of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey D. Myers, Judy P. Bottlinger
  • Patent number: 5327727
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine hot section combustor liner is provided a non-film cooled portion of a heat transfer wall having a hot surface and a plurality of longitudinally extending micro-grooves disposed in the portion of the wall along the hot surface in a direction parallel to the direction of the hot gas flow. The depth of the micro-grooves is very small and on the order of magnitude of a predetermined laminar sublayer of a turbulent boundary layer. The micro-grooves are sized so as to inhibit heat transfer from the hot gas flow to the hot surface of the wall while reducing NOx emissions of the combustor relative to an otherwise similar combustor having a liner wall portion including film cooling apertures. In one embodiment the micro-grooves are about 0.001 inches deep and have a preferred depth range of from about 0.001 inches to 0.005 inches and which are square, rectangular, or triangular in cross-section and the micro-grooves are spaced about one width apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven D. Ward
  • Patent number: 5297385
    Abstract: An annular combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a sector in the primary combustion zone that operates at a reduced level of airflow than the remaining portion of the combustor by providing fixed air openings in the dome or fuel nozzles and in the combustion air admission holes. This allows the combustor to operate at higher fuel/air ratios with a minimum of complexity in the hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas L. Dubell, James H. Shadowen
  • Patent number: 5279127
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided with a combustor liner film cooling means having a slotted nugget or ring for starting a cooling film on and upstream of a multi-hole single wall sheet metal combustor liner which is generally annular in shape and having disposed therethrough a multi-hole film cooling means which includes at least one pattern of small closely spaced film cooling holes sharply angled in the downstream direction. In one embodiment the cooling holes are angled in a circumferential direction which generally coincides with the swirl angle of the flow along the surface of the liner. Another embodiment provides a that the annular liner is corrugated so as to form an axially extending wavy wall to help resist buckling which is particularly useful for outer liners in the combustion section of aircraft gas turbine engines and in the exhaust section of gas turbine engines and afterburners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Phillip D. Napoli
  • Patent number: 5261223
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor liner having conventional dilution holes disposed therethrough and multi-hole film cooling holes to provide a cooling film on the hot side of the liner is provided with generally rectangular film starting apertures disposed downstream, with respect to the predetermined cooling film flow direction, of the dilution holes in predetermined otherwise cooling film dry areas on the hot side of the combustor liner. In one embodiment the multi-hole film cooling holes and the rectangular film starting apertures are angled sharply in the downstream direction and angled in a circumferential direction which generally coincides with a predetermined swirl angle of the flow along the surface of the liner within the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Howard L. Foltz
  • Patent number: 5259182
    Abstract: A combustion apparatus comprises a combustor liner forming a combustion chamber, and a swirler for introducing a fuel gas into the combustion chamber in the form of a swirl. The combustor liner has an air film forming device provided on the wall thereof and capable of forming a film of cooling air on the inner peripheral wall of the combustor liner so as to protect the combustor liner from the hot combustion gas in the combustion chamber. The air film forming means is formed such that the flowing direction of the air forming the film becomes the same direction as the swirling direction of the combustion gas, so that the film of the cooling air is not broken by the hot combustion gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Iwai, Hiromi Koizumi, Kazuhiko Kumata, Yoshikazu Moritomo
  • Patent number: 5241827
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided with a single wall sheet metal liner having a generally annular shape, which may be corrugated, and contains at least one differential pattern of multi-hole film cooling holes. The differential pattern of cooling holes comprises patterns of small closely spaced sharply downstream angled film cooling holes disposed along portions of the liner so as to direct different amounts of film cooling air to different areas of the liner to accommodate differential heating along the liner. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of superimposed differential cooling hole patterns derived from a base pattern wherein each preferential pattern is formed by skipping patterns of cooling holes in the base pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Elias H. Lampes
  • Patent number: 5233828
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor is provided, having a an annular single wall sheet metal liner which is generally annular in shape and having disposed therethrough a multi-hole film cooling means which includes at least one pattern of small closely spaced film cooling holes angled sharply in the downstream direction and angled in a circumferential direction wherein the circumferential angle generally coincides with the swirl angle of the flow along the surface of the liner. Another embodiment provides a corrugated aircraft engine sheet metal combustor liner which forms an axially extending wavy wall to help resist buckling, particularly useful for outer liners in the combustion section of the engine and in the exhaust section of gas turbine engines incorporating afterburners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Phillip D. Napoli
  • Patent number: 5220795
    Abstract: A method of diluting combustion gases in a gas turbine engine combustor includes injecting primary dilution air into the combustion gases, and injecting trim dilution air into the combustion gases adjacent to the injected primary dilution air. A dilution air injector for practicing the method includes a plate, or centerbody in an exemplary embodiment, having a primary dilution hole for injecting a portion of compressed air into combustion gases as primary dilution air, and a trim dilution hole for injecting a portion of the compressed air into the combustion gases as trim dilution air. The primary and trim dilution holes are sized and configured so that the primary and trim dilution air cooperate with each other for penetrating into and diluting a predetermined portion of the combustion gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Willard J. Dodds, Stanley K. Widener, Keith K. Taylor, Howard L. Foltz, Steven C. Steffens
  • Patent number: 5209067
    Abstract: A combustion chamber wall structure is formed of a plurality of segments, each segment having an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion is attached to an outer surface of an adjacent wall segment at its downstream portion in an overlapping fashion such that the overlapping portions form a cooling air chamber. The main cooling air holes are defined by the upstream portion so as to communicate with the cooling chamber, which has an exit to direct the cooling air along an inner surface of the downstream portion of the wall segment. A primary air hole is defined by the downstream portion of the segment and is located adjacent to the main cooling air holes. This location maximizes the distance between the primary air hole and an upstream portion of the same segment, which, in turn, maximizes the distance along the inner surface of the segment on which the cooling air may flow without being disrupted by air passing through the primary air hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation S.N.E.C.M.A.
    Inventors: Gerard Y. G. Barbier, Frederic Beule, Michel A. A. Desaulty, Jean M. C. M. P. Latour, Bruno R. H. Masse
  • Patent number: 5144793
    Abstract: A structural connector (40) is disclosed for joining together the inner (30) and outer (22) walls of a combustion chamber (20) of a turbomachine (10), such as a gas turbine engine. The structural connector (40) also provides for cooling or combustion airflow between the combustion chamber (20) and a surrounding atmosphere (12). An outer end (42) of the connector (40) is releasably affixed to the outer wall (22) of the combustion chamber (20) while an inner end (48) is allowed limited lateral and axial displacement relative to the inner wall (30) of the combustion chamber (20), thereby accommodating differential expansion and contraction of the walls (30, 22) relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Able, Martin J. Gibler
  • Patent number: 5142871
    Abstract: A combustor dome includes an annular dome plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in a central portion thereof for receiving a plurality of carburetors. The dome plate also includes outer and inner support portions for joining the dome plate to combustion liners. Each of the support portions include a first leg extending from the central portion, a second leg, and an arcuate apex joining the first and second legs. The apex has a uniform thickness and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced coolant apertures for channeling cooling air therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Elias H. Lampes, Clifford E. Allen, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5129447
    Abstract: A fluid cooled thermal skin is bolted to a sufficient back structure. In-line coolant flow paths are arranged to pass the cooling fluid through the bolt head. The in-line paths are recessed adjacent the bolt head to mate with flow openings in the head. In one embodiment the paths through the bolt head are parallel paths, requiring alignment of the bolt head. In another embodiment alignment of the bolt head is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Larry D. Hamner
  • Patent number: 5117636
    Abstract: An improved gas turbine combustor is provided which reduces nitric oxide emissions through premixing of the fuel gas and air and feeding the mixture through a venturi, providing an air cooled passage around the venturi, and extending the passage downstream toward the combustion zone to optimize the stability of the combustion and reduce NO.sub.x and CO emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William T. Bechtel, II, Masayoshi Kuwata, Roy M. Washam
  • Patent number: 5109671
    Abstract: A combustion structure for a turbine engine includes an annular combustion cavity into which flows a part of each of a plurality of radially outwardly flowing primary air jets to define a rotating toroid of primary combustion air. Plural annular louvers defined in the walls of the combustion cavity provide plural film-like wall cooling air flows moving in agreement with the rotating toroid of primary combustion air. An annular array of circumferentially spaced apart and disposed louvers in a radially outer wall of the combustor structure provide film-like air flows to energize the rotating toroid of combustion air to swirl about the combustion cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Haasis
  • Patent number: 5083422
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for improving cooling of a wall in a gas turbine engine. The method and apparatus provide breach cooling of an imperforate wall, such as a combustor liner, for improving the cooling thereof. The breach cooling includes structure for channeling a cooling fluid as a jet toward an outer surface of the imperforate wall, with the jet having sufficient momentum to breach a boundary layer of the cooling fluid which forms over the wall outer surface to allow the jet to contact the wall outer surface for more effective cooling thereof. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the breach-cooled wall is an upstream portion of the gas turbine engine combustor, and the inner surface of the combustor liner facing the combustion gases is characterized by not having a film-cooling boundary layer of air to reduce quenching of the combination gases for reducing exhaust emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Vogt
  • Patent number: 5083918
    Abstract: Burner assembly for location within an air supply housing for heater the burner assembly having opposite side walls, upper and lower tiered baffles, each having connected thereon an air balancing baffle, the air balancing baffles and tiered baffles forming a combustion chamber therebetween, a gas manifold arranged approximately at the intake end of the burner assembly, with an associated shroud for directing air around the gas manifold, and for selectively diverting and directing air through the air balancing baffles, and into the combustion chamber. A diverter is arranged for directing incoming air, and deflectors are provided at the upper and lower front of the shrouds to direct the passage of air into the path of the combustion gases. Slots are provided within the brackets holding the front of the shrouds to reduced heat generation, and the arrangement of various slots provided within the tiered baffles provided fo reducing hot spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Cambridge Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Potter, Robert W. Reinkemeyer, Clifford L. Heitmann
  • Patent number: 5079915
    Abstract: A heat protective lining for a passage in a turbojet engine is formed of tiles arranged side by side to form rings which are themselves arranged end to end. Each tile comprises a panel provided at its upstream and downstream edges with radially outwardly directed flanges forming circumferential stiffeners, the upstream flange having on its upstream radial face male securing and sealing means cooperating with complementary female means on the downstream radial face of the downstream flange of the adjacent upstream tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "S.N.E.C.M.A."
    Inventor: Albert L. P. Veau
  • Patent number: 5077969
    Abstract: A plurality of gas diffusion openings (24) direct film cooling air (26) along the surface of sheet (20). Each opening (24) includes a baffle (28) extending into gas stream (10) defining gas chamber (30) with outlet opening (32). Cool air inlet opening (34) meters and directs impingement air against the upstream end (36) of the baffle. cooling air discharge is parallel to the surface to be cooled and the baffle directs the upstream hot air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: George P. Liang, Curtis C. Cowan
  • Patent number: 5069034
    Abstract: A heat protective lining for the afterburner or transition duct of a turbojet engine comprises an assembly of tiles overlapping laterally and longitudinally to form overlapping rings of tiles in which the tiles of each ring are offset laterally from those of each adjacent ring by half a tile width. The tiles are held together by eyelets projecting from the overlapped downstream portions of the tiles through apertures in the overlapping upstream portions, and locking members engaging through the eyelets. Fastening yokes for fixing the assembly to the duct casing are secured to the outside of the tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "S.N.E.C.M.A."
    Inventors: Gerard E. A. Jourdain, Marc G. Loubet
  • Patent number: 5050385
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor has an inner cylinder provided with a multiplicity of louvers for introducing cooling air and a plurality of air ports for introducing combustion air. The portions of the inner cylinder wall at both ends of each louver, where the concentration of stress due to thermal stress is heaviest, is reinforced by build-up welding thereby to prevent cracking at these portions of the cylinder wall. The build-up welding effectively stops the propagation of crack happened to be caused in the inner cylinder wall for any reason. The portions of the inner cylinder wall around the air ports also may be reinforced by build-up welding over the entire peripheries of these air ports. The build-up weld on the periphery of each air port prevents any crack from being propagated to the brim of each air port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Hirose, Nobuyuki Iizuka
  • Patent number: 5000005
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for a gas turbine engine has a wall which is provided with rows of apertures. The apertures are arranged so that the axes of the apertures form an angle of between 25.degree. and 35.degree. with respect to the inner surface of the wall. The apertures have a first cylindircal portion and a second divergent portion to produce fan shaped apertures. An upstream portion of the wall has apertures arranged in axially spaced groups, each of which has three rows of apertures and a downstream portion of the wall has apertures arranged in axially spaced groups, each of which has two rows of apertures. The axes of adjacent apertures in each row are spaced apart by at least three times the diameter of the cylindrical portion. The apertures produce effective film cooling of the wall using less cooling air than conventional cooling rings. The apertures may be arranged locally to cope with hot spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, plc
    Inventors: William C. Kwan, Anthony Pidcock
  • Patent number: 4989407
    Abstract: A radial flameholder (18) extends from the augmentor case (22) through an opening (30) in a coaxial liner (20) and into the hot exhaust gas stream (26). A portion of a cool, annular fan air stream (28) enters an upstream facing opening (34) and discharged radially inwardly adjacent the downstream edge (44) of the liner opening (30). The inner flow (42) of cool air protects the liner (20) downstream of the flameholder (18) by both cooling the liner (20) locally and by displacing the combustion reaction (32) attached to the flameholder (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Grant, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4984429
    Abstract: It has been found that in a dry low NOx combustor of the type having an upstream combustion chamber and a downstream combustion chamber interconnected by a venturi section, the fuel-air ratio and uniform fuel-air mixing can be improved by providing an annular shield upstream of the venturi region. The shield is impingement cooled through the venturi and provision is made for dumping cooling air farther downsteam in the downstream combustion chamber. With the aforesaid improvements in mind, the upstream combustion chamber is provided with first and second inner liners which are also impringement cooled an which provide combustion air farther upstream into the upstream combustion chamber to further improve fuel-air mixing and to maintain the desired fuel-air ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Waslo, Masayoshi Kuwata, Roy M. Washam
  • Patent number: 4970865
    Abstract: A spray nozzle including a body having a fluid inlet at one end thereof and an exit orifice at the other end thereof. The fluid inlet communicates with the exit orifice through a fluid flow path extending through the body. The exit orifice is adapted to atomize the fluid as the fluid leaves the body. The spray nozzle also includes a separate portion for atomizing the fluid independent of the exit orifice. The separate portion communicates with the fluid flow path upstream of the exit orifice. The separate portion produces a flat spray of the fluid as the fluid leaves the body. With these features, the spray nozzle is well suited as a fuel injector for a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jack R. Shekelton, Robert W. Smith
  • Patent number: 4949545
    Abstract: Problems involving the cooling of a front turbine shroud having a radial section 110 and an axial section 112 connected by a radius 114 and employed in a turbine engine are minimized or eliminated by telescoping the radially outer wall 34 of an annular combustor 26 into the axial section 112 and radially spacing the same inwardly therefrom. An inlet 128 in fluid communication with the compressed air source of the turbine extends to a swirling strip 130 which between the radially outer wall 34 and the axial section 112 and generates a film of cooling air and applies it to the radius 114 of the front shroud 27 to cool the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Jack R. Shekleton
  • Patent number: 4944152
    Abstract: Undesirably high and damaging temperature gradients resulting from hot spots in combustors 26 for housing a hot gas generating oxidation reaction are avoided in a construction including a combustor housing haivng a wall 32, 34, 39 with an interior surface defining a combustion space 38, 40 and an exterior surface thereof and provided with an outlet 36. A plenum 44, 80, 82 surrounds the combustor 26 and a fuel injector 50, 52 is provided for introducing a fuel to be oxidized into the combustion space 38, 40. Oxidant inlets 54 to the combustion space 38, 40 are provided and various structures including the plenum 44, 80, 82 flow cooling gas in a path about the exterior surface of the walls, 32, 34, 39 to cool the combustor housing. Trip strips 114, 118 are located on the exterior surface of the walls 32, 34, 39 and extend into the cooling gas flow path and are located to minimize the temperature gradient between points along those walls 32, 34 and 39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Jack R. Shekleton
  • Patent number: 4936091
    Abstract: A method for operating a rocket engine by injecting fuel and oxidizer into an elongated combustion chamber in two flows, a core flow where the fuel and oxidizer are intimately mixed and immediately combusted and a peripheral curtain flow which surrounds the core flow and which is in contact with the combustion chamber wall to cool it and limit the heat transfer from the wall to the injector to prevent vapor locks in the injector. To prevent decomposed or partially combusted propellant products from chemically reacting with the chamber wall no mixing of fuel and oxidizer takes place in the curtain flow. The curtain flow is deflected radially inward into the core flow, before decomposed or partially combusted products can come into contact with the wall, into the core flow to fully combust the curtain flow out of contact with the wall. The rocket engine is defined by serially arranged first and second combustion chambers and an injector constructed to form the core and curtain flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Aerojet General Corporation
    Inventor: Leonard Schoenman
  • Patent number: 4916906
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for improving cooling of a wall in a gas turbine engine. The method and apparatus provide breach cooling of an imperforate wall, such as a combustor liner, for improving the cooling thereof. The breach cooling includes structure for channeling a cooling fluid as a jet toward an outer surface of the imperforate wall, with the jet having sufficient memontum to breach a boundary layer of the cooling fluid which forms over the wall outer surface to allow the jet to contact the wall outer surface for more effective cooling thereof. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the breach-cooled wall is an upstream portion of the gas turbine engine combustor, and the inner surface of the combustor liner facing the combustion gases is characterized by not having a film-cooling boundary layer of air to reduce quenching of the combustion gases for reducing exhaust emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert L. Vogt
  • Patent number: 4916905
    Abstract: The head assembly of a combustion chamber, within which burning of mixed fuel and air takes place, is fixed to surrounding structure in a manner which enables differential expansions of the parts of which the assembly is comprised, without generating stresses through reaction of one part upon another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Peter Havercroft, Brian Henderson
  • Patent number: 4912922
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for use in gas turbine engines is provided with a liner formed of a high temperature material. The liner includes a plurality of annular rings of high temperature material mounted by means of flexible mounting arrangement upon a high strength structural frame. As a result of this mounting arrangement, the liner is substantially isolated from structural forces associated with the combustion chamber, while the frame is substantially isolated from thermal stresses associated with the liner. The individual liner rings may be easily removed for repair or replacement without disassembling the frame and associated components. Furthermore, the "decoupling" of thermal and structural stresses provides longer life and more dependable operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1972
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Harvey M. Maclin
  • Patent number: 4896510
    Abstract: A shield is disposed in spaced relationship to the exterior surface of the combustor liner of a gas turbine engine and extends over a plurality of very small holes formed in the combustor liner so as to block flow of air to these holes. Further, the shield provides a space between the shield and the combustor liner for receiving reverse flow of air. A portion of the air flowing along the exterior surface of the combustor liner is diverted for reverse flow in the path provided between the shield and the combustor liner. A lesser plurality of substantially larger holes are provided in the combustor liner at the point of reversal of the air so that the dirt particles in the air, because of the centrifugal force acting thereon, tend to flow through these larger holes. A second group of larger holes are provided in the combustor liner approximately at the forward end of the space between the shield and the combustor liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Howard L. Foltz
  • Patent number: 4887663
    Abstract: Overlapping liner plates 12, 14, 16 are secured at the upstream end to support surface 22. Cooling air 26 supplied through compartmental plenums 24 passes between (54) the plates and over (56) the plate surface. Complementary elongated depressions 40, 46 selectively guide the airflow and provide flexibility to absorb transverse expansions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Auxier, James B. Rannie, Robert E. Field
  • Patent number: H903
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided with a means for cooling tips of turbine blades in a hot turbine section of the engine. Inlet air holes are provided in a radially outer wall section of the combustor, just upstream of a turbine nozzle. Cooling air flows through these inlet air holes, into annulus regions protected from combustion gases, and then downstream along a radially outer wall of the turbine. The cooling air forms a film that cools the turbine blade tips in a localized manner that adds to total engine power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Barry Weinstein
  • Patent number: H1380
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustor cooling system for imperforate non-metallic combustor liners has a wall positioned adjacent to the liners forming therewith a cavity. The wall has a plurality of inlets for admitting cooling air into the cavity and a plurality of outlets for exhausting the cooling air into a separate passageway after it impinges the liners. The exhausted cooling air is transferred upstream of the liner where it is combined with fuel for burning rather than discharged downstream as cooling film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventors: Ely E. Halila, Howard L. Foltz