Combustor Or Fuel System Patents (Class 60/800)
  • Patent number: 7926283
    Abstract: Cooling is provided for a gas turbine combustion system that includes a first member, such as a liner, having exterior and interior surfaces that define a wall therebetween and a central area. A second member, such as a cap, is located adjacent that interior surface. A source of cooling gas is in fluid communication with the exterior surface of the first member. An open space, in which is located a hula seal, is located between the interior surface of the first member and the second member. At least one opening in the wall of the first member provides a passageway for the cooling gas from the exterior surface of the first member to the open space. The passageway has a directional axis along which the cooling gas flows and is discharged into the open space. The directional axis is substantially oriented in a direction other than a direction towards the central area of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Byrne, Mert Berkman, David Cihlar
  • Patent number: 7926286
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine having a manifold ring, a plurality of spray tip assemblies and a heat shield including at least two heat shield segments cooperating to at least substantially surround a cross-section of the manifold ring around a circumference of the manifold ring, and detachably retained around the manifold ring through a plurality of removable fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Oleg Morenko, Bhawan B. Patel, Nagaraja Rudrapatna, Saeid Oskooei
  • Patent number: 7926280
    Abstract: A floating collar assembly is provided comprising a substantially flat floating collar trapped between a heat shield and a dome panel of the combustor. Axial engagement between the floating collar and the fuel nozzle is maintained via a nozzle cap mounted over the fuel nozzle tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Oleg Morenko, Kenneth Parkman, Stephen Phillips
  • Publication number: 20110072830
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine sealing arrangement which includes a combustor liner establishing a combustion area and a turbine nozzle configured to receive a portion of a combustor liner. A sealing ring arrangement is configured to seal with the turbine nozzle to control fluid flow from the combustion area and reduce leakage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: David Ronald Adair, Walter Ernest Ainslie, Gordon F. Jewess, Anthony C. Jones, Eric J. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7908866
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a gas turbine combustor with improved fatigue resistance of a combustor. It is possible to intentionally reduce a stiffness of each of flanges of upper and lower walls of an end portion (outlet) of the tail pipe of the gas turbine combustor. It is possible to reduce a stiff difference between the upper and lower walls of the end portion (outlet) of the tail pipe section and side walls. Thus, it is possible to reduce compulsion deformation caused due to thermal stress generated in the end portion (outlet) of the tail pipe section on the operation of the conventional gas turbine combustor, and to reduce high stress easy to generate in the side plate. As a result, the gas turbine combustor with high fatigue resistance can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eigo Kato, Mitsuru Kondo, Tatsuo Ishiguro, Masaki Ono, Tetsu Konishi, Tetsuya Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 7908865
    Abstract: A device for injecting a mixture of air and fuel into a combustion chamber of a turbomachine is disclosed. The injection device includes a novel sliding bushing and a novel annular cup for retaining the sliding bushing, making it possible to improve the air feed of the injection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Alain Cayre, Michel Andre Albert Desaulty, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 7900461
    Abstract: The invention is a combination that includes a gas turbine engine extending along an axis. The gas turbine engine includes an annular combustor with a combustor liner. The combination of the invention also includes a plurality of projections extending from the combustor liner and spaced from one another circumferentially about the axis. The combination of the invention also includes a free-standing ring disposed about the combustor liner and positioned adjacent to the plurality of projections along the axis. The plurality of projections engage a corresponding circumferentially-facing portion of the free-standing ring and circumferentially support the combustor liner while allowing relative radial displacement between the combustor liner and the free-standing ring. The combination of the invention also includes a rolling assembly operably disposed between the free-standing ring and the plurality of projections to reduce binding during the relative radial displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce Edward Varney, Vickie Rae Smiley, Todd S. Taylor, Jack Dwane Petty, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7870740
    Abstract: An afterbody for a turbojet engine is disclosed. The afterbody includes an afterburner casing, a thermal protection liner, and a diaphragm-forming assembly interposed between the liner and the casing. The diaphragm-forming assembly defines a flow area which is traversed by a ventilation stream. The diaphragm-forming assembly includes two annular plates overlapping one another, each being perforated with a plurality of apertures and being mounted on the liner and the casing respectively. The apertures jointly define the flow area of the assembly. Furthermore, the assembly is designed such that the expansion of the liner causes an angular displacement of the plate with respect to the plate, leading to an increase in the size of the flow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jacques Marcel Arthur Bunel, Thierry Andre Emmanuel Cortes, Alain Pierre Page, Fabienne Vagner
  • Publication number: 20110005234
    Abstract: In a gas turbine, an exhaust casing (27) and an exhaust chamber (14) are connected by an exhaust chamber support (32) that can absorb thermal expansion, and the exhaust chamber (14) and an exhaust duct (31) are connected by an exhaust duct support (33) that can absorb thermal expansion. An insulator (63) is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the exhaust chamber (14), and the exhaust chamber support (32) and the exhaust duct support (33) are disposed outside the insulator (63) in the form of a plurality of strips. Because the thermal stress at a connection portion of the exhaust chamber is reduced, the durability is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hashimoto, Kenichi Arase
  • Patent number: 7856828
    Abstract: A flameholder arm for an afterburner of a turbomachine, particularly a jet engine, is disclosed. The arm includes a ventilation duct which is centered and immobilized inside the arm independent of the heatshield. The duct also includes a transverse lip which includes an orifice for centering and guiding a fuel injection harness. The transverse lip prevents the harness from being positioned in any way incorrectly in the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jacques Marcel Arthur Bunel, Nicolas Pierre-Marie Girard
  • Patent number: 7856826
    Abstract: A method of assembling a combustor for use in a turbine engine is disclosed. The method includes providing a dome assembly ring including a plurality of assembly ring openings, positioning a plurality of elongated rings on the dome assembly ring, providing a cowl assembly including an inner cowl portion and an outer cowl portion that are fabricated from sheet metal, and coupling the inner and outer cowl portions to the dome assembly ring such that each of the plurality of elongated rings is coupled to the dome assembly ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Dale Brown, Michael Terry Bucaro, Jeff Martini
  • Patent number: 7849696
    Abstract: An annular combustion chamber comprising axial walls interconnected by a chamber end wall having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from that of the axial walls, the chamber end wall being provided with a plurality of inner and outer fastener tabs secured by fastener systems to the end portions of the axial walls. Each fastener system comprises a bolt, a nut tightened onto one of the ends of the bolt, and a slideway bushing disposed around the bolt between the nut and the end portion of the corresponding axial wall, a determined amount of radial clearance being provided between the nut and the end portion of the axial wall so as to enable the chamber end wall to expand radially freely in operation relative to the axial walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Mario Cesar De Sousa, Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Laurent Pierre Elysee Gaston Marnas
  • Patent number: 7845174
    Abstract: A combustor liner including a dome section having a positioning hole defined at a first radial distance and sized to receive a first heat shield fastener to at least substantially prevent radial and circumferential motion of the first fastener, a circumferential slot sized to receive a second heat shield fastener to at least substantially prevent radial motion of the second fastener while allowing limited circumferential motion of the second fastener, and a clearance hole defined at a second radial distance and sized to receive a third heat shield fastener to allow limited radial and circumferential motion of the third fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Kenneth Parkman, Stephen Phillips
  • Publication number: 20100300116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hula seal for use with a combustor. The hula seal includes a number of legs that define a number of slots. The slots may include a number of expansion slots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Karthick Kaleeswaran, Ganesh Pejawar Rao
  • Patent number: 7823387
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine diffuser defined between an external casing and an internal casing of the engine and supplied with air via an upstream annular diffuser duct is disclosed. The diffuser includes a combustion chamber of the convergent type, forming an external annular duct with the external casing and an internal annular duct with the internal casing, and a cowling partially closing off the external annular duct. The cowling is positioned toward the closed end of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrice Andre Commaret, Michel Andre Albert Desaulty, Romain Nicolas Lunel, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 7805943
    Abstract: A shroud for a combustion chamber bottom designed to cover fuel injectors is provided with drillings on at least one of its sides to open up the cavity within the shroud and reduce noise that it produces and combustion instabilities. The drillings also have the effect of reducing instabilities and non-uniformity of the airflow around the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Michel Andre Albert Desaulty, Michel Pierre Cazalens, Olivier Kreder, Alain Cayre
  • Patent number: 7798768
    Abstract: A turbine vane ID support system usable to support the ID of a turbine vane and including a transition seal system and a turbine vane ID forward rail seal system. The transition seal system may seal the turbine vane ID support body to a transition, and the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system may seal the turbine vane ID support body to a turbine vane. Use of the transition seal system and the turbine vane ID forward rail seal system eliminates the problems inherent with conventional seals used to seal transitions directly to turbine vanes. The turbine vane ID support system may also be configured such that the turbine vane ID support system may be removed to facilitate removal of turbine vanes and blades for repair or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: John Strain, Yevgeniy Shteyman, Robert W. Spitzer
  • Patent number: 7797948
    Abstract: A transition-to-turbine seal (320) including an upstream portion (322) adapted to engage a flange (416) of a transition (400). The upstream portion (322) may be U-shaped in cross-sectional profile and include a primary wall (324) that includes a proximal section (325) and a distal section (326) relative to a hot gas path (170). The proximal section (325) includes a plurality of recesses (327) which are spaced apart and separated by intervening wall (328). In each recess (327) is provided one or more outlets (329) of cooling fluid holes (339). The outlets (329) communicate via the cooling fluid holes (339) with a supply of compressed cooling fluid, such as compressed air that is provided from the compressor. During operation the outlets (329) release this fluid into the respective recesses (327). The flow of cooling fluid provides for a more uniform cooling effect that includes impingement and convective cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Weaver, Raymond S. Nordlund
  • Patent number: 7788932
    Abstract: Provided is a seal structure, according to the present invention, for sealing opposite surfaces of flanges between adjacent tail ducts, which can be prevented from being worn or aged deteriorated due to a thermal deformation in a high temperature atmosphere or vibration of a gas turbine combustor, and which can maintain a satisfactory sealing function for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kunitake, Kuniaki Aoyama, Kiyoshi Fujimoto, Masaharu Minami
  • Patent number: 7779866
    Abstract: An annular trapped vortex cavity assembly segment comprising includes a cavity forward wall, a cavity aft wall, and a cavity radially outer wall therebetween defining a cavity segment therein. A cavity opening extends between the forward and aft walls at a radially inner end of the assembly segment. Radially spaced apart pluralities of air injection first and second holes extend through the forward and aft walls respectively. The segment may include first and second expansion joint features at distal first and second ends respectively of the segment. The segment may include a forward subcomponent including the cavity forward wall attached to an aft subcomponent including the cavity aft wall. The forward and aft subcomponents include forward and aft portions of the cavity radially outer wall respectively. A ring of the segments may be circumferentially disposed about an axis to form an annular segmented vortex cavity assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leonard Paul Grammel, Jr., David Lance Pennekamp, Ralph Henry Winslow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7775050
    Abstract: A method for assembling a combustor for use in a turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing at least one support leg, forming at least one opening in the support leg, wherein the at least one opening has a perimeter defined only by a plurality of non-linear segments, and coupling the support leg to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Bruce Patterson, Kelley Parker Brown, Robert Paul Czachor, Grzegorz Mlynski
  • Patent number: 7775051
    Abstract: The combustion chamber includes a chamber endwall perforated by at least one passage hole. An injection system is mounted so that it can slide diametrically with respect to the passage hole. A deflector is mounted on the chamber endwall. The deflector includes a fitting ring which includes first tenons. A sleeve which is coaxial to the fitting ring includes second tenons. The first and the second tenons allow the passage of the first tenons between the second tenons and then the engagement of the first tenons behind the second tenons. The injection system is slidably mounted in the sleeve. Antirotation means are provided to prevent a rotation of the injection system with respect to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Didier Hippolyte Hernandez, Thomas Olivier Marie Noel
  • Patent number: 7770401
    Abstract: A sacrificial liner is provided for an injector access aperture in a combustor casing. The liner has an outer annular surface and an eccentric inner annular surface. The liner serves to protect the combustor outer casing from wear by a series of piston rings mounted in a seal carrier. The eccentricity of the surfaces prevent excess contact pressure between the piston rings and the seal carrier to improve the life of these components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Andrew P. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 7762766
    Abstract: A support for the first row turbine vanes (12) in a gas turbine engine, the support including a support framework (18). The support framework (18) includes an outer vane carrier (34), and an inner vane carrier (36) connected to the outer vane carrier (34) by a plurality of struts (44, 46). The outer vane carrier (34) is mounted to an inner casing (16) of the engine and the struts (44, 46) support the inner vane carrier (36) in cantilevered relation to the outer vane carrier (34). An aft outer flange (94) of each first row vane (12) is supported on the outer vane carrier (34) and a forward inner flange (114) of the vane (12) is support on the inner vane carrier (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Shteyman, John Strain, William R. Ryan, Robert W. Spitzer
  • Patent number: 7757495
    Abstract: A turbine engine annular combustion chamber includes inner and outer longitudinal walls connected upstream by a transverse chamber bottom and including a single-piece cowling covering the chamber bottom. Each of the longitudinal walls is inserted between corresponding flanges of the chamber bottom and of the cowling. The longitudinal walls, the chamber bottom and the cowling are assembled together by a plurality of first fixings between the longitudinal walls and the chamber bottom alternating with a plurality of second fixings distinct from the first fixings between the longitudinal walls and the cowling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Florian Andre Francois Bessagnet, Mario Cesar De Sousa
  • Patent number: 7757492
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine including a combustor assembly and a nozzle assembly. The method comprises providing a transition piece including a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween, where the body includes an inner surface, an opposite outer surface, coupling the first end of the transition piece to the combustor assembly, and coupling the second end of the transition piece to the nozzle assembly such that a turbulator extending helically over the outer surface of the transition piece extends from the transition piece first end to the transition piece second end to facilitate inducing turbulence to cooling air supplied to the combustor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Charles Intile, Madhavan Poyyapakkam, Ganesh Pejawar Rao, Karthick Kaleeswaran
  • Patent number: 7757494
    Abstract: A device for feeding fuel to a combustion chamber in a turbomachine, the device comprising both an annular fuel feed rail extending around an outer casing of the combustion chamber, and a plurality of injectors fixed to the casing and opening out into the combustion chamber, the injectors being connected to the rail by fuel transport ducts and by support means that are deformable in bending, twisting, and pivoting, allowing the casing to expand thermally in a radial direction relative to the annular rail and providing rigid support for the annular rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Katia Duverneuil, Gilles Gerard Lhuillery, Marc Stephan
  • Patent number: 7752851
    Abstract: A combustion chamber module includes a combustion chamber attached to a casing. The downstream end of the outer wall of the combustion chamber is secured to an annular connection part having fastener tabs directed in an upstream direction, each tab end being engaged in a hook-forming groove of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Luc Henri Claude Daguenet
  • Publication number: 20100115966
    Abstract: In a gas turbine combustor, a cavity (49) with which a plurality of first air passages (66) communicates is formed by covering with a cover (62) a concave portion (65) of a top hat main body (61) in which the first air passages (66) are formed along the circumferential direction of the top hat main body (61), a plurality of second fuel passages (67) that communicates with the first fuel passages are formed by connecting an inner ring (63) and an outer ring (64) to the top hat main body (61) and by connecting the inner ring (63) and the outer ring (64) to each other, a peg (52) is fixed on the inner ring (63) to communicate with the second fuel passage (67) through a third air passage (68), and thin wall portions (63b, 64b) that serve as a thermal elongation absorbing unit by which thermal elongation is absorbed are provided on the inner ring (63) and the outer ring (64).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD
    Inventors: Tomoto Nagai, Eigo Katou, Tetsu Konishi
  • Patent number: 7712302
    Abstract: A crossfire tube for attachment between casing bosses of combustors includes a bellows assembly having a bellows with opposite cylindrical ends welded to annular flanges. The annular flanges include a bolt circle for securing the flanges to the combustor bosses. The flanges bear against a gasket for sealing against inserts welded to the casing bosses for retrofit in the sealing assembly to combustors or to seats where the inserts and bosses are formed integrally during original equipment manufacture. A telescoping cylindrical sleeve surrounds the bellows to protect from falling foreign object damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Lee Nichols, Sarah Jane Hutcherson, Keith Cletus Belsom, Thomas Charles Almond, III, Natesh Chandrashekar, Alberto Negroni
  • Patent number: 7690207
    Abstract: A crack-resistant floating collar mounting arrangement is provided comprising a collar mounted between spaced-apart mounting flanges, the flange being fixed to a dome from an outer surface unexposed to the hot combustor temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Lorin Markarian, Bhawan B. Patel
  • Patent number: 7677044
    Abstract: A heat shield according to the invention on a support structure comprises a number of heat shield elements, which are configured and arranged on the support structure such that they abut each other leaving gaps. The support structure of the heat shield according to the invention has a peripheral direction and an axial direction, the heat shield elements abutting each other in the peripheral direction of the support structure leaving a gap, hereafter referred to as a peripheral gap, and in the axial direction of the support structure leaving a gap, hereafter referred to as an axial gap. Both the peripheral gaps and the axial gaps are also sealed by sealing elements, the sealing elements sealing the axial gaps being at a different distance from the support structure from the sealing elements sealing the peripheral gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Claudia Barbeln, Olga Deiss, Jens Kleinfeld, Marc Tertilt, Bernd Vonnemann
  • Patent number: 7669424
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine comprises a casing arrangement defining an aperture and a seal element mounted on the casing arrangement through which a component of the combustor can extend. The seal element comprises a relatively flexible force absorbing portion and a relatively rigid sealing portion. The force absorbing portion is provided between the sealing portion and the casing arrangement. The force absorbing portion is resiliently deformable to absorb force during movement of the casing arrangement. Such resilient deformation restricts transmission of the forces to the sealing portion. The seal element may be configured to carry a seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: James M. Thornton
  • Patent number: 7647779
    Abstract: A combustion system for an engine, such as a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustion system has a ceramic component, such as ceramic combustor liner, and at least one metal support component, such as a metal ring or a plurality of metal cones, for providing radial and axial support to the ceramic component. The at least one metal support component includes a structure, such as axial slots or radial slots, for minimizing stress and for increasing compliance of the metal support component with respect to the ceramic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Jason Lawrence, David J. Bombara, Richard S. Tuthill, Jeffrey D. Melman
  • Patent number: 7637110
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes coupling a first structure within the gas turbine engine, wherein the first structure includes a plurality of sockets extending from a radially outer surface of the first structure, and coupling a second structure to the first structure by inserting a radial pin through the second structure and into each respective socket such that the first structure is aligned axially, circumferentially, and with respect to an engine centerline axis extending through the gas turbine engine, where the position of the pins relative to the second structure is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Czachor, James Anthony Groeschen, Jason Paul Hoppa
  • Patent number: 7632091
    Abstract: A premix burner for producing an ignitable fuel/air mixture has a swirl generator with at least two burner shells (B) which complement one another to form a throughflow body, which in each case have a first burner shell section (1) with a partial cone shape and together enclose an axially conically widening swirl space and which mutually define, in the axial cone longitudinal direction, tangential air inlet slots (LS), through which the combustion feed air (L) passes into the swirl space, in which an axially spreading swirl flow forms, and includes fuel feeds which are arranged at least in sections along the tangentially running air inlet slots (LS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Christian Steinbach, Martin Andrea Von Planta, Thomas Ruck, Weiqun Geng
  • Publication number: 20090288422
    Abstract: A component arrangement is provided which includes two component elements with portions pushed one into the other, leaving a gap and arranged statically with respect to one another. The component arrangement also includes a sealing element sealing off the gap. One of the component elements has a groove which runs in the region of the gap to be sealed off and is open towards the other component element. The component that has the groove has a side face. The sealing element includes a holding element with a first side face and with a second side face and is arranged at least partially in the groove. The first side face of the holding element can be pushed against the side face of the groove by a pressure difference. The side face of the groove and/or the first side face of the holding element include/includes at least one pressure relief depression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Christoph Cernay, Stefan Tschirren
  • Patent number: 7617689
    Abstract: A retaining ring is provided for use in conjunction with a carburetor assembly having a flow passage therethrough for conducting a fuel-air mixture into a combustion chamber, the carburetor assembly comprising an air flow modifier and a fuel injector receiving element adjacent thereto. The retaining ring comprises a collar configured to engage the fuel injector receiving element so as to maintain its position adjacent the air flow modifier, and a retaining portion coupled to the collar and configured to engage the air flow modifier to secure the airflow modifier to the combustion chamber. The retaining portion cooperates with the collar to form an aperture through the retaining ring for receiving the carburetor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jurgen C. Schumacher, Frank J. Zupanc, Paul R. Yankowich, Ronald B. Pardington
  • Publication number: 20090241553
    Abstract: A combustor assembly having a transition piece and at least one orifice assembly in the transition piece, the orifice assembly comprising: a boss having an outside periphery and an inside periphery, the inside periphery including an annular seat and an upstanding flange formed with an annular, inwardly facing retaining ring groove, the boss fixed within an opening in the transition piece; an orifice plate having a bottom surface that is adapted to be received on the annular seat; and a retaining ring located in the retaining ring groove and at least partially engaged with the orifice plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Lebegue, Neal W. Grooms
  • Patent number: 7591136
    Abstract: Injection system of a turbojet engine. It comprises a fixed part and a sliding crossmember. The sliding crossmember comprises a flange capable of sliding on the sliding surface of the fixed part. The fixed part comprises antirotation means and the sliding crossmember of the complementary antirotation means to limit the rotation of the sliding crossmember relative to the fixed part. These means consist of at least one cutout formed in the flange and of at least one lug protruding into said at least one cutout of the flange of the sliding crossmember.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Daniel Francis Paul Bernier, Romain Nicolas Lunel, Laurent Pierre Elysee Gaston Marnas
  • Patent number: 7584621
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to an interface between an exhaust cylinder and an exhaust diffuser in a turbine engine. The interface allows relative radial movement of the exhaust diffuser and the exhaust cylinder. According to aspects of the invention, the diffuser and the cylinder are operatively connected about their peripheries by a plurality of connecting members, which can be tie rods. Each connecting member can be pivotally connected at a first end to a joint bolt affixed to the exhaust cylinder and at a second end to an exhaust diffuser. Thus, the connecting members can join the cylinder and the diffuser in the axial direction, while allowing for the differential thermal expansion of the two components. Relative circumferential movement between the cylinder and the diffuser can be reduced by positioning neighboring connecting members at opposing angles in relation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Watson Spitzer, Kevin Light, Brian Harry Terpos, Dan Guinan
  • Publication number: 20090188258
    Abstract: A transition duct having a thermally free aft frame and being capable of adjusting the natural frequency is disclosed. The aft frame is capable of permitting movement due to thermal gradients with the transition duct. The transition duct utilizes a spring plate located adjacent to an aft mounting bracket, where the spring plate, based on its thickness can either increase or decrease a frequency of the transition duct. Such an arrangement ensures that the transition duct natural frequency does not coincide with or cross other critical engine and/or combustor frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGIES LTD. LLC
    Inventors: Hany Rizkalla, Stephen W. Jorgensen, Peter Stuttaford
  • Patent number: 7524167
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a sealing system for the interface between a combustor liner and transition duct. The system includes a spring clip seal. A first end of the spring clip seal operatively engages the inner peripheral surface of the transition duct. A second end of the spring clip seal is indirectly attached to the liner by an insert disposed therebetween. The spring clip seal can be attached to the insert by any kind of welding process that does not involve melting of the spring clip seal and the insert, such as fillet welding. The insert and the liner can be attached in a similar manner. Because fillet welds are relatively easy to cut, the spring clip, insert and liner can be separated without the need for cutting any of these individual components. Thus, the system can facilitate the repair, disassembly and reassembly of the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev Ohri, Plum Boonsuan
  • Patent number: 7481037
    Abstract: A plate spring 6 having a hook-shaped cross section from the lower part is installed in the neighborhood of one end “b” of an impingement-cooling plate 4. One end “c” on the lower side is fixed to a rib 1d by welding, while the other end “b” on the upper side is free, which makes it closely contact with the neighborhood of the other end “b” of the impingement-cooling plate 4 by the elastic force thereof. This state makes it possible to seal a gap formed between the impingement-cooling plate 4 and a transition piece 1 on the side of a rib 1d, preventing thermal stress generated in the rib 1d, for example, from affecting the impingement-cooling plate 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroya Takaya, Masao Terazaki
  • Publication number: 20080276622
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle includes a swirler assembly including a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, a plurality of vanes coupled to the swirler assembly radially outer surface. Each vane includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first and second sidewalls are joined at a leading edge and at an axially-spaced trailing edge, and a plurality of openings are formed through each respective vane. Each opening extends from the leading edge to the passage to define a flow passage that extends from the passage to the leading edge. A method for fabricating a fuel nozzle assembly is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Gregory Allen Boardman, John Brandon MacMillan
  • Publication number: 20080236170
    Abstract: One embodiment of a transition-to-turbine seal (320) comprises an upstream portion (322) adapted to engage a flange (416) of a transition (400). The upstream portion (322) may be U-shaped in cross-sectional profile and comprises a primary wall (324) that comprises a proximal section (325) and a distal section (326) relative to a hot gas path (170). The proximal section (325) comprises a plurality of recesses (327) which are spaced apart and separated by intervening wall (328). In each recess (327) is provided one or more outlets (329) of cooling fluid holes (339). The outlets (329) communicate via the cooling fluid holes (339) with a supply of compressed cooling fluid, such as compressed air that is provided from the compressor. During operation the outlets (329) release this fluid into the respective recesses (327). The flow of cooling fluid through such outlets (329) in the respective recesses (327) provides for a more uniform cooling effect that includes impingement and convective cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Adam J. Weaver, Raymond S. Nordlund
  • Patent number: 7377116
    Abstract: A barrier structure (302) blocks exit of spring clip fragments (317) that may break off from a spring clip assembly disposed between a gas turbine engine combustor (300) and a transition piece component (360). The barrier structure (302) may additionally comprise an aspect (326) effective to restrict a spring clip's (310, 311) radially inward compression, thereby reducing or eliminating damage to the spring clip (310, 311) during shipping and handling. The barrier structure (302) additionally may comprise an aspect (330) to restrict access by a human hand to the free ends (318) of the spring clips (310, 311). This aspect (330) reduces or eliminates the undesired lifting of the compressor by grabbing the spring clips (310, 311) during combustor transport, installation or removal. Accordingly, barrier structure embodiments are provided that reduce stress on spring clips, and that prevent the exit of spring clips from a containment space partly formed by the barrier structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventors: David Marchant Parker, Kristian I. Wetzl
  • Publication number: 20080053107
    Abstract: One embodiment of a transition-to-turbine seal (300) comprises a first, flattened section (302) adapted to be received in a peripheral axial slot (320) of a transition (325), and a second, generally C-shaped section (301). The generally C-shaped section (301) comprises a flattened portion (305) near the first, flattened section (302), and a curved portion (306) extending to a free edge (307). A fiber metal strip component (309) may be attached to the flattened portion (305) to define a first engagement surface adapted to engage an upstream side (336) of an outer vane seal rail (337), and a second engagement surface 308, adjacent the free edge (307), provides an opposed wear surface adapted to engage a downstream side (338) of the outer vane seal rail (337). System embodiments also are described, in which such transition-to-turbine seal (300) is isolated from a hot gas path (350) by provision of a plurality of cooling apertures (327) in the transition (325).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Adam J. Weaver, Raymond S. Nordlund, David B. Allen, Daniel O. Davies
  • Patent number: 7290394
    Abstract: In a fuel injector assembly, for an internal combustion engine, a curved outer housing, fixed at one end, fully encloses a curved flexible fuel feed member, affixed to the housing inlet end and has a nozzle assembly operatively connected to an inner end, wherein the improvement comprises that the housing inlet includes at least one first shaped surface portion, and the nozzle assembly includes a movable nozzle spray-tip having another shaped surface portion that mates conformingly with and is in contact with the at least one shaped surface portion, resulting in relative motion therebetween upon operation of this engine, as a result of the thermal differential arising due to the differing temperatures of the housing and feed member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Lehtinen
  • Patent number: 7278254
    Abstract: A heat shield for a transition of a turbine engine for coupling a transition component of a turbine engine to a turbine vane assembly to direct combustor exhaust gases from the transition into the turbine vane assembly. The heat shield may be capable of reducing the temperature differential across a transition bracket extending from a transition component, thereby reducing the likelihood of premature failure of the bracket or the transition, or both. The heat shield may reduce the temperature differential by insulating the transition bracket and transition bracket rib from cooling gases. The heat shield may be formed from a tubular elongated body having first and second end attachments configured to attach the elongated heat shield body to the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley T. Youngblood