United Technologies Corporation

Joseph E Faucher

Francis C Pane, Jr

David Kwoka

John R Naumec

Richard R Wright

Edmund E Striebel

Robert W Koucky

William D Roy

An apparatus 10 and method for providing a surface finish to articles 12 is disclosed. Various constructions and details are developed which promote the adaptability of the device and method to use in automated facilities employing flow lines to process articles. In one particular embodiment, articles 12 are disposed in predetermined volumes of finishing media 30 which are separated from each other, the finishing media being vibrated as the media is urged along a surface 58 from one location to another by a helicoid-type blade 66. In one embodiment, a media vibrator vibrates the surface 58 to vibrate the media. Any suitable device may be used to provide vibrational energy to the surface.

Method and apparatus for processing articles requiring a surface finish

A seal assembly 74 used between two members 42, 45 which are capable of relative movement is disclosed. Various construction details are developed which enable the seal assembly to accommodate other movement in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement while accommodating movement in the direction of movement. In one embodiment, the seal assembly extends between two circumferentially extending surfaces which face each other. The seal assembly is formed of a plurality of circumferentially spaced seal elements 74 having flaps 116 which are radially and circumferentially flexible but relatively stiff in the axial direction in comparison to the radial and circumferential flexibility.

Seal assembly

A fuel nozzle designed to reduce pollutant emissions and minimize the buildup of coke in the secondary fuel passage of a dual orifice fuel nozzle for the combustor of a gas turbine engine sizes the orifices and passages of the air and fuel so as to increase the pressure in the secondary passage during its inoperative mode and when the primary fuel passage is in the operative mode and having the air and fuel issuing from both the primary and secondary orifices swirl in the same direction.

Fuel nozzle for gas turbine engine

Coke hereinbefore known to form in the secondary passage of a dual orifice fuel nozzle for the combustor of a turbine type power plant is prevented from forming by imposing increased air pressure in the secondary passage during its inoperative mode and when the primary fuel passage is in the operative mode, without relying on purging or requiring an external air source.

Anti-coke fuel nozzle

A combustor assembly having improved performance and improved pollution emission characteristics includes an annular combustion chamber and a premixing passageway having an outlet positioned adjacent either the inner or outer annular wall of the combustion chamber. The outlet is in gas communication with the combustion zone and has a perforated baffle thereacross. Air from the compressor enters the premixing passageway and atomizes fuel injected therein. The fuel-air mixture is directed from the premixing passageway through the perforated baffle radially across the combustion zone toward the opposite wall of the combustion chamber. The perforated baffle creates a localized stagnation region adjacent its surface which acts as a continuous ignition source for the combusting fuel-air mixture within the primary combustion zone. Additional air from the compressor is flowed to the combustion zone through openings in the inner and outer wall.

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East Hartford, CT, United States of America

Joseph E Faucher