Patents Represented by Attorney James W. McFarland

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  • Apparatus for decoupling a torque loop from a speed loop in a power management system for turboprop engines
    Patent number: 5274558
    Abstract: A torque loop decoupler decouples a torque loop from a speed loop to allow only the speed loop to react to small, rapid changes in engine speed. The torque loop decoupler calculates a compensation signal and adds the compensation signal to a control signal of the torque control loop. The compensation signal keeps the control signal constant during small, rapid changes in engine speed. The compensation signal is calculated as the partial derivative of turbine torque with respect to changes in engine speed multiplied by a signal indicative of small, rapid changes in engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Glen T. High, Larry C. Prevallet, Joseph W. Free
  • Gas turbine engine module assembly
    Patent number: 5267397
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor module subassembly construction and associated assembly method and tooling includes a threaded inner bore on the first stage compressor adapted to receive a tubular tool that slips axially between the compressor bores and the engine central shaft. Securement of the accessible tooling to the module's stationary structure permits assembly and handling of the module independently of the engine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Wilcox
  • Exhaust eductor cooling system
    Patent number: 5265408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling the heat generated by a gas turbine engine mounted in a compartment is provided. The apparatus comprises a novel eductor that incorporates a mixer nozzle to entrain sufficient air flow through the compartment to provide all the necessary cooling. The engine's oil cooler is mounted to the eductor so that the entrained air flow passes through it and cools the engine's oil. The novel eductor also has means for receiving a flow of high velocity air from the engine and injecting this air downstream of the mixer nozzle to enhance the entraining of the cooling flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Yogendra Y. Sheoran, Marc Schmittenberg, Craig A. Lyon, Charles M. Royalty, Kurt T. Kenzler, Thomas W. Davis
  • IC controller chip for brushless dc motors
    Patent number: 5258696
    Abstract: An IC controller for a brushless motor includes commutation logic and an inverter on a single chip. The chip can also include an isolated power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Dong T. Le
  • Superconducting commutator for DC machines
    Patent number: 5256924
    Abstract: A commutator employs superconducting switches to commutate currents in the field stator of a dc machine. The switches couple the machine's stator windings to a DC link. The switches are exposed to magnetic fields of alternating strengths, turning on and off in a sequence that maintains a constant torque angle between the stator's mmf vector and the flux vector of the machine's rotor or that rectifies a current induced into the stator by the machine's rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Fischer
  • Foil thrust bearing with varying radial and circumferential stiffness
    Patent number: 5248205
    Abstract: A spring cluster disc (14) for a foil thrust bearing (10) is provided with a plurality of sets (52) of springs (62,64,66). The springs are configured to provide varying spring force and thus varying stiffness in radial and circumferential directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Alston L. Gu, Robert H. Nadjafi
  • Air turbine starter with passive hydraulic capacitor
    Patent number: 5245820
    Abstract: An air turbine starter containing a liquid lubricant is provided with a passive hydraulic capacitor which is charged by operation of the starter. Charging the capacitor partially drains the lubricant reservoir contained in the starter. This partial drainage decreases drag on internal, rotating components of the starter, thereby decreasing parasitic loss in output torque. The capacitor discharges the lubricant back into the starter when the latter discontinues running, thereby satisfying lubrication requirements of an internal overrunning clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin S. Zalewski, Jon P. Rominek, Phillip L. Grieme
  • Internally cooled airfoil
    Patent number: 5246340
    Abstract: A hollowed, internally cooled airfoil per gas turbine engines with an improved internal configuration for pronounced impingement cooling. Internal ribs extend across the hollowed interior and cooling passages through these ribs cause impingement cooling of the next-adjacent rib as well as the internal surfaces of both the pressure side and suction side of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Winstanley, John K. Phillips
  • Capacitor-assisted line commutation for induction motor drives
    Patent number: 5239250
    Abstract: A variable speed drive system for an induction motor is disclosed which utilizes power factor correction capacitors to allow an induction motor to be driven by a line-commutated inverter using variable phase angle triggering of the thyristers in the inverter to compensate for frequency-induced changes in the operating point of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Kalman, Colin E. Huggett
  • Method and apparatus for measuring the density of a liquid
    Patent number: 5237853
    Abstract: A process for monitoring fluid density by use of a fluidic jet oscillator (26) absent the necessity for a high-precision pressure regulator. Fluid is delivered to the fluidic oscillator (26) via a pressure divider (28). As the fluid flows through the oscillator the latter generates a pressure wavetrain at a frequency which is indicative of the density of the fluid, but is inaccurate to the extent that the pressure difference across the oscillator varies from a predetermined value. A differential pressure transducer (30) senses the pressure difference. Accordingly, the process is adapted for use with a gated sampling and control system (84) which operatively responds to the oscillator output only when the differential pressure is substantially in accord with a predetermined value thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest W. Cassaday, James S. Roundy
  • Centrifugal compressor
    Patent number: 5236301
    Abstract: An improved centrifugal compressor for use in gas turbine engines includes a secondary air flow inlet in the compressor shroud at a location downstream of the inducer, with passive elements in the secondary air inlet for effectively preventing flow out of the secondary air inlet from the compressor impeller at part speed design operation, while augmenting and enhancing flow of secondary air flow into the compressor impeller at maximum design speed operation of the compressor impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Palmer
  • Counterflow single rotor turbojet and method
    Patent number: 5224339
    Abstract: A small gas turbine engine for generating thrust and shaft horsepower is provided. The engine is comprised in a flow series arrangement of an inlet, a diffuser, a single stage compressor, a fuel slinger combustor, a single stage turbine, and an exhaust nozzle. The compressor circumscribes the turbine and is mounted on the same rotating wheel so that the flow of air in the compressor is in the direction opposite to the direction of hot gas flow in the turbine. Accordingly, both the compressor and turbine are on the same side of the combustor and hence only a single bearing support structure is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Hayes
  • Gas turbine engine module assembly
    Patent number: 5220784
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor module subassembly construction and associated assembly method and tooling includes a threaded inner bore on the first stage compressor adapted to receive a tubular tool that slips axially between the compressor bores and the engine central shaft. Securement of the accessible tooling to the module's stationary structure permits assembly and handling of the module independently of the engine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Wilcox
  • Fluid conditioning apparatus and system
    Patent number: 5214935
    Abstract: A system for conditioning working fluid in environmental control systems includes arrangements for minimizing icing from a variable flow velocity turbine exit flow at subfreezing conditions, wherein the turbine is very closely located to the downstream heat exchanger, including a backpressure plate for minimizing flow velocity stratification, an internal bypass passage arranged to produce a relatively predictable bypass flow ratio regardless of the flow velocity stratification, and other anti-icing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Brunskill
  • Process for bonding carbonaceous bodies
    Patent number: 5209388
    Abstract: A diffusion bonding process for bonding one rhenium-coated carbonaceous body to another. The rhenium-coat surfaces 18,20 of the bodies are coated with ruthenium, and the bodies are diffusion bonded at the interface formed by adjoining ruthenium coats 22,24.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Mittendorf, Gary A. West
  • Variable geometry diffuser assembly
    Patent number: 5207559
    Abstract: An improved variable geometry diffuser assembly is provided. This assembly includes a variety of features that reduce the leakage and improve the precision within the assembly. These features include: sealing disks mounted to the vane; cantilevered vanes mounted for rotation to coolside diffuser wall only, thereby reducing the effects of thermal growth on the assembly; and self lubricating, non-metallic bushings for supporting the various components in the assembly thereby reducing friction and any need for lubrication. Each vane is coupled to a single unison ring through an arm member also employing non-metallic bushings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Lloyd L. Clevenger, John D. Sullivan
  • Compressor or turbine blade manufacture
    Patent number: 5191711
    Abstract: A turbine or compressor blade holding fixture and machining method contemplates the subassembly of all the blades upon the rotor of the compressor or turbine. Fixture rings along with radial biasing members in the form of annular o-rings are intersecured to opposite sides of the blades so as to radially position the latter in their normal "running position" while so mounted on the rotor of the wheel. In such condition all of the blades may be simultaneously machined such that the outer tips thereof lie on a true uniform, desired outer diameter to provide subsequently uniform tip clearance to the surrounding shroud when mounted in a gas turbine engine for operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Vickers, James A. Sanger
  • Gas turbine engine sensor probe
    Patent number: 5185996
    Abstract: A high temperature thermocouple sensing apparatus is readily removable from a gas turbine engine. The thermocouple extends through aligned openings in inner and outer housings and seals both openings through use of a pair of spherical sealing elements and a spring seal bellows urging a seat into sealing engagement with one sealing element and urging the other sealing element into engagement with the inner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Alan A. Smith, Paul B. Catmull, Lonnie J. Lucas, Karl P. Johnson
  • Heat exchange
    Patent number: 5183106
    Abstract: A bar-and-plate type heat exchanger includes corner bar members which interlock with end extension portions of the header bars to sealingly close the heat exchanger corners and facilitate plenum chamber welding thereto with diminished risk of leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: A. Colin Stancliffe, Paul Vidano, Bill P. Pogue
  • Composite seal rotor
    Patent number: 5183270
    Abstract: A composite seal rotor is provided for sealing between the rotating components of a gas turbine engine held together by the compressive force of a lockup assembly and a housing circumscribing the rotating components and having carbon face seals mounted thereto. The seal rotor is comprised of a metal base portion disposed between two of said rotating components for transmitting said compressive force therethrough, and a ceramic surface for sealingly engaging said carbon face seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Alten, John S. Cuccio, Jr., Harry L. Kington, James D. Fontana