Patents Examined by Alyson Joan Harrington
  • Patent number: 11492968
    Abstract: A discharge duct (30) of an intermediate housing hub for an aircraft turbojet engine, comprises an inlet end (41) and an outlet end (42), intended to ensure the passage of air from at least one discharge inlet opening to at least one secondary outlet opening, and comprising an ejection grill (32) arranged at the outlet end (42), the ejection grill (32) comprising a plurality of fins (43), characterised in that the fins (43) comprise flow channels (44) for a fluid to be cooled, so as to form a heat exchange system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Benjamin Bulot, Pradeep Cojande, Eva Julie Lebeault
  • Patent number: 11454171
    Abstract: A method and system for cooling an engine and/or vehicle using energy separation is disclosed herein. An energy separation device is operable for separating a compressed gaseous coolant stream into a first relatively cooler coolant flow stream and a second relatively hotter coolant flow stream. The relative cooler coolant flow stream is directed to a first region requiring increased cooling and the relative hotter coolant flow stream is directed to a second region requiring lower cooling than the first region in the engine or vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: James Rutledge, Matthew Fuqua, Carol Bryant
  • Patent number: 11428410
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell, a heat shield and a burner seal. The combustor shell includes metallic materials and is formed to define an interior combustion space. The heat shield includes ceramic matrix composite materials and is configured to shield a portion of the combustor shell from the interior combustion space. The burner seal includes ceramic matrix composite materials and is configured to extend through apertures formed in the combustor shell and the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, Paulo Bazan
  • Patent number: 11408348
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for fuel injectors of a multi-stage combustor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The system has a metering and splitting arrangement which receives a pressurised fuel flow and controllably meters and splits the received flow into metered pilot and mains flows for injecting respectively at pilot and mains fuel discharge orifices of the injectors to perform staging control of the combustor. The system further has pilot and mains fuel distribution pipeworks respectively distributing fuel from the metering and splitting arrangement to the pilot and mains discharge orifices. The system further has a controller which is configured to command the metering and splitting arrangement to provide the metered flows, to select the pilot distribution pipework and deselect the mains distribution pipework for pilot-only operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Steven P. Culwick
  • Patent number: 11408353
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plural spool assembly including a first spool and a second spool. The engine also includes an accessory configured to change between a motor mode and a generator mode and a transmission configured to transmit mechanical power between the accessory and at least one of the first spool and the second spool. The transmission, when the accessory is in the generator mode, is configured to transmit mechanical power from the first spool to the accessory for generating electric power at the accessory. The transmission, when the accessory is in the motor mode, is configured to transmit mechanical power from the accessory to the second spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: David K Jan, Christopher Zollars
  • Patent number: 11377971
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes multiple aft frames each having a floating seal that seals a gap between an aft frame and a gas turbine in inner and outer peripheries of the aft frame, and a side seal that seals a gap between the aft frames adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction, and a corner seal that is placed in a gap portion provided between corner portions of the aft frames adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, seals air leaking from at least the gap portion into the gas turbine side, and is independent of the floating seal and the side seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shota Igarashi, Tomomi Koganezawa, Keisuke Miura, Yoshitaka Hirata, Shohei Yoshida, Yoshitaka Terada, Takehiko Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 11378276
    Abstract: To achieve a reduction in waste heat loss of a fuel with improved efficiency in arrangement of a plurality of cavities, or manifold spaces. A multi-stage combustor includes a combustor liner configured to define a combustion chamber therein, a plurality of fuel nozzles configured to inject a fuel, and a manifold configured to distribute the fuel to the plurality of fuel nozzles. The manifold is disposed on a central axis of the combustor liner in a central axis extending direction. The manifold includes a casing and a plurality of partitions inserted in the casing so as to be arranged in a central axis direction of the combustor liner to define a plurality of cavities divided by the partitions. The plurality of cavities are layered in the central axis direction of the combustor liner inside of the casing, and are connected to the corresponding fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Yagi, Satoshi Dodo, Mitsuhiro Karishuku
  • Patent number: 11286814
    Abstract: An exhaust duct of a gas turbine engine comprises a hub defining a radially-inner surface of a substantially annular exhaust gas path, and a strut extending into the exhaust gas path. The strut is attached to the hub via a first fastener at a forward fastening location closer to a leading edge of the strut than to a trailing edge of the strut, and via a second fastener at an aft fastening location closer to the trailing edge than to the leading edge. The second fastener is engaged with an appendage of the strut. The appendage is received into a receptacle formed in the hub open to the radially-inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Rabih Kassab
  • Patent number: 11255545
    Abstract: Integrated combustion nozzles and turbomachines are provided. An integrated combustion nozzle includes a unified head end coupled to a combustion liner. The unified head end includes a first fuel nozzle and a second fuel nozzle disposed at a forward end portion of the combustion liner. A fuel plenum is defined between the first fuel nozzle and the second fuel nozzle. A first liner portion extends from the first fuel nozzle and into an opening of a first wall of the combustion liner such that the first liner portion forms a continuous surface with the first wall. The unified head end further includes a second liner portion that extends from the second fuel nozzle and into an opening of a second wall of the combustion liner such that the second liner portion forms a continuous surface with the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Michael John Hughes
  • Patent number: 11255264
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a heat engine, the system including an forming at least in part a core flowpath and a cavity, wherein the core flowpath and the cavity are separated by a double wall structure formed by at least a portion of inner wall, and wherein the double wall structure includes a plenum. A first opening provides fluid communication between the cavity and the plenum, and a second opening provides fluid communication between the plenum and the core flowpath. The inner wall is configured to receive a first flow of fluid. An outer wall forms a passage extended at least partially around the core flowpath. The outer wall is configured to receive a second flow of fluid fluidly separated from the core flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matti Veikko Kalevi Makela, Emilio Eramo, Christopher Lloyd McKenzie
  • Patent number: 11248790
    Abstract: A system may be provided that includes a hot section component of a gas turbine engine. The hot section component includes a dual wall, which includes a first wall and a second wall. The first wall includes multiple impingement cooling holes extending through the first wall. The second wall is positioned adjacent the first wall. The first wall and the second wall together define a cooling passage between the first wall and the second wall. Multiple pockets are in a surface of the second wall. Each of the pockets is positioned opposite a respective one of the impingement cooling holes. Each of the pockets is configured to receive a cooling fluid from the respective one of the impingement cooling holes and direct the cooling fluid into the cooling passage. The cooling passage includes a single cooling passage into which the pockets are configured to direct the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Sauer, Jack D. Petty, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11230974
    Abstract: The present application provides a variable frequency Helmholtz damper system for use with a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The variable frequency Helmholtz damper system may include one or more Helmholtz dampers and a purge medium temperature control unit for providing a flow of purge medium to the Helmholtz dampers. The purge medium temperature control unit may be in communication with a temperature control fluid flow such that the purge medium temperature control unit may vary the temperature of the flow of purge medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Simone Roberto Walter Camponovo, Bruno Schuermans, Fulvio Magni
  • Patent number: 11199134
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has an engine core including a primary flowpath. A first bypass duct is positioned radially outward of the engine core. A gas discharge protrudes radially into the first bypass duct. The gas discharge includes a fairing defining a lobed outlet. The lobed outlet includes a plurality of axially aligned peaks and axially aligned valleys. Each of the axially aligned valleys is configured to prevent a fluid passing through the valley from traveling radially inward immediately downstream of the fairing creating regions of relatively cool, mixed, and hot airflows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Edward Nicholas Shipley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11175046
    Abstract: A premixer assembly for a combustor includes: at least one ring of premixers, each premixer having a central axis, an annular peripheral wall surrounding a centerbody, and at least one swirler disposed between the centerbody and the peripheral wall, wherein the peripheral wall defines an inlet area of the premixer; and a lip extending forward along the central axis from the peripheral wall, the lip extending at an oblique angle to the axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David A. Lind, Ajoy Patra, Ting-Yu Tu, Pradeep Naik, Gregory A. Boardman
  • Patent number: 11174796
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine having an accessory gearbox assembly having an accessory gearbox. The accessory gearbox assembly is mounted adjacent a core of the gas turbine engine and has a support formation for supporting a conduit. The conduit extends between a first location on the engine and a second location on the engine. The first location and the second location may be spaced from the accessory gearbox such that the conduit does not operatively communicate with the accessory gearbox in use. The accessory gearbox may be axially mounted and may provide a bridge for supporting a plurality of conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Clare L Bewick, David A Edwards
  • Patent number: 11162390
    Abstract: A power plant including a gas turbine, a waste heat steam generator and an intermediate circuit having a first heat exchanger, which is connected to an air inlet of the gas turbine, and a second heat exchanger, which is connected to a condensate circuit, having a condensate preheater in the waste heat steam generator. A first and a second high load valve, and parallel with these a first and a second low load valve for lower volume flows than through the first and second high load valve, are arranged on either side of the second heat exchanger. An associated method for optimizing efficiency and extending the operating range of a power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Sebastian Haas, Johannes Lomani, Kevin Moritz
  • Patent number: 11162423
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising: an inner core nacelle; an outer fan nacelle; a bypass duct between the inner core nacelle and the outer fan nacelle; at least one bifurcation that extends between the inner core nacelle and the outer fan nacelle; and a cooling system, wherein the cooling system comprises at least one pipe for conveying a fluid to be cooled, the at least one pipe forming part of a fluid system of the engine, wherein the at least one pipe passes through the at least one bifurcation, and wherein at least a portion of one or more of the pipes is arranged to bring the fluid to be cooled into a heat exchanging relationship with a fluid, e.g. air, flowing in the bypass duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michael J Sheath, Michael I Elliott
  • Patent number: 11162383
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cleaning one or more cooling passages associated with a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine has a compressor section upstream from the combustion section. The method includes receiving a pressurized fluid from a source and directing the pressurized fluid through an inlet of a chamber such that a portion of a plurality of particles within the chamber is entrained within the pressurized fluid. The method includes injecting the pressurized fluid with the entrained portion of the plurality of particles downstream from the compressor section through an end wall of a diffuser and deswirl system upstream from a combustor plenum of the combustion section to clean the one or more cooling passages associated with the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Harry Lester Kington, Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Vladimir K. Tolpygo
  • Patent number: 11149641
    Abstract: A method of cooling a gas turbine engine case assembly includes moving a fan air valve that is operatively connected to a pre-cooler having a bypass inlet that is configured to receive bypass air that bypasses a gas turbine engine core to facilitate a provision of bypass air through a fan air valve inlet to the bypass inlet to a first open position, in response to a core compartment temperature being greater than a target core compartment temperature. The method further includes bleeding the bypass air through a bypass outlet of the pre-cooler into a core compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph D. Evetts, William J. Riordan, Federico Papa
  • Patent number: 11143403
    Abstract: Provided is a silo combustion chamber comprising a vertically extending flame tube that can be lit from above and through which circulation takes place in a downward motion, the outer surface of the flame tube being provided with a plurality of cooling fluid supply openings and the inside thereof being lined with ceramic heat shield elements, the lowest heat shield elements being supported on a metal supporting ring; a conically tapered mixing tube arranged downstream from the flame tube, into which the lower region of the flame tube is set; and an outer housing that surrounds the flame tube and the mixing tube, forming an annular supply channel, the lowest heat shield elements completely covering the radially inwardly oriented surfaces of the supporting ring. Also provided is a method for retrofitting a silo combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventors: Giuseppe Gaio, Christian Jäkel, Katrin Linnemann, Maria de la Paz Mosquera Ruiz, Sonja Rehmann, Petros Terzis, Bernd Vonnemann, Michael Winterstein