Patents Examined by Craig Kim
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Patent number: 11815268Abstract: A main mixer including a swirler along an axis, the swirler including an outer swirler with a multiple of outer vanes, and a center swirler with a multiple of center vanes and a swirler hub along the axis, the swirler hub including a fuel manifold and an inner swirler with a multiple of inner vanes that support a centerbody, the multiple of inner vanes interconnect the fuel manifold and the centerbody.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Zhongtao Dai, Lance L. Smith, Jeffrey M. Cohen
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Patent number: 11788470Abstract: A method is provided of controlling a cooled cooling air system for an aeronautical gas turbine engine. The method includes: receiving data indicative of an ambient condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of a deterioration parameter of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of an operating condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, or a combination thereof; and modifying a cooling capacity of the cooled cooling air system in response to the received data indicative of the ambient condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of the deterioration parameter of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of an operating condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, or the combination thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Brandon Wayne Miller, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Robert Jon McQuiston
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Patent number: 11781482Abstract: A heat shield assembly for use with an aircraft engine. The heat shield assembly includes a structural member, a heat shield panel adapted for exposure to aircraft engine exhaust, an index joint coupling the heat shield panel to the structural member in a fixed positional location, and a plurality of slip joints coupling the heat shield panel to the structural member. Each slip joint includes at least one wear buffer coupled to the heat shield panel, and a slip fastener insertable through a slip joint hole in the heat shield panel with a clearance fit. A gap defined by the clearance fit is sized to provide a tolerance for expansion and contraction of the heat shield panel relative to the fixed positional location, and the at least one wear buffer is engageable by the slip fastener during expansion and contraction of the heat shield panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: John F. Summers
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Patent number: 11773847Abstract: A fuel system for a turbomachine includes a fuel tank and a first fuel line in fluid communication with the fuel tank and one or more fuel injectors. The first fuel line includes a main fuel pump disposed on the first fuel line, and an electric metering system disposed on the first fuel line downstream of the main fuel pump configured for starting the turbomachine and metering fuel to the fuel injectors.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: William E. Rhoden, Peter J. Padykula
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Patent number: 11761380Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine engine includes, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, and a turbine module. The fan assembly includes a plurality of fan blades defining a fan diameter, and the heat exchanger module is in fluid communication with the fan assembly by an inlet duct. The heat exchanger module includes a plurality of heat transfer elements for transfer of heat from a first fluid contained within the heat transfer elements to an airflow passing over a surface of the heat transfer elements prior to entry of the airflow into an inlet to the fan assembly. At full-power condition, the engine produces a maximum thrust T (N), the heat exchanger module transfers a maximum heat rejection H (W) from the first fluid to the airflow, and a Heat Exchanger Performance parameter PEX (W/N) defined as PEX=H/T is 0.4 to 6.0.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Natalie C Wong, Thomas S Binnington, David A Jones, Daniel Blacker
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Patent number: 11746703Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes first and second annular members having different first and second thermal expansion coefficients connected together with dual arm V brackets. Brackets include first and second arms angularly spaced apart from a bracket centerline and extending axially away from bracket bases attached to a first one of the first and second annular members. Arms are attached to a second one of the first and second annular members. A turbine frame includes struts extending between outer and inner rings. An annular mixer and centerbody substantially made from a ceramic matrix composite materials is connected to and supported by the outer and inner rings with first and second sets respectively of the dual arm V brackets. Bracket bases of the first and second sets are attached to the outer and inner rings respectively. Arms of the first and second sets are attached to mixer and centerbody respectively.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Michael Anthony Ruthemeyer, Darrell Glenn Senile, Bernard James Renggli, Randy Lee Lewis
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Patent number: 11735153Abstract: An acoustic treatment device for an aircraft turbojet engine nacelle forms an annular ring including several sections, each section having a sound absorption structure, an outer skin and two lateral skins attached to the inner air inlet shroud of such a nacelle by fasteners, and the sections being connected to each other by battens.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Safran NacellesInventors: Xavier Cazuc, Meril Dehez, Laure Hamel, Eric Thisse
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Patent number: 11732673Abstract: A variable area exhaust nozzle defining an actual area ratio for a gas turbine engine that includes a shroud assembly having a fixed shroud and an adjustable cowl, an adjustable plug, a nozzle adjustment assembly, and a controller configured to receive data indicative of an operating speed of the gas turbine engine; determine a target area ratio based at least in part on received data indicative of the operating speed of the gas turbine engine; and operate the nozzle adjustment assembly to selectively adjust at least one of the adjustable cowl or the adjustable plug such that the actual area ratio is substantially equivalent to the target area ratio.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mustafa Dindar, Bernard James Renggli, Andrew J. Hank, Daniel Robert Dwyer, Jeffrey S. Spruill
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Patent number: 11725608Abstract: An aircraft system includes a propulsion system structure, a variable area nozzle and a linkage system. The propulsion system structure is moveable between a first position and a second position. The variable area nozzle is fluidly coupled with a duct in the propulsion system structure. The variable area nozzle is moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration. An exit area of the variable area nozzle has a first value when the variable area nozzle is in the first configuration and a second value when the variable area nozzle is in the second configuration. The variable area nozzle includes a flap moveably connected to the propulsion system structure. The linkage system mechanically links the variable area nozzle with the propulsion system structure. The linkage system includes a driver linkage, a first bell crank, a bridge linkage, a second bell crank, a follower linkage and a crank arm.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Rohr, Inc.Inventor: Steve A. Wylie
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Patent number: 11725587Abstract: An ignition and combustion assist system and method comprising a plasma igniter and electronic driver unit for use with gas turbine engines operating under low air densities, reduced voltage conditions and overall pressure ratios of 3:1 to 7:1. The plasma igniter has an inner chamber housing a centrally positioned and electrically isolated electrode attached to an electrical lead, driver unit, and AC or DC power supply. The electrode features a corner positioned near an outlet end of the igniter, where a plasma arc ignites a fuel-air mixture creating a flame extending into a primary burn region of a combustor of the gas turbine. The driver unit is in two embodiments and configured with low-cost microsecond voltage wave time periods or energy-efficient nano-second pulses. The method uses the plasma igniter and the electronic driver units described herein separately with other components or together.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Inventors: Mark Harris, Patrick Bailey, David Monk, Felipe Gomez del Campo, Drew Weibel, Ford McClure
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Patent number: 11719158Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a combustion chamber, and a fuel injector assembly in communication with the combustion chamber that has a swirler body situated about a nozzle to define an injector passage that converges to a throat. The throat is defined at a distance from the combustion chamber. The nozzle includes a primary fuel injector and an array of secondary plain jet fuel injectors.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Zhongtao Dai, Lance L. Smith, Jeffrey M. Cohen
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Patent number: 11713725Abstract: A method for detecting blowout precursors in at least one gas turbine combustor comprising: receiving combustion dynamics acoustic data measured by an acoustic measuring device associated with the combustor in real time; performing wavelet analysis on the acoustic data using simplified Mexican Hat wavelet transform analysis; and determining the existence of a blowout precursor based at least in part on the wavelet analysis. Provided also is a system and a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to perform the method.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventors: Leonard Charles Angello, David Robert Noble, Andrew Mueller, John Alexander Miltner, Benjamin Emerson, Scott Sheppard, Jared Kee, Timothy Charles Lieuwen
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Patent number: 11708790Abstract: Discharge grate intended to be mounted inside or at the outlet of a conduit of a discharge valve of a turbine engine of an aircraft, the discharge grate comprising an upstream face intended to receive a gas flow, a downstream face parallel to the upstream face and intended to deliver the gas flow received on the upstream face, and orifices passing through the perforated plate from the upstream face to the downstream face and intended to convey the gas flow through the perforated plate. The discharge grate comprises for each orifice of the perforated plate a tubular channel, coaxial with the orifice with which it is associated, and projecting from the downstream face of the perforated plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, ECOLE CENTRALE DE LYON, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUEInventors: Josselin David Florian Regnard, Paul Clément Guillaume Laffay, Marc Cornelius Jacob, Stéphane Moreau
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Patent number: 11702988Abstract: An ammonia decomposition facility includes a heating medium line configured to flow a heating medium heated by heat generated by a gas turbine, an ammonia supply line configured to flow ammonia, an ammonia decomposition device, and an ammonia removal device. The ammonia decomposition device is configured to use heat of the heating medium from the heating medium line, thermally decompose ammonia from the ammonia supply line, and generate a decomposition gas containing hydrogen, nitrogen, and residual ammonia. The ammonia removal device is configured to remove the residual ammonia contained in the decomposition gas from the ammonia decomposition device.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Hidefumi Araki, Satoshi Tanimura, Masakazu Nose, Jun Sasahara, Hideyuki Uechi, Yukio Tanaka, Atsushi Yuasa
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Patent number: 11702995Abstract: Device and methods for guiding bleed air in a turbofan gas turbine engine are disclosed. The devices provided include louvers and baffles that guide bleed air toward a bypass duct of the turbofan engine. The louvers and baffles have a geometric configuration that promotes desirable flow conditions and reduced energy loss.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Alexandre Capron, Tammy Yam, Karan Anand
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Patent number: 11702989Abstract: A last chance screen for a fuel system includes a mesh that includes a first plurality of members extending in a first direction and a second plurality of members extending in a second direction and intersecting the first members. Openings are formed in the mesh between the first plurality of members and the second plurality of members. The first plurality of members and the second plurality of members have an airfoil shaped cross-section.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Murtuza Lokhandwalla, Leo J. Veilleux, Jr.
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Patent number: 11697503Abstract: A pressure regulating valve assembly includes: a valve having an upstream side receiving an input flow and a downstream side providing an output flow, an actuator for opening and closing the valve, including partially opening the valve, and a regulator controlling the actuator to open, close or partially open the valve. The regulator includes a sense pressure port, wherein pressure at the port is maintained constant by the regulator. A chamber has a first entry orifice, a second entry orifice and an exit orifice. The first entry orifice is connected to the upstream side, the second entry orifice is connected to the downstream side, and the exit orifice is connected to the port. The exit orifice provides that the pressure at the exit orifice lies between the pressure at the first entry orifice and the pressure at the second entry orifice.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KGInventor: Paul Julian Wells
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Patent number: 11686475Abstract: A fuel injector includes an outer body and an inner body. The outer body extends about an axis and has a radially inner surface and a retention groove defined in the inner surface of the outer body. The inner body is positioned within the outer body has an outer surface and a retention tab. The retention tab retains the inner body relative to the outer body by engagement of the retention tab within the retention groove. A is axially offset from the retention tab and fixes the inner body within the outer body.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.Inventor: Dustin Andrew Borror
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Patent number: 11686272Abstract: A propulsion system assembly includes a variable area inlet and an inlet duct. The variable area inlet includes an outer airflow inlet passage, an inner airflow inlet passage, an inlet structure and a center body structure. The outer airflow inlet passage is between the inlet structure and the center body structure. The inner airflow inlet passage is formed within the center body structure. The center body structure includes a valve configured to regulate air flow through the inner airflow inlet passage. The valve includes a first door configured to pivot between a closed position and an open position. The inlet duct is configured to receive air from the outer airflow inlet passage when the first door is in the closed position. The inlet duct is configured to receive air from the outer airflow inlet passage and the inner airflow inlet passage when the first door is in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Rohr, Inc.Inventor: Michael Aten
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Patent number: 11680528Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Delavan Inc.Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Steve Myers, Andy M. Tibbs, Brandon P. Williams