Patents Examined by Craig Kim
  • Patent number: 11591096
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This aircraft propulsion system assembly includes an aircraft propulsion system component with a leading edge. The aircraft propulsion system assembly also includes artificial ice attached to the aircraft propulsion system component. The artificial ice at least partially covers and extends longitudinally along the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Gottschalk, Isaac J. Hogate, Christina M. Williams, Shane C. Hilton, Neill E. Brown
  • Patent number: 11585294
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly of a gas turbine engine includes an annular structure defining a central axis, and having a radially inward surface and a radially outward surface, the radially inward surface at least partially defining a bypass duct. An aft portion of the radially inward surface at least partially defines an axially extending convergent-divergent exit nozzle. A secondary nozzle flap is radially spaced from the aft portion of the radially inward surface. The secondary nozzle flap and the aft portion of the radially inward surface define a secondary bypass duct therebetween. The secondary nozzle flap is operably connected to the annular structure such that the secondary nozzle flap is selectably movable relative to the aft portion of the radially inward surface, thereby changing a cross-sectional area of a secondary bypass duct exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dmitriy B. Sidelkovskiy, Steven H. Zysman, Nathan L. Messersmith
  • Patent number: 11577842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module (23) for recovery of energy of an aircraft cabin (5) comprising at least one air outlet (16) from the cabin and at least one fresh air inlet (15) into the cabin, the said module comprising: a turbine engine (30) comprising a compressor (31) and a turbine (32) mechanically coupled to one another; a cabin-air recovery duct (42) designed to be able to link the air outlet (16) from the cabin and the said turbine (32); a cabin-air injection duct (41) designed to be able to link the compressor (31) and fresh air inlet (15) into the cabin; an emergency duct (43) designed to be able to link a high-pressure air source and the said turbine (32); a control unit (25) configured to be able, according to predetermined operational conditions, to activate either a routine mode, in which the said turbine (32) is exclusively supplied by the air evacuated from the cabin (5), or an emergency mode, in which the said turbine (32) is exclusively supplied by the air provided by the high-pressure air
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-AEROSPACE TOULOUSE SAS
    Inventors: David Lavergne, Fabrice Laborde, Julien Daumas, Patrick Favreau
  • Patent number: 11577849
    Abstract: A nacelle having a fan casing, a cowl that movable between an advanced position and a retracted position that opens an opening between a bypass duct and the outside, deflectors secured to the mobile cowl, wherein, in the advanced position, they are around the fan casing and wherein, in the retracted position, they are across the opening, and a fan ramp with a mounting base and flaps that are able to rotate on the mounting base between a stowed position and a deployed position. For each flap, the fan ramp has a return element that urges the flap) into the deployed position, and the deflectors have a stop in contact with the flap when the mobile cowl passes from the retracted position to the advanced position. Thus, in the advanced position, the flaps are folded back and their bulk is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Fabien Menou, Julie Cazalis
  • Patent number: 11578869
    Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine is provided, the combustor includes an outer liner, an inner liner and a dome that together define a combustion chamber; a diffuser positioned upstream of the combustion chamber, the diffuser being configured to receive air flow from a compressor section and to provide a flow of compressed air to the combustion chamber; and an outer cowl and an inner cowl located upstream of the combustion chamber, the outer cowl and the inner cowl being configured to direct a portion of air flow from the diffuser to the combustion chamber. The diffuser is configured to output air flow having an amount of air pressure maximized at a center of the air flow so as to optimize total air pressure fed to the combustion chamber through the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Zelina, Clayton S. Cooper, Michael T. Bucaro, Steven C. Vise, John Thomas Herbon
  • Patent number: 11578614
    Abstract: A monolithic combustor apparatus comprises an outer casing comprising a forward flange, a fuel manifold disposed on the outer casing and defining an annular chamber extending perimetrically around the outer casing, a combustor liner disposed within the outer casing, the combustor liner defining an annular combustion chamber, a first annular plenum disposed between the outer casing and the combustor liner, an inner liner disposed radially from the combustor liner, a first inner flange extending forward from the combustor liner, and a second inner flange extending radially inward from the first inner flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Binek, Jesse R. Boyer, Evan Butcher, Dmytro Mykolayovych Voytovych
  • Patent number: 11566583
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This aircraft propulsion system assembly includes a thrust reverser system. The thrust reverser system includes a cascade structure and a scoop. The cascade structure is configured with a plurality of flow passages. Each of the flow passages extends through the cascade structure. The flow passages include a first flow passage. The scoop is configured to direct fluid into at least the first flow passage. The scoop includes a serrated leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Radhakrishna Chilukuri, Ashok Babu Saya, Hussain Mahamed Javed Tapadar
  • Patent number: 11560846
    Abstract: A combined heat and power system comprises a shaft (4), a compressor (6) coupled to the shaft to compress intake gas to form compressed gas; a recuperator (10) to heat the compressed gas to form heated compressed gas; a combustor (12) to combust a fuel and the heated compressed gas to form combustion gas; a turbine (8) coupled to the shaft to expand the combustion gas to form exhaust gas; a load (24) coupled to the shaft; an exhaust outlet (18) to expel the exhaust gas to a heater for heating a fluid based on heat from the exhaust gas; a recuperator channel (28) providing a path for the exhaust gas to flow from the turbine to the exhaust outlet through the recuperator; and a bypass channel (22) providing a path for the exhaust gas to flow from the turbine to the exhaust outlet bypassing the recuperator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: HiETA Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Simon Lloyd Jones
  • Patent number: 11555450
    Abstract: A method of producing compressed air for use onboard an aircraft includes receiving compressor discharge air into an air channel of a fuel injector. The method also includes cooling the compressor discharge air within the air channel by heat exchange with fuel flowing in the fuel injector, and issuing cooled air from the internal air channel out of an engine case as a source of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Gregory A. Zink, Brandon Phillip Williams, Lev A. Prociw
  • Patent number: 11542026
    Abstract: A propulsion unit for an aircraft includes a nacelle, a turbojet engine, an annular flow path for circulating a secondary air flow, and a precooler device communicating with a motor enclosure and including a scoop opening into the annular flow path. The propulsion unit includes a compressed air supply circuit arranged in the propulsion unit for injecting a flow of compressed air into the scoop of the precooler device. A method for ventilating a motor enclosure of a propulsion unit includes injecting compressed air into a scoop of the precooler device when the turbojet engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventor: Patrick Boileau
  • Patent number: 11543130
    Abstract: An injection system includes an inner nozzle body defining a first air path along a longitudinal axis. The first air path defines a converging-diverging section between an upstream portion of the first air path and an outlet orifice of the first air path. A main orifice is defined at a narrowest portion of the converging-diverging section. A fuel circuit wall is outboard of the inner nozzle body. A fuel path is defined between the fuel circuit wall and the inner nozzle body. An outer nozzle body outboard of the fuel circuit wall has a second air path defined through the inner nozzle body for communication of air from the outer nozzle body into the first air path, wherein the second air path meets the first air path at a second orifice in the first air path downstream of the main orifice of the inner nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev A. Prociw, Brandon Phillip Williams
  • Patent number: 11525399
    Abstract: An oil system, has: a pump driving an oil flow in an oil conduit, the pump having an outlet pump pressure; a heat exchanger providing heat exchange between the oil flow and one or more fluid; a component downstream of the heat exchanger, the component having a maximum oil pressure requirement and a minimum oil pressure requirement; and a flow restrictor in fluid flow communication with the oil conduit, the flow restrictor having an orifice sized to provide a restrictor pressure differential across the flow restrictor, the restrictor pressure differential being equal to at least the outlet pump pressure minus pressure differentials through the heat exchanger and the oil conduit from an outlet of the pump to the component minus the maximum oil pressure requirement, and at most the outlet pump pressure minus the pressure differentials through the heat exchanger and the oil conduit minus the minimum oil pressure requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Sarah Nangle Smith
  • Patent number: 11519604
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a liner having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and defining a plurality of effusion cooling holes. At least one of the effusion cooling holes includes an inlet section and a converging section downstream of the inlet section. The at least one of the effusion cooling holes includes a metering section downstream of the converging section. The at least one of the effusion cooling holes includes an outlet section downstream of the metering section. The outlet section is proximate to the second surface. The inlet section, the converging section, the metering section and the outlet section extend along a longitudinal axis, with the inlet section asymmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis and the metering section symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Dudebout, Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Atul Verma, David Chou, Christopher Zollars
  • Patent number: 11512638
    Abstract: A surface heat-exchanger for a turbojet engine nacelle between a fluid (C) to be cooled down and air (F) includes a circulation duct of the fluid (C) to be cooled down disposed in contact with air. The circulation duct includes a plurality of channels extending substantially in the same direction with a distance (D) between two adjacent channels between two and five times the width (L) of the channels, each channel having a wall with an area intended to be in contact with air and an area opposite to the area intended to be in contact with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventors: Vincent Peyron, Jean-Nicolas Bouchout
  • Patent number: 11512641
    Abstract: A nacelle for use in an aircraft having a turbojet engine (the turbojet engine including a fan casing and a suspension pylon) includes a D-shaped structure downstream section embedding a thrust reverser device. The D-shaped structure downstream section includes a movable cascades vane. The D-shaped structure downstream section also includes two D-shaped half-structures each having an outer half-cowl movable in translation along a longitudinal axis, a connector between the cascades vane and the outer half-cowl, a twelve o'clock half-bifurcation, an inner half-structure defining an inner portion of the annular flow path, and a twelve o'clock half-beam mounted on the twelve o'clock half-bifurcation articulated on the pylon. The nacelle further includes an axial retention device of the downstream section of the nacelle, relative to the turbojet engine, configured to provide a connection defining an axial retention between the twelve o'clock half-beam and a fixed element of the fan casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventor: Patrick Boileau
  • Patent number: 11512639
    Abstract: A heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger located at least partially within a coolant flowpath. The heat exchanger defines at least in part a first flowpath and a second flowpath, the first flowpath configured to be in fluid communication with the coolant flowpath, and the second flowpath configured to receive a flow of a motive fluid. The heat transfer system further includes a throttling device that is in fluid communication with the second flowpath of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger receives at least a portion of the flow of the motive fluid from the heat exchanger. The throttling device is also in fluid communication with the coolant flowpath at a location upstream of the heat exchanger for providing the flow of motive fluid to the coolant flowpath at the location upstream of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo
  • Patent number: 11506144
    Abstract: A thrust reverser cascade for an aircraft nacelle includes a plurality of blades having a first and a second surface, the blades being connected to members connected to attachment flanges for attaching the thrust reverser cascade to the nacelle. At least one of the surfaces of the blades is covered with at least one layer of fibers, each layer including a plurality of fiber pieces which are pre-impregnated with resin. The fiber pieces are superimposed on one another, positioned parallel to the aerodynamic surface of the blade and oriented in different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Safran Nacelles, Safran
    Inventors: GĂ©raldine Oliveux, Bertrand Desjoyeaux, Cedric Thomas
  • Patent number: 11506124
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines are described. The gas turbine engines include a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, and a nozzle, wherein the compressor section, the combustor section, the turbine section, and the nozzle define a core flow path that expels through the nozzle. A waste heat recovery system is operably connected to the gas turbine engine, the waste heat recovery system having a working fluid. An auxiliary cooling system is configured to provide cooling to a working fluid of the waste heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph B. Staubach, Amanda J. L. Boucher
  • Patent number: 11499449
    Abstract: A gas turbine module includes a gas turbine that has a gas turbine rotor and a turbine shell; an inlet plenum that is connected to an inlet of the gas turbine; an exhaust plenum that is connected to an exhaust of the gas turbine; an enclosure that covers the gas turbine; and a common base on which the gas turbine, the inlet plenum, the exhaust plenum, and the enclosure are mounted. When moving the gas turbine, the gas turbine module is moved together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Oba, Shingo Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11499502
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure may include a core engine defined about an axis, a fan driven by the core engine about the axis to generate bypass flow, and at least one integrated mechanism in communication with the bypass flow. The at least one integrated mechanism includes a variable area fan nozzle (VAFN) and thrust reverser, and a plurality of positions to control bypass flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard M. Marshall