Patents Examined by Marc J Amar
  • Patent number: 11319079
    Abstract: An aircraft comprises a wing, an engine attachment pylon comprising a primary structure and an arrangement for securing the primary structure to a wing box. This arrangement comprises two lateral front fittings, each of these fittings comprising a first connecting portion secured to the front wing spar, a second connecting portion secured to the primary structure, at least one securing member articulated to each of the first and second connecting portions. Furthermore, the first connecting portions of the two fittings are made in one piece in a single wing connector extending over essentially the entire height of the front wing spar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Jérôme Colmagro
  • Patent number: 11319873
    Abstract: A turbo cluster gas turbine system includes: at least one combustor configured to combust a fuel to generate a combustion gas; an output turbine configured to be driven with the combustion gas from the at least one combustor; and a plurality of supercharging systems configured to supply compressed air to be supplied to the at least one combustor, wherein each of the supercharging systems includes: a first turbocharger having a rotation shaft formed separately from a rotation shaft of the output turbine and configured to be driven with the combustion gas from the combustor; a first air line for supplying compressed air compressed by a compressor of the first turbocharger to the combustor; and a first combustion gas line for supplying the combustion gas from the combustor to a turbine of the first turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Takata, Takao Yokoyama, Kenji Nakamichi, Shinsuke Sato
  • Patent number: 11319897
    Abstract: Provided are an exhaust duct, an exhaust duct assembly, and an aircraft using the exhaust duct. The exhaust duct has a structure that enables combustion gas to be diverged and discharged from an inlet end to a first outlet end and a second outlet end at respective sides of the exhaust duct. The exhaust duct includes a first housing including a first body forming an outer wall of the inlet end, and further includes second bodies respectively extending on respective sides from the first body and respectively forming the first outlet end and the second outlet end; a second housing spaced apart from the first body, forming an inner wall of the inlet end, and extending curvedly toward the second bodies; and a connection housing connecting the first housing to the second housing and including at least one recess portion recessed toward the inlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: HANWHA AEROSPACE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Jung Joo, Hee Yoon Chung, Eray Akcayoz
  • Patent number: 11313559
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method and a device for flame stabilization in a burner system of a stationary combustion engine, preferably a stationary gas turbine, in which a flow of an air/fuel mixture is produced and being swirled to form a vortex flow to which a swirl number is assignable before entering a combustion zone in which the vortex flow of the air/fuel mixture is ignited to form a flame within a reverse flow zone caused by vortex breakdown. The swirl number perturbation driven by thermoacoustic oscillation inside the burner system is controlled by affecting the vortex flow actively before entering the combustion zone on basis of changing a flame transfer function assigned to the burner system with the proviso of minimizing pulsation amplitudes of the flame transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Fernando Biagioli, Alessandro Scarpato, Torsten Wind, Khawar Syed
  • Patent number: 11313418
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a motoring system for a gas turbine engine including the steps of: forming a mechanical shaft fuse, the mechanical shaft fuse including a plurality of through holes; forming an outer housing; installing a reduction gear train into the outer housing, the reduction gear train having an input and an output; operably connecting an electric motor to the input; operably connecting a clutch to the output using the mechanical shaft fuse, the clutch in operation engages and disengages the reduction gear train; operably connecting a starter to the clutch, the starter having an output shaft; and operably connecting an accessory gearbox to the output shaft of the starter. The mechanical shaft fuse in operation shears when torque on the mechanical is greater than or equal to a selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Slayter, Richard Alan Davis, Benjamin T. Harder, James Vandung Nguyen, Paul F. Fox, Jeffrey Todd Roberts, Jeff A. Brown, Brian McMasters, Dwayne Leon Wilson, Daniel Richard Walker
  • Patent number: 11293637
    Abstract: A combustor liner panel attachment assembly. The assembly includes a first liner extending from a first end to a second end, and circumferentially to partially define a combustion zone. The assembly also includes a second liner disposed circumferentially adjacent to the first liner. The assembly further includes a radial support having a shoulder in contact with a radially inner surface of each of the first liner and the second liner to radially retain the first liner and the second liner, the radial support allowing the first liner and the second liner to thermally grow axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin W. White
  • Patent number: 11286805
    Abstract: A geared turbofan engine with at least one compression stage and at least one turbine stage on a high speed shaft, the high speed shaft coupled through a speed reduction gear box to a low speed shaft with a fan and a starter/generator. The low speed shaft is collinear with the high speed shaft but does not rotate within the high speed shaft. The speed reduction gear box is positioned between and mechanically couples the high speed shaft and the low speed shaft, which allows the fan and the integrated starter/generator on the low speed shaft to operate at a lower speed than the high speed shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. Brostmeyer, Robert A. Ress, Jr., Tyler W. Sloss, Barry J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11262075
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor provided with: a plurality of swirler tubes that are disposed inside a combustor basket and impart a swirl to a premixed gas, the premixed gas being obtained by premixing a fuel and air for combustion; and an outer ring that is disposed between the plurality of swirler tubes and the combustor basket with a gap provided between the outer ring and the combustor basket, and generates film-shaped air inside a combustor transition piece connected to the combustor basket via injection through the gap into the combustor transition piece, and at a downstream end of the outer ring, the outer ring includes a tapered surface formed such that the outer ring gradually decreases in thickness from an upstream side toward a downstream side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Miyamoto, Satoshi Takiguchi, Keijiro Saito, Kotaro Miyauchi, Koichi Nishida, Shinji Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 11255224
    Abstract: A method for the short-term adjustment of the output of a steam turbine of a combined-cycle power plant, includes: opening, respectively closing, a backed-up turbine valve of a pressure stage, according to a required change in output; comparing a desired pressure with a pressure measurement upstream of the turbine valve to measure pressure of steam mass flow flowing into the pressure stage; and opening, respectively closing, a feed line for introducing a variable proportion of water into the steam mass flow as soon as the pressure falls below or exceeds the desired pressure; the variable proportion of water is introduced into the steam mass flow until an adjusted desired steam temperature is reached, which is determined from the difference between a basic specified desired steam temperature and the default value of a controller which operates at least proportionally and evaluates the difference between the pressure measurement and the desired pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Zsuzsa Preitl, Frank Thomas, Bernd Weissenberger
  • Patent number: 11255547
    Abstract: A combustor liner panel attachment assembly includes a liner extending from a first end to a second end, and circumferentially to partially define a combustion zone. The assembly also includes a spring element located adjacent to a portion of the liner and operatively coupled to a stationary structure, the spring element having a recessed segment. The assembly further includes a protrusion feature extending radially outwardly from the liner, the protrusion feature disposed within the recessed segment of the spring element to axially retain the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin W. White, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11230980
    Abstract: A fault-accommodating flow scheduling valve has a first inlet, outlet, and orifice therebetween. The valve has a shuttle valve member on the orifice inlet side, a primary valve member on the orifice outlet side, a compression-loaded primary spring, and first and second compression-loaded balance springs. Below a threshold differential pressure, the primary valve member engages with the outlet-side sealing face to close the valve while the shuttle valve member is spaced from the inlet-side sealing face, and on failure of the primary spring, the primary valve member moves from the outlet-side sealing face but the shuttle valve member closes the valve. Above the threshold differential pressure, the primary valve member opens the valve while the shuttle valve member remains spaced, and on failure of the primary spring, the primary valve member moves further from the outlet-side sealing face but the shuttle valve member closes the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Ralph W. Hill
  • Patent number: 11203971
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft has an engine core comprising turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor, the turbine being the lowest pressure turbine of the engine, and having turbine blades, and the compressor being the lowest pressure compressor of the engine; fan located upstream of the engine core; and gearbox that receives an input from the core shaft and outputs drive to the fan. The engine core further has three bearings arranged to support the core shaft, the three bearings having two rearward bearings located downstream of the leading edge of the lowest pressure turbine blade of the turbine at the root of the blade, and/or, when the turbine comprises four sets of turbine blades, downstream of the trailing edge of a turbine blade of the third set of turbine blades from the front of the turbine, at the root of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Chathura K Kannangara, Jillian C Gaskell, Punitha Kamesh
  • Patent number: 11199329
    Abstract: A combustor liner panel attachment assembly includes a liner extending from a first end to a second end, and circumferentially to partially define a combustion zone. The assembly also includes a spring element located adjacent to a portion of the liner and operatively coupled to a stationary structure, the spring element having a recessed segment. The assembly further includes a protrusion feature extending radially outwardly from the liner, the protrusion feature disposed within the recessed segment of the spring element to axially retain the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin W. White, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11187105
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed, including a first article, a second article, at least one interface structure, and a thermal break directly adjacent to the at least one interface structure. The first article includes a first material composition having a first thermal tolerance. The second article includes a second material composition having a second thermal tolerance greater than the first thermal tolerance. The first article and the second article are in contact with one another through the interface structure. The thermal break interrupts a thermal conduction path from the second article to the first article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Jason Robert Parolini, Canan Uslu Hardwicke
  • Patent number: 11181270
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle includes a shroud; an injection cylinder surrounded by the shroud and configured to supply fuel to a combustion chamber; a swirler disposed between the injection cylinder and the shroud; and a porous disk disposed downstream of the swirler to surround an outer peripheral surface of the injection cylinder in order to prevent a flashback phenomenon occurring due to a reduction in pressure around the swirler. The porous disk includes a disk body to block a flame produced in the combustion chamber, and a plurality of flow holes are formed in the disk body through which the fuel flows. It is possible to prevent flashback by installing the porous disk downstream of the swirler, and to impart linearity and a swirling effect to the fuel passing through the fuel nozzle by forming variously configured flow holes in the porous disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Moonsoo Cho, Inchan Choi
  • Patent number: 11168617
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a first spool including a first turbine, and a first tower shaft engaged to the first spool. A second spool includes a second turbine, and a second tower shaft is engaged to the second spool. A superposition gearbox includes a sun gear, a plurality of intermediate gears engaged to the sun gear, and is supported in a carrier and a ring gear circumscribing the intermediate gears. The first tower shaft or the second tower shaft drives one of the intermediate gears. A drive motor is engaged to drive the sun gear, an inner electric motor, a stator disposed radially outside of the inner electric motor, and an outer electric motor disposed radially outside the stator. A first load on the first spool and a second load on the second spool is adjusted by operation of at least one of the inner electric motor and the outer electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Coy Bruce Wood
  • Patent number: 11162433
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for controlling an output of a gas generator via an operator manipulated input device. The system includes one or more sensors measuring one or more environmental conditions, a gas generator shaft speed, and a power turbine torque. The system further includes an operator manipulated input device and one or more controllers including one or more processors and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices stores instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: GE AVIO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Cipolla, Giampaolo Gabbi, Simone Castellani, Federico Dellavalle, Felice Felippone
  • Patent number: 11149947
    Abstract: The can combustion chamber includes a casing housing a plurality of cans. Each can includes a wall and a perforated cooling liner around the wall. Cooling liners of adjacent cans have staggered perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Felix Baumgartner, Michael Thomas Maurer, Christof Graber
  • Patent number: 11143101
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft has an engine core comprising turbine, compressor, and core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor, the turbine being the lowest pressure turbine of the engine, and having turbine blades, and the compressor being the lowest pressure compressor of the engine; fan located upstream of the engine core; and gearbox that receives an input from the core shaft and outputs drive to the fan. The engine core further has three bearings arranged to support the core shaft, the three bearings having two rearward bearings located downstream of the leading edge of the lowest pressure turbine blade of the turbine at the root of the blade, and/or, when the turbine comprises four sets of turbine blades, downstream of the trailing edge of a turbine blade of the third set of turbine blades from the front of the turbine, at the root of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Chathura K Kannangara, Jillian C Gaskell, Punitha Kamesh
  • Patent number: 11143406
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a turbomachine includes an outer heat shield configured to sit on and/or within a combustor dome to orient the fuel injector relative to the combustor dome and/or a fuel manifold. An inner surface of the outer heat shield includes an outer heat shield seal surface. The injector also includes a fuel prefilmer seated at least partially within the outer heat shield. An outer surface of the fuel prefilmer includes a prefilmer seal surface configured to mate with the outer heat shield seal surface such that the fuel prefilmer seats on the outer heat shield seal surface and such that the prefilmer seal surface is configured to allow the surfaces to slide relative to one another in both a radial and axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Jason A. Ryon, Gregory A. Zink