Patents Examined by Todd E. Manahan
  • Patent number: 11970278
    Abstract: A thrust mount assembly includes a thrust link-lever that has a first end region, a second end region, and a fulcrum region disposed between the first end region and the second end region. A thrust link-lever may be coupled or couplable to a fulcrum body of an aft engine-mount at a fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever. When coupled to a turbomachine, the fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever may be laterally offset and/or laterally adjustable relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine. A load translated from an engine frame of a turbomachine to an engine-mounting linkage system may be determined and a fulcrum position for the thrust mount assembly may be adjusted laterally relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kudum Shinde, Mahesh Shenvi Khandeparker
  • Patent number: 11970279
    Abstract: A control system and methods for controlling the position of one or more engine-mounting links of an engine-mounting linkage system are provided. In one aspect, an engine-mounting linkage system includes one or more engine-mounting links that each have an adjustable inclination angle. An inclination angle of a link may be adjusted by an actuator of the control system. One or more controllers of the control system can control the actuator and thus the inclination angle of the link by determining a control command based at least in part on an output received from one or more sensors of the control system. The controllers can then cause the actuator to change the inclination angle of the link based at least in part on the determined control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Leo Schelfaut, Anthony Michael Metz, Jonathan Edward Coleman, Thomas P. Joseph
  • Patent number: 11970979
    Abstract: A turbine engine and method of operating includes an engine core with a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine in axial flow arrangement. A flow path extends through the engine core from the compressor to the turbine to define a flow direction for a working airflow through the engine core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Ryan Johnson, Paul Hadley Vitt, Eric Joseph Schroeder, Carlos Gilberto Fernandez-Soto
  • Patent number: 11965460
    Abstract: An air intake for an aircraft propulsion system includes an air inlet duct, a core flow duct, a bypass flow duct, a splitter, and a flow control device. The air inlet duct includes an intake inlet and a gas path floor. The core flow duct includes a core flow outlet. The bypass flow duct includes a bypass flow outlet. The bypass flow duct includes the gas path floor. The splitter separates the core flow duct and the bypass flow duct. The flow control device is disposed on a portion of the gas path floor. The flow control device is configured to be selectively positioned to control an air flow path for air flowing through the air inlet duct, the core flow duct, and the bypass flow duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Raja Ramamurthy, Eray Akcayoz, Mark Cunningham, Roberto Marrano
  • Patent number: 11959422
    Abstract: A brush seal system includes a component including a first mating surface. The brush seal system further includes a brush seal including a brush seal backing plate, a retaining ring, and a plurality of bristles retained between the brush seal backing plate and the retaining ring. The brush seal backing plate includes a second mating surface mounted to the first mating surface. The brush seal system further includes at least one cooling channel extending from an exterior side of the component to an interior side of the component so as to bypass the brush seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Caroline Karanian, Steven D. Porter, John T. Ols
  • Patent number: 11945595
    Abstract: A support structure for attaching an engine to an aircraft pylon at front, mid and rear attachment positions thereof, including a front mount joined to the engine and configured to attach to the pylon at the front attachment position and a rear mount joined to a core casing to attach to the pylon at the rear attachment position, each of the front and rear mounts configured to transfer lateral and vertical loads from the engine to the pylon, and the rear mount being spaced from the front mount such that yaw and pitch torques are transferred from the engine to the pylon through the front and rear mounts. The support structure also includes an axial load transfer formation to transfer axial loads from the engine to the pylon and a roll-torque transfer formation to transfer roll torque from the core casing to the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Richard G Stretton
  • Patent number: 11946378
    Abstract: A method of transient control of a thermal transport bus of a turbomachine includes measuring a measured temperature and a measured pressure of a working fluid; determining a selected run state of a turbomachine, wherein the selected run state is one of a plurality of run states; selecting a desired operating condition comprising a desired temperature range and a desired pressure range as a function of a desired state of the working fluid; comparing the measured temperature with the desired temperature range, and comparing the measured pressure with the desired pressure range; and modulating control of the thermal transport bus as a function of the comparing of the measured temperature with the desired temperature range and the comparing of the measured pressure with the desired pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Westervelt, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, James R. Reepmeyer, Terry Hei Tsun Ma
  • Patent number: 11939925
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core having a compressor section with a first compressor and a second compressor, a turbine section with a first turbine and a second turbine, and a primary flowpath fluidly connecting the compressor section and the turbine section. The first compressor is connected to the first turbine via a first shaft, the second compressor is connected to the second turbine via a second shaft, and a motor is connected to the first shaft such that rotational energy generated by the motor is translated to the first shaft. The gas turbine engine includes a takeoff mode of operation, a top of climb mode of operation, and at least one additional mode of operation. The gas turbine engine is undersized relative to a thrust requirement in at least one of the takeoff mode of operation and the top of climb mode of operation, and a controller is configured to control the mode of operation of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Charles E. Lents, Joseph B. Staubach, Larry W. Hardin, Jonathan Rheaume
  • Patent number: 11939914
    Abstract: There is described a method of operating a multi-engine system of an helicopter. The multi-engine system has a first turboshaft engine having a first shaft, a second turboshaft engine having a second shaft, a gearbox having a clutch system, and a range of rotation speeds defined as a placarded zone. The method generally has rotating the first shaft at a flight rotation speed when clutched and rotating the second shaft at a first idle rotation speed when unclutched, the first idle rotation speed above the placarded zone; decreasing a rotation speed of the first shaft from the flight rotation speed to a given rotation speed within the placarded zone; decreasing a rotation speed of the second shaft to the given rotation speed; clutching the second shaft; and decreasing the rotation speeds of the first and second shafts to a second idle rotation speed below the placarded zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Philippe Beauchesne-Martel, Gaetan De Lussy, Jeremie Hebert, Daniel Coutu
  • Patent number: 11933220
    Abstract: An air intake for an aircraft propulsion system includes an air inlet duct, a core flow duct, a bypass flow duct, a splitter, and a flow control device. The air inlet duct includes an intake inlet and a gas path floor. The core flow duct includes a core flow outlet. The bypass flow duct includes a bypass flow outlet. The bypass flow duct includes the gas path floor. The splitter separates the core flow duct and the bypass flow duct. The flow control device is disposed on a portion of the gas path floor. The flow control device is configured to be selectively positioned to control an air flow path for air flowing through the air inlet duct, the core flow duct, and the bypass flow duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Raja Ramamurthy, Eray Akcayoz, Mark Cunningham, Roberto Marrano
  • Patent number: 11927140
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a propulsor delivering air into a core engine inward of an outer core panel. The core engine has a compressor section, a combustor and a turbine section. A compressor bleed system includes a bleed valve on a conduit communicating with compressed air from the compressor section. The bleed valve is configured to deliver air into a chamber where it can flow outwardly of the core engine at an exit location radially inward of the outer core panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Murat Yazici, Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 11927142
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating or determining a rate or an amount of fuel coke formation in a fuel system, such as of a gas turbine engine. The system is operable to control a rate of fuel coke formation. The system may include a sensor that measures an operating parameter associated with fuel coke formation in the fuel system. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the signal therefrom for determining an amount or a rate of fuel coking in the fuel system. Based on this determination the controller may adjust the rate of fuel coke formation by adjusting the operation of the turbine engine, a thermal management system of the turbine engine, or the fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric R. Westervelt, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, James R. Reepmeyer, Arthur W. Sibbach, Constantinos Minas
  • Patent number: 11920539
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle for a gas turbine engine. The exhaust nozzle comprises a nozzle body having an upstream end axially spaced from a downstream end with respect to an axial centerline of the nozzle body, and a plurality of chevrons circumferentially spaced apart and extending downstream from the downstream end. Each chevron includes an inner wall radially spaced from an outer wall, a root and a tip axially spaced from the root. At least one chevron of the plurality of chevrons includes a first segment extending axially downstream from the root, a second segment extending axially downstream from the first segment, and a third segment extending axially downstream from the second segment to the tip. The inner wall extends along the first segment, the second segment, and third the segment. The first segment is distinguishable from the second segment and the second segment is distinguishable from the third segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kishore Ramakrishnan, Steven B. Morris, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko, Trevor Howard Wood
  • Patent number: 11920518
    Abstract: A cryogenic fuel supply system includes a storage tank, a mixing chamber, an auxiliary heating device, a heat exchanger, and flow distribution devices, and a controller. The storage tank stores cryogenic fuel in a liquid state. The mixing chamber receives various flows of cryogenic fuel in a supercritical or gaseous state, the mixing chamber being connected to a combustion chamber to supply the combustion chamber with cryogenic fuel in the supercritical or gaseous state. The auxiliary heating device heats the cryogenic fuel. The heat exchanger assembly includes a cryogenic fuel/oil heat exchanger and a heat exchanger between the cryogenic fuel and the air circulating in a primary duct of the turbine engine. A flow distribution device is upstream of the auxiliary heating device, and one or more flow distribution devices are disposed upstream of the heat exchanger assembly. The controller controls opening and closing of the flow distribution devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventor: Hugo Pierre Mohamed Jouan
  • Patent number: 11920793
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine combustor is provided that includes a swirler, a mounting stage, and a distributor. The swirler has a shaft, a collar, a throat section, and first and second axial ends. The throat section includes an inner radial surface that defines a central passage that extends between the swirler inner bore and the collar. The collar includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough disposed radially outside of the central passage. The mounting stage is disposed in the inner bore, and has an annular flange, a central hub, and at least one strut. The distributor has a stem attached to a head. The stem has a distal end opposite the head portion engaged with the central hub. The head portion has an end surface and a side surface. The distributor is selectively positionable relative to the throat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jakub Strzepek, Kian McCaldon, Anna Mamrol, Owen Wong, Maxime La Fleche
  • Patent number: 11913647
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nozzle for a combustor that burns fuel containing hydrogen, which includes a plurality of mixing tubes through which air and fuel flow, a multi-tube configured to contain and support the mixing tubes, a fuel tube formed inside the multi-tube and through which fuel flows, a tip plate coupled to a tip of the multi-tube, and a front plate spaced apart from the tip plate to define a cooling space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Borys Shershnyov
  • Patent number: 11912423
    Abstract: Propulsion systems for aircraft include a fan and a low pressure turbine operably coupled to a first shaft, a low pressure compressor and an intermediate pressure turbine operably coupled to a second shaft, and a high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine operably coupled to a third shaft. A burner is arranged between the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine, with a main flow path defined through the propulsion system. A hydrogen fuel system is configured to supply hydrogen fuel to the burner. A condenser is arranged along the main flow path and configured to extract water from exhaust from the burner. An evaporator is arranged along the main flow path and configured to receive a portion of the water to generate steam which is injected into the main flow path upstream from the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph B. Staubach, Amanda Jean Learned Boucher, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 11912427
    Abstract: An aircraft engine thermal management system includes a body having a coolant passage in thermal communication with an electronic device, wherein the body and the electronic device are located in a first portion of the aircraft. A generator is fluidically connected by a coolant path to the coolant passage wherein the generator is located in a second portion of the aircraft, with at least a portion of the coolant path is located within a cooling location having a lower average temperature than either the first portion or the second portion of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Debabrata Pal, Tom A. Utecht, Craig R. LeGros
  • Patent number: 11911754
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a catalyst bed for catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, which uses 3-D printing techniques to form a porous metal backbone and treating the surface of the metal backbone to activate the surface, wherein the metal backbone is formed of a noble metal or a manganese complex. Also disclosed is a rocket engine having a 3D printed catalyst for catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, a fuel store, an oxidizer store, and a rocket engine, wherein the oxidizer is a stabilized solution of hydrogen peroxide, and a 3D printed catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: VENUS AEROSPACE CORP
    Inventors: Aubrey Michael Yates, Nicholas D. Cardwell
  • Patent number: 11913386
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bypass duct extending about a longitudinal centerline of the gas turbine engine. The bypass duct includes at least one bypass duct wall defining at least a portion of a bypass flow path through the bypass duct. The at least one bypass duct wall includes a scoop extending into the bypass flow path. The gas turbine engine further includes a bleed conduit including an inlet connected to the bypass duct within the scoop of the at least one bypass duct wall and at least one louver mounted to the bleed conduit within the inlet. The at least one louver extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The leading edge is located within the bypass flow path and the trailing edge is located within the bleed conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Tahereh Mirmohammadi Ghoojdi, Sid-Ali Meslioui