Patents by Inventor Anthony R. Bifulco

Anthony R. Bifulco has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220221056
    Abstract: A non-metallic engine case inlet compression seal for a gas turbine engine includes a non-metallic longitudinal leg section that extends from the non-metallic arcuate interface section and a non-metallic mount flange section that extends from the longitudinal leg section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 11339720
    Abstract: Disclosed is an acoustic liner for a gas turbine engine, having: a face sheet; a first plurality of resonator chamber cavities, distributed non-uniformly against the face sheet, the first plurality of resonator chamber cavities defining a first aggregated volume that is configured to target noise attenuation at a first frequency, the first plurality of resonator chamber cavities include first and second resonator chamber cavities fluidly coupled to each other, which have different configurations with respect to each other; and a second plurality of resonator chamber cavities, distributed non-uniformly against the face sheet, the second plurality of resonator chamber cavities define a second aggregated volume that differs from the first aggregated volume and is configured to target noise attenuation at a second frequency, the second plurality of resonator chamber cavities include third and fourth resonator chamber cavities fluidly coupled to each other, which have different configurations with respect to each
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel K. Van Ness, Anthony R. Bifulco, David A. Topol, David A. Knaul, Michael Raymond LaFavor
  • Patent number: 11286856
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine section includes a plurality of spaced rotor stages, with a static guide vane intermediate the spaced rotor stages. The static guide vane provides swirl into air passing toward a downstream one of the spaced rotor stages, and an outer housing surrounding the spaced rotor stages. A diverter diverts a portion of air radially outwardly through the outer housing, and across at least one heat exchanger. The diverted air passes back into a duct radially inwardly through the outer housing, and is exhausted toward the downstream one of the spaced rotor stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20220084493
    Abstract: Acoustic structures for a gas turbine engine are disclosed. In various embodiments, the acoustic structures comprise a panel in the form of a cellular structure having a plurality of cells; and a housing configured to house the cellular structure, the housing including a first rail configured for attachment to a static structure within the gas turbine engine and a second rail configured for attachment to the static structure. In various embodiments, the acoustic structures comprise a liner in the form of a non-segmented or two-piece structure configured to extend about the inner barrel of a nacelle structure. The disclosed panels and liners are configured to maximize the operational area of the acoustic structures by eliminating obstructions from adjacent flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: ANTHONY R. BIFULCO
  • Patent number: 11268388
    Abstract: A component of a rotor system is provided and includes a disk and a reinforcing ring. The disk includes an airfoil element, a web extending radially inwardly from the airfoil element and an arm element extending axially from the web. The reinforcing ring is formed of fiber reinforced materials and is disposed to fit about the arm element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Knaul, Seung-Woo Choi, Michael Raymond LaFavor, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20220049621
    Abstract: A passive transpirational flow acoustic liner assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a guide vane assembly and a conduit configured to deliver airflow received from the guide vane. The guide vane assembly includes an airfoil having a transpirational flow acoustic liner. The acoustic liner includes a face sheet defining a portion of an outer surface of the airfoil and having a plurality of first apertures, a segmented member coupled to the face sheet and having a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with the outer surface via the plurality of first apertures, a backing sheet having a plurality of apertures and being coupled to the segmented member such that the segmented member is positioned between the face sheet and the backing sheet, and a plenum coupled to the backing sheet opposite the segmented member and fluidly connected to the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20220010731
    Abstract: A system for dampening noise generated by a gas turbine engine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a fan exit guide vane having a leading edge, a trailing edge and a pocket that extends in a chordwise direction between the leading edge and the trailing edge; and an acoustic panel configured to be received within the pocket, the acoustic panel including a back sheet, a face sheet and a core disposed between the back sheet and the face sheet, the core having a first cavity extending between a first wall and a second wall and a second cavity disposed within the first cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony R. Bifulco, Duncan R.C. Lee
  • Publication number: 20210324748
    Abstract: A component of a rotor system is provided and includes a disk and a reinforcing ring. The disk includes an airfoil element, a web extending radially inwardly from the airfoil element and an arm element extending axially from the web. The reinforcing ring is formed of fiber reinforced materials and is disposed to fit about the arm element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: David A. Knaul, Seung-Woo Choi, Michael Raymond LaFavor, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20210317785
    Abstract: A cooling system includes an inlet, a passageway, and a feed passage. The inlet is defined by a strut of a diffuser case that extends between a first case portion and a second case portion. The inlet extends from a leading surface towards a trailing surface along a first axis. The passageway is defined by the strut and extends from the inlet towards the second case portion along a second axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis. The feed passage is defined between a body of a tangential onboard injection system that extends between and is connected to an inner vane platform of a guide vane and the second case portion. The feed passage extends along an axis that is disposed parallel to the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Anthony R. Bifulco, William K. Ackermann, Paul E. Coderre, John H. Mosley, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11143303
    Abstract: A non-metallic engine case inlet compression seal for a gas turbine engine includes a non-metallic longitudinal leg section that extends from the non-metallic arcuate interface section and a non-metallic mount flange section that extends from the longitudinal leg section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20210277829
    Abstract: Disclosed is an acoustic liner for a gas turbine engine, having: a face sheet; a first plurality of resonator chamber cavities, distributed non-uniformly against the face sheet, the first plurality of resonator chamber cavities defining a first aggregated volume that is configured to target noise attenuation at a first frequency, the first plurality of resonator chamber cavities include first and second resonator chamber cavities fluidly coupled to each other, which have different configurations with respect to each other; and a second plurality of resonator chamber cavities, distributed non-uniformly against the face sheet, the second plurality of resonator chamber cavities define a second aggregated volume that differs from the first aggregated volume and is configured to target noise attenuation at a second frequency, the second plurality of resonator chamber cavities include third and fourth resonator chamber cavities fluidly coupled to each other, which have different configurations with respect to each
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel K. Van Ness, Anthony R. Bifulco, David A. Topol, David A. Knaul, Michael Raymond LaFavor
  • Publication number: 20210254500
    Abstract: A fluid wash system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed, the gas turbine engine defining an axial direction and comprising a borescope port that provides access to a component within a core flow path of the gas turbine engine. In various embodiments, the fluid wash system includes a wash line fluidly connected to a pump configured to provide a pressurized flow of wash liquid; a spray nozzle connected to the wash line and configured for extending into the borescope port to provide the pressurized flow of wash liquid to the component within the core flow path; and an attachment mechanism configured to releasable mount the spray nozzle to the borescope port, the attachment mechanism including an alignment mechanism configured to orient the spray nozzle and direct the pressurized flow of wash liquid in a predetermined direction toward the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Applicant: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 10975915
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a gas turbine engine shaft, having an outer circumferential surface that circumscribes a central axis. The gas turbine engine shaft may comprise a plurality of splines extending along a portion of the outer circumferential surface, where each of the plurality of splines comprises an axial face that tapers from the outer circumferential surface to a spline top surface and includes a curved chamfered surface at a radially distal end of the axial face. The plurality of splines may further comprise a first sidewall and a second sidewall separated by a first spline width distance along the outer circumferential surface, where the first and second sidewalls taper inwardly from the outer circumferential surface to a second spline width along the spline top surface where the second spline width distance is less than the first spline width distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Mayaka, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20200347785
    Abstract: An acoustic liner for a gas turbine engine includes an acoustic panel that is curved about a central axis. The acoustic panel includes a support backing, a face sheet, and a cellular structure disposed between the support backing and the face sheet. The face sheet has elongated slots that extend along respective slot centerlines in the plane of the face sheet. The slot centerlines are sloped at oblique angles to the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Bruce L. Morin, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 10808613
    Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for a gas turbine engine, the assembly includes: a spinner or nosecone comprising a threaded rear portion, an engine structure comprising a threaded front portion, the nosecone being threadingly connected to the engine structure, wherein rotation of the spinner or nosecone about the engine structure in a first direction secures the spinner or nosecone to the engine structure and rotation of the spinner or nosecone about the engine structure in a second direction releases the spinner or nosecone from the engine structure; and a lock ring slidingly connected to the engine structure to slide between: a forward position to engage the spinner or nosecone and block rotation of the spinner or nosecone in the second direction, and a rearward position, where the lock ring is spaced from the spinner or nosecone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony R. Bifulco, Joseph M. Wilson, Jason B. Hickman
  • Patent number: 10794217
    Abstract: A bleed valve system for a gas turbine engine that includes a retaining ring and a metering ring. The retaining ring abuts an end of a bleed air duct and defines a plurality of retaining ring apertures. The metering ring that is at least partially disposed within the bleed air duct and abuts the retaining ring, the metering ring defining a plurality of metering ring apertures, the metering ring being rotatable relative to the retaining ring to selectively facilitate a fluid flow through the bleed air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony R. Bifulco, Jason B. Hickman, Alonso Meza, Andrew R. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20200200031
    Abstract: A system for retaining stators and reducing air leakage in a gas turbine engine having an axis includes a stator having an inner platform, an outer platform, a low pressure side, a high pressure side, and at least one foot, and designed to turn air. The system also includes a case positioned radially outward from the stator and having at least one recess designed to interface with the at least one foot to resist movement of the stator relative to the case. The system also includes a bladder positioned between the outer platform of the stator and the case and designed to receive pressurized fluid having a greater pressure than ambient pressures experienced at the low pressure side of the stator and to further resist movement of the stator relative to the case in response to receiving the pressurized fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: ANTHONY R. BIFULCO
  • Patent number: 10648479
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine includes a first shroud segment, a second shroud segment, a first inner air seal, and a seal assembly. The first shroud segment has a first end face. The second shroud segment is disposed adjacent to the first shroud segment and has a second end face that faces towards and is spaced apart from the first end face by a gap. The first inner air seal extends into the first shroud segment and defines a first trench. The seal assembly at least partially received within the first trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Colin G. Amadon, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 10648481
    Abstract: A spacer of a gas turbine engine is reinforced with a fiber. The fiber can be cured with a substrate to form a fiber reinforced composite material. As a gas turbine engine operates, the rotation creates forces which can deform, expand, contract or translate certain gas turbine engine components, including spacers. These forces can adversely affect gas turbine engine performance and reliability, particularly when they are either unpredictable or difficult to control. Reinforcing a spacer with a fiber may allow a lower system weight, more compact or configurable internal packaging or a high degree of reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony R. Bifulco, Damon K. Brown, Nicholas Aiello
  • Patent number: 10612405
    Abstract: A system for retaining stators and reducing air leakage in a gas turbine engine having an axis includes a stator having an inner platform, an outer platform, a low pressure side, a high pressure side, and at least one foot, and designed to turn air. The system also includes a case positioned radially outward from the stator and having at least one recess designed to interface with the at least one foot to resist movement of the stator relative to the case. The system also includes a bladder positioned between the outer platform of the stator and the case and designed to receive pressurized fluid having a greater pressure than ambient pressures experienced at the low pressure side of the stator and to further resist movement of the stator relative to the case in response to receiving the pressurized fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anthony R. Bifulco