Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Valva
Christopher M. Valva 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: 20200182090Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first bearing compartment and a seal assembly within the first bearing compartment that includes a rotatable seal seat, a gutter radially outward of the seal seat and fixed against rotation. The gutter includes a channel on its radially inner face. A second bearing compartment is also included. A scavenge pump is in communication with a first supply line configured to supply the first bearing compartment and a second supply line configured to supply the second bearing compartment. The gutter is in communication with the scavenge pump through a gutter scavenge line. A valve between the scavenge pump and the second supply line is configured to close in response to a dry port event, such that closing the valve stops oil supply to the second supply line, while allowing oil supply to the first supply line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Christopher M. Valva
-
Patent number: 10669873Abstract: An insulated seal seat assembly comprises a shaft configured and arranged to rotate about an axial axis, a seal seat that is secured to the shaft, and a thermal insulator configured and arranged radially between the shaft and the seal seat.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Valva, Christopher T. Anglin, Brian P. Cigal
-
Patent number: 10655679Abstract: A seal assembly for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a seal carrier, a seal element, a seal plate, and a trough. At least a portion of the seal element is within the seal carrier. The seal plate is in contact with the seal element and is configured to rotate relative to the seal element. The trough extends around the seal plate and comprises an annular channel positioned to capture oil slung from the seal plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2017Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher T. Anglin, Dwayne E. Messerschmidt, Christopher M. Valva, Todd M. Gaulin
-
Publication number: 20200088053Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a tower shaft rotatable about an axis, an engine component rotatable with the tower shaft about the axis, and a seal assembly. The engine component extends axially along the axis to an end surface. The seal assembly includes a carbon seal element, where the carbon seal element circumscribes the tower shaft and axially engages the end surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2018Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Brad E. Fiore, James B. Coffin, Christopher M. Valva
-
Publication number: 20200080478Abstract: A bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a bearing housing extending along an axis to define a bearing compartment, a lubricant seal assembly adjacent to the bearing housing to bound the bearing compartment, an air seal assembly defining a vent cavity along the bearing housing, wherein a mixing cavity is defined between the lubricant seal assembly and the air seal assembly, and wherein the bearing housing defines an airflow supply passage, an airflow vent passage and a scupper passage having respective fluid ports at different circumferential positions relative to the axis, the fluid port of the airflow vent passage fluidly coupled to the vent cavity, and the fluid ports of the airflow supply and scupper passages fluidly coupled to the mixing cavity. A method of sealing for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2018Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Daniel S. Rogers, Taryn Narrow, Gregory E. Reinhardt, Collin P. Fitzgerald, Christopher M. Valva, Leonard Kolshak
-
Patent number: 10578019Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system comprising: a lubrication applicator device that includes: a base having a cavity that is configured to store a lubricant, and a plunger that is configured to seat a head of a bolt in a counterbore of the base, where the plunger is axially movable in the cavity and is configured to be at least partially recessed in the cavity to cause a side of the bolt to be immersed in the lubricant.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Valva, David Barger, Sean P. McGee
-
Patent number: 10577974Abstract: The present disclosure is applicable to all gear trains using a journal bearing as a means of supporting gear shaft rotation. It is related in some embodiments to a system and method for supplying lubricant to the journal bearings of a gear-turbofan engine gear train when the fan rotor is subjected to a wind-milling condition in both directions, either clockwise or counterclockwise.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher M. Valva, Brian P. Cigal
-
Publication number: 20190383168Abstract: The present disclosure is applicable to all gear trains using a journal bearing as a means of supporting gear shaft rotation. It is related in some embodiments to a system and method for supplying lubricant to the journal bearings of a gear-turbofan engine gear train when the fan rotor is subjected to a wind-milling condition in both directions, either clockwise or counterclockwise.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Christopher M. Valva, Brian P. Cigal
-
Publication number: 20190293293Abstract: A bearing support may include a central shaft, a flange shaft, and a tube boss. The central shaft may include a central longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end of the bearing support. The flange shaft may extend radially outward of the central shaft at an acute angle, relative to the central longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end, and the flange shaft may include a rim defining an aperture. The tube boss extends from the central shaft radially outward through the aperture, according to various embodiments. An annular channel may be between the rim and the tube boss.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, Christopher M. Valva, Daniel Rosen, Armando Amador, Aneil S. Hegde, Ramin M. Rafatpanah
-
Patent number: 10400631Abstract: The present disclosure is applicable to all gear trains using a journal bearing as a means of supporting gear shaft rotation. It is related in some embodiments to a system and method for supplying lubricant to the journal bearings of a gear-turbofan engine gear train when the fan rotor is subjected to a wind-milling condition in both directions, either clockwise or counterclockwise.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher M. Valva, Brian P. Cigal
-
Patent number: 10400883Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a gear comprising: gear teeth, a cone wall having an interior surface that forms a chamber, where the gear teeth extend circumferentially from a distal end of the cone wall, a dam that extends radially inward on the interior surface and is axially disposed between the cone wall and the gear teeth, and at least one aperture formed in the cone wall to allow fluid on the interior surface to exit the chamber, where the at least one aperture is located a first distance from the gear teeth along a length of the gear and the dam is located a second distance from the gear teeth along the length of the gear, and where the first distance is greater than the second distance.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2017Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Valva, Christopher T. Anglin
-
Patent number: 10371007Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a turbine driving a gear reduction. The gear reduction drives a fan drive shaft assembly to, in turn, drive a fan rotor at a reduced speed relative to the turbine. A generator generates current upon rotation of the fan drive assembly. The generator supplies electric current to an electric motor driven pump. The electric motor driven pump delivers lubricant to components within the gear reduction.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2014Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Brian P. Cigal, Christopher M. Valva
-
Patent number: 10364880Abstract: A baffle includes a disk, a rim, a peripheral portion, and an outlet. The rim is connected to and circumferentially surrounds a portion of the disk. The peripheral portion is connected to and circumferentially surrounds the rim. The peripheral portion forms a channel. The outlet is fluidly connected to the channel of the peripheral portion. The outlet includes a cover and a series of openings. The cover caps a distal end of the outlet. The series of openings is disposed on a portion of the outlet and is fluidly connected to the channel via the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher T. Anglin, Christopher M. Valva
-
Patent number: 10174629Abstract: A sealing assembly for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a shaft and a seal plate mounted to the shaft. The shaft is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine. The seal plate includes an annular body, scoop, sealing surface, plurality of teeth, and channel. The scoop is connected to and extends radially from the annular body. The scoop defines a lip and an annulus surrounding the shaft and is disposed on a first axial end of the annular body. The sealing surface is disposed on a second axial end of the annular body opposite from the scoop. The plurality of teeth are disposed into and along an outer perimeter of a portion of the annular body. The channel extends through a portion of the annular body and is fluidly connected to the scoop and to the sealing surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Valva, Todd A. Davis, Joseph D. Walker
-
Publication number: 20190003389Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system comprising: a lubrication applicator device that includes: a base having a cavity that is configured to store a lubricant, and a plunger that is configured to seat a head of a bolt in a counterbore of the base, where the plunger is axially movable in the cavity and is configured to be at least partially recessed in the cavity to cause a side of the bolt to be immersed in the lubricant.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2017Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: Christopher M. Valva, David Barger, Sean P. McGee
-
Publication number: 20180291755Abstract: An insulated seal seat assembly comprises a shaft configured and arranged to rotate about an axial axis, a seal seat that is secured to the shaft, and a thermal insulator configured and arranged radially between the shaft and the seal seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Christopher M. Valva, Christopher T. Anglin, Brian P. Cigal
-
Publication number: 20180291960Abstract: A seal assembly for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a seal carrier, a seal element, a seal plate, and a trough. At least a portion of the seal element is within the seal carrier. The seal plate is in contact with the seal element and is configured to rotate relative to the seal element. The trough extends around the seal plate and comprises an annular channel positioned to capture oil slung from the seal plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Christopher T. Anglin, Dwayne E. Messerschmidt, Christopher M. Valva, Todd M. Gaulin
-
Publication number: 20180187770Abstract: A baffle includes a disk, a rim, a peripheral portion, and an outlet. The rim is connected to and circumferentially surrounds a portion of the disk. The peripheral portion is connected to and circumferentially surrounds the rim. The peripheral portion forms a channel. The outlet is fluidly connected to the channel of the peripheral portion. The outlet includes a cover and a series of openings. The cover caps a distal end of the outlet. The series of openings is disposed on a portion of the outlet and is fluidly connected to the channel via the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Christopher T. Anglin, Christopher M. Valva
-
Publication number: 20180187769Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a gear comprising: gear teeth, a cone wall having an interior surface that forms a chamber, where the gear teeth extend circumferentially from a distal end of the cone wall, a dam that extends radially inward on the interior surface and is axially disposed between the cone wall and the gear teeth, and at least one aperture formed in the cone wall to allow fluid on the interior surface to exit the chamber, where the at least one aperture is located a first distance from the gear teeth along a length of the gear and the dam is located a second distance from the gear teeth along the length of the gear, and where the first distance is greater than the second distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Christopher M. Valva, Christopher T. Anglin
-
Patent number: 9739173Abstract: A casing for a fan drive gear system includes a cast body with an upper and a lower portion. The cast body defines an oil inlet and an oil outlet arranged below the oil outlet. An integrally cast oil channel extends between the inlet and outlet for conveying oil from the upper portion of the cast body portion to the lower portion of the cast body for providing a supply of lubrication to the gear system when oil pools in an upper portion of an auxiliary oil reservoir during negative-G flight events.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher M. Valva, Todd M. Lapierre