Patents by Inventor Daniel T. Alecu
Daniel T. Alecu 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).
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Patent number: 9856749Abstract: The liquid cooling system has a heat exchanger having a fluid inlet and an outlet; a fluid supply conduit leading to the inlet of the heat exchanger; a fluid return conduit extending from the outlet of the heat exchanger; a bypass conduit extending between the fluid supply conduit and the fluid return conduit; a thermal valve configured for selectively closing the bypass conduit, the valve having a temperature sensing element positioned downstream of both the heat exchanger and the bypass conduit, the temperature sensing element configured to selectively move the thermal valve in response to a temperature change of the liquid which the temperature sensing element is exposed to relative to a temperature threshold of the valve; and a deflector positioned between the temperature sensing element and at least one of the bypass conduit and the heat exchanger outlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Marc Jordan Adique, Kevin Ng, Daniel T. Alecu
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Publication number: 20170074117Abstract: The liquid cooling system has a heat exchanger having a fluid inlet and an outlet; a fluid supply conduit leading to the inlet of the heat exchanger; a fluid return conduit extending from the outlet of the heat exchanger; a bypass conduit extending between the fluid supply conduit and the fluid return conduit; a thermal valve configured for selectively closing the bypass conduit, the valve having a temperature sensing element positioned downstream of both the heat exchanger and the bypass conduit, the temperature sensing element configured to selectively move the thermal valve in response to a temperature change of the liquid which the temperature sensing element is exposed to relative to a temperature threshold of the valve; and a deflector positioned between the temperature sensing element and at least one of the bypass conduit and the heat exchanger outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: Marc Jordan ADIQUE, Kevin NG, Daniel T. ALECU
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Patent number: 9359952Abstract: A heat recuperator includes a plurality of channel walls composed substantially of thermally-conductive material and supported in spaced-apart relation, defining fluid channels and interstices therebetween. The fluid channels receive at least one primary fluid flow and the interstices receive at least one secondary fluid flow so as to effect heat exchange between the two flows. In use, the plurality of channel walls are deformable by pressure differential between the primary and secondary fluid flows. When at least some of the channel walls are in a deformed state, the plurality of channel walls are stabilized through press fit engagement of mutually opposed contact regions formed in adjacent pairs of the channel walls.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORPInventors: David Harold Menheere, Andreas Eleftheriou, Daniel T. Alecu, Quantai Liu
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Patent number: 9200570Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine engine comprises a nacelle cowl and a core engine. A bypass duct is between an outer surface of a casing of the core engine, and an inner surface of the nacelle cowl. An air channel is in the nacelle cowl, an inlet and an outlet of the air channel being in an outer surface of the nacelle cowl. An oil cooler has at least one oil passage for oil circulation, the air cooler having a first heat exchange surface in the air channel exposed to air circulating in the air channel, the air channel having a second heat exchange surface in the bypass duct exposed to air circulating in the bypass duct. A method for cooling oil in a turbofan gas turbine engine is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Daniel T. Alecu
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Patent number: 8621839Abstract: A gas turbine engine oil system has an air-oil separator for removing air from an air/oil mixture. A breather tube is connected to an exhaust of the air-oil separator for receiving hot air removed from the air/oil mixture in the air-oil separator. The gas turbine engine oil separator exhaust is directed in a cooled oil collector to cause the oil mist remaining in the air at the exit from the engine air-oil separator to condensate. The oil condensate is returned back into the engine oil system.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, Bryan William Olver
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Publication number: 20130219854Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine engine comprises a nacelle cowl and a core engine. A bypass duct is between an outer surface of a casing of the core engine, and an inner surface of the nacelle cowl. An air channel is in the nacelle cowl, an inlet and an outlet of the air channel being in an outer surface of the nacelle cowl. An oil cooler has at least one oil passage for oil circulation, the air cooler having a first heat exchange surface in the air channel exposed to air circulating in the air channel, the air channel having a second heat exchange surface in the bypass duct exposed to air circulating in the bypass duct. A method for cooling oil in a turbofan gas turbine engine is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventor: DANIEL T. ALECU
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Publication number: 20130199152Abstract: A heat recuperator includes a plurality of channel walls composed substantially of thermally-conductive material and supported in spaced-apart relation, defining fluid channels and interstices therebetween. The fluid channels receive at least one primary fluid flow and the interstices receive at least one secondary fluid flow so as to effect heat exchange between the two flows. In use, the plurality of channel walls are deformable by pressure differential between the primary and secondary fluid flows. When at least some of the channel walls are in a deformed state, the plurality of channel walls are stabilized through press fit engagement of mutually opposed contact regions formed in adjacent pairs of the channel walls.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: David Harold MENHEERE, Andreas ELEFTHERIOU, Daniel T. ALECU, Quantai LIU
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Patent number: 8499893Abstract: An oil scavenge system of a gas turbine engine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a housing defined about an axis of rotation, the housing confining an air/oil mixture in motion within the housing and defining an oil scavenge area below the axis of rotation. The housing further includes an outlet at a low location of the housing. A churning damper is supported within the housing and is located in the oil scavenge area. The churning damper includes at least one plate, allowing the air/oil mixture in motion to pass over or through the plate only in a peripheral area of the at least one plate to cause flow energy dissipation.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, Kenneth Parkman
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Patent number: 8302407Abstract: A passive pressurizing air system for a gas turbine engine includes a flow path for directing an air flow having a low temperature and low pressure, extending through a cavity to a pressurized area of the engine. The cavity contains pressurized air having a high temperature and high pressure. An air flow mixing apparatus is provided for adding the pressurized air from the cavity into the flow path to provide a mixed air flow having an intermediate temperature and intermediate pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, Dean Carpenter
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Patent number: 8245818Abstract: A method for scavenging oil in a gas turbine engine comprises using a driving fluid flow to drive a flow of a fluid collected in an oil system of the engine to pass through an ejector and then the driven flow of the fluid is directed to be discharged into an oil tank.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventor: Daniel T. Alecu
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Publication number: 20120181113Abstract: An oil scavenge system of a gas turbine engine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a housing defined about an axis of rotation, the housing confining an air/oil mixture in motion within the housing and defining an oil scavenge area below the axis of rotation. The housing further includes an outlet at a low location of the housing. A churning damper is supported within the housing and is located in the oil scavenge area. The churning damper includes at least one plate, allowing the air/oil mixture in motion to pass over or through the plate only in a peripheral area of the at least one plate to cause flow energy dissipation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Daniel T. ALECU, Kenneth PARKMAN
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Patent number: 8182201Abstract: There is provided an axial bearing load distribution system for a gas turbine engine of the type having a low pressure rotor supported by axial bearings. The system comprises a line having an inlet end positioned in a high-pressure compressor gas path downstream of any compressor stage provided with a variable geometry. The line is adapted to sense static pressure in the high-pressure compressor gas path. The line has an outlet end producing the static pressure. An air-tight pressure actuator is operatively connected to the outlet end and to one of the axial bearings to exert a force on the axial bearing proportionally to a pressure of the outlet end.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, John Watson
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Patent number: 8167091Abstract: An oil scavenge system of a gas turbine engine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a housing defined about an axis of rotation, the housing confining an air/oil mixture in motion within the housing and defining an oil scavenge area below the axis of rotation. The housing further includes an outlet at a low location of the housing. A churning damper is supported within the housing and is located in the oil scavenge area. The churning damper includes at least one plate, allowing the air/oil mixture in motion to pass over or through the plate only in a peripheral area of the at least one plate to cause flow energy dissipation.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, Kenneth Parkman
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Publication number: 20120060508Abstract: A gas turbine engine oil system has an air-oil separator for removing air from an air/oil mixture. A breather tube is connected to an exhaust of the air-oil separator for receiving hot air removed from the air/oil mixture in the air-oil separator. The gas turbine engine oil separator exhaust is directed in a cooled oil collector to cause the oil mist remaining in the air at the exit from the engine air-oil separator to condensate. The oil condensate is returned back into the engine oil system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2009Publication date: March 15, 2012Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, Bryan William Olver
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Publication number: 20110067413Abstract: A passive pressurizing air system for a gas turbine engine includes a flow path for directing an air flow having a low temperature and low pressure, extending through a cavity to a pressurized area of the engine. The cavity contains pressurized air having a high temperature and high pressure. An air flow mixing apparatus is provided for adding the pressurized air from the cavity into the flow path to provide a mixed air flow having an intermediate temperature and intermediate pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Daniel T. ALECU, Dean CARPENTER
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Patent number: 7861536Abstract: A passive pressurizing air system for a gas turbine engine includes a flow path for directing an air flow having a low temperature and low pressure, extending through a cavity to a pressurized area of the engine. The cavity contains pressurized air having a high temperature and high pressure. An air flow mixing apparatus is provided for adding the pressurized air from the cavity into the flow path to provide a mixed air flow having an intermediate temperature and intermediate pressure.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Daniel T. Alecu, Dean Carpenter
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Publication number: 20100272556Abstract: There is provided an axial bearing load distribution system for a gas turbine engine of the type having a low pressure rotor supported by axial bearings. The system comprises a line having an inlet end positioned in a high-pressure compressor gas path downstream of any compressor stage provided with a variable geometry. The line is adapted to sense static pressure in the high-pressure compressor gas path. The line has an outlet end producing the static pressure. An air-tight pressure actuator is operatively connected to the outlet end and to one of the axial bearings to exert a force on the axial bearing proportionally to a pressure of the outlet end.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: Daniel T. ALECU, John WATSON
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Patent number: 7685805Abstract: The arrangement comprises a fan by-pass duct located within the nacelle and having an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is generally oriented substantially radially and at an intermediary location along the nacelle. The nacelle has an aft section with an initially convex and substantially outwardly extending surface adjacent to the outlet of the fan by-pass duct. The surface of the aft section decreases in curvature and becomes concave towards a rear end of the engine.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventor: Daniel T. Alecu
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Patent number: 7604201Abstract: The nacelle drag reduction device comprises a substantially circular and axis symmetrical external airfoil concentric with a aft section of the nacelle and located outside a propulsive jet zone defined behind the engine when operating, the airfoil being positioned at a location providing a maximum streamline angle with reference to the main axis of the engine and a highest streamline curvature.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventor: Daniel T. Alecu
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Publication number: 20090101444Abstract: A method for scavenging oil in a gas turbine engine comprises using a driving fluid flow to drive a flow of a fluid collected in an oil system of the engine to pass through an ejector and then the driven flow of the fluid is directed to be discharged into an oil tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2007Publication date: April 23, 2009Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Daniel T. ALECU