Patents by Inventor Douglas D. Dierksmeier

Douglas D. Dierksmeier 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: 20160356224
    Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method may be configured for detecting coking in a gas turbine engine. The system may comprise one or more heatable collecting elements configured to be positioned in a fuel supply passage having an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus heatable collecting may be configured to generate heat at or over a fuel system temperature range to induce coking in at least one of the heatable collecting elements. The apparatus may also include a sensor configured to detect an indication of coking on the heatable collecting elements and, in response to the coking indication, communicate a coking condition signal to an engine control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Farnum, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Ben Moloney, Patrick C. Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20160186581
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The wheel assembly includes a disk arranged for rotation about a central axis and formed to include a plurality of slots. The wheel assembly also includes a plurality of blades sized to be received in the plurality of slots so that the blades are coupled to the disk for common rotation about the central axis. The wheel assembly further includes a plurality of blade biasers positioned in the slots between the disk and the blades so that the blade biasers are engaged with the disk and the blades to preload the blades away from the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20160010560
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine includes a fixed length member and a floating blade seal that is movable relative to the floating blade seal to change the length of the blade and vary the gap between the blade and an engine housing component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20150044018
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is a unique active seal system. Another embodiment is another unique active seal system. Another embodiment is a unique method for operating a turbomachine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for active seal systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20140260323
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides, in one embodiment, a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include unique gas turbine engines, and unique active balancing systems; as well as apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and active balancing systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20090202355
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a blade with a replaceable blade tip shroud that includes an airfoil shaped spar extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge between a root end and a tip end. It can also include a plurality of tiles coupled to an exterior of the spar; a tip shroud positioned to overlap at least a portion of the tip end of the spar; and means for anchoring the tip shroud to the tip end of the spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Patent number: 6896483
    Abstract: The clearances between an array of turbine blades and its surrounding blade track may be controlled by an expansion control material system supporting the blade tracks. The blade track support hoop is placed in tension by the expansion control material placed therein and the expansion control material is placed in compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Allison Advanced Development Company
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab Michael Heffernan, James C. Muskat
  • Patent number: 6557621
    Abstract: An integral ceramic casting core includes a base portion with a plurality of rods extending therefrom and a plurality of apertures formed therein. The base portion defines a passageway for the passage of a cooling media within a cast component. The plurality of rods forming cooling media inlet passages to the passageway and the plurality of apertures are adapted to receive molten metal therein and form heat transfer pedestals within the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: Allison Advanced Development Comapny, Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Jeffrey A. Ruppel
  • Publication number: 20030049121
    Abstract: The clearances between an array of turbine blades and its surrounding blade track may be controlled by an expansion control material system supporting the blade tracks. The blade track support hoop is placed in tension by the expansion control material placed therein and the expansion control material is placed in compression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab Micheal Heffernan, James C. Muskat
  • Patent number: 5863183
    Abstract: A lightweight high temperature rotor blade attachment structure for use in a gas turbine engine. The lightweight high temperature rotor blade attachment lug being cast of a single crystal alloy and the lug is then bonded to a conventional nickel based wheel. A circular arc firtree is utilized to connect the insertable turbine blade between a pair of circumferentially spaced lugs that have been bonded to the turbine disk. In an alternate form of the present invention the attachment lug includes an internal cooling passage for receiving cooling fluid from a compressor. More particularly, the present invention discloses a single crystal attachment lug that is bonded to a powdered metal nickel alloy rotor disk and includes internal cooling passages, and in one form is designed for use with turbine blades that do not have a platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Allison Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Patent number: 5836742
    Abstract: A lightweight high temperature rotor blade attachment structure for use in a gas turbine engine. The lightweight high temperature rotor blade attachment lug being cast of a single crystal alloy and the lug is then bonded to a conventional nickel based wheel. A circular arc firtree is utilized to connect the insertable turbine blade between a pair of circumferentially spaced lugs that have been bonded to the turbine disk. In an alternate form of the present invention the attachment lug includes an internal cooling passage for receiving cooling fluid from a compressor. More particularly, the present invention discloses a single crystal attachment lug that is bonded to a powdered metal nickel alloy rotor disk and includes internal cooling passages, and in one form is designed for use with turbine blades that do not have a platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Allison Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Patent number: 5688108
    Abstract: A lightweight high temperature rotor blade attachment structure for use in a gas turbine engine. The lightweight high temperature rotor blade attachment lug being cast of a single crystal alloy and the lug is then bonded to a conventional nickel based wheel. A circular arc firtree is utilized to connect the insertable turbine blade between a pair of circumferentially spaced lugs that have been bonded to the turbine disk. In an alternate form of the present invention the attachment lug includes an internal cooling passage for receiving cooling fluid from a compressor. More particularly, the present invention discloses a single crystal attachment lug that is bonded to a powdered metal nickel alloy rotor disk and includes internal cooling passages, and in one form is designed for use with turbine blades that do not have a platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Allison Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Patent number: 4838584
    Abstract: A coupling device utilizing first and second contiguous L-shaped coupling members affixed to terminal duct portions, and a slidable clamp having a T-shaped trough for gripping the L-shaped coupling members when slid thereover, locking them together to the close the duct. The clamp is slid away from the coupling members to rapidly open the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier