Patents by Inventor Eric R. Westervelt

Eric R. Westervelt 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: 20240133770
    Abstract: A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes one or more pressure sensors and a controller in communication with the one or more pressure sensors. The one or more pressure sensors is mounted at a seal of a turbine to measure pressure on a first side of the seal and/or a second side of the seal. The controller is configured to receive pressure data from the one or more pressure sensors and determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on the pressure data. The controller is configured to output a signal upon determining a change in the condition of the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Bugra H. Ertas, Deepak Trivedi, Scott Alan Schimmels, Joseph Herbert Fields, Rahul Anil Bidkar, Eric R. Westervelt, Andrew Kevin Winn
  • Publication number: 20240133309
    Abstract: A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes a temperature sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is mounted at a seal of a device. The controller is configured to receive measured temperature data from the temperature sensor and calculate expected temperature data for the seal based at least in part on operating conditions of the device. The controller is configured to determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on a temperature difference of the measured temperature data from the expected temperature data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Rahul Anil Bidkar, Deepak Trivedi, Bugra H. Ertas, Pei-Hsin Kuo, Joseph Herbert Fields, Andrew Kevin Winn, Eric R. Westervelt
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20240026831
    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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Eric R. Westervelt, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, James R. Reepmeyer, Arthur W. Sibbach, Constantinos Minas
  • Patent number: 11835127
    Abstract: A gearbox assembly includes a gear assembly that includes a planet gear, a pin disposed within the planet gear, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The first sensor is disposed within the pin and is configured to produce a signal indicative of a strain of the pin. The second sensor is disposed within the pin and is configured to produce a signal indicative of a vibration of the pin. Another gearbox assembly includes a gear assembly including a planet gear, a pin disposed within the planet gear, and a strain sensor. The strain sensor is disposed within the pin and is configured to produce a signal indicative of a strain of the pin. The strain sensor is located within the pin at a circumferential location of the pin that is opposite to a location of a force acting on the pin when the planet gear rotates about the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, GE AVIO S.R.L., GE AVIATION CZECH S.R.O.
    Inventors: Leonardo Coviello, Bugra H. Ertas, Eric R. Westervelt, Andrea Piazza, Juraj Hrubec
  • Publication number: 20230332510
    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: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Eric R. Westervelt, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, James R. Reepmeyer, Terry Hei Tsun Ma