Patents by Inventor Gary C. Wollenweber

Gary C. Wollenweber 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).

  • Patent number: 8205429
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine, coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, such that at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power, and coupling a modulating valve in flow communication to the propelling gas turbine engine to control the flow of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine to the auxiliary engine, wherein the modulating valve is selectively operable to control an extraction point of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary C. Wollenweber
  • Publication number: 20090106978
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine, coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, such that at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power, and coupling a modulating valve in flow communication to the propelling gas turbine engine to control the flow of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine to the auxiliary engine, wherein the modulating valve is selectively operable to control an extraction point of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Gary C. Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 7464533
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine, coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, such that at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power, and coupling a modulating valve in flow communication to the propelling gas turbine engine to control the flow of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine to the auxiliary engine, wherein the modulating valve is selectively operable to control an extraction point of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary C. Wollenweber
  • Publication number: 20080245050
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine assembly. The method comprises providing at least one propelling gas turbine engine that includes a core engine including at least one turbine, coupling an auxiliary engine to the propelling gas turbine engine such that during operation of the propelling gas turbine engine, such that at least a portion of the airflow entering the propelling gas turbine engine is extracted from the propelling gas and channeled to the auxiliary engine for generating power, and coupling a modulating valve in flow communication to the propelling gas turbine engine to control the flow of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine to the auxiliary engine, wherein the modulating valve is selectively operable to control an extraction point of airflow from the propelling gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Gary C. Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 7418813
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes mounting a core engine to a vehicle, coupling a fuselage radially outward and around the core engine, coupling an exhaust nozzle to the core engine to channel exhaust gases discharged from the core engine, wherein the exhaust nozzle includes a cowl and a primary nozzle coupled radially inward from the cowl, and coupling an infrared suppression system in flow communication with the engine exhaust nozzle to facilitate suppressing an exhaust infrared signature of the core engine, wherein the infrared suppression system includes a blocking fin having a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile and such that a cooling air flowpath is defined between the cowl and the blocking fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary C. Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 6971240
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine. The method comprises mounting a core engine to a vehicle, coupling a fuselage radially outward and around the core engine, and coupling an exhaust nozzle to the core engine to channel exhaust gases discharged from the core engine. In addition, the method also comprises coupling an infrared suppression system in flow communication with the engine exhaust nozzle for channeling exhaust gases discharged from said exhaust nozzle to facilitate suppressing an exhaust infrared signature of the core engine during operation, wherein the infrared suppression system includes an access door and a flow channel that is coupled to the access door such that the flow channel is movable with the access door from a closed position to an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary C. Wollenweber
  • Patent number: 4752185
    Abstract: A fluid seal arrangement for use in a turbomachine, having first and second adjacent sets of turbine blades arranged for relative rotation about a common machine axis. A main fluid flowpath is established across the blades. Parts of at least one set of blades form a clearance opening which communicates between the main fluid flowpath and an outside region. An annular arm projects over the clearance opening into the outside region to form with an outer periphery of the other set of blades an annular passage communicating with the clearance opening. An annular cavity on the other blades receives a buffer fluid. Jet openings from the cavity direct a pressurized supply of the buffer fluid into the annular passage, to induce a sealing fluid flow from the outside region through the clearance opening and into the main fluid flowpath to prevent leakage of fluid from the main fluid flowpath through the clearance opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence Butler, Gary C. Wollenweber, Thomas G. Wakeman
  • Patent number: 4732538
    Abstract: Air control means in a gas turbine engine having a variable pitch rotatable airfoil and means for varying the pitch of the airfoil are disclosed. The air control means comprises a platform fixedly attached to a radially inner end of the airfoil. The platform is generally positioned on a rotatable annular surface, which surface defines outer and inner spaces. In a first position, an edge portion of the platform substantially conforms to the annular surface. In a second position, the edge portion is displaced radially outwardly from the surface thereby allowing fluid communication between the outer and inner spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary C. Wollenweber, Wu-Yang Tseng, Thomas J. Sullivan