Patents by Inventor J. Walter Smith
J. Walter Smith 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: 8534044Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine powerplant with an engine oil line and an engine fuel line incorporates a heat transfer control module that includes a reversible heat pump with a heat pump compressor for circulating working fluid in forward and reverse directions through a working fluid line of the heat pump. The heat control module also includes a first heat exchanger having a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and a heat pump expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine oil. A second heat exchanger has a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and the expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine fuel. The heat pump can be operated in forward or reverse directions depending on whether heat is to be transferred from the engine oil or the fuel to the heat pump working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Propulsion, Gas Turbine, and Energy Evaluations, LLCInventor: J. Walter Smith
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Patent number: 8221028Abstract: A boat lift includes a lift frame rotatably mounted to a boat dock. A lower trolley with a buoyant body slides on the frame. An upper trolley slides on the frame and is engaged by the boat as it propels itself forward onto the frame when the latter is in a boat receiving position. A linkage connected between the trolleys causes the lower trolley and the buoyant body to slide rearwardly underneath the boat to rotate the lift frame into a final docking position in which the boat is out of the water. The upper trolley is locked into position, thus holding the lower trolley in position through the linkage. The boat is launched by releasing the upper trolley lock, which permits the upper trolley to slide rearwardly, with concomitant forward sliding movement of the lower trolley that permits the frame to rotate and launch the boat from the frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Propulsion, Gas Turbine, and Energy Evaluations, LLCInventor: J. Walter Smith
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Patent number: 8181441Abstract: A turbine engine component of a turbofan engine fitted with a bypass air valve includes at least one turbine engine component having a surface with at least one aperture, said turbine engine component located from between a bypass fan duct and a turbine exhaust nozzle of the turbofan engine; a bypass air valve includes a liner concentrically disposed about the turbine engine component and parallel to a centerline of the turbofan engine, the liner has a surface including at least one aperture and at least one impermeable region, and means for actuating the liner about the turbine engine component; and a flow transfer location comprising an area proximate to a turbine exhaust stream flow.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: J. Walter Smith
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Publication number: 20110252764Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine powerplant with an engine oil line and an engine fuel line incorporates a heat transfer control module that includes a reversible heat pump with a heat pump compressor for circulating working fluid in forward and reverse directions through a working fluid line of the heat pump. The heat control module also includes a first heat exchanger having a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and a heat pump expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine oil. A second heat exchanger has a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and the expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine fuel. The heat pump can be operated in forward or reverse directions depending on whether heat is to be transferred from the engine oil or the fuel to the heat pump working fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: Propulsion, Gas Turbine, and Energy Evaluations, LLCInventor: J. Walter Smith
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Publication number: 20110243663Abstract: A boat lift uses the boat's own propulsive force to lift the boat out of the water. The boat lift comprises a lift frame mounted to a boat dock for rotation, and in a boat receiving position is rotated so that the boat can propel itself onto a boat cradle on the lift frame. A lower trolley slidably mounted on the frame includes a buoyant body in the water for exerting an upward force on the frame. An upper trolley slidably mounted on the frame is engaged by the boat as it propels itself forward onto the boat cradle. The upper trolley is linked to the lower trolley to cause the lower trolley to slide rearwardly under the boat, thus moving the buoyant body rearwardly and rotating the lift frame into a final docking position in which the boat is lifted out of the water. The upper trolley is locked into position, thus locking the lower trolley in position through the linkage between them, and a boat retainer actuated by the lower trolley engages the rear of the boat to hold it on the boat cradle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventor: J. Walter Smith
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Patent number: 8011883Abstract: A method for controlling blade tip clearance within a gas turbine engine includes a compressor having at least one first rotor assembly, wherein the blade tips in each of at least one first rotor assembly has a mating geometry with at least one of at least one blade seal surfaces, and a clearance distance extending between the blade tips and the blade seal surfaces; a turbine having at least one second rotor assembly, wherein the blade tips in each of at least one second rotor assembly has a mating geometry with at least one of at least one blade seal surfaces, and a clearance distance extending between the blade tips and the blade seal surfaces; providing an actuator selectively operable to move at least one rotor assembly relative to the shroud; providing an electronic engine controller having a control logic for operating the actuator; and moving at least one first rotor assemblies and at least one second rotor assembly relative to the shroud using the actuator at a response rate according to the control lType: GrantFiled: July 2, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, J. Walter Smith
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Patent number: 7984606Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine powerplant with an engine oil line and an engine fuel line incorporates a heat transfer control module that includes a reversible heat pump with a heat pump compressor for circulating working fluid in forward and reverse directions through a working fluid line of the heat pump. The heat control module also includes a first heat exchanger having a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and a heat pump expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine oil. A second heat exchanger has a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and the expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine fuel. The heat pump can be operated in forward or reverse directions depending on whether heat is to be transferred from the engine oil or the fuel to the heat pump working fluid.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Propulsion, Gas Turbine, and Energy Evaluations, LLCInventor: J. Walter Smith
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Publication number: 20100218483Abstract: A turbine engine component of a turbofan engine fitted with a bypass air valve includes at least one turbine engine component having a surface with at least one aperture, said turbine engine component located from between a bypass fan duct and a turbine exhaust nozzle of the turbofan engine; a bypass air valve includes a liner concentrically disposed about the turbine engine component and parallel to a centerline of the turbofan engine, the liner has a surface including at least one aperture and at least one impermeable region, and means for actuating the liner about the turbine engine component; and a flow transfer location comprising an area proximate to a turbine exhaust stream flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2009Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: J. Walter Smith
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Publication number: 20100107603Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine powerplant with an engine oil line and an engine fuel line incorporates a heat transfer control module that includes a reversible heat pump with a heat pump compressor for circulating working fluid in forward and reverse directions through a working fluid line of the heat pump. The heat control module also includes a first heat exchanger having a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and a heat pump expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine oil. A second heat exchanger has a heat exchange path for the working fluid between the compressor and the expansion valve and another heat exchange path for the engine fuel. The heat pump can be operated in forward or reverse directions depending on whether heat is to be transferred from the engine oil or the fuel to the heat pump working fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Inventor: J. Walter Smith
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Publication number: 20080267769Abstract: A method for controlling blade tip clearance within a gas turbine engine includes the steps of providing a compressor having at least one first rotor assembly, each first rotor assembly having a plurality of blades with each blade having a blade tip, at least one first stator assembly disposed adjacent at least one first rotor assembly, and a shroud having at least one blade seal surface disposed radially outside of at least one first rotor assembly, wherein the blade tips in each of at least one first rotor assembly has a mating geometry with at least one of at least one blade seal surfaces, and a clearance distance extending between the blade tips and the blade seal surfaces; providing a turbine having at least one second rotor assembly, each second rotor assembly having a plurality of blades with each blade having a blade tip, at least one second stator assembly disposed adjacent at least one second rotor assembly, and the shroud having at least one blade seal surface disposed radially outside of at leastType: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, J. Walter Smith
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Patent number: 7407369Abstract: A zero running clearance system for gas turbine engines includes a gas turbine engine compressor having one or more first rotor assemblies and one or more first stator assemblies disposed adjacent the one or more first rotor assemblies; a gas turbine engine turbine having one or more second rotor assemblies and one or more second stator assemblies disposed adjacent the one or more second rotor assemblies; one or more shroud segments having blade seal surfaces disposed radially outside of the tips of blades of both the first and second rotor assemblies and a clearance distance extending between the blade tips and blade seal surfaces; and, an actuator selectively operable to axially move the first and said second rotor assemblies to alter the clearance distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2005Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, J. Walter Smith