Patents by Inventor James John Luz

James John Luz 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: 11692483
    Abstract: A system for lubricating components of a gas turbine engine includes a supply pump to pump lubricant from a reservoir through a supply conduit to lubricated component. An outer body deicing circuit is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit. Moreover, a scavenge conduit extends from the lubricated component to the reservoir and a scavenge pump pumps the lubricant from the lubricated component through the scavenge conduit. In addition, a valve is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit and the scavenge conduit and a bypass conduit extends from the valve to a location on the supply conduit downstream of the deicing circuit. When the lubricant is supplied to the valve, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the reservoir. When the supply of lubricant to the valve is halted, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the bypass conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James John Luz, Robert Burton Brown, Thomas Bradley Kenney, Thomas Charles McCarthy, Firas Younes
  • Publication number: 20230128159
    Abstract: A system for lubricating components of a gas turbine engine includes a supply pump to pump lubricant from a reservoir through a supply conduit to lubricated component. An outer body deicing circuit is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit. Moreover, a scavenge conduit extends from the lubricated component to the reservoir and a scavenge pump pumps the lubricant from the lubricated component through the scavenge conduit. In addition, a valve is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit and the scavenge conduit and a bypass conduit extends from the valve to a location on the supply conduit downstream of the deicing circuit. When the lubricant is supplied to the valve, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the reservoir. When the supply of lubricant to the valve is halted, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the bypass conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: James John Luz, Robert Burton Brown, Thomas Bradley Kenney, Thomas Charles McCarthy, Firas Younes
  • Patent number: 11415051
    Abstract: A system for lubricating components of a gas turbine engine includes a supply pump to pump lubricant from a reservoir through a supply conduit to lubricated component. An outer body deicing circuit is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit. Moreover, a scavenge conduit extends from the lubricated component to the reservoir and a scavenge pump pumps the lubricant from the lubricated component through the scavenge conduit. In addition, a valve is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit and the scavenge conduit and a bypass conduit extends from the valve to a location on the supply conduit downstream of the deicing circuit. When the lubricant is supplied to the valve, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the reservoir. When the supply of lubricant to the valve is halted, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the bypass conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: James John Luz, Robert Burton Brown, Thomas Bradley Kenney, Thomas Charles McCarthy, Firas Younes
  • Publication number: 20220195924
    Abstract: A system for lubricating components of a gas turbine engine includes a supply pump to pump lubricant from a reservoir through a supply conduit to lubricated component. An outer body deicing circuit is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit. Moreover, a scavenge conduit extends from the lubricated component to the reservoir and a scavenge pump pumps the lubricant from the lubricated component through the scavenge conduit. In addition, a valve is fluidly coupled in series with the supply conduit and the scavenge conduit and a bypass conduit extends from the valve to a location on the supply conduit downstream of the deicing circuit. When the lubricant is supplied to the valve, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the reservoir. When the supply of lubricant to the valve is halted, the valve directs the lubricant flowing through the scavenge conduit into the bypass conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: James John Luz, Robert Burton Brown, Thomas Bradley Kenney, Thomas Charles McCarthy, Firas Younes
  • Patent number: 9890846
    Abstract: A gearbox vent apparatus includes: a gearbox; an accessory contained in a case mounted to the gearbox such than an interior space of the case communicates with an interior space of the gearbox, wherein the case includes a sidewall and an endwall, a hollow drive shaft mounted for rotation inside the case; an annular first seal element mounted to the drive shaft; an annular second seal element mounted to the case and contacting the first seal element so as to define a sealing interface; and a vent tube having a forward end coupled to the endwall in fluid communication with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gregory Wotzak, Duane Howard Anstead, Bojan Lukovic, James John Luz, Thomas Charles McCarthy, Keith Beatty
  • Patent number: 9567908
    Abstract: Oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for a turbine engine are disclosed. An example oil sump seal pressurization apparatus may include an oil sump comprising at least one bearing mounted therein; an oil seal operatively disposed between a non-rotating structural member of the sump and the shaft; a generally radially inwardly oriented passage arranged to supply pressurization air to the outward side of the oil seal; a generally radially outwardly oriented pathway arranged to receive at least some of the pressurization air from the passage, the pathway being at least partially defined by a generally radially outwardly extending arm disposed on the shaft, the arm rotating with the shaft; and/or a windage shield at least partially separating the passage and the pathway, the windage shield being operatively mounted to the non-rotating structural member of the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Bordne, Duane Howard Anstead, James John Luz
  • Publication number: 20160160992
    Abstract: A gearbox vent apparatus includes: a gearbox; an accessory contained in a case mounted to the gearbox such than an interior space of the case communicates with an interior space of the gearbox, wherein the case includes a sidewall and an endwall, a hollow drive shaft mounted for rotation inside the case; an annular first seal element mounted to the drive shaft; an annular second seal element mounted to the case and contacting the first seal element so as to define a sealing interface; and a vent tube having a forward end coupled to the endwall in fluid communication with the drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Mark Gregory WOTZAK, Duane Howard ANSTEAD, Bojan LUKOVIC, James John LUZ, Thomas Charles MC CARTHY, Keith BEATTY
  • Patent number: 9353647
    Abstract: Oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for turbine engines are disclosed. An example oil sump seal pressurization apparatus may include a non-rotating oil sump housing a bearing; an oil seal isolating an interior of the oil sump; a passage arranged to supply pressurization air to an outward side of the oil seal; a drain arranged to allow draining of oil and venting of at least some of the pressurization air, the drain being positioned axially between the passage and the oil seal; a wide discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, which may be disposed axially between the passage and the drain, the wide discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a radial direction by a gap, the wide discourager tooth including an upper surface; and/or an adjacent tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Bordne, Duane Howard Anstead, James John Luz
  • Publication number: 20130283757
    Abstract: Oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for a turbine engine are disclosed. An example oil sump seal pressurization apparatus may include an oil sump comprising at least one bearing mounted therein; an oil seal operatively disposed between a non-rotating structural member of the sump and the shaft; a generally radially inwardly oriented passage arranged to supply pressurization air to the outward side of the oil seal; a generally radially outwardly oriented pathway arranged to receive at least some of the pressurization air from the passage, the pathway being at least partially defined by a generally radially outwardly extending arm disposed on the shaft, the arm rotating with the shaft; and/or a windage shield at least partially separating the passage and the pathway, the windage shield being operatively mounted to the non-rotating structural member of the sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Bordne, Duane Howard Anstead, James John Luz