Patents by Inventor Jean Thomassin

Jean Thomassin 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: 11428128
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine with a housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough opening into a portion of its inner surface engaging each peripheral or apex seal of the rotor. An injector has an inlet for fluid communication with a pressurized lubricant source and a selectively openable and closable outlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage for delivering the pressurized lubricant to each seal through the fluid passage. A housing for a Wankel engine and a method of lubricating peripheral seals of a rotor in an internal combustion engine are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Edwin Schulz, Etienne Plamondon, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 11401890
    Abstract: A turbofan engine assembly including a compressor, an intermittent internal combustion engine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the compressor through at least one first passage of an intercooler, a turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the intermittent internal combustion engine, the turbine compounded with the intermittent internal combustion engine, a bypass duct surrounding the intermittent internal combustion engine, compressor and turbine, and a fan configured to propel air through the bypass duct and through an inlet of the compressor, wherein the intercooler is located in the bypass duct, the intercooler having at least one second passage in heat exchange relationship with the at least one first passage, the at least one second passage in fluid communication with the bypass duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andre Julien, Jean Thomassin, Serge Dussault
  • Publication number: 20220127009
    Abstract: Aircraft power plants including combustion engines, and associated methods for recuperating waste heat from such aircraft power plants are described. A method includes transferring the heat rejected by the internal combustion engine to supercritical CO2 (sCO2) used as a working fluid in a heat engine. The heat engine converts at least some the heat transferred to the sCO2 to mechanical energy to perform useful work onboard the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Jean THOMASSIN, Serge DUSSAULT, Joseph Brent STAUBACH
  • Patent number: 11313273
    Abstract: A compound engine assembly for use as an auxiliary power unit for an aircraft and including an engine core with internal combustion engine(s), a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an engine core inlet, a bleed conduit in fluid communication with the compressor outlet through a bleed air valve, and a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with the engine core outlet and configured to compound power with the engine core. The turbine section may include a first stage turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with the engine core outlet and a second stage turbine having an inlet in fluid communication the first stage turbine outlet. A method of providing compressed air and electrical power to an aircraft is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Ullyott, Anthony Jones, Andre Julien, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 11292604
    Abstract: There is provided a heat management system for a hybrid electrical aircraft comprising electric propulsors powered by a power plant. The heat management system comprises a heat exchanger integrated to a nacelle of at least one of the electric propulsors for dissipating heat withdrawn from the power components of the power plant into ambient air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Serge Dussault
  • Publication number: 20220023559
    Abstract: There is described a ventilator for ventilating an airway of a patient. The ventilator is generally configured to perform a series of respiration cycles, wherein each respiration cycle includes the delivery of a main volume of fresh respiratory gas into the patient's airway, followed by the evacuation of a corresponding volume of used respiratory gas, and to further perform a series of subcycles during a corresponding one of the respiration cycles, wherein each subcycle includes the delivery of an auxiliary volume of fresh respiratory gas into the patient's airway, followed by the evacuation of a corresponding volume of used respiratory gas, the auxiliary volume being smaller than, and distinct from, the main volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jean THOMASSIN, Jean-Gabriel GAUVREAU
  • Publication number: 20220023560
    Abstract: There is provided a ventilator to ventilate an airway of a patient. The ventilator has a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet configured to be connected to said airway; a gas delivery element in fluid communication with said inlet, said gas delivery element configured to deliver air in a sequence of ventilation cycles, each ventilation cycle defined by a corresponding tidal volume to be delivered to said airway via said conduit, each tidal volume corresponding to a difference between a start volume and an end volume of said gas delivery element for that ventilation cycle; a pressure sensor monitoring pressure within said conduit; a controller communicatively coupled to said gas delivery element and said pressure sensor, said controller performing reducing said tidal volume between a first ventilation cycle and a successive second ventilation cycle contingent upon said pressure exceeding a pressure threshold in said first ventilation cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Francois BELLEVILLE, Jean THOMASSIN
  • Patent number: 11214381
    Abstract: An aircraft heating assembly including an internal combustion engine having a liquid coolant system distinct from any fuel and lubricating system of the engine and including cooling passages in the internal combustion engine for circulating a liquid coolant from a coolant inlet to a coolant outlet, a coolant circulation path outside of the internal combustion engine and in fluid communication with the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet, and a heating element in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the aircraft to be heated. The coolant circulation path extends through a heat exchanger configured to remove a portion of a waste heat from the liquid coolant. The heating element is in heat exchange relationship with the coolant circulation path to receive another portion of the waste heat therefrom. A method of heating a portion of an aircraft is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Anthony Jones, Andre Julien, David Menheere, Jean Thomassin, Richard Ullyott, Daniel Van Den Hende
  • Patent number: 11215110
    Abstract: A method of combusting fuel, e.g. heavy fuel, in a rotary engine, including injecting a main quantity of fuel directly into a combustion chamber to form a first fuel-air mixture having a first air-fuel equivalence ratio ? higher than 1, injecting a pilot quantity of fuel into a pilot subchamber to form a second fuel-air mixture having a second air-fuel equivalence ratio ? smaller than the first air-fuel equivalence ratio, igniting the second fuel-air mixture within the pilot subchamber, using the ignited second fuel-air mixture from the pilot subchamber to ignite the first fuel-air mixture, and injecting a supplemental quantity of fuel directly into the combustion chamber after igniting the first fuel-air mixture, upstream of an exhaust port of the rotary engine with respect to a direction of rotation of the rotor. A rotary engine with interburner fuel injector is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Andre Julien, Serge Dussault
  • Publication number: 20210362863
    Abstract: The aircraft includes a fuselage and at least one wing extending from the fuselage. The wing includes first and second original portions and a plug portion positioned between the first and second original portions. A propulsion system is positioned on the at least one wing. The propulsion system includes at least one electric powerplant and at least one combustion powerplant. Each powerplant delivers power to a respective air mover for propelling the aircraft. The electric powerplant and/or the combustion powerplant is positioned outboard from the plug portion. A method for retrofitting an aircraft includes segmenting a wing of an aircraft into two original portions, positioning a plug portion between the two original portions, and connecting the plug portion to one of the two original portions, the first nacelle and/or the second nacelle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Pierre Bertrand, Jean Thomassin
  • Publication number: 20210355898
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine (ICE) has: a housing defining a rotor cavity; a rotor received within the rotor cavity to define working chambers of variable volume around the rotor, the rotor having circumferentially spaced peripheral apex seals biased radially outwardly in sliding engagement against a peripheral wall of the housing to separate the working chambers from one another, the housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough and opening into an inner surface of the peripheral wall; and an injector having a lubricant inlet hydraulically connected to a lubricant source, an actuation inlet hydraulically connected to a source of an actuation fluid, and a lubricant outlet, the injector having an open state in which the lubricant outlet is in fluid flow communication with the fluid passage upon the actuation fluid received within the injector and a closed state in which the lubricant outlet is disconnected from the fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Etienne PLAMONDON, Sebastien BERGERON, Jean THOMASSIN
  • Patent number: 11174732
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine (ICE) has: a housing defining a rotor cavity; a rotor received within the rotor cavity to define working chambers of variable volume around the rotor, the rotor having circumferentially spaced peripheral apex seals biased radially outwardly in sliding engagement against a peripheral wall of the housing to separate the working chambers from one another, the housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough and opening into an inner surface of the peripheral wall; and an injector having a lubricant inlet hydraulically connected to a lubricant source, an actuation inlet hydraulically connected to a source of an actuation fluid, and a lubricant outlet, the injector having an open state in which the lubricant outlet is in fluid flow communication with the fluid passage upon the actuation fluid received within the injector and a closed state in which the lubricant outlet is disconnected from the fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Etienne Plamondon, Sebastien Bergeron, Jean Thomassin
  • Publication number: 20210300574
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system including at least first airmover, an electric motor configured to at least partially power the at least first airmover, wherein the first airmover includes a propeller having at least a first position configured to provide thrust to the aircraft and a second position configured to recharge a power source, wherein the second position is a reverse windmilling position, and a heat engine configured to at least partially power the first air mover or a second air mover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Pierre Bertrand, Todd A. Spierling, Chad M. Henze
  • Publication number: 20210300576
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system includes at least one hybrid-electric power plant for delivering power to an air mover for propelling an aircraft. The at least one hybrid-electric power plant includes a first thermal engine and an electrical motor arranged in a parallel drive configuration or in an in-line drive configuration. The aircraft propulsion system includes a second thermal engine operatively connected to the electrical motor to power the electrical motor. A method for providing propulsion to an aircraft includes delivering power to an air mover for propelling the aircraft with at least one hybrid-electric power plant. The at least one hybrid-electric power plant includes a first thermal engine and an electrical motor arranged in a parallel drive configuration or in an in-line drive configuration. The method includes powering the electrical motor with a second thermal engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Todd A. Spierling
  • Patent number: 11124311
    Abstract: There is provided an engine assembly for an aircraft, comprising a heat engine in driving engagement with an engine shaft having a first end coupled to a mechanical gearbox and a second end opposite the first end, an electric generator coupled to the second end to provide a generator output voltage, the electric generator separate from the mechanical gearbox, a power electronics module connected to the electric generator and configured to regulate the generator output voltage to provide a regulated output voltage that meets an electrical power demand of at least one aircraft accessory, and a voltage bus connected to the power electronics module and configured to supply the regulated output voltage to the at least one aircraft accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Eric Taillon
  • Patent number: 11111848
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for an aircraft engine has: a first fuel injector having a first actuation inlet, a first fuel inlet connected to a fuel source, and a first fuel outlet connected to the at least one combustion chamber, the first fuel injector defining a first pressure ratio; a second fuel injector having a second actuation inlet, a second fuel inlet connected to the fuel source, and a second fuel outlet connected to the at least one combustion chamber, the second fuel injector defining a second pressure ratio; and an actuation fluid system having a circuit connected to the first actuation inlet and to the second actuation inlet, the first outlet pressure different than the second outlet pressure by having one or both of the first pressure ratio different than the second pressure ratio and a first actuation pressure different than a second actuation pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sebastien Bergeron, Etienne Plamondon, Jean Thomassin
  • Publication number: 20210231033
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine with a housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough opening into a portion of its inner surface engaging each peripheral or apex seal of the rotor. An injector has an inlet for fluid communication with a pressurized lubricant source and a selectively openable and closable outlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage for delivering the pressurized lubricant to each seal through the fluid passage. A housing for a Wankel engine and a method of lubricating peripheral seals of a rotor in an internal combustion engine are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Edwin SCHULZ, Etienne PLAMONDON, Jean THOMASSIN
  • Patent number: 11060449
    Abstract: An integrated turbo-compressor includes a compressor with a compressor outlet, a turbine with a turbine inlet, the turbine operatively connected to the compressor by an interconnect shaft, and a compounding drive. The compounding drive is connected to the turbine and has a variable gear ratio and an output member, the variable gear ratio coupling the turbine to the output member to compound output of an internal combustion engine using energy recovered from an exhaust flow received from the internal combustion engine and in excess of energy required to compress combustion air provided to the internal combustion engine. Internal combustion engines, aircraft, and methods of compounding output of internal combustion engines are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd A. Spierling, David S. Behling, Glenn C. Lemmers, Jr., Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 11008909
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine with a housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough opening into a portion of its inner surface engaging each peripheral or apex seal of the rotor. An injector has an inlet for fluid communication with a pressurized lubricant source and a selectively openable and closable outlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage for delivering the pressurized lubricant to each seal through the fluid passage. A housing for a Wankel engine and a method of lubricating peripheral seals of a rotor in an internal combustion engine are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Edwin Schulz, Etienne Plamondon, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 10968824
    Abstract: A compound cycle engine having an output shaft; at least two rotary units each defining an internal combustion engine, a first stage turbine, and a turbocharger is discussed. The first stage turbine includes a rotor in driving engagement with the output shaft between two of the rotary units. The exhaust port of each rotary unit is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first stage turbine upstream of its rotor. The outlet of the compressor of the turbocharger is in fluid communication with the inlet port of each rotary unit. The inlet of the second stage turbine of the turbocharger is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first stage turbine downstream of its rotor. The first stage turbine has a lower reaction ratio than that of the second stage turbine. A method of compounding at least two rotary engines is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sebastien Bolduc, Mike Fontaine, Luc Landry, Jean Thomassin