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: 10533487
    Abstract: An engine assembly including an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine each including a rotor sealingly and rotationally received within a respective internal cavity to provide rotating chambers of variable volume in the respective internal cavity, a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the engine core, a first intake conduit in fluid communication with an inlet of the compressor and with a first source of air, a second intake conduit in fluid communication with the inlet of the compressor and with a second source of air warmer than the first source of air, and a selector valve configurable to selectively open and close at least the fluid communication between the inlet of the compressor and the first intake conduit. A method of supplying air to a compressor is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Sebastien Bolduc, Bruno Villeneuve, Stephane Berube, Mike Fontaine, David Gagnon-Martin, Andre Julien, Mark Cunningham, Serge LaFortune, Pierre-Yves Legare
  • Patent number: 10533489
    Abstract: A compound engine assembly including a common air conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with ambient air, a compressor, at least one internal combustion engine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the compressor, a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the at least one internal combustion engine, the turbine section configured to compound power with the at least one internal combustion engine, and at least one heat exchanger in fluid communication with the common air conduit, each of the at least one heat exchanger configured to circulate a fluid of the engine assembly in heat exchange relationship with an airflow from the common air conduit circulating therethrough. The compressor has an inlet in fluid communication with the common air conduit upstream of the at least one heat exchanger. The internal combustion engine may be a reciprocating engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Sebastien Bolduc, Bruno Villeneuve, Stephane Berube, Mike Fontaine, David Gagnon-Martin, Andre Julien, Mark Cunningham, Serge Lafortune, Pierre-Yves Legare
  • Patent number: 10533492
    Abstract: A compound engine assembly with an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine, a turbine section, and a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the engine core. A casing is connected to the turbine section, compressor and engine core. A mount cage is connected to mounts attached to the casing between the compressor and a hot zone including the turbine section and exhaust pipe(s). The struts are separated from the hot zone by at least one firewall. The mount cage may include a plurality of struts all extending from the mounts away from the turbine section and engine core. The casing may be a gearbox module casing through which the turbine shaft in engaged with the engine shaft. The mount cage may be completely contained within an axial space with the turbine section and exhaust pipe(s) being located outside of the axial space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Mike Fontaine, Andre Julien, Michael Gaul, Jean Thomassin, Lazar Mitrovic, Ilya B. Medvedev, Sergey Usikov, Andrey Zolotov
  • Patent number: 10533500
    Abstract: A compound engine assembly with an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine, a turbine section, and a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the engine core. A casing is connected to the turbine section, the compressor and the engine core. A mount cage is connected to mounts attached to the casing between the compressor and a hot zone including the turbine section and the engine core. The mount cage includes a plurality of struts all extending from the mounts away from the turbine section and engine core. The casing may be a gearbox module casing through which the turbine shaft in engaged with the engine shaft. The mount cage may be completely contained within an axial space with the turbine section and engine core being located outside of the axial space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Mike Fontaine, Andre Julien, Michael Gaul, Jean Thomassin, Lazar Mitrovic, Ilya B. Medvedev, Sergey Usikov, Andrey Zolotov
  • Patent number: 10501200
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit having internal combustion engine(s) in driving engagement with an engine shaft, a generator having a generator shaft drivingly engaged to the engine shaft, a compressor having an outlet in communication with the internal combustion engine inlet, and a turbine having an inlet in communication with the internal combustion engine outlet. The turbine may be a first stage turbine, and the assembly may include a second stage turbine having an inlet in communication with the first stage turbine outlet. A method of providing electrical power to an aircraft is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Richard Ullyott, Anthony Jones, Andre Julien, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 10450952
    Abstract: A turbofan engine assembly including an internal combustion engine in fluid communication between a compressor and a turbine, the internal combustion engine having an engine shaft, a bypass duct surrounding the internal combustion engine, and a fan drivingly engaged to the engine shaft via a gearbox, the gearbox configured to increase an output speed of the fan relative to an input speed of the engine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Andre Julien, Jean Thomassin, Serge Dussault
  • Patent number: 10428734
    Abstract: A compound engine assembly with an inlet duct having an inlet surrounded by an inlet lip including at least one conduit extending therethrough, a compressor, an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine, a turbine section having a turbine shaft in driving engagement with the engine shaft, and an exhaust conduit providing a fluid communication between the outlet of the turbine section and the conduit(s) of the inlet lip. An exhaust duct and ant exhaust conduit providing a fluid communication between the outlet of the turbine section and the exhaust duct may also be provided. The internal combustion engine(s) may be rotary engine(s). A method of driving a rotatable load of an aircraft is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Mike Fontaine, Andre Julien, Michael Gaul, Jean Thomassin, Ilya B. Medvedev, Sergey Usikov, Andrey Zolotov
  • Patent number: 10408123
    Abstract: An engine assembly including an engine core with at least one internal combustion engine, a first casing, a turbine module including a second casing located outside of the first casing, and a compressor module including a third casing located outside of the first and second casings. The turbine shaft extends into the first casing, is rotationally supported by a bearings all contained within the first casing, and is free of rotational support within the second casing. The first casing may be a gearbox module casing through which the turbine shaft is in driving engagement with the engine shaft. A method of driving a rotatable load of an aircraft, and an engine assembly with a rotary engine core, a gearbox module with a first casing, and a second module including a second casing located outside of the first casing and detachably connected to the first casing are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Mike Fontaine, Andre Julien, Michael Gaul, Jean Thomassin, Lazar Mitrovic, Ilya B. Medvedev, Sergey Usikov, Andrey Zolotov
  • Publication number: 20190256217
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft having a propeller, including a wheel well for a retracted landing gear, first and second cooling ducts; and an engine assembly having an engine shaft configured for driving engagement with the propeller, the engine assembly including a coolant circulation system for circulation of a liquid coolant, a lubricant circulation system for circulation of a lubricant, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with at least the coolant circulation system, and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with at least the lubricant circulation system. Each heat exchanger is positioned and configured for receiving a cooling airflow from the respective cooling duct. The wheel well is located between the heat exchangers. A method of cooling a lubricant and a liquid coolant of an engine assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Luc DIONNE, Bruno VILLENEUVE, Jean THOMASSIN
  • Publication number: 20190256216
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft having a propeller, including an engine assembly having an engine shaft configured for driving engagement with the propeller. The engine assembly includes first and second heat exchangers configured for circulation of at least one of a liquid coolant and a lubricant therethrough. A wheel well is configured for receiving a retracted landing gear. A first cooling duct receives the first heat exchanger and has a first outlet downstream of the first heat exchanger, and a second cooling duct receives the second heat exchanger and has a second outlet downstream of the second heat exchanger. The outlets are in direct fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft, and laterally spaced from each other. The wheel well is located between the outlets. A method of cooling an engine assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Luc DIONNE, Bruno VILLENEUVE, Jean THOMASSIN
  • Publication number: 20190256214
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft having a propeller, including a wheel well configured for receiving a retracted landing gear, the wheel well including walls and a closable bottom opening for deploying the landing gear therethrough, an engine assembly having an engine shaft configured for driving engagement with the propeller, and a mount assembly for supporting the engine assembly, the mount assembly connected to at least one of the walls of the wheel well. A method of supporting an engine assembly in an aircraft having a retractable landing gear and a propeller driven by the engine assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Luc DIONNE, Bruno VILLENEUVE, Jean THOMASSIN
  • Patent number: 10371060
    Abstract: A compound engine assembly with an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine, a turbine section including a turbine shaft in driving engagement with the engine shaft, and a compressor, and a firewall. The compressor is located on one side of the firewall, and the turbine section and the engine core are located on the other side. The assembly may include a gearbox module with the turbine section and the engine core located on a same side of the gearbox module casing and the compressor located on the opposite side of the gearbox module casing, and with the firewall extending from the gearbox module casing. One or more rotatable accessory may be located on a same side of the firewall as the compressor. A method of reducing fire hazard in a compound engine assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Sylvain Lamarre, Andre Julien, Michael Gaul, Jean Thomassin, Ilya B. Medvedev, Sergey Usikov, Andrey Zolotov
  • Publication number: 20190218998
    Abstract: An engine assembly for an aircraft, including an internal combustion engine having a liquid coolant system in fluid communication with a heat exchanger, an exhaust duct in fluid communication with air passages of the heat exchanger, a fan in fluid communication with the exhaust duct for driving a cooling air flow through the air passages of the heat exchanger and into the exhaust duct, and an intermediate duct in fluid communication with an exhaust of the engine and having an outlet positioned within the exhaust duct downstream of the fan and upstream of the outlet of the exhaust duct. The outlet of the intermediate duct is spaced inwardly from a peripheral wall of the exhaust duct. The engine assembly may be configured as an auxiliary power unit. A method of discharging air and exhaust gases in an auxiliary power unit having an internal combustion engine is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Andre JULIEN, Jean THOMASSIN, Maxime COURTOIS, Bruno VILLENEUVE, Richard ULLYOTT, Serge DUSSAULT, Luc DIONNE, Serge LAFORTUNE, Anthony JONES, Behzad HAGSHENAS, David H. MENHEERE
  • Publication number: 20190211741
    Abstract: There is described a system and method for controlling a temperature in the subchamber of a rotary engine. At least one first measurement of at least one engine operating parameter, a second measurement of the actual value of a temperature in the subchamber, and at least one third measurement of at least one aircraft operating parameter are received. A setpoint for the temperature in the subchamber is determined from the at least one first measurement and the at least one third measurement. At least one control signal is output to the engine for adjusting the actual value of the temperature in the subchamber towards the setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Edwin Schulz
  • Patent number: 10344870
    Abstract: In one aspect, described is a rotor for a Wankel engine comprising two circumferentially spaced apart apex seals at each of the apex portions with each apex seal protruding axially from both end faces, and each apex seal having a first biasing member biasing the apex seal radially outwardly away from the peripheral face of the body, and a second biasing member biasing the apex seal axially outwardly away from a respective one of the end faces, the two apex seals of a same one of the apex portions being biased by the respective second biasing member in opposite axial directions from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eugene Gekht, Jean Thomassin, Sebastien Bolduc, David Gagnon-Martin
  • Publication number: 20190203620
    Abstract: A turboprop engine assembly for an aircraft, including an internal combustion engine having a liquid coolant system, an air duct in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft, a heat exchanger received within the air duct having coolant passages in fluid communication with the liquid coolant system and air passages air passages in fluid communication with the air duct, and an exhaust duct in fluid communication with an exhaust of the internal combustion engine. The exhaust duct has an outlet positioned within the air duct downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of an outlet of the air duct, the outlet of the exhaust duct spaced inwardly from a peripheral wall of the air duct. In use, a flow of cooling air surrounds a flow of exhaust gases. A method of discharging air and exhaust gases in an turboprop engine assembly having an internal combustion engine is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Andre JULIEN, Serge DUSSAULT, Jean THOMASSIN
  • Publication number: 20190186352
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft, including an internal combustion engine having a liquid coolant system, a generator drivingly engaged to the internal combustion engine and having a liquid coolant system distinct from the liquid coolant system of the internal combustion engine, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the liquid coolant system of the internal combustion engine, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the liquid coolant system of the generator, an exhaust duct in fluid communication with air passages of the heat exchangers, and a fan received in the exhaust duct and rotatable by the internal combustion engine for driving a cooling air flow through the air passages. The liquid coolant system of the engine may be distinct from fuel and lubricating systems of the auxiliary power unit. A method of cooling a generator and an internal combustion engine is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony JONES, Andre JULIEN, Jean THOMASSIN, Richard ULLYOTT, David MENHEERE
  • Publication number: 20190186351
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a rotary intermittent internal combustion engine drivingly engaged to an engine shaft, a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the engine(s), the turbine section including at least one turbine compounded with the engine shaft, and a compressor having an inlet in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft and an outlet in fluid communication with a bleed duct for providing bleed air to the aircraft, the compressor having a compressor rotor connected to a compressor shaft, the compressor shaft drivingly engaged to the engine shaft. The driving engagement between the compressor shaft and the engine shaft is configurable to provide at least two alternate speed ratios between the compressor shaft and the engine shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony JONES, Andre JULIEN, David MENHEERE, Jean THOMASSIN, Richard ULLYOTT, Daniel VAN DEN ENDE
  • Patent number: 10280830
    Abstract: There is described a system and method for controlling a temperature in the subchamber of a rotary engine. At least one first measurement of at least one engine operating parameter and a second measurement indicative of a present temperature in the subchamber are received. A setpoint for the temperature in the subchamber is computed from the at least one first measurement. In response to the second measurement, at least one control signal indicative of a request to adjust the present temperature towards the setpoint is generated and sent to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jean Thomassin, Edwin Schulz
  • Publication number: 20190128178
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit for an aircraft includes a rotary intermittent internal combustion engine, a turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the engine, the turbine compounded with the engine, a compressor having an inlet in fluid communication with an environment of the aircraft and an outlet in fluid communication with the aircraft, the compressor rotatable independently of the turbine, an electric motor drivingly engaged to the compressor, and a transfer generator drivingly engaged to the engine, the transfer generator and the electric motor being electrically connected to allow power transfer therebetween. The compressor or an additional compressor may be in fluid communication with the inlet of the engine. A method of operating an auxiliary power unit of an aircraft is also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Anthony JONES, Andre JULIEN, David MENHEERE, Jean THOMASSIN, Richard ULLYOTT, Daniel VAN DEN ENDE