Patents by Inventor Kenneth S. Scheffel

Kenneth S. Scheffel 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: 8616834
    Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus includes: (a) an airfoil having opposed pressure and suction sides, a root, a tip, and spaced-apart leading and trailing edges; and (b) a plenum integrally formed within the airfoil which is configured to receive a flow of circulating working fluid; and (c) inlet and outlet ports communicating with the plenum and an exterior of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Glenn Knight, III, Bojan Lukovic, Daniel Laborie, Kenneth S. Scheffel
  • Publication number: 20110268562
    Abstract: A heat exchanger apparatus includes: (a) an airfoil having opposed pressure and suction sides, a root, a tip, and spaced-apart leading and trailing edges; and (b) a plenum integrally formed within the airfoil which is configured to receive a flow of circulating working fluid; and (c) inlet and outlet ports communicating with the plenum and an exterior of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Glenn Knight, III, Bojan Lukovic, Daniel Laborie, Kenneth S. Scheffel
  • Patent number: 7673442
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbofan engine assembly is provided. The turbofan engine assembly includes a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, a fan nozzle duct having an area defined between the core cowl and a portion of the nacelle, a first cowl and a second cowl that define a portion of the nacelle wherein the second cowl is repositionable with respect to the first cowl, and a thrust reverser assembly wherein the second cowl surrounds the thrust reverser assembly. The method includes varying an operating speed of the fan assembly from a first operating speed to a second operating speed. The method further includes selectively positioning the second cowl between a first operational position and a second operational position to vary the area of the fan nozzle duct to facilitate improving engine efficiency at the second operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jorge Francisco Seda, Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando, Alan Roy Stuart, Kenneth S. Scheffel
  • Publication number: 20080110153
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbofan engine assembly is provided. The turbofan engine assembly includes a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, a fan nozzle duct having an area defined between the core cowl and a portion of the nacelle, a first cowl and a second cowl that define a portion of the nacelle wherein the second cowl is repositionable with respect to the first cowl, and a thrust reverser assembly wherein the second cowl surrounds the thrust reverser assembly. The method includes varying an operating speed of the fan assembly from a first operating speed to a second operating speed. The method further includes selectively positioning the second cowl between a first operational position and a second operational position to vary the area of the fan nozzle duct to facilitate improving engine efficiency at the second operating speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Jorge Francisco Seda, Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando, Alan Roy Stuart, Kenneth S. Scheffel