Patents by Inventor Michael A. Weisse
Michael A. Weisse 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: 10215027Abstract: An airfoil includes, among other possible things, a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Channels are formed into the main body, with a plurality of ribs extending intermediate the channels. A cover skin is attached to the main body. The cover skin is welded to the main body with a weld at outer edges. An adhesive is placed between inner surfaces of the cover skin and the main body. The adhesive is deposited inwardly of the outer edges of the cover skin. A method of constructing an airfoil is also disclosed as is a gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Michael A. Weisse
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Publication number: 20190040744Abstract: An airfoil including an airfoil body, a recessed portion of a first depth in a first side of the airfoil body, the recessed portion including a plurality of pockets of a second depth located within the recessed portion and ribs of the first depth located between the pockets, a cover configured to fit into the recessed portion such that an interior surface of the cover engages the ribs and an exterior surface of the cover is about flush with an exterior surface of the first side of the airfoil body, and a high energy beam weld configuration extending through the cover and into the ribs and positioned to attach the cover to the ribs.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2017Publication date: February 7, 2019Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Dmitri Novikov, Robert C. Dolan, Kenneth A. Frisk, Steven T. Gordon, William R. Graves, Eric W. Malmborg, Francis B. Parisi, Randy P. Salva, Michael A. Weisse, Russell A. Beers, Xuedong Zhou, Christopher Treese, Tri Nguyen
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Publication number: 20190017386Abstract: A fan blade includes first and second portions that are secured to one another and provide a cavity. The first and second portions form an exterior airfoil surface that extends in a radial direction from a root to a tip and in a chord-wise direction from a leading edge to a trailing edge. Radial ribs extend in a radial direction from the root toward the tip and are spaced apart from one another in the chord-wise direction. First and second angled ribs intersect one another at a first apex. The radial ribs intersect at least one of the first and second angled ribs. The first and second angled ribs are at an angle relative to one of the radial ribs. The angle is in a range of 45°+/?30°.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2017Publication date: January 17, 2019Inventors: Eric W. Malmborg, Michael A. Weisse
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Patent number: 10060271Abstract: A shrouded airfoil may have a suction surface and a pressure surface. An at least first suction surface shroud may be disposed on the suction surface and an at least first pressure surface shroud may be disposed on the pressure surface. The at least first suction surface shroud may include a first and second contoured surface and a first mating face. The first contoured surface may have a first substantially concave portion and a first substantially convex portion. The second contoured surface may have a second substantially concave portion and a second substantially convex portion. The at least first pressure surface shroud may include a third and fourth contoured surface and a second mating face. The third contoured surface may have a third substantially concave portion and a third substantially convex portion. The fourth contoured surface may have a fourth substantially concave portion and a fourth substantially convex portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Michael A. Weisse
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Patent number: 10060266Abstract: Hollow fan blades for gas turbine engines are disclosed. The hollow fan blades include a body having a convex side and a concave side wherein the convex side has a cavity formed therein. The cavity is covered by two covers including an inner cover that may be adhered to the body of the fan blade assembly and an outer cover that may be adhered to the inner cover and/or the body of the fan blade assembly. The covers may be made of titanium, more than two covers may be employed and more than one cavity may be employed.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: James Cosby, Michael A. Weisse, Kwan Hui
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Patent number: 9909429Abstract: A blade for use in a gas turbine engine has an airfoil and a dovetail. The airfoil extends radially outwardly of the dovetail. An inner surface of the dovetail includes a slot extending along a length of the dovetail between a leading edge and a trailing edge. A rotor and a gas turbine engine are also disclose.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: James Cosby, Kwan Hui, Michael A. Weisse
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Patent number: 9896941Abstract: A fan blade for a turbofan gas turbine engine is disclosed. The fan blade includes a body having a pressure side and a suction side and a cover. The suction side of the body includes an opening exposing at least one cavity to reduce the weight of the fan blade. The cover overlays the opening and includes a leading portion and a trailing portion that are tapered in the direction of the cover leading edge and cover trailing edge.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kwan Hui, Michael A. Weisse, Larry Foster
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Publication number: 20180030995Abstract: A fan blade includes a metallic body, a first composite cover, and a second composite cover. The metallic body may have a first side, a second side, a plurality of first retention slots, and a plurality of second retention slots, in accordance with various embodiments. The first and second retention slots may extend from the first side to the second side of the metallic body. The first composite cover may be coupled to the first side of the metallic body and may include a plurality of first fingers that extend through the first retention slots and are coupled to the second side of the metallic body. The second composite cover may be coupled to the second side of the metallic body and may include a plurality of second fingers that extend through the second retention slots and are coupled to the first side of the metallic body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2016Publication date: February 1, 2018Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: Michael A. Weisse
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Patent number: 9765627Abstract: An airfoil includes a dovetail root having a base. A grooved slot is disposed in the base and a plurality of root lightening cavities is disposed in the grooved slot.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kwan Hui, Michael A. Weisse, James Cosby
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Patent number: 9752441Abstract: A rotary blade is provided that includes a root, an airfoil, and a tip insert. The airfoil is attached to the root, and has a suction side surface, a pressure side surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip, and a slot disposed within the tip. The slot extends in a chordwise direction between the leading edge and trailing edge. The tip insert has a base end and a rub end. The base end of the tip insert is disposed within the slot. The rub end of the tip insert extends radially outward from the airfoil tip.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Gregory C. Hildebrand, James O. Hansen, Joseph Parkos, Jr., Michael A. Weisse, Christopher J. Hertel, Jesse Meyer
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Patent number: 9657577Abstract: An airfoil comprises an airfoil body with an internal cavity and inner and outer covers. The airfoil body defines a first major surface of the airfoil, and a rib extends along the internal cavity. The inner cover is bonded to the airfoil body over the internal cavity, and includes a coupling element extending along the internal cavity in cooperative engagement with the rib. The outer cover is bonded to the airfoil body over the inner cover, and defines a second major surface of the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Michael A. Weisse
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Patent number: 9650897Abstract: A fan blade comprises an airfoil portion and a sheath portion. The sheath portion has a sheath head section, a first sheath flank, and a second sheath flank, both flanks extending chordwise from the forward sheath section. The sheath portion is bonded to the airfoil portion such that the sheath head section covers the forward airfoil edge, defining a blade leading edge. The first sheath flank covers a portion of the first airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade suction surface. The second sheath flank covers a portion of the second airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade pressure surface. The first metallic material is an aluminum alloy containing between about 0.5 wt % and about 3.0 wt % of lithium.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: James L. Deal, John J. Schirra, Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, James O. Hansen, Michael A. Weisse, Thomas J. Watson
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Patent number: 9650902Abstract: A fan section for a gas turbine engine includes a fan hub having a slot. A platform is supported by the fan hub. A fan blade has a root that is received in the slot. A wear pad is provided between the fan hub and the root and includes a flap integral with the wear pad to provide a seal relative to the platform. A fan blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil extending from a root. A wear pad is secured to the root and has a free end providing a flap canted toward the root.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Scott C. Billings, James O. Hansen, Michael A. Weisse
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Publication number: 20170058916Abstract: A gas turbine fan fairing platform includes at least one body defining a surface and having an opening receptive to a blade, a protrusion extending outwardly from the surface in a direction that will position the protrusion along a leading edge near a root of the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2015Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Michael A. Weisse, Jordan J. Franklin, Patrick James McComb
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Patent number: 9562438Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor includes a hub having a slot. A blade includes a root received in the slot. An under-root area is provided between the root and the fan hub in the slot. A spacer includes first and second portions that cooperate with one another to provide an adjustment feature with discrete height settings. The adjustment feature provides different radial heights of the spacer. The spacer is arranged in the under-root area beneath the root.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Santiago Lattanzio, Michael A. Weisse
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Patent number: 9506353Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan with a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis. Each of the plurality of fan blades includes a mid-span shroud and a speed change device in communication with the fan.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Michael A. Weisse, Steven H. Zysman
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Publication number: 20160305443Abstract: An airfoil for a turbine engine includes an airfoil body with a cover mounting support, a first cover, and a second cover. The airfoil body includes a solid perimeter portion surrounding a recess formed into at least one of a suction side and a pressure side of the airfoil body, while the cover mounting support extends through the recess. The first cover can be engaged with a first edge of the recess and joined to a first portion of the cover mounting support by a first stir weld. The second cover can be engaged with a second edge of the recess, and joined to a second portion of the cover mounting support by a second stir weld.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Michael A. Weisse
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Patent number: 9453418Abstract: A hollow article includes a metallic hollow article formed from a having a first major surface, an internal cavity with an opening in the first major surface, and a socket around the opening; a cover of composite material received in the socket and covering the opening; and a filler material of foam in the internal cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2012Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Kwan Hui, Michael A. Weisse, Darin S. Lussier, Hillary Anne Huttenhower
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Publication number: 20160265548Abstract: A fan blade has a blade body, a composite rib and a cover. The blade body extends from a blade root to an opposed blade tip along a longitudinal axis. The blade body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first airfoil surface extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge A pocket is defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the blade root, and the blade tip. The pocket has a bottom surface that opposes the first air-foil surface across the blade body. The composite rib is disposed in the pocket. The cover is mounted to the composite rib and the blade body to form a second airfoil surface opposed to the first airfoil surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2014Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Michael A. Weisse, Kwan Hui
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Publication number: 20160252104Abstract: A fan blade includes a blade body, a composite segment and a cover. The blade body extends from a blade root to an opposed blade tip along a longitudinal axis. The blade body defines a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first airfoil surface extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A pocket is defined between the leading edge, the trailing edge, the blade root and the blade tip. The pocket has a bottom surface that opposes the first airfoil surface across the blade body. The composite segment is disposed in the pocket. The cover is mounted to the composite segment and to the blade body to form a second airfoil surface opposed to the first airfoil surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2014Publication date: September 1, 2016Inventors: Kwan Hui, Michael A. Weisse