Patents by Inventor Robert Burton Brown

Robert Burton Brown 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: 11761350
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an aerial vehicle, the lubrication system including: a lubrication oil (LO) tank configured to operate at a first internal pressure; and an intake chamber (IC) configured to operate at a second internal pressure greater than the first internal pressure, the IC including an ingress port configured to receive LO from a sump of an equipment of the aerial vehicle; an overflow port in fluid communication with the LO tank; and a supply port in fluid communication with the sump and configured to supply LO to the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: General Electric Company, GE Aviation Czech s.r.o.
    Inventors: Gabriele Mariotti, Vladimir Soukup, Robert Burton Brown, Emil Paul, Jakub Biganovsky, Martin Borovicka
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220316360
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an aerial vehicle, the lubrication system including: a lubrication oil (LO) tank configured to operate at a first internal pressure; and an intake chamber (IC) configured to operate at a second internal pressure greater than the first internal pressure, the IC including an ingress port configured to receive LO from a sump of an equipment of the aerial vehicle; an overflow port in fluid communication with the LO tank; and a supply port in fluid communication with the sump and configured to supply LO to the sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Gabriele Mariotti, Vladimir Soukup, Robert Burton Brown, Emil Paul, Jakub Biganovsky, Martin Borovicka
  • 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: 11199103
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a rotating shaft extending along a centerline and a fixed housing positioned exterior to the rotating shaft in a radial direction relative to the centerline. The seal assembly includes a sump housing at least partially defining a bearing compartment for holding a cooling lubricant. The seal assembly further includes a bearing supporting the rotating shaft. In addition, the seal assembly also includes a sump seal at least partially defining the bearing compartment. A pressurized housing of the seal assembly is positioned exterior to the sump housing and defines a pressurized compartment to at least partially enclose the sump housing. Further, a non-contacting carbon seal is positioned between the rotating shaft and the fixed housing to at least partially define the pressurized compartment to enclose the sump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Kevin Richard Crain, Jonathan K. Remer, Robert Burton Brown, Nicholas Rowe Dinsmore
  • Publication number: 20200080436
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a rotating shaft extending along a centerline and a fixed housing positioned exterior to the rotating shaft in a radial direction relative to the centerline. The seal assembly includes a sump housing at least partially defining a bearing compartment for holding a cooling lubricant. The seal assembly further includes a bearing supporting the rotating shaft. In addition, the seal assembly also includes a sump seal at least partially defining the bearing compartment. A pressurized housing of the seal assembly is positioned exterior to the sump housing and defines a pressurized compartment to at least partially enclose the sump housing. Further, a non-contacting carbon seal is positioned between the rotating shaft and the fixed housing to at least partially define the pressurized compartment to enclose the sump housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Kevin Richard Crain, Jonathan K. Remer, Robert Burton Brown, Nicholas Rowe Dinsmore
  • Patent number: 6439772
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine including a bearing assembly and a damper sub-assembly that facilitate reducing dynamic motion to the rotor assembly is described. The bearing assembly includes rolling elements positioned between a paired race. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft supported by the bearing assembly. The damper sub-assembly is radially outward from the bearing assembly adjacent a sump housing, and includes a damper insert. A predetermined preload force is applied to the rolling elements. An outer race of the bearing assembly distorts to substantially match a distortion pattern of the damper insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Carl Ommundson, Robert Burton Brown, Scott Albert Tardanico
  • Publication number: 20020067870
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine including a bearing assembly and a damper sub-assembly that facilitate reducing dynamic motion to the rotor assembly is described. The bearing assembly includes rolling elements positioned between a paired race. The rotor assembly includes a rotor shaft supported by the bearing assembly. The damper sub-assembly is radially outward from the bearing assembly adjacent a sump housing, and includes a damper insert. A predetermined preload force is applied to the rolling elements. An outer race of the bearing assembly distorts to substantially match a distortion pattern of the damper insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Peter Carl Ommundson, Robert Burton Brown, Scott Albert Tardanico