Patents by Inventor Robert Joseph Orlando

Robert Joseph Orlando 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: 7493754
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine including providing a core gas turbine engine at least partially defined by a frame and having a drive shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the core gas turbine engine. A low-pressure turbine is coupled to a core turbine engine. A counter-rotating fan assembly is coupled to the low-pressure turbine. The counter-rotating fan assembly includes a first fan assembly and a second fan assembly. A booster compressor is coupled to the second fan assembly. A gearbox is securely coupled to the frame so that the gearbox is circumferentially positioned about the drive shaft. The first fan assembly is rotatably coupled to an input of the gearbox such that the first fan assembly rotates in a first direction. The second fan assembly is rotatably coupled to an output of the gearbox such that the second fan assembly rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7493753
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine. The method comprises coupling a low-pressure turbine rotatable about a drive shaft to a counter-rotating fan assembly including a first fan assembly and a second fan assembly wherein the first fan assembly rotates in a first direction and the second fan assembly rotates in an opposite second direction. The method also comprises coupling a planetary gearbox substantially circumferentially about the drive shaft such that an input of the gearbox is coupled to the low-pressure turbine and an output of the gearbox is coupled to the counter-rotating fan assembly, and such that the gearbox is positioned within a lubrication fluid sump that substantially circumscribes the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7490460
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a support structure, at least one sun gear coupled within the support structure, and a plurality of planetary gears coupled within the support structure. The support structure includes a first portion, an axially aft second portion, and a thrust spring coupled between the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7490461
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine including providing a core gas turbine engine at least partially defined by a frame. The gas turbine engine has a drive shaft that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the core gas turbine engine. A counter-rotating fan assembly is coupled to the low-pressure turbine. The counter-rotating fan includes a first fan assembly that rotates in a first direction and a second fan assembly that rotates in an opposite second direction. A booster compressor is coupled to the second fan assembly. A first bearing assembly is mounted between the drive shaft and the frame and operatively coupled to the first fan assembly to transmit thrust force from the first fan assembly to the frame. A second bearing assembly is mounted with respect to the second fan assembly and operatively coupled to the second fan assembly to transfer thrust force from at least one of the second fan assembly and the booster compressor to the second bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080317585
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes first and second vanes joined to outer and inner bands. The vanes include outboard sides defining outboard flow passages containing axial splitlines, and opposite inboard sides defining an inboard flow passage without axial splitline. The two vanes include different cooling circuits for differently cooling the inboard and outboard vane sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080229751
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a longitudinal centerline axis therethrough, including: a fan section at a forward end of the gas turbine engine including at least a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft; a booster compressor positioned downstream of and in at least partial flow communication with the fan section including a plurality of stages, each stage including a stationary compressor blade row and a rotating compressor blade row connected to a drive shaft and interdigitated with the stationary compressor blade row; a core system positioned downstream of the booster compressor, the core system further comprising a combustion system for producing pulses of gas having increased pressure and temperature from a fluid flow provided to an inlet thereof so as to produce a working fluid at an outlet; a low pressure turbine positioned downstream of and in flow communication with the core system, the low pressure turbine being utilized to power the first drive shaft; and, a system for cooling the combus
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Kattalaicheri Srinivasan Venkataramani, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20080159851
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an outlet guide vane includes the steps of fabricating a structural spar from a first material, fabricating a fairing from a second material, and installing the fairing onto the spar so as to at least partially surround the spar and form an airfoil. An outlet guide vane includes an airfoil including a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar. A gas turbine engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a fan assembly including a plurality of fan blades coupled to the core gas turbine engine, and a plurality of outlet guide vanes coupled downstream from the fan blades, at least one of the outlet guide vanes including an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando, Noel Istvan Macsotai, Richard D. Cedar
  • Publication number: 20080159856
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an outlet guide vane includes the steps of fabricating a structural spar from a first material, fabricating a fairing from a second material, and installing the fairing onto the spar so as to at least partially surround the spar and form an airfoil. An outlet guide vane includes an airfoil including a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar. A gas turbine engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a fan assembly including a plurality of fan blades coupled to the core gas turbine engine, and a plurality of outlet guide vanes coupled downstream from the fan blades, at least one of the outlet guide vanes including an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando, Noel Istvan Macsotai, Richard D. Cedar
  • Publication number: 20080148708
    Abstract: A method for assembling a turbine engine assembly is provided. The turbine engine includes a core engine. The method includes coupling a first rotor spool within the engine assembly wherein the first rotor spool includes a first shaft. The method further includes coupling a second rotor spool within the engine assembly wherein the second rotor spool includes a second shaft. The method also includes coupling a third rotor spool within the engine assembly wherein the third rotor spool includes a third shaft. At least one of the first, second, and third shafts include a first end, an opposing second end, and a tubular portion extending between the first and second ends. A reinforcing layer circumscribes a portion of the tubular portion wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing layer is a metallic matrix composite (MMC) material that includes reinforcing fibers. A turbine engine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Chen Yu Jack Chou, Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, Paul Herbert Halter
  • Publication number: 20080152477
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The rotor assembly includes a compressor rotor, a compressor stator coupled upstream from the compressor rotor, and a bearing assembly coupled between the compressor rotor and the compressor stator for supporting the compressor rotor. The bearing assembly includes a pair of foil thrust bearings coupled to a portion of the compressor stator and a pair of spring packs coupled substantially co-axially to the pair of foil thrust bearings. A method of assembling the same is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080148881
    Abstract: A power take-off system for a gas turbine engine includes a starter coupled to a first spool using a first shaft, and a generator coupled to the second spool using a second shaft, the first shaft is circumferentially offset by the second shaft by an angle ?. A method of assembling a gas turbine engine assembly that includes the power take-off system, and a gas turbine engine assembly including the power take-off system are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Jan Christopher Schilling, Robert Joseph Orlando, Raymond Felix Patt
  • Publication number: 20080112791
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, combustor, and high pressure turbine operatively joined together. The turbine includes a row of nozzle vanes followed by a row of rotor blades. The vanes and blades have corresponding forward and aft internal cooling channels. First, second, third, and fourth bleed circuits are joined in flow communication with different stages of the compressor for bleeding pressurized air therefrom at different pressures to provide coolant to the forward and aft channels of the turbine vanes and blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20080112802
    Abstract: A turbofan engine assembly is provided. The turbofan engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, a fan nozzle duct defined between the core cowl and the nacelle, and an inner core cowl baffle assembly positioned within the fan nozzle duct. The inner core cowl baffle assembly includes a first core cowl baffle coupled to a portion of the core cowl within the fan nozzle duct, a second core cowl baffle coupled to a portion of the core cowl and positioned a distance radially inward from the first core cowl baffle, and an actuator assembly configured to vary the throat area of the fan nozzle duct by selectively repositioning the second core cowl baffle with respect to the first core cowl baffle. A method for operating the turbofan engine assembly is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, Jorge Francisco Seda
  • Publication number: 20080112801
    Abstract: An inner core cowl baffle assembly for a turbofan engine assembly is provided. The engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, and a fan nozzle duct defined between the core cowl and the nacelle. The inner core cowl baffle assembly includes an inner core cowl baffle, and an actuator assembly configured to vary the throat area of the fan nozzle duct by selectively repositioning the inner core cowl baffle with respect to the core cowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Jorge Francisco Seda, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080112795
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, combustor, and high pressure turbine operatively joined together. A first interstage bleed circuit is joined in flow communication between a first preultimate stage of the compressor and hollow blades in the turbine to provide thereto pressurized primary air. A second interstage bleed circuit is joined in flow communication between a second preultimate stage of the compressor and the turbine blades to provide thereto pressurized secondary air at a lower pressure than the primary air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080112793
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, combustor, and high pressure (HP) turbine operatively joined together. An interstage cooling circuit is joined in flow communication from an intermediate stage of the compressor to a forward face of an HP disk supporting a row of turbine blades for channeling interstage bleed cooling air thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080112794
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, combustor, and high pressure turbine operatively joined together. The turbine includes a nozzle followed by a row of rotor blades. A first bleed circuit is joined in flow communication between the last stage of the compressor and a forward cooling channel in vanes of the nozzle for feeding first cooling holes therein with pressurized primary air at a first pressure. A second bleed circuit is joined in flow communication between an intermediate stage of the compressor and aft cooling channels in the nozzle vanes to feed second cooling holes with pressurized secondary air at a second pressure less than the first pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080098713
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine assembly includes providing a core gas turbine engine including a high-pressure compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, coupling a low-pressure turbine to the core gas turbine engine, coupling a booster compressor to a gearbox, and coupling the gearbox to the low-pressure turbine such that the booster compressor is driven by the low-pressure turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, Jan Christopher Schilling
  • Publication number: 20080098714
    Abstract: A turbofan engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine including a high-pressure compressor, a combustor, and a high-pressure turbine, a booster compressor coupled upstream from the core gas turbine engine, an intermediate-pressure turbine coupled to the booster compressor, the intermediate-pressure turbine disposed downstream from the core gas turbine engine, a first fan assembly coupled to a low-pressure turbine, a second fan assembly disposed downstream from the first fan assembly, and a gearbox coupled between the second fan assembly and the low-pressure turbine. A method of assembling the above turbofan engine assembly is also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz