Patents by Inventor Steven Grota

Steven Grota 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).

  • Pump with axially-elongated annular seal element between inducer and impeller
    Patent number: 11560899
    Abstract: A pump includes a shaft that is rotatable about a central axis. An inducer is mounted on the shaft and has an inducer blade and inducer shroud attached at an outer end of the inducer blade. An impeller is mounted on the shaft downstream of the inducer and has an impeller blade and an impeller shroud attached at an outer end of the impeller blade. There is an axially-elongated annular seal element disposed at an axial end of the inducer shroud that provides sealing between the inducer shroud and the impeller shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: AEROJET RICKETDYNE, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Miller, Steven Grota
  • Turbopump with axially curved vane
    Patent number: 11268515
    Abstract: A turbopump includes an impeller (22) that is rotatable about an axis (A). A discharge collector (28) is located radially outward of the impeller. A passage (30) fluidly connects the impeller to the discharge collector. The passage is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: AEROJET ROCKETDYNE, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Miller, Saleh Tyebjee, Thaddeus Chilcoat, Steven Grota
  • PUMP WITH AXIALLY-ELONGATED ANNULAR SEAL ELEMENT BETWEEN INDUCER AND IMPELLER
    Publication number: 20210340989
    Abstract: A pump includes a shaft that is rotatable about a central axis. An inducer is mounted on the shaft and has an inducer blade and inducer shroud attached at an outer end of the inducer blade. An impeller is mounted on the shaft downstream of the inducer and has an impeller blade and an impeller shroud attached at an outer end of the impeller blade. There is an axially-elongated annular seal element disposed at an axial end of the inducer shroud that provides sealing between the inducer shroud and the impeller shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jeff Miller, Steven Grota
  • TURBOPUMP WITH AXIALLY CURVED VANE
    Publication number: 20170184109
    Abstract: A turbopump includes an impeller (22) that is rotatable about an axis (A). A discharge collector (28) is located radially outward of the impeller. A passage (30) fluidly connects the impeller to the discharge collector. The passage is curved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Jeff Miller, Saleh Tyebjee, Thaddeus Chilcoat, Steven Grota
  • High speed rotor assembly shroud
    Publication number: 20050214120
    Abstract: An improved rotor assembly shroud includes at least one reinforcing flange on the upper surface of the shroud. The strength provided by the reinforcing flange allows for a smaller shroud thickness resulting in a net reduction of shroud mass. The lower shroud mass reduces the centrifugal stress on the rotor assembly blade during operation. The strength provided by the reinforcing flanges also significantly reduces the centrifugal bending stress on the shroud during operation. The shroud mass may be further reduced by tapering the shroud leading and trailing edges or, for shrouds incorporating a damper, by providing a damper cavity with a lower diameter surface defining an opening therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeff Miller, Xinhong Zheng, Steven Grota, Khin Phui