Patents by Inventor Thomas Matthew Doerflein

Thomas Matthew Doerflein 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: 10125781
    Abstract: A compressor for a gas turbine engine includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes first and second stator vanes attached to first and second vane platforms, respectively. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor blades that rotate with respect to the stator. An inner stator casing supports the first and second vane platforms and encloses the stator and the rotor. An outer stator casing encloses the inner stator casing, and a bleed cavity is disposed therebetween. At least one diffuser is disposed between the first vane platform and the second vane platform, and is configured to allow air communication between the inner stator casing and the bleed cavity. An exit opening of the diffuser is disposed within the bleed cavity at a location separate from the inner stator casing and the outer stator casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Samuel Klasing, Robert Proctor, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff, Thomas Matthew Doerflein
  • Publication number: 20170191484
    Abstract: A compressor for a gas turbine engine includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes first and second stator vanes attached to first and second vane platforms, respectively. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor blades that rotate with respect to the stator. An inner stator casing supports the first and second vane platforms and encloses the stator and the rotor. An outer stator casing encloses the inner stator casing, and a bleed cavity is disposed therebetween. At least one diffuser is disposed between the first vane platform and the second vane platform, and is configured to allow air communication between the inner stator casing and the bleed cavity. An exit opening of the diffuser is disposed within the bleed cavity at a location separate from the inner stator casing and the outer stator casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin Samuel Klasing, Robert Proctor, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff, Thomas Matthew Doerflein
  • Patent number: 6783319
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine rotor includes a paired race, a bearing, a mounting joint, and a plurality of mechanical fuses. The paired race includes an outer race and an inner race. The bearing is between the inner and outer races, and is configured to support the rotor on a support frame. The mounting joint includes a joint inner race and a joint outer race. At least one of the joint inner race and the joint outer race includes a spherical surface. The mounting joint is configured to reduce dynamic loads to the gas turbine engine structure and static bending to the rotor. The plurality of mechanical fuses extend through at least one of the joint inner race and the joint outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas Matthew Doerflein, Stephen Anthony Wilton, Barry Lynn Allmon
  • Publication number: 20030210979
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a gas turbine engine rotor includes a paired race, a bearing, a mounting joint, and a plurality of mechanical fuses. The paired race includes an outer race and an inner race. The bearing is between the inner and outer races, and is configured to support the rotor on a support frame. The mounting joint includes a joint inner race and a joint outer race. At least one of the joint inner race and the joint outer race includes a spherical surface. The mounting joint is configured to reduce dynamic loads to the gas turbine engine structure and static bending to the rotor. The plurality of mechanical fuses extend through at least one of the joint inner race and the joint outer race.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Matthew Doerflein, Stephen Anthony Wilton, Barry Lynn Allmon