Patents by Inventor William Van Sutherland

William Van Sutherland 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: 6857600
    Abstract: A two dimensional gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle includes transversely spaced apart upper and lower convergent and divergent flaps and extending longitudinally in a downstream direction and between two widthwise spaced apart sidewalls. The divergent flaps have inwardly facing upper and lower flap surfaces defining together with the sidewalls at least a part of an exhaust stream flowpath therebetween. The upper and lower flap surfaces have respective upper and lower apexes wherein the upper apex is axially spaced apart and aft of the lower apex. The upper divergent flap has an expansion ramp diverging away from the nozzle axis. The ramp extends aftwardly from the upper apex and aftwardly of a trailing edge of the lower divergent flap. The upper and lower divergent flaps are operably movable to block a line of sight along the nozzle axis through an exit of the nozzle during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Richard Walker, William Harvey Wooten, Jr., William Van Sutherland, Joseph Holowach
  • Patent number: 5690280
    Abstract: A short take off and vertical landing (STOVL) nozzle for a jet aircraft provides thrust reversing and thrust vectoring functions using two pairs of flaps. Each flap is independently actuated and controlled to allow for numerous exhaust gas exit configurations. A two dimensional or rectangular center plug extends across the nozzle throat region to allow one pair of flaps to selectively engage the plug for STOVL operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Holowach, William Van Sutherland, William Harvey Wooten