Gas Turbine Patents (Class 184/6.11)
  • Patent number: 10519804
    Abstract: An oil chamber wall arrangement is described as comprising: a chamber wall surrounding a rotor; a plurality of apertures defining through-holes for a flow of oil through the chamber wall, the apertures being defined by a pair of axially separated opposing walls and a pair of circumferentially opposing walls wherein the circumferentially opposing walls are separated by a midline which is radial to the rotational axis of the rotor and at least one of the pair of circumferentially opposing walls is not parallel to the radial midline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Merijn Alexander Brand Van Den Berg
  • Patent number: 10513949
    Abstract: A fluid circulation system may comprise a main pump configured to provide oil to a journal bearing. An auxiliary system including a pump system may be configured to provide oil to the journal bearing. A manifold may be configured to mix the oil from the main pump with oil from the auxiliary system. A journal delivery line may be configured to deliver the oil from the manifold to the journal bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Justin W. Heiss
  • Patent number: 10502141
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling a pressure differential across one or more seals of a bearing chamber in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a scavenge pump in fluid communication with an interior of the bearing chamber for driving oil from the bearing chamber; and a venting valve. The venting valve is configured to cause venting of the interior of the bearing chamber in parallel to the scavenge pump based on the pressure differential across the one or more seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Adam Logan, Ritchie Domingo
  • Patent number: 10502263
    Abstract: A turbocharger can include a housing that includes an interior cavity in fluid communication with a lubricant inlet and a lubricant outlet where, at a compressor side, the interior cavity includes an effective opening at a first axial face that spans an azimuthal angle about an axis of a through bore of the housing; a compressor side plate disposed at least in part in a compressor side recess of the housing; and a lubricant deflector plate disposed between the compressor side plate and the first axial face of the housing where the lubricant deflector plate includes an effective opening that substantially spans the azimuthal angle about the axis and where the lubricant deflector plate defines a seal cavity with respect to a compressor side seal recess of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Wood, Philippe Noelle, Xiao Lei Jin
  • Patent number: 10495106
    Abstract: A compressor airfoil of a turbine engine having a geared architecture includes pressure and suction sides and extends in a radial direction from a 0% span position to a 100% span position. The airfoil has a relationship between a trailing edge angle and span position that defines a curve with a non-negative slope from 0% span to 20% span corresponding to a non-decreasing trailing edge angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Lisa I. Brilliant, Joseph C. Straccia, Stanley J. Balamucki, Mark A. Stephens, Kate Hudon
  • Patent number: 10494998
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear system includes a sun gear, a ring gear, and two or more star gear assemblies enmeshed between the sun gear and the ring gear. Each star gear assembly includes a star gear and a journal bearing supportive of the star gear. The journal bearing includes one or more lubricant passageways to deliver a flow of lubricant to a selected location of the star gear assembly, wherein a first cross-sectional area of a lubricant passage of a first journal bearing of the two or more star gear assemblies is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the corresponding lubricant passage of a second journal bearing of the two or more star gear assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 10480576
    Abstract: The present invention improves the drainability of lubricating oil. The present invention comprises: a rotating shaft (14); a journal bearing that is provided to the rotating shaft (14) and rotationally supports the rotating shaft (14); a bearing housing part that houses the journal bearing; and a drain oil space chamber (47) that acts as an oil drainage passage that communicates with the bearing housing part, is provided along the periphery of the rotating shaft (14), and is formed to open downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Kojima, Tatsuya Ishizaki, Yosuke Dammoto, Yoji Akiyama
  • Patent number: 10473207
    Abstract: An oil-drain device for a thrust bearing includes: a rotor shaft; a collar member mounted to an outer periphery of the rotor shaft; a thrust bearing supporting the rotor shaft in an axial direction; and an oil-drain space forming member defining an oil-drain space through which lubricant oil leaking from a sliding portion of the thrust bearing flows, between the thrust bearing and the oil-drain space forming member. The oil-drain space includes: an oil-drain channel defined between a first end surface of the thrust bearing and a first end surface of the oil-drain space forming member, surrounding the flange portion of the collar member; and an oil-drain port formed below the oil-drain channel, for discharging the lubricant oil flowing through the oil-drain channel outside the oil-drain space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Tadasuke Nishioka, Yosuke Danmoto, Isao Tomita, Takashi Nambu, Yoji Akiyama, Yuya Kojima, Tatsuya Ishizaki, Seigi Yano, Takaya Futae, Motoki Ebisu
  • Patent number: 10450894
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with an engine, comprising: a bearing compartment, a scavenge line coupled to the bearing compartment at a first end of the scavenge line that receives a fluid via the first end of the scavenge line, a fluid pump coupled to the scavenge line at a second end of the scavenge line to receive the fluid, and a flow control valve having a variable flow area and disposed in the scavenge line to control flow of the fluid in the scavenge line and the fluid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Russell B. Witlicki, Joseph J. Sodaro, Denman H. James
  • Patent number: 10451471
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for tuning a twin screw positive displacement pump having a signal processor with a signal processor to receive signaling containing information about actual pump performance data for actual rated conditions captured during a tuning function related to the operation of a twin screw positive displacement pump; and determine corrected pump performance data to operate the rotary positive displacement pump by compensating pump performance data being used for operating the twin screw positive displacement pump based at least partly on the actual pump performance data for the actual rated conditions captured during the tuning function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Anthony E. Stavale
  • Patent number: 10436055
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft comprises a gas generator including a turbine driving a main drive shaft, the main drive shaft, in turn, driving at least two fan drive shafts, wherein the at least two fan drive shafts are driven on non-coaxial axes, the fan drive shaft each driving a fan rotor through a fan drive system. A fan lubrication system provides lubrication to each of the fan drive systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10436209
    Abstract: A turbomachine such as a turbocharger with an air journal bearing and an air thrust bearing arrangement with a fixed air journal bearing connected in series with a floating air journal bearing connected by a hollow spring to supply compressed air from the fixed air journal bearing to the floating air journal bearing, and a forward air thrust bearing and an aft air thrust bearing connected in parallel to a source of compressed air. An air vent cavity is formed between the forward bearing and the aft bearing in which compressed air from all four bearings can be collected and discharged from a housing. Some of the compressed air from the forward thrust bearing is discharged with a compressor outlet, and some of the compressed air from the aft thrust bearing is discharged into a turbine inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: FLORIDA TURBINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Alex Pinera, Stephen M Brooks
  • Patent number: 10378556
    Abstract: A guide vane for a dual flow aircraft turbine engine includes an aerodynamic part. The aerodynamic part includes an inner duct for lubricant cooling extending in a main direction and being partly bounded by a pressure side wall and a suction side wall of the vane. The aerodynamic part is embodied as a single piece, and includes heat transfer fins arranged in the duct expanding substantially parallel to a direction of the duct. The fins are spaced from each other depending on the direction of the duct and a transversal direction of the vane, so that at least some of the fins are arranged substantially staggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Cedric Zaccardi, Mohamed-Lamine Boutaleb, Sebastien Christophe Chalaud, Eric Pierre Georges Lemarechal, Thierry Georges Paul Papin
  • Patent number: 10316856
    Abstract: A casing for use in a turbofan engine is provided. The casing includes an inner hub including a first fluid opening defined at bottom dead center of the casing. The casing also includes an intermediate casing positioned radially outward from the inner hub, an outer casing positioned radially outward from the intermediate casing, and struts spaced circumferentially about the inner hub and extending between the inner hub and the outer casing. The struts include a first strut and a second strut positioned on opposing sides of bottom dead center of the casing such that a first fluid sump is defined between the inner hub, the intermediate casing, and the first and second struts. At least one of said first and second struts includes a flow channel extending therethrough such that a fluid flow path is defined from the first fluid opening, through the first fluid sump, and through the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Andrew Michael Tompkins, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 10309307
    Abstract: A method of supplying a bearing compartment with fluid includes the steps of pumping a fluid from a main reservoir to a bearing compartment through a main supply passage which includes one or more passage segments. During a positive gravity condition, the pumping step is performed using a main pump arranged in the main supply passage. The main reservoir includes upper and lower portions. The main supply passage is in fluid communication with the lower portion. Fluid is provided from the main reservoir to the bearing compartment through a secondary supply passage that is fluidly connected to at least one segment of the main supply passage in response to a negative gravity condition. The secondary supply passage is in fluid communication with the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Paul H. Dolman
  • Patent number: 10302187
    Abstract: A reduction gear having an epicyclic gear train for a turbine engine, in particular of an aircraft, comprising: a planetary shaft having an axis of rotation A; a ring gear having an axis A extending around said planetary shaft; planet gears distributed around said axis A, which mesh with said ring gear and the planetary shaft; and a planet carrier including members for supporting bearings of the planet gears, having axes of rotation B, which are evenly distributed around the axis A, as well as a part holding each supporting member substantially by the middle thereof along the axis B thereof, wherein said supporting members are made as a single part having means for supplying lubricating oil to said bearings. A method for assembling said reduction gear is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Jérémy Phorla Lao, Olivier Belmonte, Clémentine Charlotte Marie Mouton, Thomas Julien Nguyen Van, Emmanuel Pierre Dimitri Patsouris
  • Patent number: 10301969
    Abstract: Oil tanks for gas turbine engines and associated assembly methods are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, an oil tank is configured to be installed to occupy a radially-inner space defined by an annular radial air inlet duct of a reverse flow gas turbine engine. The oil tank may comprise a first tank portion and a second tank portion assembled together to cooperatively define an interior volume of the tank. An optional intermediate spacer may be disposed between the first tank portion and the second tank portion in order to form an oil tank of a larger size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michel Desjardins, Francis Bonacorsi
  • Patent number: 10295042
    Abstract: A driveshaft for an aircraft ram air turbine, the driveshaft including a cylindrical body having an outer surface, an inner surface, a longitudinal axis, a first end section, a second end section opposite the first end section, and an elongated intermediate section connecting the first end section and the second end section. The outer surfaces of the elongated intermediate section includes at least three separate grooves initiating at a location proximate to the first end section and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis across the outer surface to a location proximate to the second end section, the grooves being separated equidistantly around a circumference of the outer surface. The grooves provide a high lateral bending stiffness and low torsional stiffness such that a drivetrain operates at a frequency below an operating range frequency and the driveshaft at a critical speed above an operating speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Everett Russ
  • Patent number: 10287915
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a gutter and a gear train with an axial centerline. The gutter is disposed radially outside of the axial centerline. The gutter at least partially circumscribes the gear train, and includes an inner surface and a channel. The channel receives fluid directed out of the gear train. The channel extends radially into the gutter from the inner surface to a channel end, and circumferentially to a channel outlet. At least a portion of the channel has a cross-sectional channel geometry that tapers axially as the channel extends radially towards the channel end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 10247036
    Abstract: A pressure fed oil drain for gas turbine engine (10) includes an oil sump (48) and a passage (60, 63) in selective flow communication with the oil sump (48), the passage in flow communication with a drain (62), the passage being pressurized and creating a differential between the passage and ambient atmosphere (65), the drain is disposed at an elevation beneath a passage feature (64) when the turbine engine is disposed at an extreme attitude angle, the passage (63) extending upwardly when in the extreme attitude angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Michael Do, Keith Lloyd Jones
  • Patent number: 10233798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (11) for cooling oil for a turbine engine, such as an aircraft turbojet or turboprop engine, characterized in that it comprises a duct (12) for circulating a flow of cold air (F1), means (16) for injecting oil into the duct, and means (19) for extracting the oil mixed with the flow of cold air (F1), located in the duct (12), downstream from the injection means (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Muller, Pierre Charles Mouton
  • Patent number: 10208625
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a gas-turbine engine is provided. The method includes the steps of removing a conduit from the gas-turbine engine, installing a temporary oil filter in place of the conduit in the gas-turbine engine, and starting the gas-turbine engine with the temporary oil filter installed. A fan-drive gear system is also provided and comprises a journal bearing, a main oil pump fluidly coupled to the journal bearing, a main oil filter fluidly coupled between the journal bearing and the main oil pump, and an auxiliary oil pump fluidly coupled to the journal bearing. The auxiliary oil pump may be configured to supply oil to the journal bearing on startup. An auxiliary oil filter may also be installed between the auxiliary oil pump and the journal bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan D. Korn, Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 10167731
    Abstract: A turbomachine for an aircraft, comprising a rotor shaft, a turbomachine case, a lubricated bearing chamber, at least one bearing supporting the rotor shaft and being located in the bearing chamber, a lubrication device comprising oil injection means to inject oil into the bearing chamber, and oil supply means to supply oil to said oil injection means, and an electric current generator, comprising an armature driven by the rotor shaft and a field coil fixed to the turbomachine case. The generator has an orifice, which passes longitudinally through the generator from one end to the other, and the oil injection means pass through the orifice so that oil can circulate in the axial direction through the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Augustin Marc Michel Curlier, Nicolas Maurice Herve Aussedat, Gwénolé Yann Le Pache
  • Patent number: 10161304
    Abstract: A turbocharger system is provided having a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel connected by a shaft; a conduit configured to deliver a flow of lubricant to a bearing which supports the shaft, the conduit being provided with a valve; a sensor configured to monitor a speed of rotation of the shaft; and a controller configured to operate the valve to substantially stop the flow of lubricant to the bearing in response to detection of deceleration of the shaft and the speed of the shaft dropping below a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventor: Pierre Bernard French
  • Patent number: 10107337
    Abstract: A bearing assembly includes a bearing for supporting a first machine part relative to a second machine part, a seal assembly configured to seal a first space in a region of the bearing relative to a second space, a pressure equalization passage fluidically connecting the first space and the second space, a valve configured to open and close the pressure equalization passage, and a controller configured to control the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Baozhu Liang, Jesko-Henning Tanke
  • Patent number: 10100736
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section in series flow with a turbine section. The compressor section includes one or more compressors and the turbine section includes one or more turbines, the compressor section and turbine section together defining a core air flowpath. A sump is positioned inward of the core air flowpath for containing and collecting lubrication oil. Additionally, a heat exchanger is positioned in direct thermal communication with the sump for removing heat from lubrication oil contained therein to reduce a size and/or amount of heat exchangers located radially outward of the core air flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christopher James Kroger
  • Patent number: 10082077
    Abstract: A lubrication circuit for a gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment, an air inlet connected to the bearing compartment, a lubricant inlet, and a lubricant outlet. The air inlet fluidly connects the bearing compartment to an environment external to the compartment. The lubricant inlet and outlet are connected to the bearing compartment. A scavenge valve is operatively connected between the lubricant outlet and a scavenge pump that is responsive to bearing compartment pressure for controlling pressure drop across the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James H. Denman, Julie Henion
  • Patent number: 10072582
    Abstract: An in-line propeller gearbox of a turboprop gas turbine engine includes a lubricant reservoir disposed spaced radially offset from the engine's central axis of rotation and asymmetrically with respect to the central axis of rotation such that the central axis of rotation does not extend through the lubricant reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 10069154
    Abstract: An air feed device (1) for a fuel cell, having a shaft (2); a compressor wheel (4) fastened to one of the ends (5, 20) of the shaft (2), a bearing arrangement (6, 7, 8) arranged in a bearing housing (9) for mounting the shaft (2), and an electric motor (10) for driving the shaft (2), which electric motor is arranged in the bearing housing (9). The shaft (2) has two shaft bearing portions (11, 12) and a magnet portion (13) arranged between the shaft bearing portions (11, 12), forming the rotor of the electric motor (10). The shaft bearing portions (11, 12) and the magnet portion (13) are centered relative to one another by means of a centering arrangement (12A, 13F) which engages on an outer edge (A), the shaft bearing portions (11, 12) and the magnet portion (13) bearing in each case axially against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Dietmar Metz, Martin Mueller, Aleksandar Sekularac
  • Patent number: 10060289
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan drive turbine for driving a gear reduction. The gear reduction drives a fan rotor. A lubrication system supplies oil to the gear reduction, and includes a lubricant pump to supply an air/oil mixture to an inlet of a deaerator. The deaerator includes a separator for separating oil and air, delivering separated air to an air outlet, and delivering separated oil back into an oil tank. The separated oil is first delivered into a pipe outwardly of the oil tank, and then into a location beneath a minimum oil level in the tank. Air within the oil tank moves outwardly through an air exit into the deaerator. A method of designing a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10047649
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a shaft configured with a first hole, a bearing race coupled to the shaft and configured with a second hole and a third hole, and an oil scoop configured to receive oil and provide the oil to the shaft, where the first and second holes are oriented axially with respect to the shaft, and where the third hole is oriented radially with respect to the shaft. In some embodiments, a second oil scoop is configured to receive oil and provide the oil to the shall. The oil scoop and the second oil scoop may be concentric with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Lucas
  • Patent number: 10041409
    Abstract: An oil control module for a gas turbine engine is provided comprising a housing on which numerous components of a lubricating system are mounted. The components may include a variable oil reduction valve/shuttle valve, a main oil pressure sensor, a main oil temperature sensor, a main oil filter delta pressure sensor, an oil debris monitor, a lube filter, an active oil damper valve, a cool oil orifice, a knock down orifice and a lube trim orifice. By packing numerous lubricating system components onto or within a housing located adjacent to the gas turbine engine, the oil control module reduces cost and weight and simplifies the maintenance of the lubricating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan K. Snyder, Kari L. Kisselbrack, Jesse Ian Berube, Michael C. O'Brien, Eric J. Heims, Ryan Timothy Matte, Vito Guardi, Bruce Paradise
  • Patent number: 10041375
    Abstract: Embodiments of a heat exchanger for turbine engines are provided herein. In some embodiments, a heat exchanger for a turbine engine may include a body configured to be disposed proximate and at least partially surrounding a heat source, wherein the body defines a cavity configured to capture a heated fluid expelled from the heat source; and a channel formed in the body, the channel fluidly coupled to a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Bugra Han Ertas
  • Patent number: 10024365
    Abstract: A bearing retaining assembly for a supercharger includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve and a biasing member. The bearing retaining assembly rotatably supports an input shaft that rotates about an input shaft axis. The first sleeve can have a counterbore that receives a bearing. The second sleeve can be fixed to a cover of the supercharger. The biasing member can be disposed between the first and second sleeves. The first sleeve can selectively translate along the input shaft axis relative to the second sleeve against the bias of the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Penn
  • Patent number: 10006539
    Abstract: The epicyclic reduction gear comprises a planetary input shaft, planet gears meshing around said shaft and supported by a planet carrier, and two transverse sides. According to the invention, the reduction gear comprises at least one fluid transfer pipe suitable for being connected to a fluid supply source and passing through the planet carrier, being linked in rotation to same, from a first of said transverse sides of the reduction gear to a second of said transverse sides of the latter in order to open on the outside of the reduction gear and dispense the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Augustin Curlier, Tewfik Boudebiza, Gilles Alain Charier
  • Patent number: 9995175
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a turbine engine includes a first gas bearing configured to receive a load from a rotating shaft of the turbine engine, a transmission disk configured to receive the load from the first gas bearing, and a damping member coupled to a casing of a combustor section of the turbine engine. The transmission disk includes a gas delivery disk, which includes an axial opening configured to facilitate an axial flow through the gas delivery disk and a duct configured to facilitate a radial flow through the gas delivery disk to form the first gas bearing. The damping member is configured to receive the load from the transmission disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Lee Becker, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Bugra Han Ertas
  • Patent number: 9982600
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a conduit between a first frame case defining a frame axis and a second frame case. A flange is coupled to the conduit defining a first axis and abuts the first frame case. A capture plate coupled to the conduit defines a second axis and abuts the second frame case. The first axis is offset relative to the second axis in an axial direction relative to the frame axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pawel Socha, Usman Khan, Richard Joseph Bulkovitch, Jr., Michael Luther Comeau, Jonathan C. Reuben, Kelsey Honious
  • Patent number: 9976484
    Abstract: A core compartment ventilation device is provided. The core compartment ventilation device comprises a fireproof sealing member for substantially sealing a core compartment in a nacelle for a gas turbine engine and a chimney configured to be in fluid communication with the fireproof sealing member for conducting hot air from the core compartment to the external atmosphere via the fireproof sealing member. A gas turbine engine and nacelle including the core compartment ventilation device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott
  • Patent number: 9957838
    Abstract: A tank device of an aero engine, which has an inlet appliance for the supply of an air-oil volume flow into a tank space of the tank device, a separation appliance for the separation of oil from the air-oil volume flow that is supplied to the tank space, a conduit area which is confined by at least one wall and in which an air-oil volume flow can be guided in the area of the tank space at least in certain areas, and an outlet appliance, in the area of which a volume flow can be discharged via a valve appliance from the tank space of the tank device. At least one appliance for introducing oil is provided, by means of which oil can be supplied into the area of the conduit area substantially against a flow direction of the air-oil volume flow which is forming during operation in the conduit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Juergen Beier, Gideon Venter
  • Patent number: 9951811
    Abstract: A bearing includes a bearing pad for supporting a rotary component and a housing attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad. The housing includes a flexible column extending towards the bearing pad for providing the bearing pad with an airflow. The column supports the bearing pad from a location inward of an outer periphery of the bearing pad along an axial direction of the bearing. With such a configuration, a resistance of the bearing pad along a radial direction of the bearing is less at the outer periphery than a resistance of the bearing pad along the radial direction proximate the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshua Tyler Mook, Bugra Han Ertas, Jason Joseph Bellardi
  • Patent number: 9903226
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes: a turbocharger main body; a bearing hole formed in the turbocharger main body; a turbine shaft rotatably inserted into the bearing hole and having a turbine wheel provided on one end and a compressor wheel provided on the other end; a turbine-side bearing part and a compressor-side bearing part rotatably supporting the turbine shaft and disposed in the bearing hole on a relatively turbine wheel side and on a relatively compressor wheel side, respectively; a cooling oil passage provided radially outside the bearing hole in the turbocharger main body and configured to cool the turbocharger main body with lubricating oil circulated inside; a first oil duct configured to guide lubricating oil after lubricating the compressor-side bearing part to the cooling oil passage; and a second oil duct configured to guide lubricating oil after lubricating the turbine-side bearing part to the cooling oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Uneura, Yuichi Daito, Tomohiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9897004
    Abstract: A device for discharging oil from an oil chamber located in a downstream part of a gas turbine engine, the device including: a mechanism discharging at least part of the oil contained in the chamber to exterior of the engine; and a drive mechanism for driving the oil, which allows passage of an air flow that assists in driving the discharge of the oil to the exterior of the engine. The drive mechanism includes: a ventilation port in the downstream part of the engine, such that the oil passes through the ventilation port; and a guide element arranged such that, after the oil has passed through the ventilation port, the oil is directed towards a downstream bleed area of the low-pressure turbine. A turbomachine can include such an oil discharge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Amandine Roche, Jacques Rene Bart, Gerard Philippe Gauthier
  • Patent number: 9897005
    Abstract: Described is an oil distributor comprising: an oil distribution conduit having an inlet end and an outlet; an oil delivery arrangement at the outlet of the oil distribution conduit, the oil delivery arrangement including a circumferential channel having a base, an upstream wall and a downstream delivery wall, wherein the delivery wall includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed delivery apertures extending therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Chilton, Michael J. Barker
  • Patent number: 9879602
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor section fluidly connected to the fan, a combustor fluidly connected to the compressor section, a turbine section fluidly connected to the combustor, and a buffer system. The buffer system includes a heat exchanger having a first inlet, a first outlet, a second inlet, and a second outlet. The first outlet is configured to provide a cooled pressurized fluid. The buffer system includes first and second air sources that are selectively fluidly coupled to the first inlet, and a third air source that are fluidly coupled to the second inlet. Multiple fluid-supplied areas are located remotely from one another and are fluidly coupled to the first outlet. The multiple fluid-supplied areas include a bearing compartment. A method and a buffer system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter M. Munsell, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Patent number: 9850821
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a speed reduction device driven by the shaft, and a fan including a fan rotor driven by the speed reduction device. A compressor section has a plurality of compressor stages driven by the shaft. At least one inducer stage is positioned aft of the fan and coupled for rotation with the fan rotor. The at least one inducer stage is positioned upstream of the compressor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9850779
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a lubrication system for distributing lubricant throughout the engine. The lubrication system includes a breather assembly that receives air and lubricant from various other components of the lubrication system. The breather assembly includes a baffle that redirects air and lubricant received by the breather assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gatto, Vaino E. Ajango, Michael L. Benson
  • Patent number: 9835050
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly having a heat exchanger and a system for supplying cold air including an air inlet in a stream of air, an air duct connecting the air inlet fluidly to the exchanger, and an air flow valve with a variable flow rate inside the duct, the valve including a hub having blades projecting radially from the hub forming a helix, each blade having a root mounted rotatably on the hub, the valve comprising an electric motor to drive the hub by a motor shaft, and structure for varying pitch angle of the blades, the extremity of each blade being flush with a wall of the duct, the valve controllable to a closed configuration where pitch angle of the blades is 0° and the valve prevents passage of air, an open configuration where pitch angle is 90°, and/or a charge configuration where pitch angle is between 0° and 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventor: Jacques Hervé Marche
  • Patent number: 9828874
    Abstract: An annular cover for a lubrication chamber of a rotary bearing of a turbomachine. The cover includes a wall that is generally circular and flared with an orifice that is designed to receive a transmission shaft opposite an assembly surface for the cover, and at least one duct communicating with the inside of the wall and extending along the wall as far as the assembly surface. The duct is formed in the thickness of the body of the wall which is made from the same material, and which includes a composite material with a thermoplastic matrix and carbon fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS SA
    Inventors: Hervé Grelin, Didier Honore
  • Patent number: 9771932
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for reducing the warpage of a rotor of an aircraft engine. When the aircraft engine is placed in standby mode, a solenoid-operated bypass valve may receive a control signal to open. When open, the solenoid-operated bypass valve places an electric hydraulic pump in fluidic communication with an engine driven hydraulic pump. The engine driven hydraulic pump rotates because of the pressured provided by the electrical hydraulic pump. The mechanical linkage between the engine driven hydraulic pump and the rotor causes the rotor of the aircraft engine to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Fisher
  • Patent number: 9773357
    Abstract: A system and various methods for monitoring and evaluating the health of a shock strut assembly are illustrated. Multiple sensors, including gas temperature, gas pressure, oil pressure, and position sensor, may be used to gather data and evaluate the performance of the shock strut assembly. Various methods illustrated herein may evaluate the dynamic damping, static load support, and/or controlled stroke performance of the shock strut assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Amir Fazeli, Adnan Cepic, Susanne Reber