Gas Turbine Patents (Class 184/6.11)
  • Patent number: 9771946
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a two-piece thrust collar that includes inner and outer portions disposed around a rotatable shaft. The inner portion is engaged with a bushing disposed in and connected to the center housing by a retainer. The outer portion is disposed adjacent the inner portion along the rotatable shaft and connected to the rotatable shaft such that it rotates therewith. The outer portion forms an annular channel that extends in a radial direction relative to the rotatable shaft and peripherally around the shaft. An oil deflector is connected to the compressor back-plate and includes a base flange and a raised portion disposed at least partially over the annular channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Krejci, David Martin, Luis Lugo Aviles
  • Patent number: 9732629
    Abstract: A turbofan engine (20; 300; 400) comprises a fan (28), a fan drive gear system (60), a fan shaft (120) coupling the fan drive gear system to the fan, a low spool, an intermediate spool, and a core spool. The low spool engages at least three main bearings of which at least two are non-thrust bearings and at least one is a thrust bearing. The fan shaft engages at least two bearings (148, 150). The core spool engages at least two bearings (250, 260). The intermediate spool engages at least two of said bearings (220, 200, 230; 220, 200, 230-2; 200, 220, 230-3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9732630
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with an engine of an aircraft. The system includes a shaft configured with at least one axially-oriented hole, and an oil scoop configured to receive oil and provide the oil to the shaft, wherein the oil scoop is manufactured independently from the shaft, and wherein the oil scoop includes at least one retention mechanism for coupling to the shaft after the at least one axially-oriented hole is created in the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Lucas
  • Patent number: 9726029
    Abstract: A fluid cooling arrangement in a gas turbine engine for aerospace propulsion includes an inner structure. Also included is an outer structure disposed radially outwardly of the inner structure, the outer structure and the inner structure defining a bypass flow path. Further included is at least one strut operatively coupling the inner structure to the outer structure. Yet further included is at least one cooling tube formed within the at least one strut, the at least one cooling tube configured to cool a fluid passing through the at least one cooling tube upon convective cooling of the at least one strut as air passes through the bypass flow path and over the at least one strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lubomir A. Ribarov, James S. Elder, Leo J. Veilleux, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9695711
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a turbine housing (2), a compressor housing (3), a bearing housing (4) which has a bearing housing axis (L), and a connecting device (5) for connecting the bearing housing (4) to the turbine housing (2) and/or to the compressor housing (3). The connecting device has a multiplicity of screws (6), a number of screw holes (7, 7?) in the bearing housing (4) corresponding to the number of screws (6), and in the turbine housing (2) and/or in the compressor housing (3) a number of threaded holes (8) corresponding to the number of screws (6). The screw holes (7, 7?), the threaded holes (8) and the screws (6) are arranged at an acute angle (?) with respect to a joining surface (9) between the bearing housing (4) and the turbine housing (2) or between the bearing housing (4) and the compressor housing (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfram Schaefer
  • Patent number: 9678511
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for tuning a rotary positive displacement pump. The techniques include apparatus featuring a signal processor configured to the present invention may take the form of apparatus comprising a signal processor that may be configured to receive signaling containing information about actual pump performance data related to the operation of a rotary positive displacement pump; and determine corrected published pump performance data to operate the rotary positive displacement pump by compensating published pump performance data based at least partly on the actual pump performance data. The corrected published pump performance data may include a corrected published rated power, flow and slip factor, and the actual pump performance data contains information about actual power, specific gravity and viscosity related to the operation of the rotary positive displacement pump and received from a pump controller or controlling device, including a variable frequency drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Stavale
  • Patent number: 9664050
    Abstract: An electronically-controlled turbocharger (ECT) includes a rotor (of an electric motor) on the shaft of the turbomachine. There are a variety of embodiments for securing the rotor onto the shaft including, but not limited to: having a taper on both the shaft on the rotor and using a nut engaging with threads in the shaft to put the two tapers together; a press fit; splines and grooves also using a nut; and a shoulder on the shaft that the rotor abuts when a nut is engaged with threads on the shaft. To accommodate these retaining features, the diameter of the shaft is greater near the turbine end of the shaft. A first bearing installed on the shaft near the turbine end of the shaft has a larger inside diameter than a second bearing installed on the other side of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: EcoMotors, Inc.
    Inventors: Will Robert Nielsen Hippen, Christopher Meszaros, Tyler Garrard
  • Patent number: 9657586
    Abstract: A starter configured for use with a turbomachine includes a housing defining a cavity, a transmission operative to convert an airflow into rotational motion for starting an engine, wherein the cavity is configured to hold a quantity of starter oil for lubricating at least a portion of the transmission, and an oil filter disposed in fluid communication with the starter oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Jeffrey M. Makulec
  • Patent number: 9644487
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixed turbine engine receiver part comprising a fixed hollow shaft for carrying ancillary systems of a turbine engine, centered on the turbine engine axis, turbine engine ancillary systems, an assembly for holding ancillary systems in position situated inside the fixed hollow shaft. The assembly for holding ancillary systems in position comprises at least one first ancillary system support ring, having an axis substantially parallel with the turbine engine axis, a first distance sleeve for holding the first ancillary system support ring in position, having an axis substantially parallel with the turbine engine axis, the first distance sleeve bearing against the first support ring, such that the first support ring comprises a plurality of mutually separated through holes, each through hole defining a passage for at least one ancillary system, each through hole being traversed by at least one of the ancillary systems of the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Nadege Hugon, Gilles Alain Charier
  • Patent number: 9618006
    Abstract: A lubricant retainer for use in a pump bearing assembly, the bearing assembly which in a first operating configuration is lubricated by a relatively highly viscous lubricant, and which in a second operating configuration is lubricated by a less-viscous lubricant, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing housing having a bore extending therethrough for receiving a pump drive shaft, spaced-apart bearing mounting zones within the bore with a chamber therebetween, each bearing mounting zone arranged for the in use receipt of a bearing therein, and wherein each zone has associated therewith one lubricant retainer, the lubricant retainer being adapted to be mounted within the bore adjacent the bearing mounting zone with which it is associated so as to form a barrier between the bearing mounting zone and the chamber when the pump bearing assembly is in the first operating configuration, the retainer being removed when the pump bearing assembly is in the second operating configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Weir Minerals Australia Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Edward Burgess, Michael Christopher Foreman
  • Patent number: 9617916
    Abstract: The gas turbine engine has a bleed air aperture formed in the radially outer wall upstream from the combustor and a bearing cavity formed within the radially inner wall, at least two bearing seals enclosing at least one bearing in the bearing cavity and separating the bearing cavity from associated buffer air entry points, an oil supply system including oil paths leading to each of the bearings; a buffer air supply system including buffer air paths leading to each of the entry points and a baffle partitioning one of the entry points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Légaré, Alessandro Ciampa, Michel Labbé
  • Patent number: 9567987
    Abstract: A chamber fluid removal system including a pump and an ejector is disclosed. The system is arranged in use to pump fluid from a chamber using the pump and deliver it to the ejector as a motive fluid and the system being further arranged to draw fluid from the chamber or from a second chamber as an entrained fluid by entraining it using the ejector and the motive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 9551236
    Abstract: An arrangement for the guiding of the flow of a liquid in relation to the rotor of a turbomachine, which includes an intermediary disc and a downstream disc of which the internal diameter and the axial position of the discs are defined in such a way that the tank is arranged inside the discs. The rotor supports a guide flange with an element of revolution of which the diameter of the section increases in the downstream direction, according to the direction of flow of the gases in the turbomachine. The downstream axial end of the flange is fixed to a portion of the rotor located downstream of the downstream disc and the upstream axial end of the flange is connected to the internal radial end of the intermediate disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Yannick Durand, Jean-Luc Soupizon
  • Patent number: 9540951
    Abstract: A system for pressurizing at least one chamber for lubricating bearings of a turbine engine, including a circuit for supplying the chamber with pressurized air, and a circuit for recovering oil mist formed in the chamber and for returning the mist to an oil tank of the turbine engine. The supply circuit supplies the chamber with air taken upstream from the low-pressure compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Nelson Dos Santos, Dominik Igel, Serge Rene Morreale
  • Patent number: 9494077
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for propelling an aircraft, including a low pressure rotary body including low pressure turbine rotor blades, an intermediate rotary body including intermediate turbine rotor blades, a high pressure rotary body including high pressure turbine rotor blades, an air flow flowing through the engine from upstream to downstream. The at least one intermediate turbine rotor blade is followed directly downstream by a low pressure turbine rotor blade so as to straighten air flow deflected by the intermediate turbine rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Philippe Gérard Chanez, Lamine M'Bengue
  • Patent number: 9447784
    Abstract: A diaphragm for the compression stage of a compressor includes least one set of through passages extending between two mutually opposite faces of the diaphragm, so as to create a flow of gas between the opposite faces depending on a pressure difference prevailing on either side of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Thermodyn
    Inventor: Gilles Nawrocki
  • Patent number: 9410427
    Abstract: A compressor hub includes a sleeve portion, a cone portion, and a mounting flange portion. The sleeve portion is cylindrical about a sleeve axis. The frustoconical cone portion is attached to the sleeve portion and diverges radially outward. In addition, the cone portion includes an inner cone portion with an inner generatrix and an outer cone portion with an outer generatrix that is colinear with the inner generatrix. The mounting flange portion is attached to the outer cone for attaching a rotor disk to the compressor hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Konstantinos Panagiotis Giannakopoulos
  • Patent number: 9382844
    Abstract: A mid-turbine frame buffer system for a gas turbine engine includes a mid-turbine frame that supports a shaft by a bearing. An air compartment and a bearing compartment are arranged radially inward of the mid-turbine frame. The bearing compartment is arranged within the air compartment and includes first and second contact seals arranged on either side of the bearing. The air compartment includes multiple air seals. A high pressure compressor is fluidly connected to the air compartment and is configured to provide high pressure air to the air compartment. A method of providing pressurized air to a buffer system includes sealing a bearing compartment with contact seals, surrounding the bearing compartment with an air compartment, and supplying high pressure air to the air compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marc J. Muldoon, Gregory E. Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 9366157
    Abstract: A lube oil supply system of a turbine system and method of regulating lube oil temperatures. In one embodiment, the system includes a first valve positioned on a lube oil bypass conduit in fluid communication with a lube oil supply line to a heat exchanger. The first valve may be positioned in parallel with the heat exchanger. The system may also include a second valve positioned on a cooling fluid supply line in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, and a lube oil control system operably connected to the first valve and the second valve. The lube oil control system may be configured to modify a position of at least one of the first valve, or the second valve in response to determining a temperature of a lube oil of the lube oil supply line differs from a predetermined lube oil temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Paul Fitzpatrick, Matthew Kenneth King, Jon Michael Merchant, Steven Paul Scarlata
  • Patent number: 9353647
    Abstract: Oil sump seal pressurization apparatus for turbine engines are disclosed. An example oil sump seal pressurization apparatus may include a non-rotating oil sump housing a bearing; an oil seal isolating an interior of the oil sump; a passage arranged to supply pressurization air to an outward side of the oil seal; a drain arranged to allow draining of oil and venting of at least some of the pressurization air, the drain being positioned axially between the passage and the oil seal; a wide discourager tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward towards a non-rotating land, which may be disposed axially between the passage and the drain, the wide discourager tooth being spaced apart from the land in a radial direction by a gap, the wide discourager tooth including an upper surface; and/or an adjacent tooth disposed on the shaft and extending radially outward from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Mark Bordne, Duane Howard Anstead, James John Luz
  • Patent number: 9353637
    Abstract: A turbine assembly can include a turbine wheel, a shroud component, a turbine housing and a seal that includes a wall and a lower lip that that extends radially outwardly from the wall at an obtuse angle where the seal is disposed, at least in part, between an outer surface of the shroud component and an inner surface of the turbine housing. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Arnaud Gerard, Aurelien Tingaud, Shankar Pandurangasa Solanki, Mohan Rao Javvadi
  • Patent number: 9353686
    Abstract: A cooling medium supply apparatus has a sensing means and a cooling medium pump mechanism which is powered by a gas turbine engine assembly. The gas turbine engine assembly is self-contained with a fuel supply, an ignition system and a starting system. The sensing means monitors the presence of a primary supply of a cooling medium, and on detecting a loss of the primary supply, actuates the gas turbine assembly to provide a secondary supply of the cooling medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: John Phillip Shoesmith
  • Patent number: 9303692
    Abstract: An apparatus for lubricating power transfer components is described. The apparatus includes a first shaft enclosed by a housing with a main cavity, and an inboard bearing and an outboard bearing supporting the first shaft. An inboard bearing cavity and an outboard bearing cavity surround, respectively, the inboard and outboard bearings. Lubrication fluid flows from an entrance port in the housing, through a flow passage within a wall of the housing to the inboard bearing cavity, through a flow passage within the first shaft from the inboard bearing cavity to the outboard bearing cavity, and through an overflow port in a wall of the outboard bearing cavity. A second shaft provides rotational power to the first shaft (e.g., via an idler gear). A lubrication deflector, such as a frustoconical deflector, surrounds a portion of a second shaft and extends into the main cavity of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeff Lubben, Peter J. Murfey
  • Patent number: 9205845
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for detecting a spall in an engine. The vehicle, for example, may include, but is not limited to an engine, an oil debris sensor coupled to the engine, a communications system, and a processor communicatively coupled to the oil debris sensor and the communications system. The processor may be configured to increment a counter when the oil debris sensor detects a particle over a predetermined size, increment the counter when a mass of a plurality of particles under the predetermined size exceeds a predetermined mass threshold, transmit, via the communications system, a first message when the counter exceeds a predetermined counter threshold, and reset the counter after predetermined amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Onder Uluyol, Chris Hickenbottom
  • Patent number: 9140194
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine starter-generator includes a housing assembly, a motor-generator, and a lubricant pump. The housing assembly includes a lubricant inlet port for receiving a flow of lubricant. The motor-generator is disposed within the housing assembly and is adapted to be coupled to an auxiliary power unit. The motor-generator is configured to selectively operate in either a motor mode or a generator mode. The lubricant pump is disposed within the housing assembly and includes one or more pump inlets and one or more pump outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Ertz, Gregory Geyer, Thomas Nesdill
  • Patent number: 9127567
    Abstract: An exemplary fluid supply system for use on a turbomachine includes a turbomachine fluid container having a moveable barrier. A pressurized fluid is delivered to one side of the moveable barrier, and an opposing side of the flexible barrier communicates with a source of lubricant. Pressurized fluid is selectively delivered to the one side to move the moveable barrier between a flow-permitting position that permits flow from the source of lubricant to the turbomachine fluid container and a flow-restricting position that restricts flow from the source of lubricant to the turbomachine fluid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Motto
  • Patent number: 9097180
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a heavy duty gas turbine includes a bearing lubrication assembly coupled to the bearing and an oil and vapor extraction assembly disposed in a cavity defined by a bell mouth hood in an air inlet duct. A high volume vacuum blower is coupled to the oil and vapor extraction assembly to provide a relative negative pressure. An oil and vapor separator is disposed downstream from the high volume vacuum blower. The lubrication system also includes a control subsystem that maintains a cavity pressure lower than an air inlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio
  • Patent number: 9051878
    Abstract: An engine bearing compartment is provided and includes an engine casing defining a discharge pathway for a fluid to drain from the engine bearing compartment, a shaft rotatably disposed within the engine casing to define an annulus, a housing disposed within the annulus below an elevation of the discharge pathway, an impeller rotatable with the shaft and including a centrifugal element, the impeller being disposed within the annulus at least partially below the discharge pathway elevation whereby, due to impeller rotation, the centrifugal element expels the fluid through the discharge pathway from the annulus above the discharge pathway elevation and a circuit by which fluid expelled through the discharge pathway is communicated to an interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Blewett, Adrian L. Stoicescu, Jeff A. Brown
  • Patent number: 9038398
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger, a bearing compartment, and a nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the bearing compartment. The heat exchanger exchanges heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. The bearing compartment is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. A first passageway communicates the conditioned airflow from the heat exchanger to the bearing compartment. A second passageway communicates the conditioned airflow from the bearing compartment to the nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Ioannis Alvanos
  • Patent number: 9038779
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a geared architecture with a multiple of intermediate gears, and a baffle with an oil scavenge scoop adjacent to each of the multiple of intermediate gears. A geared architecture and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Zachary R. Nado
  • Patent number: 9003766
    Abstract: There is disclosed a gas cooler 20 for providing high-pressure sealing gas to a bearing chamber. The cooler comprises a turbine 22; a turbine inlet 24 arranged to receive gas to drive the turbine and a turbine outlet 26 arranged to deliver gas output from the turbine; a compressor 28 arranged to be driven by the turbine 22; a compressor inlet 30 arranged to receive gas to be compressed by the compressor and a compressor outlet 32 arranged to deliver gas output from the compressor 28; and a cooler outlet 36 in fluid communication with the turbine outlet 26 and the compressor outlet 32 so as to deliver high-pressure sealing gas comprising gas merged from the turbine outlet 26 and the compressor outlet 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul W. Ferra, Yi Wang
  • Publication number: 20150096839
    Abstract: An oil accumulator assembly may comprise a scavenge tube including an aperture defined by a break in the scavenge tube and/or an annular cylindrical structure concentrically situated about the scavenge tube. The aperture may be configured to receive oil flowing through the scavenge tube, and the annular cylindrical structure may be configured to accumulate oil flowing through the aperture. The oil accumulator assembly may further comprise a drainage outlet disposed in the annular cylindrical structure. Oil accumulated within the annular cylindrical structure may drain through the drainage outlet in response to an engine being shut down. The oil accumulated within the annular cylindrical structure may fill a portion of the scavenge tube situated within an engine fan case to prevent coking within the scavenge tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Colin D. Craig
  • Patent number: 8997935
    Abstract: An assembly for holding a fluid includes an auxiliary reservoir inside a main reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir includes an auxiliary reservoir shell with a fill passage at or near its bottom. The auxiliary reservoir shell also has a vent passage at or near its top. The fill passage and the vent passage fluidically connect the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir. A fluid inlet is located inside the main reservoir and outside of the auxiliary reservoir. A fluid outlet located inside the auxiliary reservoir between the fill passage and the vent passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Szolomayer, David L. Motto
  • Patent number: 8997449
    Abstract: A flow restrictor is provided for a lubrication circulation system. The flow restrictor comprises a body configured to obstruct a flow of lubricant within the lubricant circulation system. The body has one or more through holes communicating with upstream and downstream portions of the lubrication circulation system. Each of the one or more holes has a cross-sectional area sufficiently small, and a length sufficiently long, to prevent turbulent lubricant flow therethrough at temperatures below a first predetermined reference temperature. The one or more holes have sufficient aggregate cross-sectional area to allow a desired lubricant flow rate through the body at temperatures at or above a second predetermined reference temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Adam Logan
  • Patent number: 8997500
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a shaft, a fan, at least one bearing mounted on the shaft and rotationally supporting the fan, a fan drive gear system coupled to drive the fan, a bearing compartment around the at least one bearing and a source of pressurized air in communication with a region outside of the bearing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8991175
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing with a bearing bore and a thrust wall. The bearing housing includes a journal bearing disposed within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a shaft supported by the journal bearing for rotation about an axis within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel fixed to the shaft and configured to be rotated about the axis by the engine's post-combustion gasses. The turbocharger additionally includes a compressor wheel fixed to the shaft and configured to pressurize an ambient airflow. Furthermore, the turbocharger includes a thrust bearing assembly pressed onto the shaft and configured to transmit thrust forces developed by the turbine wheel to the thrust wall. Pressing the thrust bearing assembly onto the shaft minimizes radial motion between the thrust bearing assembly and the shaft. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Carl Eric Fonville, Louis P. Begin
  • Patent number: 8991176
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a shaft, a first turbine wheel, a compressor wheel, and a second turbine wheel. The shaft includes a first end and a second end and is supported for rotation about an axis. The first turbine wheel is mounted on the shaft proximate to the first end and configured to be rotated about the axis by post-combustion gasses emitted by the engine. The compressor wheel is mounted on the shaft between the first and second ends and configured to pressurize an airflow being received from the ambient for delivery to the engine. The second turbine wheel is mounted on the shaft proximate to the second end and configured to be rotated about the axis by a pressurized fluid. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Louis P. Begin, Carnell E. Williams
  • Patent number: 8984853
    Abstract: An example method of accessing a valve assembly of a turbomachine includes accessing a check valve of the valve assembly from a first position that is radially outside a flow path through the turbomachine. The method accessing a shut off valve of the valve assembly from a second position that is radially outside the flow path. The check valve and the shut off valve are configured to influence communication of lubricant along a lubricant communication path that extends between a location radially outboard the flow path and a location radially inboard the flow path. The first position is the same as the second position in some examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Joanna Mamrowicz
  • Patent number: 8985277
    Abstract: A case comprises a radially inner case hub, a radially outer case section with an outer wall, a plurality of circumferentially distributed struts extending radially between the inner hub and the outer case section, and a lubricant scavenge passage disposed circumferentially apart from a bottom dead center (BDC) position of the case. The lubricant scavenge passage includes an inner scavenge section extending radially through a first one of the plurality of struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Curt R. Hetherington, Stephen H. Mattia, Bradley J. Sabo
  • Patent number: 8985278
    Abstract: A tank includes a tank discharge passageway at least partially within a tank body. A segmented anti-back flow structure is mounted adjacent to the tank body and the tank discharge passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: JinQuan Xu
  • Patent number: 8978351
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first and second pump driven by a spool. An Air-Oil Cooler downstream of the first pump. An air-air precooler is downstream of the second pump, the air-air precooler downstream of the Air-Oil Cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Allan R. Penda, Brian D. Merry, Jorn A. Glahn, Christoper M. Dye, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 8978352
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a windmill pump driven by a spool. A first pump driven by said spool with an air-oil cooler is located downstream of the first pump. A second pump is also driven the spool with an air-air precooler located downstream of the second pump. A method of operating a gas turbine engine during a “windmilling” condition includes driving a windmill pump with a spool during a “windmilling ” condition. A lubricant is communicated to a geared architecture with the windmill pump. A first pump is driven by the spool and an air-oil cooler is located downstream of the first pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 8966875
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a constant speed transmission driven by a spool. The constant speed transmission drives a first pump and a second pump. In a further non-limiting example, the first pump is driven by a first drive shaft which is driven by the constant speed transmission and the second pump is driven by a second drive shaft which is driven by the first shaft through a gearbox to provide a constant speed ratio between the first shaft and the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Allan R. Penda, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 8966876
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan, a geared architecture, a spool which drives the fan through the geared architecture, and at least one component geared to the spool and being operable to control a speed of the spool during a “windmilling” condition. A method of gas turbine engine operations during a “windmilling” condition is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 8959920
    Abstract: An assembly or system is provided for selectively regulating journal bearing lubrication between at least first and second levels in an aircraft engine. A high pressure pump includes movable portions at least in part supported by a journal bearing. A selector valve is configured to selectively supply lubrication flow to the journal bearing. In addition, a relief valve is configured to receive a signal from the selector valve defining a pressure level at which the relief valve should relieve pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Martin A. Clements
  • Patent number: 8959911
    Abstract: A powertrain assembly includes an internal combustion engine, a boost mechanism and a fluid supply mechanism. The boost mechanism is in communication with an air source and the internal combustion engine. The fluid supply mechanism includes a first accumulator in communication with a pressurized fluid supply from the internal combustion engine and the boost mechanism. The accumulator receives pressurized fluid from the internal combustion engine during engine operation and provides the pressurized fluid to the boost mechanism during an engine off condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William C. Deneszczuk, Mary T. Lapres-Bilbrey, Michael Simon, Nieyuan Hai
  • Patent number: 8956106
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided having a first zone with a fluid flow at a first pressure, and a second zone with a fluid flow at a second pressure. A sump cavity is provided in fluid communication with the first zone and a sump vent. An eductor system may be provided with a fluid flow path therethrough and in fluid communication with the second zone and the sump vent. The eductor system may be provided with an altitude sensing valve and may also be provided with gage pressure sensing valve. The eductor system may further be provided with a second gage pressure sensing valve and may also be provided with an orifice plate. The gage pressure sensing valves may react to the gage pressure of the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ning Fang, Benjamin Joseph Simpson, Duane Howard Anstead, Adam Mitchell Record, Donald James Welty
  • Patent number: 8955318
    Abstract: A turbocharger cartridge and engine cylinder head assembly includes a turbocharger cartridge having a center housing defining a bore therethrough, bearings housed in the bore, a shaft rotatably supported in the bearings, a compressor wheel affixed to one end of the shaft, and a turbine wheel affixed to an opposite end of the shaft. The engine cylinder head defines a receptacle in which the turbocharger cartridge is disposed. The cartridge defines a cartridge oil circuit and the engine cylinder head defines an engine oil circuit. An oil circuit connector plug is removably installed in a socket in the head, the plug defining a connector passage that mates up with an oil supply conduit in the engine cylinder head and with an oil supply passage in the center housing such that oil is conducted from the oil supply conduit through the connector passage to the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Marques, Michael Ladonnet, Alain Lombard, Johann Kurtzmann
  • Patent number: 8944749
    Abstract: An oil purge system for a mid turbine frame (MTF) of a gas turbine engine has an oil transfer tube surrounded by a heat shield tube. The oil transfer and heat shield tubes extend at their respective inner ends downwardly from an oil port of a bearing housing and terminate at their respective outer ends projecting outwardly from an annular wall of an outer case of the MTF. Oil leaked from the oil port is purged by pressurized air through an annular cavity formed between the oil transfer and heat shield tubes, and is discharged out of the MTF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, John Pietrobon, Zenon Szlanta, Roger Huppe
  • Patent number: 8938944
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft gas-turbine engine with a core engine surrounded by a bypass duct, with a radially outer engine cowling enclosing the bypass duct and being provided at its rear region with a thrust-reversing device which is moveable relative to the engine cowling, with at least one cooler element extending over at least part of the circumference being arranged in the intermediate area between the engine cowling and the thrust-reversing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Predrag Todorovic