Patents Represented by Attorney Derek P. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 4813229
    Abstract: The present invention discloses means and method for modulating the bypass flow in a mixed flow, variable cycle gas turbine engine. The engine includes means to vary the bypass flow and includes an augmentor and liner with coolant supplied by a portion of the bypass flow. The bypass flow pressure is modulated by sensing the pressure of the liner coolant and the pressure in the augmentor and varying the flow pressure as a function of P.sub.1, P.sub.2, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John R. Simmons
  • Patent number: 4811556
    Abstract: A propulsion system which utilizes hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel, having means for cooling of the combustor liner and throat liner of a rocket casing by endothermic pyrolysis of the hydrocarbon in the presence of hydrogen in the fuel passageway. The hydrogen in the fuel accelerates the rate of endothermic pyrolysis in the fuel passageway which is adjacent to and surrounds the combustor liner and the throat liner. Means is also provided for high heat flux to the combustor liner and throat liner from combustion within the rocket casing so that the temperature of the liners exceeds their thermal limits. By the propulsion system and method, hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen are passed through the fuel passageway which is adjacent to and surrounds the combustor liner and the throat liner in a rocket casing, and heat from the combustion of fuel and hydrogen in the combustion chamber is provided to the fuel passageway by radiation through the combustor liner and the throat liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Monica M. Lau, George A. Coffinberry
  • Patent number: 4809498
    Abstract: An improved gas turbine engine is disclosed. The engine includes counterrotating first and second turbine rotors without an intervening nozzle. Disclosed also are means for obtaining pitch relative outlet velocity greater than pitch absolute inlet velocity for at least one of the rotors. In one embodiment, the reaction of at least one of the rotors is greater than a reference reaction effecting peak efficiency of the one turbine. Advantages include improved overall engine efficiency and decrease in weight, reduced cooling flow and complexity of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rollin G. Giffin, III, Dean T. Lenahan
  • Patent number: 4809314
    Abstract: An X-ray inspection system includes an X-ray source for generating a directed X-ray beam and a linear array detector for measuring the intensity of the received radiation and generating electrical signals representative thereof. A method for aligning the detector with the directed X-ray beam includes removing any part between the X-ray source and the detector, opening an X-ray beam limiter, positioning the linear array detector for maximum signal from each detector element, reducing the X-ray beam limiter opening, detecting whether any signal from a detector element is reduced, moving the limiter for producing a maximum signal on each signal, securing the X-ray beam limiter, and positioning the detector array for maximum signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas S. Steele, John P. Keaveney, David W. Oliver
  • Patent number: 4807433
    Abstract: Disclosed are a cooling air modulation apparatus for and method of operation for a gas turbine engine which are effective for increasing engine operating efficiency. According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a first inducer means effective for channeling a first portion of cooling air to a rotor component during both first and second modes of operation of the engine. A second inducer means is also provided and is effective for channeling a second portion of the cooling air to the rotor component. Valve means are provided for selectively modulating the amount of cooling air flowing through the second inducer for preventing flow therethrough during the first mode of operation and for allowing unrestricted flow therethrough during the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Harvey M. Maclin, Dean T. Lenahan, Tuley, Eugene N.
  • Patent number: 4805515
    Abstract: In one form of the present invention, a plurality of serovalves are connected to a common manifold. The manifold transmits fluid pressure from the servovalves to a modulator piston which controls the fluid pressure applied to a hydraulic actuator piston. The servovalves are designed such that, if the fluid pressure provided by any one of them to the manifold falls below a threshold, then the servovalve disconnects itself from the manifold, allowing control of the modulator piston to be assumed by the remaining, functioning servovalves. The present invention can be used in control surface actuators of short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Howard B. Kast
  • Patent number: 4803639
    Abstract: An X-ray inspection system for manually or automatically performing digital fluoroscopy inspections and/or computed tomography inspections by X-ray examination of manufactured parts incorporates a computer system which automatically analyzes the inspected parts for flaws. The system includes apparatus for automatically positioning the parts in an X-ray machine for obtaining fluoroscopy and tomography views of the part and for acquiring data from the inspections at production rates. The system automatically identifies the location of rejectable flaws in the parts during the fluoroscopy scanning and subsequently identifies those locations for obtaining tomography scans, if the identified flaw location is questionable. The system can automatically reject parts containing flaws identified during the fluoroscopy inspections. This system operates in a real-time environment by providing analysis of one part while a subsequent part is being subjected to X-ray examination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas S. Steele, Larry C. Howington, James W. Schuler, Joseph J. Sostarich, Charles R. Wojciechowski, Theodore W. Sippel, Joseph M. Portaz, Ralph G. Isaacs, Henry J. Scudder, III, Thomas G. Kincaid, Kristina H. V. Hedengren, Rudolph A. A. Koegl, John P. Keaveney, Joseph Czechowski, III, John R. Brehm, James M. Brown, Jr., David W. Oliver, George E. Williams, Richard D. Miller
  • Patent number: 4802195
    Abstract: A manipulator for positioning a part includes a manipulator mandrel, manipulator arms, a pneumatic actuator ball plunger, drive motors, and shaft encoders. The motors drive the manipulator mandrel vertically perpendicular to a plane of directed X-ray beams and one whose rotation axis is vertical and perpendicular to the plane of the directed X-ray beam. The motors include positioning encoders which generate encoding pulses representative of movement of the manipulator mandrel along either axis. The pneumatic ball plunger provides for the acquiring of a gripper which holds a part to be inspected in the X-ray beam. The manipulator mandrel includes two L-shaped arms inwardly extending towards the ball plunger for acquiring a gripper having outwardly extending flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles R. Wojcienchowski, Douglas S. Steele, Henry J. Scudder, III
  • Patent number: 4799408
    Abstract: In the present invention, the breakage of a cutting tool is sensed during a cutting operation of stock on a lathe. A boundary is defined around the stock. The cutting tool is withdrawn stepwise along the same path taken up to the point of breakage. After each step, inquiry is made as to whether the tool has crossed the boundary. When it does, the tool is brought directly to a tool changing station without further stepwise withdrawal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Larisa A. Elman
  • Patent number: 4799633
    Abstract: An improved nacelle is provided for housing an aircraft engine and reducing aerodynamic drag during aircraft operation. In one embodiment, the nacelle houses a gas turbine engine and comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, having a reference chord extending therebetween, and an outer surface which is continuous from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The outer surface includes a forward portion, an intermediate portion and an aft portion that has a profile defined by a varying thickness measured perpendicularly from the chord to the outer surface. The profile has a maximum thickness at the intersection of the forward and intermediate portions, which intersection is located greater than about 36% of the chord from the leading edge, and is effective for increasing laminar flow over the nacelle for reducing aerodynamic drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Lahti, James L. Younghans
  • Patent number: 4799376
    Abstract: An incoming airstream is channeled into a diffuser to reduce its spread. Heating coils heat the air in order to vaporize any water present. Then, a collection pipe draws off a portion of vaporized mixture and transmits it to a dew point meter at which the water content is ascertained. The remaining mixture bypasses the collection pipe and is expelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Walter F. Siedlecki, Jr., Kenneth R. Horst
  • Patent number: 4796423
    Abstract: A sheet metal panel comprising a bent region is disclosed. The region defines a first arc of intersection with a first plane and a second arc of intersection with a second plane. The second arc has a radius of less than twice the thickness of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Louis Lievestro, James S. Kelm, Arthur L. Ludwig, Harvey M. Maclin, Thomas G. Wakeman
  • Patent number: 4796721
    Abstract: A system used in a vehicle having a ground-engaging attitude to effect the displacement from a compartment in the vehicle of a power pack adapted for driving the vehicle. The system elevates the power pack from a vehicle driving position within the compartment toward another position disposed exteriorly of the compartment and maintains the power pack at the same attitude as the ground-engaging attitude of the vehicle upon the elevation of the power pack. The system senses attitude variations of the power pack upon its displacement, and is actuated in response to the attitude variation for controlling operation of the displacement and maintaining functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Malcolm H. Knapp, Gerhard Sonder
  • Patent number: 4793770
    Abstract: A fairing for mounting onto a gas turbine frame to isolate the frame from the hot gases passing the flowpath. The fairing includes mating forward and aft annular sections with each section having an outer wall and an inner wall defining the flowpath therebetween. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced hollow fairing struts radially extends between the inner and outer walls. The two sections are manufactured such that there are no misalignments or steps between the lineup of the two sections. The sections are placed over the frame struts and are coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger W. Schonewald, Albert A. Legault
  • Patent number: 4791783
    Abstract: A convertible aircraft engine, capable of turboshaft and/or turbofan modes of operation, is provided in a configuration that combines certain components to permit variation in bypass flow to match engine airflows with the mode of engine operation. The provided components permit the engine to decrease the power requirements of the engine's forward fan when the engine is operated in the turboshaft mode. To permit a decrease in fan power requirements, the fan is split into an outer portion and an inner portion separated by a rotating shroud. Airflow into the fan's outer portion is controlled with a part span inlet guide vane and an outlet guide vane. The guide vanes can be used to lessen the load on the outer portion of the fan while the inner portion continues to accelerate and compress a normal airflow into an engine compressor for supplying the engine's core. The power normally used to drive the fan outer portion is used instead to power a transfer shaft in the turboshaft mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Neitzel
  • Patent number: 4790133
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a core gas generator engine for generating combustion gases, an additional power turbine, an additional fan section, and a booster compressor is disclosed. The power turbine includes first and second counterrotatable turbine blade rows effective for rotating first and second drive shafts, respectively. The fan section includes a first fan blade row connected to the first drive shaft and a second fan blade row connected to the second drive shaft. The booster compressor includes a first compressor blade row connected to the first drive shaft and a second compressor blade row connected to the second drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alan R. Stuart
  • Patent number: 4787201
    Abstract: Control means and method for steering an aircraft is disclosed. The aircraft includes engines positioned on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis. The method comprises: selecting an aircraft heading; sensing a deviation from said heading; and varying the thrust of at least one engine in response to the sense deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Barton H. Snow
  • Patent number: 4784575
    Abstract: A propulsor blade for an aircraft engine includes an airfoil section formed in the shape of a scimitar. A metallic blade spar is interposed between opposed surfaces of the blade and is bonded to the surfaces to establish structural integrity of the blade. The metallic blade spar includes a root end allowing attachment of the blade to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joey L. Nelson, Sidney B. Elston, III, Wu-Yang Tseng, Martin C. Hemsworth
  • Patent number: 4775602
    Abstract: A method for improving oxidation resistance life of a metallic coating deposited on a metallic alloy including boron treats the alloy to reduce the boron prior to depositing the coating. The article provided by using a diffusion coating method has a diffusion zone between the coating and the alloy substrate characterized by the substantial absence of boride needles traversing the diffusion zone from the coating into the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Lyle T. Rasch
  • Patent number: 4772180
    Abstract: An integrated control system for coaxial counterrotating aircraft propulsors driven by a common gas turbine engine. The system establishes an engine pressure ratio by control of fuel flow and uses the established pressure ratio to set propulsor speed. Propulsor speed is set by adjustment of blade pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neil Walker, Stanley G. Day, Paul D. Collopy, George W. Bennett