Patents Assigned to General Electric Company
  • Patent number: 11970278
    Abstract: A thrust mount assembly includes a thrust link-lever that has a first end region, a second end region, and a fulcrum region disposed between the first end region and the second end region. A thrust link-lever may be coupled or couplable to a fulcrum body of an aft engine-mount at a fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever. When coupled to a turbomachine, the fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever may be laterally offset and/or laterally adjustable relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine. A load translated from an engine frame of a turbomachine to an engine-mounting linkage system may be determined and a fulcrum position for the thrust mount assembly may be adjusted laterally relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kudum Shinde, Mahesh Shenvi Khandeparker
  • Patent number: 11971172
    Abstract: A premixer assembly for a combustor includes: at least one ring of premixers, each premixer having a central axis, an annular peripheral wall surrounding a centerbody, and at least one swirler disposed between the centerbody and the peripheral wall, wherein the peripheral wall defines an inlet area of the premixer; and a lip extending forward along the central axis from the peripheral wall, the lip extending at an oblique angle to the axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David A. Lind, Ajoy Patra, Ting-Yu Tu, Pradeep Naik, Gregory A. Boardman
  • Patent number: 11970282
    Abstract: Systems and methods of aircraft thrust management are provided. For example, a propulsion system for an aircraft comprises a fuel cell assembly comprising a fuel cell, a turbomachine, and a controller comprising memory and one or more processors. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the propulsion system to perform operations including receiving data indicative of a propulsion system thrust discrepancy and modifying an output of the fuel cell in response to receiving data indicative of the propulsion system thrust discrepancy. Modifying the fuel cell output may include modifying output products, an electrical power output, or both of the fuel cell to balance the thrust provided by the propulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Honggang Wang, Kum Kang Huh, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Koji Asari
  • Patent number: 11969962
    Abstract: A method for repairing composite components includes positioning repair material within a repair region of a composite component formed of a composite material. Furthermore, the method includes heating the repair region to a first temperature. Additionally, the method includes heating a remaining portion of the composite component to a second temperature. Moreover, the method includes melt infiltrating the repair region with an infiltrant to densify the repair material. The first temperature is at or above a melting point of the infiltrant and the second temperature is less than the melting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Chidsey Roberts, Timothy P. Coons, Gregory Willis
  • Patent number: 11970279
    Abstract: A control system and methods for controlling the position of one or more engine-mounting links of an engine-mounting linkage system are provided. In one aspect, an engine-mounting linkage system includes one or more engine-mounting links that each have an adjustable inclination angle. An inclination angle of a link may be adjusted by an actuator of the control system. One or more controllers of the control system can control the actuator and thus the inclination angle of the link by determining a control command based at least in part on an output received from one or more sensors of the control system. The controllers can then cause the actuator to change the inclination angle of the link based at least in part on the determined control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Leo Schelfaut, Anthony Michael Metz, Jonathan Edward Coleman, Thomas P. Joseph
  • Patent number: 11965425
    Abstract: An airfoil is provided defining a spanwise direction, a chordwise direction, a root end, a tip end, a leading edge end, and a trailing edge end. The airfoil includes: a leading edge extending from the leading edge end; a body extending along the spanwise direction between the root end and the tip end, the body including a plurality of cavity walls defining a plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of cavities having an inlet located at the leading edge; and a porous face sheet positioned on at least one inlet of the plurality of cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 11965697
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a first wall manifold. The heat exchanger further includes a second wall manifold spaced apart from the first wall manifold. The heat exchanger further includes a plurality of vanes that extend generally circumferentially between the first wall manifold and the second wall manifold. The heat exchanger further includes a plurality of fluid circuits defined within the heat exchanger. Each fluid circuit in the plurality of fluid circuits includes an inlet channel portion and an outlet channel portion defined within the first wall manifold. A return channel portion defined within the second wall manifold. At least one passage portion of a plurality of passage portions defined within each vane of the plurality of vanes. The at least one passage portion extends between the return channel portion and one of the inlet channel portion and the outlet channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Daggett, Steven Douglas Johnson, Anand P. Roday, Scott Alan Schimmels
  • Patent number: 11965424
    Abstract: A method for providing overspeed protection for a gas turbine engine having an engine shaft includes monitoring, via an overspeed protection system, a torque of the engine shaft. The method also includes determining, via the overspeed protection system, at least one additional condition of the engine shaft. Further, the method includes determining, via the overspeed protection system, an overspeed condition of the gas turbine engine when the torque of the engine shaft drops below a torque threshold and the at least one additional condition of the engine shaft is indicative of the gas turbine engine being in an operational state. Thus, the overspeed condition is indicative of an above normal rotational speed of the engine shaft. In addition, the method includes initiating a shutdown procedure for the gas turbine engine in response to the determined overspeed condition to reduce the rotational speed of the engine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Erich Alois Krammer, Douglas Scott Jacobs, Joseph Alfred Iannotti
  • Patent number: 11964430
    Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing three-dimensional objects, and/or a method of controlling one or more irradiation parameters of the energy beam system, may include determining an irradiation setting using an irradiation control model and outputting an irradiation control command to an energy beam system based at least in part on the irradiation setting. The irradiation control model may be configured to determine the irradiation setting based at least in part on a power density factor and/or an irradiation vector factor. The irradiation control command may be configured to change one or more irradiation parameters for additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object. An additive manufacturing system may include an energy beam system and a control system that includes an irradiation controller. The irradiation controller may include a control module configured to perform such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: Concept Laser GmbH, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Juergen Werner, Benjamin Guenther, Lisa Pastuschka, Manuel Acosta
  • Patent number: 11965653
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine has a combustor liner that has a cold surface side and a hot surface side, the liner defining an upstream end and a downstream end, and a dilution opening through the combustor liner. The dilution opening includes a main dilution hole portion having an upstream edge and a downstream edge, a notched portion disposed at the upstream edge and extending upstream from the upstream edge, the notched portion being in fluid communication with the main dilution hole portion, and a slotted portion disposed at the downstream edge and extending downstream of the downstream edge, the slotted portion being in fluid communication with the main dilution hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Rimple Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Gregory A. Boardman
  • Patent number: 11967743
    Abstract: A propulsion system is provided including: a gas turbine engine including a combustion section having a combustor; and a modular fuel cell assembly. The modular fuel cell assembly includes: a first fuel cell string comprising a first processing unit and a first fuel cell stack, the first fuel cell stack comprising a first fuel cell defining an outlet configured to provide output products from the first fuel cell to the combustor; and a second fuel cell string comprising a second processing unit and a second fuel cell stack, the second fuel cell stack comprising a second fuel cell defining an outlet configured to provide output products from the second fuel cell to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Honggang Wang, Radislav A. Potyrailo, Michael Anthony Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11964750
    Abstract: A control system for an engine operatively coupled with a propeller and methods for controlling an engine operatively coupled with a propeller are provided. In one example aspect, the control system includes a controller and an electric propeller governor. The electric propeller governor includes a motor operatively coupled with a flyweight governor spring. The motor is communicatively coupled with the controller. The controller is operable to receive data indicative of the speed of the propeller, determine if the measured speed exceeds a propeller speed threshold, and if the threshold is exceeded, the controller is configured to change a propeller speed set point. Particularly, the controller can cause the motor to change the preload on the flyweight governor spring, which in turn causes adjustment of the propeller speed set point. In this way, propeller speed overshoot is prevented during fast acceleration of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jozef Zakucia, Vojtech Jirasek, Milan Matejka
  • Publication number: 20240128695
    Abstract: An approach for facilitating mechanical and electrical connection of electric machines and electrical components in an electrical system using connectors with quick connect/disconnect electrical connectors is disclosed. Each quick connect/disconnect electrical connector can be placed on the end of an electrical power distribution cable that connects with an electric machine or electrical component. The electric machines and electrical components and the electrical power distribution cables can have hollow coolant passages formed therein to receive cooling fluid from a cooling device for direct cooling of the electric machines, electrical components and the electrical power distribution cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: MATTHEW ROBERT MARTIN, JOHN RUSSELL YAGIELSKI, PHILIP MICHAEL CIOFFI, MARK EDWARD DAME, WEI ZHANG
  • Patent number: 11958111
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing machine may include a beam source, a process chamber, a beam column operably coupled to the process chamber and/or defining a portion of the process chamber, and a gaseous ionization detector disposed about the beam column. The gaseous ionization detector may be configured to detect elementary particles corresponding to an ionizing gas ionized by an energy beam from the beam source. A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object may include determining data from a gaseous ionization detector disposed about a beam column of an additive manufacturing machine, and additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object using the additive manufacturing machine based at least in part on the data from the gaseous ionization detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Alan Bartosik, Thomas Graham Spears
  • Patent number: 11958250
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus can include a stage configured to hold one or more cured layers of resin that form a component. A radiant energy device can be operable to generate and project radiant energy in a patterned image. An actuator can be configured to change a relative position of the stage relative to the radiant energy device. A reclamation system can be downstream of the stage and can be configured to remove at least a portion of the resin from a resin support. The reclamation system can include a first collection structure configured to accept a resin support therethrough along a resin support movement direction. A first scraper is positioned within the first collection structure. The first scraper has an elongation axis that is offset from the resin support movement direction by an offset angle that is less than 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Meredith Elissa Dubelman, Christopher David Barnhill, Xi Yang, William Joseph Steele, Brian Thomas Thompson
  • Patent number: 11958249
    Abstract: A reclamation system for an additive manufacturing apparatus can include a collection structure configured to remove at least a portion of the resin from a foil. A containment vessel can be configured to retain the resin removed from the foil. A drain can direct the resin from the containment vessel to a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Trent William Muhlenkamp, Christopher David Barnhill, Meredith Elissa Dubelman, Carlos H. Bonilla, Brian Thomas Thompson, John Thomas Sterle
  • Patent number: 11959423
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a turbine engine that provides a modulated thrust control malfunction accommodation (TCMA) is disclosed. An example fuel supply system includes a fuel supply line to supply fuel to a combustion engine, a fuel metering valve coupled to the fuel supply line, the fuel metering valve to control a flow of fuel through the fuel supply line to the combustion engine, a throttle valve coupled to the fuel supply line downstream of the fuel metering valve, the throttle valve to bleed off fuel supplied to the combustion engine based on a pressure difference across the fuel metering valve, and a controllable servo coupled to the throttle valve, the controllable servo to control the throttle valve based on a sensor output indicative of the pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David Justin Brady
  • Patent number: 11959441
    Abstract: A Brayton cycle engine including a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines a gas flowpath of the engine. An inner wall assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall into the gas flowpath. The inner wall assembly defines a detonation combustion region in the gas flowpath upstream of the inner wall assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sibtosh Pal, Steven Clayton Vise, Arthur Wesley Johnson, Clayton Stuart Cooper, Joseph Zelina
  • Patent number: 11962255
    Abstract: Systems and methods of controlling a length of an air gap in an electric machine using an air gap controller may include: determining an air gap length value for an electric machine at least in part using an air gap controller, comparing the determined air gap length value to an air gap target value using the air gap controller, and outputting a control command from the air gap controller to a controllable device associated with an air gap control system when the determined air gap length value differs from the air gap target value by a predefined threshold. A control command may be configured to impart a change to an operating parameter associated with the air gap control system to adjust a length of an air gap between an outer surface of a rotor core and an inner surface of a stator core of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pablo Gabriel Piazza Galarza, Fabian Isaza
  • Patent number: 11958217
    Abstract: Systems and methods for compacting components are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a component is positioned between a first tool portion and a second tool portion of a compaction tool. A sandwich structure is positioned between the first tool portion and the component. The sandwich structure includes a thermally expandable material and a rigid shell. The thermally expandable material is positioned between the first tool portion and the rigid shell. During compaction, the thermally expandable material is subjected to elevated temperatures and pressures, e.g., within an autoclave. When subjected to elevated temperatures and pressures, the thermally expandable material applies a force on the rigid shell, which in turn applies a force on the component so as to compact the component between the rigid shell and the second tool portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Wu, Darrell Glenn Senile, Thomas Samuel Holaday