Patents Examined by Alain Chau
  • Patent number: 11047339
    Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine comprises a fan coupled to a fan drive turbine, the fan being configured to provide a bypass flow (B) and a core flow (A) in use. The engine includes a reduction gearbox which couples the fan to the fan drive turbine and a core compressor arrangement. The core compressor arrangement has a core inlet at an upstream end of a core gas flow passage (A) defined by radially inner and outer walls, and at least a first compressor rotor blade provided at an upstream end of the compressor arrangement. The radially inner wall of the core inlet defines a first diameter (DINLET), and a root leading edge of the first compressor rotor blade defines a second diameter (DCOMP). A first ratio (DINLET:DCOMP) of the first diameter (DCOMP) to the second diameter (DCOMP) is greater than or equal to 1.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: James M. Pointon, Stephen J. Bradbrook
  • Patent number: 11041437
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided for a turbocharger system. In one example, a system for use with a power generator having a rotary machine including a combustor comprises: a heat exchanger positioned to receive exhaust gases from the combustor; and a turbocharger system, comprising: a low pressure compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and adapted to supply gases to the heat exchanger; a low pressure turbine and a high pressure turbine each fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger and adapted to receive gases from the heat exchanger; a high pressure compressor fluidly coupled to the rotary machine and the low pressure compressor, adapted to receive gases from the low pressure compressor and supply compressed air to the rotary machine; and a water injector adapted to inject water into a flow path between the low pressure compressor and the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Joseph Homison, Lukas Johnson, Daniel Edward Loringer
  • Patent number: 11041463
    Abstract: A turbine engine structure includes a turbine engine core having a core cocooning feature, and a fan fore of the turbine engine core, relative to fluid flow through the turbine engine structure. The fan is drivably connected to the turbine engine core via a shaft. A nacelle circumferentially surrounds the turbine engine core, and a bypass flowpath is defined between the turbine engine core and the nacelle. A plurality of augmenter fuel spray bars are disposed in the bypass flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Carl F. Weiss
  • Patent number: 11033845
    Abstract: A turbine engine having a bypass fluid conduit coupled to the turbine section includes at least one particle separator located within the bypass fluid conduit to separate particles from a bypass fluid stream prior to the bypass stream reaching the turbine section for cooling. A centrifugal separator for removing particles from a fluid stream includes an angular velocity increaser, a particle outlet, an angular velocity decreaser downstream of the angular velocity increaser, and a bend provided between the angular velocity increaser and the angular velocity decreaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Deryck Stone, Gregory Michael Laskowski, Robert Proctor, Curtis Stover, Robert Francis Manning, Victor Hugo Silva Correia, Jared Peter Buhler, Robert Carl Murray, Corey Bourassa, Jr., Byron Andrew Pritchard, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff
  • Patent number: 11021977
    Abstract: A guide vane for use in a compressor discharge plenum of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The guide vane comprises a guide support system, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a deflector panel secured to the mounting system and extending between the first side panel and the second side panel. The deflector panel has a curved profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y, and Z as set forth in Table 1 where the X, Y, and Z values are in inches from a center point of a bottom surface of the deflector panel. The coordinate values are connected by smooth continuing arcs to form profile sections and the profile sections are joined together smoothly to form the curved profile of the guide vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Chromalloy Gas Turbine LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Folkers, Zhenhua Xiao, Vincent C. Martling, Mariano Medrano
  • Patent number: 11015807
    Abstract: A combustor heat shield comprises a panel body having a front surface and a back surface. The back surface has sealing rails extending therefrom and defining a serpentine cooling path on the back surface of the panel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Si-Man Amy Lao
  • Patent number: 11008884
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a genset includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure shaft wherein the gas turbine engine is adapted to provide mechanical power to a propulsion type load. The genset further includes a generator having an input power shaft wherein the generator is adapted to receive mechanical power to develop electric power. The genset further includes an output power shaft having a first end coupled to the low pressure shaft of the gas turbine and a second end coupled to the input power shaft of the generator and a plurality of struts wherein the first ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the gas turbine engine and second ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the generator at locations substantially aligned with a center of gravity of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa Hughes, Christopher Banham, Brian R Bennett, Jason L Swindle
  • Patent number: 11002223
    Abstract: A flight vehicle engine includes an isolator with a swept-back wedge to improve flow mixing. The wedge includes forward shock-anchoring locations, such as edges or rapidly-curved portions, that anchor oblique shocks in situations where the isolator has sufficient back pressure. The swept-back wedge may also create swept oblique shocks along its length. Boundary layer flow streamlines are diverted running parallel to or parallel but moving outward conically to the swept-wedge leading edge moving outboard and upward. The non-viscous flow outside the boundary layer is processed through the swept-back ramp shock and diverted outboard and upward as well. The outboard aft portion of the wedge at the sidewall intersection may also induce shocks and divert flow near the walls closer toward the walls and upward, and/or improve flow mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Nicholas P. Cicchini
  • Patent number: 11002190
    Abstract: An annular combustion system includes a fuel nozzle, a panel fuel injector including a fuel plenum and at least one premixing channel therein, an inner liner having a hot side surface and a cool side surface and an outer liner having a hot side surface and a cool side surface. The inner liner, the outer liner and the panel fuel injector partially define a hot gas path downstream from the fuel nozzle. The inner liner and/or the outer liner define a plurality of micro-channel cooling passages which is disposed between the hot side surface and cool side surface of the inner liner. Each micro-channel cooling passage of the first plurality of micro-channel cooling passages is in fluid communication with an inlet hole defined along the cool side surface of the respective liner and an outlet hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Michael John Hughes
  • Patent number: 10995678
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a core engine including: a compressor, combustion equipment which receives compressed air from the compressor, a circumferential row of nozzle guide vanes, and a turbine. The nozzle guide vanes defines a throat receiving hot working gases from the combustion equipment into the turbine. The gas turbine engine further has an air system which is switchably operable between an on-position which opens a diversion pathway along which a portion of the compressed air exiting the compressor bypasses the combustion equipment to join the hot working gases at re-entry holes located between the nozzle guide vanes and a rotor at the front of the turbine, thereby increasing the semi-dimensional mass flow ?(T30)0.5/(P30) of the core engine at the exit of the compressor, and an off-position which closes the diversion pathway, thereby decreasing the semi-dimensional mass flow of the core engine at the exit of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, Timothy J. Scanlon, Luis F. Llano, Paul A. Sellers
  • Patent number: 10995671
    Abstract: An inlet body is for a fluid injector for a turbomachine. The inlet body includes a casing and an inlet nozzle, housed inside the casing, that serves as a seat for a mobile sealing member. The inlet nozzle includes a central duct for the fluid and an annular rim surrounding the central duct. The annular rim includes a housing for a gasket. The housing is defined by a bottom wall, an opening opposite the bottom wall, and two opposite walls which each extend between the bottom wall and the opening. The walls are tilted towards each other in the direction of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Christophe Chabaille, Antoine Bissieres, Lauranne Sophie Mottet
  • Patent number: 10995674
    Abstract: An embodiment of an engine assembly includes a plurality of offtakes powered by a combustion turbine engine having a high spool and at least one lower spool, and a controller configured to operate the combustion turbine engine through a range between a first low-idle mode, a second high idle mode, and a maximum takeoff power rating mode. The controller operates the engine in the low-idle mode by directing at least a first portion of power from the at least one lower spool to the plurality of offtakes, and wherein the controller operates the engine in the high idle mode by increasing a speed of the high spool relative to a speed of the high spool in the low-idle mode, thereby increasing a compressor outlet (T3) temperature in the high idle mode relative to a T3 temperature in the low-idle mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, John P. Virtue
  • Patent number: 10989075
    Abstract: An emissions reduction system for a combined cycle power plant having a gas turbine engine and a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) can comprise a duct defining a flow space configured to receive exhaust gas from the gas turbine and convey the exhaust gas into the HRSG, and a louver system coupled to the duct that can comprise a plurality of emission medium panels extending across the flow space, the emission medium panels configured to be moved between a first position where adjacent filter medium panels extend contiguously across the flow space of the duct and a second position where adjacent filter medium panels include spaces therebetween to provide an unobstructed flow path and an actuator to move the plurality of panels between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Schwartz Thangyah
  • Patent number: 10982570
    Abstract: A dispatchable storage combined cycle power plant comprises a combustion turbine generator, a steam power system, a heat source other than the combustion turbine generator, and a thermal energy storage system. Heat from the heat source, from the thermal energy storage system, or from the heat source and the thermal energy storage system is used to generate steam in the steam power system. Heat from the combustion turbine may be used in series with or in parallel with the thermal energy storage system and/or the heat source to generate the steam, and additionally to super heat the steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: William M. Conlon
  • Patent number: 10934885
    Abstract: A system may comprise a sensor configured to measure a characteristic of an engine component. A valve assembly may have an airflow outlet in fluid communication with the engine component. The valve assembly may include a first valve. A first valve control device may be coupled to the first valve and configured to control the first valve based on a measurement by the sensor. A second valve may be in fluidic series with the first valve. A second valve control device may be coupled to the second valve and configured to control the second valve based on the measurement by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D Greenberg, Robert Goodman, John M Dehais
  • Patent number: 10934856
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a body with a first side wall and a second side wall joined at a leading edge and a trailing edge, the first side wall having a first interior surface and the second side wall having a second interior surface. The airfoil further includes an internal wall disposed within of the body and extending between the first interior surface and the second interior surface to define a supply passage and a leading edge passage. The internal wall defines a plurality of cooling holes to direct cooling air from the supply passage to the leading edge passage such that the cooling air impinges upon the leading edge. The airfoil further includes a first plurality of grooves formed in the first interior surface, each the first plurality of grooves extending in a chordwise direction within the leading edge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Balamurugan Srinivasan, Sridharan Reghupathy Narayanan, Karthikeyan Paramanandam, Chandiran Jayamurugan, Malak Fouad Malak
  • Patent number: 10883389
    Abstract: A control device includes a reception unit configured to receive a load schedule indicating a load in the future of a combined cycle plant, a steam temperature control unit configured to control a temperature of steam flowing into a steam turbine, and a fuel control unit configured to control a flow rate of fuel supplied to a gas turbine. The steam temperature control unit is configured to output a command indicating an amount of operation for decreasing the temperature of the steam to a steam temperature regulator prior to a load decrease time at which the load is to be decreased in the load schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Kubota
  • Patent number: 10883375
    Abstract: A turboengine as disclosed includes an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, wherein the inner wall structure is provided at a radially inner position with respect to the outer wall structure, and each of the wall structures has a surface, the surfaces being arranged facing each other in the radial direction. At least one guide vane member includes at least one airfoil, a radially inner end and a radially outer end. The inner wall structure and the outer wall structure are jointly provided as a vane carrier unit, wherein the inner wall structure and the outer wall structure are fixedly connected to each other by at least one bridging member extending between the inner wall structure and the outer wall structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventor: Urs Benz
  • Patent number: 10865737
    Abstract: A system and method for an improved thrust reverser is provided. The provided thrust reverser employs hidden linkage assemblies to decrease drag in the engine exhaust flow and increase turbine engine performance. The hidden linkage assemblies are placed in a space between the blocker door and the transcowl, thereby not affecting the engine exhaust flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Danis Burton Smith, Alexandre Guerinot, Remo Neri, James Thomas Ayers, III
  • Patent number: 10836567
    Abstract: A pulverized-fuel supply unit includes a hopper, first nozzles, second nozzles, a pressurizing-gas supply device, a fluidization-gas supply device, and a pulverized-fuel supply line. The hopper has a hollow to store therein pulverized fuel. The first nozzles are provided to the hopper. The second nozzles are provided to a vertically lower part of the hopper below the plurality of first nozzles. The pressurizing-gas supply device is configured to supply pressurizing gas to increase internal pressure of the hopper. The fluidization-gas supply device is configured to supply fluidization gas to fluidize the pulverized fuel in the hopper. The pulverized-fuel supply line is provided to a vertically lower part of the hopper. The pressurizing-gas supply device supplies pressurizing gas to the first nozzles and the second nozzles. The fluidization-gas supply device supplies fluidization gas to the second nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Kasai, Koji Nishimura, Yuichiro Urakata