Patents Examined by Andrew H Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11441482
    Abstract: A translating inlet assembly may comprise a first inlet portion and a second portion configured to translate relative to the first portion. A track may be located in the first portion. A rail may be coupled to the second portion and configured to translate along the track. The rail and the track may form a load bearing component configured to transfer inertial loads experienced by the second portion. A first actuator may be operationally coupled to the rail and configured to drive the rail along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Lacko
  • Patent number: 11434850
    Abstract: A system for a thrust reverser of an aircraft includes a primary sleeve and a secondary sleeve having cascades. The secondary sleeve is coupled to a set of blocker doors. The sliding motions of the primary sleeve and the secondary sleeve are not directly coupled when each moves between its stowed and deployed positions. The sliding motion of the primary sleeve may begin at a different time and continue at a different rate from the sliding motion of the secondary sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Gormley
  • Patent number: 11434017
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of fairings of aircraft propulsion units, and more particularly to an assembly comprising a longitudinal beam (31) configured to be mounted on a lateral of a turbofan (7) engine core (11), oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis (X) of the turbofan (7), an opening fairing (18) cowl (50) of the engine core (11) and a deployment mechanism (60) mounted on the longitudinal beam (31) to move the opening cowl (50) between an open position and a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Antoine Elie Hellegouarch, Quentin Matthias Emmanuel Garnaud, Marc Patrick Tesniere
  • Patent number: 11434848
    Abstract: A nacelle may comprise a fixed structure and a translating structure configured to translate relative to the fixed structure. A first drive system may be operationally coupled to the translating structure. The drive system may comprise a primary actuator coupled to the fixed structure and including a primary rod and a primary gear rotationally coupled to the primary rod, a torque shaft rotationally coupled to the primary gear, and a secondary actuator operationally coupled to the primary actuator via the torque shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Gormley
  • Patent number: 11428190
    Abstract: A grid-type thrust reverser for a turbojet engine includes a moving O-shaped thrust reverser body that is generally cylindrical in shape around a longitudinal central axis (A) and includes an inner wall configured to delimit a cold air stream, with an inner structure that surrounds the turbojet engine, the movable thrust reverser body being mounted so as to be able to slide along the longitudinal central axis (A) between a direct jet position in which the outer cowl covers the thrust reverser grids, and a thrust-reversal position in which the outer cowl uncovers the thrust reverser grids. The movable thrust reverser body includes a first half-portion and a second half-portion that are mounted so as to each pivot about a longitudinal pivot axis (B), between a closed position and an open gullwing position for removing the turbojet engine, via the cradle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventors: Loïc Grall, Alexis Heau, Benjamin Brebion, Sébastien Michel Thierry Guillemant, Mélody Seriset, Patrick Boileau
  • Patent number: 11414200
    Abstract: A nacelle may comprise an inlet and a fan cowl aft of the inlet. The fan cowl may include a fan cowl panel configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position. The nacelle may further comprise a securement retainer including a first portion coupled to an interior surface of the fan cowl panel and a second portion coupled to an aft inlet flange of the inlet. The first portion of the securement retainer may be configured to engage the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Shashidhar Shivarudrappa, Rohit Kumar Sharma
  • Patent number: 11401825
    Abstract: The invention regards a gas turbine engine control system and a method for limiting turbine overspeed in case of a shaft failure. The control system includes: an overspeed protection system that activates an activation member in case a shaft failure is detected; a fuel limiting mechanism coupled with the activation member, wherein the fuel limiting mechanism is configured to limit the fuel supply to the gas turbine engine combustor if the activation member is activated; a variable stator vane mechanism which is configured to adjust variable stator vanes of a compressor of the gas turbine engine in their rotational position, the variable stator vanes having a closed position which blocks air flow through the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG, ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Jorge Calderon, David Brown
  • Patent number: 11401889
    Abstract: A method of managing a gas turbine engine includes the steps of detecting an airspeed and detecting a fan speed. A parameter relationship is referenced related to a desired variable area fan nozzle position based upon at least airspeed and fan speed. The detected airspeed and detected fan speed is compared to the parameter relationship to determine a target variable area fan nozzle position. An actual variable area fan nozzle position is adjusted in response to the determination of the target area fan nozzle position and at least one threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geoffrey T. Blackwell, William J. McVey, William G. Tempelman
  • Patent number: 11401887
    Abstract: An improved thrust reverser for an aircraft propulsion assembly includes redirection of the air flow for performing the thrust reversal by one or more closure membranes, i.e. by thin and flexible structures deployed across the propulsion assembly. The improved thrust reverser includes at least one closure membrane arranged to deflect at least one portion of the air flow in the direction of the evacuation structure when the thrust reverser is in the reverse jet position and an intermediate structure movable in rotation relative to the fixed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventors: Patrick Gonidec, Olivier Kerbler, Alexandre Phi, Jean-Paul Rami, Stephane Tirel, Jean-Baptiste Goulard, Matthieu Vanderlinden, Arnaud Carles-Espiteau
  • Patent number: 11391241
    Abstract: A nacelle system having a translating structure is disclosed. In various embodiments, the nacelle system includes a fixed structure; a thrust reverser having a translating sleeve configured to translate relative to the fixed structure and in response to a first dual-circuit hydraulic system; and a variable area fan nozzle having a translating nozzle configured to translate relative to the translating sleeve and in response to a second dual-circuit hydraulic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Gormley
  • Patent number: 11391242
    Abstract: A nacelle system having a translating structure is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a fixed structure; a thrust reverser having a translating sleeve configured to translate relative to the fixed structure and in response to a first hydraulic system; and a variable area fan nozzle having a translating nozzle configured to translate relative to the translating sleeve and in response to a second hydraulic system. In various embodiments, the first hydraulic system and the second hydraulic system include a primary hydraulic actuator, the primary hydraulic actuator having a primary hydraulic fluid end and a primary gaseous fluid end; a secondary hydraulic actuator having a secondary hydraulic fluid end and a secondary gaseous fluid end; and a hydraulic supply line configured to fluidly couple the primary hydraulic fluid end of the primary hydraulic actuator to the secondary hydraulic fluid end of the secondary hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Gormley
  • Patent number: 11390394
    Abstract: A nacelle for an aircraft turbojet engine includes a thrust-reversing device with a fixed structure and a movable structure translatably movable along an axis substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the nacelle between a retracted position in which it provides aerodynamic continuity with the fixed structure of the nacelle during operation of the nacelle with forward thrust and a deployed position in which it opens a passage intended for the circulation of a diverted secondary air flow during operation of the nacelle with reverse thrust. The nacelle includes at least one position sensor configured and arranged in the nacelle for detecting a deformation of the movable structure exceeding a permitted predetermined deformation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventors: Olivier Kerbler, Laurent Georges Valleroy, Corentin Hue, Alexis Heau
  • Patent number: 11391243
    Abstract: Seals for gimbaling and/or fixed rocket engine nozzles, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative rocket propulsion system includes a rocket engine having an exhaust nozzle, a seal plate carried by the exhaust nozzle, and a seal engaged with the seal plate. The seal includes at least one support, multiple pivotable first flaps, carried by the at least one support and positioned to contact the seal plate, and multiple pivotable second flaps, with an individual second flap positioned to shield a corresponding individual first flap. At least one forcing element is operatively coupled to at least one of the individual first flap or the individual second flap, to apply a pivoting force to the at least one of the individual first flap or the individual second flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Blue Origin, LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel Cantor, Colin Patterson, Adam Norman, Christopher P. Hupf
  • Patent number: 11365692
    Abstract: A fuel metering circuit for a turbomachine includes: a meter; a pump; a control valve configured to return an excess flow of fuel delivered to the meter towards the pump on the basis of a fuel pressure differential at the terminals of the meter; a diaphragm; and a volumetric flow meter. The diaphragm and the volumetric flow meter are mounted parallel to the meter, downstream of the control valve, in order to determine a density of the fuel flowing in the metering circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Loic Pora, Arnaud Bernard Clement Thomas Joudareff
  • Patent number: 11346303
    Abstract: A thrust reverser actuation system includes a first cowl actuation system for translating a first cowl of a thrust reverser and a second, separate cowl actuation system for translating a second cowl of the thrust reverser. The system also includes a device operatively connected between the first cowl actuation system and the second cowl actuation system, and configured to transmit drive from one of the first and second cowl actuation systems to the other of the first and second cowl actuation systems in the event of a failure of the other of the first and second cowl actuation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Antony Morgan
  • Patent number: 11346304
    Abstract: A thrust reverser may include a frame, a track disposed on the frame, a carrier operatively coupled to the track, and a first reverser door operatively coupled to the carrier. The first reverser door is movable relative to the frame, wherein the first reverser door is configured to move to a first position in response to the carrier moving with respect to the track in a first direction, and move to a second position in response to the carrier moving with respect to the track in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Gormley, Imad D. Ghandour
  • Patent number: 11333021
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine core, a fan located upstream of the engine core, a nacelle surrounding the engine core and defining a bypass duct, and a fan outlet guide vane (OGV) extending radially across the bypass duct between an outer surface of the engine core and an inner surface of the nacelle. The engine core includes a compressor system, and an outer core casing surrounding the compressor system and including a first flange connection arranged to allow separation of the outer core casing at an axial position of the first flange connection. An axial midpoint of a radially inner edge of the fan OGV is defined as the fan OGV root centrepoint. A fan OGV root position to fan diameter ratio of: an ? ? axial ? ? distance ? ? between ? ? the ? ? first ? ? flange ? ? connection ? ? and the ? ? fan ? ? OGV ? ? root ? ? centrepoint the ? ? fan ? ? diameter is equal to or less than 0.33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Chathura K Kannangara, Jillian C Gaskell, Stewart T Thornton, Timothy Philp
  • Patent number: 11333080
    Abstract: A method of extracting work from a convertible gas turbine engine having a core flowpath and a bypass flowpath. The method comprises operating the convertible gas turbine engine at a first volumetric flow rate through the core flowpath and a second volumetric flow rate through the bypass flowpath to produce a first work output of the convertible gas turbine engine; extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a first fan to shaft extraction ratio; altering the second volumetric flowrate through the bypass flowpath while maintaining the first work output; and extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a second fan to shaft extraction ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. McNeil, John Kusnierek
  • Patent number: 11333102
    Abstract: A thrust reverser may include a frame, a track disposed on the frame, a carrier operatively coupled to the track, a first reverser door operatively coupled to the carrier, the first reverser door is movable relative to the frame, wherein the first reverser door is configured to move to a first position in response to the carrier moving with respect to the track in a first direction, and move to a second position in response to the carrier moving with respect to the track in a second direction, and a deployable fairing pivotally coupled to the frame, the deployable fairing operatively coupled to the carrier, wherein the deployable fairing is configured to move away from a central axis of the thrust reverser to provide clearance for the reverser door to rotate into a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Gormley, Imad D Ghandour
  • Patent number: 11319898
    Abstract: To reduce the number of necessary actuators, improve reliability and redundancy, as well as reducing weight and fuel consumption, a thrust reverser assembly configured for reversing thrust of an aircraft engine is proposed. The thrust reverser assembly comprises flaps and linkage arrangements, wherein the flaps are driven between a stowed position and a deployed position by the linkage arrangement due to an axial movement of a part of the engine nacelle. The linkage arrangement is configured as a four bar linkage, in particular, a double rocker bar linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Luc Andréani