Patents Examined by Andrew H Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10954889
    Abstract: A thrust reverser actuation system for a jet propulsion engine for a vehicle, the thrust reverser actuation system comprising: a plurality of hydraulically-driven thrust reverser actuators for actuating one or more thrust reverser components of the jet propulsion engine, each actuator comprising: a hydraulic circuit; and a bi-directional electrically-driven pump configured to pump hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic circuit, wherein the hydraulic circuit and the pump are configured such that the direction of the pump dictates the direction of the actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tim Hudson, Nicholas Sloane
  • Patent number: 10954888
    Abstract: A thrust reverser is disclosed. The thrust reverser includes a frame, a first reverser door pivotally mounted to the frame, a second reverser door pivotally mounted to the frame and a hybrid exhaust duct. A first trailing edge of the first reverser door forms a portion of an exit plane of the thrust reverser and a second trailing edge of the second reverser door merges into the hybrid exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Lacko
  • Patent number: 10947902
    Abstract: An inlet manifold includes a main inlet oriented along a first direction and a pilot inlet oriented along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A wye passage includes an inlet branch in fluid communication with the main inlet. The inlet manifold also includes a first main passage in fluid communication with a first outlet branch of the wye passage and a second main passage in fluid communication with a second outlet branch of the wye passage. The first main passage extends generally along the first direction between the wye passage and a first main outlet. The second main passage extends generally along the first direction between the wye passage and a second main outlet. The inlet manifold also includes a pilot passage in fluid communication with the pilot inlet. The pilot passage extends generally along the first direction between the pilot inlet and a pilot outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Johnson, Kaitlin Marie Graham, Geoffrey David Myers
  • Patent number: 10947900
    Abstract: Inlet air heating systems for combined cycle power plants and combined cycle power plants including inlet air heating systems are disclosed. The inlet air heating systems may include a plurality of heating coil assemblies partially positioned within an inlet housing of a gas turbine system, and a vent valve in fluid communication with each of the heating coils. The inlet air heating system may also include a supply line in fluid communication with the heating coils to provide water to the heating coils, and a hot water line in fluid communication with the supply line and a component positioned downstream of a condenser of the combined cycle power plant. The hot water line may provide hot water from the combined cycle power plant to the supply line. Additionally, the inlet air heating system may include a drain line in fluid communication with the heating coils and the condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bradly Aaron Kippel, Douglas Frank Beadie, Dean Matthew Erickson
  • Patent number: 10941729
    Abstract: A nacelle for a dual-flow turbojet engine comprises a structure, a fixed cowl, a cowl translationally mobile on the structure, a window open between a secondary jet and the outside of the nacelle, and delimited by the fixed and mobile cowls, an outer thrust-reversing door rotationally mobile and a driving mechanism. The driving mechanism comprises a single power cylinder arranged at the level of a median plane and having a first end mounted articulated on the structure, a shaft with the second end of the power cylinder mounted articulated on the shaft, a first yoke joint secured to the outer thrust-reversing door and free to rotate on the shaft, and a second yoke joint secured to the mobile cowl, and where each of the two flanks of the second yoke joint has a groove in each of which the shaft is mounted to slide parallel to the median plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS SAS
    Inventor: Patrick Oberle
  • Patent number: 10941944
    Abstract: An additively manufactured combustor shell may comprise a radially outward surface, a radially inward surface opposite the radially outward surface, and an injector port defining a fuel injection channel. The injector port may comprise an inlet structure extending from the radially outward surface, and an outlet structure may extending from the radially inward surface. A support structure may extend between the outlet structure and the radially inward surface. The support structure may be configured to vaporize upon ignition of a fuel within the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Binek
  • Patent number: 10927767
    Abstract: An exoskeletal gas turbine engine having a rotatable outer shaft and an inner stationary case enclosed in a casing. The engine comprises a compressor section at an inlet end, a combustor section, and a turbine section at an outlet end. Rotating compressor blades and turbine blades are attached to, and extend radially inward from, an inner surface of the outer shaft. Stationary vanes are attached, and extend radially outward from, an outer surface of the inner stationary case. The outer shaft rotates around a front bearing and a rear bearing. An inlet compressor blade arrangement is attached to the outer race of the front bearing. An outlet turbine blade arrangement is attached to the outer race of the rear bearing. The inner race of the front and rear bearings attach to the inner stationary case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Clegg
  • Patent number: 10914267
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a thrust reverser system for a turbojet engine and a method for unlocking a thrust reverser system. The thrust reverser system includes a movable cowl mounted on a nacelle of the turbojet engine that is displaceable between a closed position in which the thrust reverser system is inactivated and an open position in which the thrust reverser system is activated. The thrust reverser system includes a locking system having a first and second locking element mounted on the movable cowl and a fixed structure. The first and second locking elements lock and unlock relative to each other to lock the movable cowl on the fixed structure in the closed position. The locking system is shaped so that a controlled displacement of the movable cowl from its closed position to a reclosed position triggers unlocking of the first and second locking elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventor: Gabriel Allut
  • Patent number: 10907576
    Abstract: A nacelle for a gas turbine engine, comprising a thrust reverser movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a locking system configured to selectively prevent movement of the thrust reverser from the stowed position, the locking system comprising a locking mechanism and an actuator configured to actuate the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned aft of a blade-off zone defined across the nacelle and the actuator is positioned fore of, or at least partially within, the blade-off zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Antony Morgan, Michael Paul Somerfield
  • Patent number: 10895220
    Abstract: A system for deploying a blocker door of a nacelle includes a master link configured to be coupled to a fixed structure of the nacelle and a master crank pivotally attached to the master link. The system further includes a first door crank and a first door link pivotally coupled to the first door crank. The system further includes a first blocker door coupled to the first door link and a first driveshaft coupled to the master crank and to the first door crank and configured to transfer motion from the master crank to the first door crank such that aft translation of a translating sleeve of the nacelle drives the master crank via the master link, which drives the first door link via the first driveshaft and the first door crank to move the first blocker door into a bypass air duct defined by the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Gormley
  • Patent number: 10865738
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a linear actuator lock apparatus, including a housing having an inner surface defining an axial cavity including a first housing portion where the axial cavity has a first lateral size, a second housing portion where the axial cavity has a second lateral size that is larger than the first lateral size, and a face from the first housing portion to the second housing portion, a piston configured for axial movement within the axial cavity, a lock finger affixed to and extending away from the piston, where a finger end is configured to contact the face when extended and fit within the first housing portion when retracted, and a sleeve configured to move between a position in which the lock finger is permitted to extend and a position configured to contact and retract the lock finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 10865736
    Abstract: A cascade segment for a thrust reverser, and a method of manufacturing it. The segment includes individual vane elements, modular units, and a frame. Each element includes a vane and two flanges arranged in a generally ā€œUā€ shape. Each flange diverges from being perpendicular to the vane by an amount equal to a thickness of the flange over a desired spacing distance, such that when one element is inserted into another the desired spacing distance is established between their respective vanes. The units include first modular units, each of which includes a first column of the elements oriented in a first direction, and second modular units, each of which includes a second column of the elements oriented in a second direction. In the assembled segment, the first units are positioned adjacent to and alternating with the second units. The frame extends at least partly around and secures the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Wadsworth, Alexander Jon Carr
  • Patent number: 10858942
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine core including: a compressor system including first, lower pressure compressor, and second, higher pressure compressor; and inner and outer core casings that define a core working gas flow path (A) therebetween, which has an outer radius that defines a gas path radius. The outer core casing includes a first flange connection that: has a first flange radius, is arranged to allow separation of the outer core casing at an axial position thereof, and is the first flange connection that is downstream of an axial position defined by the axial midpoint between the mid-span axial location on trailing edge of the most downstream aerofoil of first compressor and mid-span axial location on leading edge of the most upstream aerofoil of the second compressor. A gas path ratio of: first ? ? flange ? ? radius gas ? ? path ? ? radius is equal to or greater than 1.10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Chathura K Kannangara, Jillian C Gaskell, Stewart T Thornton, Timothy Philp
  • Patent number: 10851734
    Abstract: A thrust reverser assembly for high-bypass turbofan engine. The thrust reverser assembly includes a translating cowl mounted to a nacelle of an engine. The thrust reverser assembly includes blocker doors axially guided adjacent first ends thereof by a fixed structure and pivotally and slidably connected along lengths thereof to an inner wall of the translating cowl so that translation of the translating cowl in the aft direction causes the blocker door to move from a stowed position to a deployed position. The thrust reverser assembly includes a stop disposed on the core engine or on the blocker door, receiving the load from the high pressure airflow, otherwise borne by an actuation system when deploying the translating cowl and blocker door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: MRA SYSTEMS, LLC.
    Inventors: Timothy Robert Beasman, Andrew Michael Roach, Graham Frank Howarth
  • Patent number: 10837402
    Abstract: A thrust vectoring exhaust nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle includes an inner nozzle for changing a first degree-of-freedom of exhaust gas, an outer nozzle for changing a second degree-of-freedom of exhaust gas, a mounting bracket, a first linear actuator, a second linear actuator, a first double universal joint, and a second double universal joint. The inner nozzle is coupled to the outer nozzle. The inner nozzle is coupled to the mounting bracket. The outer nozzle is coupled to the first and second joint. When the nozzle is mounted, the inner nozzle, the outer nozzle, and the exhaust are coaxially aligned in neutral position. Actuation of the first and second linear actuators drives the first and second double universal joints independently to each other. The independent motion of the first and second double universal joints rotates the inner and outer nozzles simultaneously about the exhaust in a horizontal direction and vertical direction enabling thrust vectoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Guanhao Wu
  • Patent number: 10830178
    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: June 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Geoffrey T. Blackwell, William J. McVey, William G. Tempelman
  • Patent number: 10830177
    Abstract: A thrust reverser may comprise a frame, a first reverser door being movable relative to the frame, and a second reverser door being movable relative to the frame and rotationally movable relative to the first reverser door via a first pivot point, the first pivot point being movable relative to the frame via a first link rotationally mounted to the frame via a second pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy Gormley
  • Patent number: 10823412
    Abstract: A coated panel for a gas turbine engine includes a panel having a panel inner surface and a pocket formed in the panel inner surface, the pocket having a pocket depth. A coating is applied to the pocket such that a coating edge is disposed within the pocket to enhance coating retention to the panel. A gas turbine engine includes a turbine, a combustor to supply hot combustion gases to the turbine along a gas path, and one or more coated panels located along the gas path. The one or more panels includes a panel having a panel inner surface, and a pocket formed in the panel inner surface, the pocket having a pocket depth. A coating is applied to the pocket such that a coating edge is located within the pocket to enhance coating retention to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: San Quach, Andreas Sadil, Donald W. Peters
  • Patent number: 10823112
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a cascade for a thrust reverser for a jet engine includes forming a strip assembly. The strip assembly includes a strong back member which includes a length. The strip assembly includes a plurality of first vane members which extend from a first side of the strong back member in a first direction nonparallel relative to the length of strong back member wherein the plurality of the first vane members are spaced apart from one another along the length of the strong back member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Naimishkumar Harpal, Chen Chuck, Zachariah VanDeMark, Tunde A. Olaniyan, Minkoo Han
  • Patent number: 10808628
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lubrication system for turbomachine. The hydromechanical cutoff device is configured to close when a rotation speed of a turbomachine shaft reduces and becomes lower than a first threshold, and wherein the hydromechanical cutoff device is configured to open when the rotation speed of the shaft increases and becomes higher than a second threshold higher than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Bellal Waissi