Patents Examined by Arun Goyal
  • Patent number: 10443851
    Abstract: A self-pumping fuel injector includes a pump and a motor for, in-part, delivering fuel to a combustor at higher fuel pressures during start-up and ramping-up conditions. Each pump may include a stationary flow interuptor that intermittently and variably supplies fuel to a rotating spindle that, in-turn, expels the fuel into a nozzle of the injector for improve fuel spray distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10436055
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft comprises a gas generator including a turbine driving a main drive shaft, the main drive shaft, in turn, driving at least two fan drive shafts, wherein the at least two fan drive shafts are driven on non-coaxial axes, the fan drive shaft each driving a fan rotor through a fan drive system. A fan lubrication system provides lubrication to each of the fan drive systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10436151
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core and a tie shaft. The tie shaft is rotatable about an axial direction of the gas turbine engine by the core of the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine additionally includes a modular fan having a plurality of fan blades and a frame. The plurality fan blades are attached to the frame and the frame is slidably received on the tie shaft of the gas turbine engine. The modular fan additionally includes an attachment member removably attaching the frame to the tie shaft of the gas turbine engine to removably install the modular fan in the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 10436121
    Abstract: A propulsion system includes a fan, a gear, a turbine configured to drive the gear to, in turn, drive the fan. The turbine has an exit point, and a diameter (Dt) is defined at the exit point. A nacelle surrounds a core engine housing. The fan is configured to deliver air into a bypass duct defined between the nacelle and the core engine housing. A core engine exhaust nozzle is provided downstream of the exit point. A downstream most point of the core engine exhaust nozzle is defined at a distance from the exit point. A ratio of the distance to the diameter is greater than or equal to about 0.90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Robert E. Malecki
  • Patent number: 10436120
    Abstract: A propulsion system includes a fan, a gear, a turbine configured to drive the gear to, in turn, drive the fan. The turbine has an exit point, and a diameter (Dt) is defined at the exit point. A nacelle surrounds a core engine housing. The fan is configured to deliver air into a bypass duct defined between the nacelle and the core engine housing. A core engine exhaust nozzle is provided downstream of the exit point. A downstream most point of the core engine exhaust nozzle is defined at a distance from the exit point. A ratio of the distance to the diameter is greater than or equal to about 0.90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Robert E. Malecki
  • Patent number: 10415466
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a propulsor with a power turbine, a power turbine shaft extending forward therefrom defining a centerline axis, and a fan driven by the power turbine shaft. The fan is aligned with the centerline axis forward of the power turbine and is operatively connected to be driven by the power turbine through the power turbine shaft. A gas generator operatively connected to the propulsor is included downstream from the fan and forward of the power turbine, wherein the gas generator defines a generator axis offset from the centerline axis. The gas generator is operatively connected to the power turbine to supply combustion products for driving the power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 10408131
    Abstract: A combustion staging system includes a splitting unit receiving a metered fuel flow and controllably splitting the received flow into pilot and mains flows. Pilot and mains fuel manifolds distribute fuel. A cooling flow recirculation line provides a cooling flow to the mains manifold during pilot-only operation, and a return section to collect mains manifold cooling flow. The cooling flow enters a delivery section and exits the return section. A fuel recirculating control valve on the delivery section has an open position so that the cooling flow enters the delivery section during pilot-only operation; a shut off position prevents the cooling flow entering the delivery section through the cooling flow orifice during pilot and mains operation. A supplementary valve bleeds or feeds cooling flow. The mains manifold cooling flow pressure is determined by the cooling flow and pressure raising orifices flow numbers, and a control setting of the supplementary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Graham Thompson, Daniel Waters
  • Patent number: 10400671
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a heat exchanger and a valve that controls an amount of a first fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger. A first sensor senses a first characteristic of a second fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the first fluid and a second sensor senses a second characteristic of the second fluid. A positioning of the valve is based on at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Federico Papa, Thomas G. Phillips, Kathleen R. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Justin W. Heiss
  • Patent number: 10378446
    Abstract: An injector for a gas turbine engine includes a feed arm including a primary and a secondary fluid passage. An inlet assembly is fixed at an upstream end of the feed arm having at least one inlet in fluid communication with the primary and the secondary fluid passages. A tip assembly is fixed at a downstream end of the feed arm having a fluid outlet in communication with the primary and secondary fluid passages for issuing a spray of fluid. The primary and secondary fluid passages are monolithically formed within the feed arm. At least one of the primary and secondary fluid passages includes a nonlinear section configured to provide increased residence time for cooling fluid in the first and second fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Delavan Inc
    Inventor: Mark A. Caples
  • Patent number: 10371057
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel injector device having a body with a leading edge and a trailing edge and defining a streamwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the fuel injector device body having a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, each wall extending between and including the leading edge and the trailing edge and the walls conjoining each other at the leading edge and the trailing edge, each wall having a streamwise extent and a crosswise extent, the walls further enclosing an internal space, at least one fluid plenum being provided within the internal space, the fluid plenum at least at one of an upstream end and/or a downstream end being delimited by an internal wall structure, wherein at least one surface of the wall structure is an inclined surface which forms an angle with the streamwise direction which is smaller than or equal to a maximum angle, wherein the maximum angle is 60°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Kaspar Loeffel, Andre Theuer, Nico Biagioli, Alexey Stytsenko, Sergey Mylnikov, Igor Baibuzenko
  • Patent number: 10352570
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for use in a combustor of a turbine engine includes a mixer assembly including a mixer housing and a fuel nozzle assembly positioned radially inward of the mixer housing. The fuel nozzle assembly includes a substantially annular fuel injection housing and a substantially annular main fuel injector coupled to the fuel injection housing. The main fuel injector includes a body, a fuel delivery passage defined in the body, a swirl chamber defined in the body downstream of the fuel delivery passage, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced fuel metering slots defined in the body and coupled in flow communication with and between the fuel delivery passage and the swirl chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Krishnakumar Venkatesan, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Shih-Yang Hsieh, Yuxin Zhang, Owen James Sullivan Rickey, Nayan Vinodbhai Patel, Duane Douglas Thomsen, Kevin Vandevoorde
  • Patent number: 10323540
    Abstract: A fluid cooling system for use in a gas turbine engine including a fan casing circumscribing a core gas turbine engine includes a heat source configured to transfer heat to a heat transfer fluid and a primary heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the heat source. The primary heat exchanger is configured to channel the heat transfer fluid therethrough and is coupled to the fan casing. The fluid cooling system also includes a secondary heat exchanger coupled in flow communication with the primary heat exchanger. The secondary heat exchanger is configured to channel the heat transfer fluid therethrough and is coupled to the core gas turbine engine. The fluid cooling system also includes a bypass mechanism coupled in flow communication with the secondary heat exchanger. The bypass mechanism is selectively moveable based on a temperature of a fluid medium to control a cooling airflow through the secondary heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun
  • Patent number: 10323847
    Abstract: A tripod joint assembly for connecting first and second overlapping panel segments of a flowpath liner in a gas turbine engine includes a threaded fastener extending through an opening in the first overlapping panel segment and adjacent to an outer segment edge of the second overlapping panel segment disposed on the first overlapping segment. The assembly further includes a tripod plate having first and second plate edges and an access hole therebetween. The first plate edge contacts the first overlapping panel segment, the second plate edge contacts the outer segment edge of the second overlapping panel segment. The access hole is disposed around the threaded fastener. First and second washers are disposed around the threaded fastener, the first washer on the tripod plate opposite to the overlapping panel segments, and the second washer on the first washer opposite to the tripod plate. A threaded locknut secures the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Eric Robert Oswald, Scott Patrick Ryczek, Tod Kenneth Bosel, Robert Czachor
  • Patent number: 10317079
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a combustor wall, which includes a shell, a heat shield and an annular body. The body at least partially defines a first aperture through the shell and the heat shield. The body also defines one or more second apertures through which air is directed into the first aperture and provides non-uniform cooling to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stanislav Kostka, Jr., Frank J. Cunha
  • Patent number: 10316757
    Abstract: A propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a geared architecture configured to drive a fan section including a fan, and a turbine configured to drive the geared architecture. The turbine has an exit point, and a diameter (Dt) defined as the radially outer diameter of a last blade airfoil stage in the turbine at the exit point. A nacelle at least partially surrounds a core engine housing. The fan configured to deliver air into a bypass duct is defined between the nacelle and the core engine housing. A core engine exhaust nozzle is downstream of the exit point, with a downstream most point of the core engine exhaust nozzle being defined at a distance (Lc or Ln) from the exit point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Robert E. Malecki
  • Patent number: 10302043
    Abstract: A nozzle of a turbomachine is provided with chevrons with a non-axisymmetric inner face. A cover for the nozzle of longitudinal axis L-L includes an internal wall having a section with a predetermined abscissa on the L-L axis defining, on the wall, a neck line. The cover has, downstream from the abscissa, indentations in the trailing edge of the cover delimiting chevrons distributed in the circumferential direction, in which, on the cover, from the abscissa the internal wall moves away radially towards the outside of the upstream tangent, to the top of an indentation, the outer wall of the cover moves towards the upstream tangent to the top of an indentation, and the internal wall moves away radially towards the inside of the upstream tangent, to the tip of a chevron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Jonathan Langridge, Julien Szydlowski
  • Patent number: 10302041
    Abstract: Tracks (35), fastened to static structure of an aircraft engine nozzle, guide sliders (32) journaled in struts (27, 28) fastened to a flap (23) of the nozzle. Each slider and attached journal axle or bolt (33) is formed of cobalt, and each track slider surface (61) and journal bushings (43, 44) are formed of a nickel alloy to reduce wear from rubbing. Track slides (40, 41) are mounted to the static structure of the nozzle by blind bolts (68) having a tool recess (70) at its threaded tip to prevent the bolt (68) from turning as a nut is secured. Each slider has limited rotation due to a pin (102), thereon engaging a slot in a tab (100) of the bushing (43) to assist in inserting the slider (32) into the beveled ends of the tracks (35, 36), when mounting or replacing a flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J. Czapski, Jr., David C. Pimenta, Chung-Han Liou, Paul R. Senofonte, Steven D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10294871
    Abstract: A propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a geared architecture configured to drive a fan section including a fan, and a turbine section configured to drive the geared architecture. The turbine section has an exit point, and a diameter (Dt) defined as the outer diameter of a last blade airfoil stage in the turbine section at the exit point. A nacelle surrounds a core engine housing. The fan is configured to deliver air into a bypass duct defined between the nacelle and the core engine housing. A core engine exhaust nozzle is downstream of the exit point. A downstream most point of the core engine exhaust nozzle is defined at a distance (Lc or Ln) from the exit point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Robert E. Malecki
  • Patent number: 10295188
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a central member arranged on axis of fuel injector and a first member arranged around central member. A first swirler is arranged between central member and first member. A pilot fuel injector is arranged to supply fuel onto inner surface of first member. A second member is arranged between downstream end of first member and downstream end of shroud. A second swirler is arranged between upstream end of first member and upstream end of shroud and between downstream end of first member and upstream end of second member. A third swirler is arranged between downstream end of shroud and second member. A main fuel injector is arranged to supply fuel into an annular passage between first member and second member and a fourth swirler extends through first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Jonathan F Carrotte, Christopher L Ford
  • Patent number: 10295187
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle for a gas turbine engine is disclosed which includes a nozzle body having a longitudinal axis, an elongated annular air passage defined within the nozzle body, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending swirl vanes disposed within the annular air passage, wherein each swirl vane has multiple joined leads and a variable thickness along the axial extent thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Brandon P. Williams, Kevin E. Thompson, Robert R. Fogarty