Patents Examined by Craig Kim
  • Patent number: 11661906
    Abstract: An integrated propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section, a gas turbine engine, a geared architecture, a nacelle assembly and a mounting assembly. The nacelle assembly includes a fan nacelle and an aft nacelle, the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan and the engine, and the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a core cowling to define a bypass flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 11661905
    Abstract: A two-dimensional variable area plug (2D VAP) nozzle assembly for a high-speed flight vehicle. In one embodiment, a 2D VAP nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle including a plurality of sidewalls; a plug body within the nozzle, the plug body abutting at least two of the plurality of sidewalls; a first convergent flap hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls; and a second convergent flap hingedly connected to at least one of the plurality of sidewalls. In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly includes only a first convergent flap and a second convergent flap, without diverging flaps. The 2D VAP nozzle assembly has a simplified design with reduced sidewall length, which results in reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Ress, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11655761
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for a turbomachine includes a heat exchanger that has a support wall extending along a longitudinal direction L and a plurality of fins each extending along a radial direction from a radially external surface of the support wall. The heat exchanger further includes a first profiled wall arranged upstream from the fins and configured to guide and slow down the flow of air entering the heat exchanger through the fins. A second profiled wall is arranged downstream from the fins and configured to accelerate the flow of air leaving the heat exchanger. Each first and second profiled wall is attached to the support wall via support elements extending radially from the radially external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventors: Ephraïm Toubiana, Samer Maalouf, Etienne Yung Tang
  • Patent number: 11649062
    Abstract: A forward part of an aircraft propulsion unit nacelle, comprising an air intake lip, an acoustic panel, and a rigid connection between the acoustic panel and the air intake lip. The acoustic panel has a resistive surface and a back skin, and the rigid connection is formed between the air intake lip and the back skin of the acoustic panel to form a propagation path for forces between the air intake lip and the back skin. This configuration gives freedom from design constraints, which enables an increase in the acoustic treatment region toward the front of the nacelle. An aircraft propulsion unit comprising a nacelle having such a forward part is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Alain Porte, Jacques Lalane, Julien Sentier
  • Patent number: 11649767
    Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine engine includes, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, a turbine module, and an exhaust module. The fan assembly includes a plurality of fan blades defining a fan diameter (D). The heat exchanger module is in fluid communication with the fan assembly by an inlet duct, and the heat exchanger module includes a plurality of radially-extending hollow vanes arranged in a circumferential array with a channel extending axially between each pair of adjacent hollow vanes. An airflow entering the heat exchanger module is divided between a set of vane airflows through each of the hollow vanes and a set of channel airflows through each of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Stephen J Bradbrook, Martin N Goodhand, Paul M Hield, Andrew Parsley, Natalie C Wong, Robert J Corin, Thomas S Binnington
  • Patent number: 11643971
    Abstract: A torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an igniter body and an igniter head. The igniter body is disposed within a high-pressure case of a gas turbine engine and extends primarily along a first axis, and includes an annular wall and an outlet wall. The annular wall surrounds the first axis and defines a radial extent of a combustion chamber therewithin. The outlet wall is disposed at a downstream end of the annular wall, defines a downstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an outlet fluidly communicating between the combustion chamber and an interior of the combustor. The igniter head is removably attached to the igniter body at an upstream end of the annular wall, wherein the igniter head defines an upstream extent of the combustion chamber, and includes an ignition source and a fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Steve Myers, Andy M. Tibbs, Brandon P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11619172
    Abstract: A detonation combustion system includes a detonation combustor. The detonation combustor includes a detonation manifold and one or more detonation chamber walls defining a detonation chamber. The detonation manifold includes a plurality of detonation fluid pathways defined by a monolithic structure of the detonation manifold, and a plurality of detonation orifice groups respectively including a plurality of detonation orifices disposed about a surface of the detonation manifold. Respective ones of the plurality of detonation orifice groups provide fluid communication from a corresponding one of the plurality of detonation fluid pathways to the detonation chamber through the plurality of detonation orifices corresponding to the respective one of the plurality of detonation orifice groups. The plurality of detonation orifices may be symmetrically oriented about a reference element of the detonation combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hannah Erin Bower, Daniel Louis Depperschmidt, Kapil Kumar Singh, Sarah Marie Monahan, Arin Elspeth Lastufka Cross
  • Patent number: 11614036
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a propulsor including a circumferential array of blades, a low pressure compressor section including a low pressure compressor section inlet with a low pressure compressor section inlet annulus area and a low pressure turbine section. The low pressure turbine section includes a maximum gas path radius, the blades include a maximum radius, and a ratio of the maximum gas path radius to the maximum radius of the blades is equal to or greater than 0.35, and is less than 0.55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul R. Adams, Shankar S. Magge, Joseph B. Staubach, Wesley K. Lord, Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 11608781
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air intake of an aircraft turbojet engine nacelle, extending along an axis X, in which an air flow circulates from upstream to downstream, the air intake comprising an inner wall facing the axis X and an outer wall for guiding an external air flow, the walls being connected by a leading edge and an inner partition so as to delimit an annular cavity. The air intake comprises means for injecting at least one hot air flow into the inner cavity and at least one ventilation orifice formed in the outer wall to allow the hot air flow to escape after heating the inner cavity, the ventilation orifice comprising an upstream edge, the circumferential profile of which is discontinuous in order to generate turbulences, and a downstream edge, the radial profile of which is aerodynamic in order to limit the formation of pressure fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN NACELLES
    Inventors: Sébastien Laurent Marie Pascal, Jean-Michel Paul Ernest Nogues, Marc Versaevel, François Chauveau
  • Patent number: 11603993
    Abstract: A lean burn combustor includes a plurality of lean burn fuel injectors, each including a fuel feed arm and a lean burn fuel injector head with a lean burn fuel injector head tip, wherein the lean burn fuel injector head tip has a lean burn fuel injector head tip diameter, the lean burn fuel injector head including a pilot fuel injector and a main fuel injector, the main fuel injector being arranged coaxially and radially outwards of the pilot fuel injector; and a combustor chamber extending along an axial direction for a length and including a radially inner annular wall, a radially outer annular wall, and a meter panel defining the size and shape of the combustor chamber, wherein the combustor chamber includes primary and secondary combustion zones. A ratio of the combustor chamber length to the lean burn fuel injector head tip diameter is less than 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc, ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Luca Tentorio, Imon-Kalyan Bagchi
  • Patent number: 11598287
    Abstract: A disclosed gas turbine engine includes a gas generator section for generating a gas stream flow and a propulsor section for generating propulsive thrust as a mass flow rate of air through a bypass flow path. The propulsor section includes a fan driven by a power turbine through a speed reduction device at a second rotational speed lower than a first rotational speed of the power turbine. An Engine Unit Thrust Parameter (“EUTP”) defined as net engine thrust divided by a product of the mass flow rate of air through the bypass flow path, a tip diameter of the fan and the first rotational speed of the power turbine is between 0.05 and 0.13 during operation of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Jayant Sabnis
  • Patent number: 11597504
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an architecture of a propulsion system of a multi-engine helicopter comprising turboshaft engines connected to a power transmission gearbox, characterized in that it comprises: at least one hybrid turboshaft engine capable of operating in at least one standby mode during a stable cruise flight of the helicopter; at least two systems for controlling each hybrid turboshaft engine, each system comprising an electric machine connected to the hybrid turboshaft engine and suitable for rotating the gas generator thereof, and at least one source of electrical power for the electric machine, each reactivation system being configured such that it can drive the turboshaft engine in at least one operating mode among a plurality of predetermined modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES, SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventors: Philippe Vallart, Jean-Michel Bazet, Loic LeDuigou
  • Patent number: 11591096
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This aircraft propulsion system assembly includes an aircraft propulsion system component with a leading edge. The aircraft propulsion system assembly also includes artificial ice attached to the aircraft propulsion system component. The artificial ice at least partially covers and extends longitudinally along the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David E. Gottschalk, Isaac J. Hogate, Christina M. Williams, Shane C. Hilton, Neill E. Brown
  • Patent number: 11585294
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly of a gas turbine engine includes an annular structure defining a central axis, and having a radially inward surface and a radially outward surface, the radially inward surface at least partially defining a bypass duct. An aft portion of the radially inward surface at least partially defines an axially extending convergent-divergent exit nozzle. A secondary nozzle flap is radially spaced from the aft portion of the radially inward surface. The secondary nozzle flap and the aft portion of the radially inward surface define a secondary bypass duct therebetween. The secondary nozzle flap is operably connected to the annular structure such that the secondary nozzle flap is selectably movable relative to the aft portion of the radially inward surface, thereby changing a cross-sectional area of a secondary bypass duct exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dmitriy B. Sidelkovskiy, Steven H. Zysman, Nathan L. Messersmith
  • Patent number: 11577842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module (23) for recovery of energy of an aircraft cabin (5) comprising at least one air outlet (16) from the cabin and at least one fresh air inlet (15) into the cabin, the said module comprising: a turbine engine (30) comprising a compressor (31) and a turbine (32) mechanically coupled to one another; a cabin-air recovery duct (42) designed to be able to link the air outlet (16) from the cabin and the said turbine (32); a cabin-air injection duct (41) designed to be able to link the compressor (31) and fresh air inlet (15) into the cabin; an emergency duct (43) designed to be able to link a high-pressure air source and the said turbine (32); a control unit (25) configured to be able, according to predetermined operational conditions, to activate either a routine mode, in which the said turbine (32) is exclusively supplied by the air evacuated from the cabin (5), or an emergency mode, in which the said turbine (32) is exclusively supplied by the air provided by the high-pressure air
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-AEROSPACE TOULOUSE SAS
    Inventors: David Lavergne, Fabrice Laborde, Julien Daumas, Patrick Favreau
  • Patent number: 11577849
    Abstract: A nacelle having a fan casing, a cowl that movable between an advanced position and a retracted position that opens an opening between a bypass duct and the outside, deflectors secured to the mobile cowl, wherein, in the advanced position, they are around the fan casing and wherein, in the retracted position, they are across the opening, and a fan ramp with a mounting base and flaps that are able to rotate on the mounting base between a stowed position and a deployed position. For each flap, the fan ramp has a return element that urges the flap) into the deployed position, and the deflectors have a stop in contact with the flap when the mobile cowl passes from the retracted position to the advanced position. Thus, in the advanced position, the flaps are folded back and their bulk is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Fabien Menou, Julie Cazalis
  • Patent number: 11578869
    Abstract: A combustor for a turbine engine is provided, the combustor includes an outer liner, an inner liner and a dome that together define a combustion chamber; a diffuser positioned upstream of the combustion chamber, the diffuser being configured to receive air flow from a compressor section and to provide a flow of compressed air to the combustion chamber; and an outer cowl and an inner cowl located upstream of the combustion chamber, the outer cowl and the inner cowl being configured to direct a portion of air flow from the diffuser to the combustion chamber. The diffuser is configured to output air flow having an amount of air pressure maximized at a center of the air flow so as to optimize total air pressure fed to the combustion chamber through the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Zelina, Clayton S. Cooper, Michael T. Bucaro, Steven C. Vise, John Thomas Herbon
  • Patent number: 11578614
    Abstract: A monolithic combustor apparatus comprises an outer casing comprising a forward flange, a fuel manifold disposed on the outer casing and defining an annular chamber extending perimetrically around the outer casing, a combustor liner disposed within the outer casing, the combustor liner defining an annular combustion chamber, a first annular plenum disposed between the outer casing and the combustor liner, an inner liner disposed radially from the combustor liner, a first inner flange extending forward from the combustor liner, and a second inner flange extending radially inward from the first inner flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Binek, Jesse R. Boyer, Evan Butcher, Dmytro Mykolayovych Voytovych
  • Patent number: 11566583
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for an aircraft propulsion system. This aircraft propulsion system assembly includes a thrust reverser system. The thrust reverser system includes a cascade structure and a scoop. The cascade structure is configured with a plurality of flow passages. Each of the flow passages extends through the cascade structure. The flow passages include a first flow passage. The scoop is configured to direct fluid into at least the first flow passage. The scoop includes a serrated leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Radhakrishna Chilukuri, Ashok Babu Saya, Hussain Mahamed Javed Tapadar
  • Patent number: 11560846
    Abstract: A combined heat and power system comprises a shaft (4), a compressor (6) coupled to the shaft to compress intake gas to form compressed gas; a recuperator (10) to heat the compressed gas to form heated compressed gas; a combustor (12) to combust a fuel and the heated compressed gas to form combustion gas; a turbine (8) coupled to the shaft to expand the combustion gas to form exhaust gas; a load (24) coupled to the shaft; an exhaust outlet (18) to expel the exhaust gas to a heater for heating a fluid based on heat from the exhaust gas; a recuperator channel (28) providing a path for the exhaust gas to flow from the turbine to the exhaust outlet through the recuperator; and a bypass channel (22) providing a path for the exhaust gas to flow from the turbine to the exhaust outlet bypassing the recuperator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: HiETA Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Simon Lloyd Jones