Patents Examined by Craig Kim
  • Patent number: 11161603
    Abstract: The invention relates to an architecture of a propulsion system of a multi-engine helicopter comprising turboshaft engines connected to a power transmission gearbox, characterised in that it comprises: at least one hybrid turboshaft engine (20) capable of operating in at least one standby mode during a stable cruise flight of the helicopter; at least two systems (30; 40) for controlling each hybrid turboshaft engine (20), each system (30; 40) comprising an electric machine (31; 41) connected to the hybrid turboshaft engine (20) and suitable for rotating the gas generator thereof, and at least one source (33; 43) of electrical power for said electric machine (31; 41), each reactivation system (30; 40) being configured such that it can drive said turboshaft engine (20) in at least one operating mode among a plurality of predetermined modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES, SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventors: Philippe Vallart, Jean-Michel Bazet, Loïc Le Duigou
  • Patent number: 11149564
    Abstract: An aircraft nacelle arrangement includes a compression rod disposed between a first nacelle half and a second nacelle half, wherein the first nacelle half and the second nacelle half are rotatable about a hinge between a closed position and an open position, a compression rod disposed between the first nacelle half and the second nacelle half, and a mounting bracket coupled to an exhaust nozzle flange of the aircraft engine, wherein the compression rod extends through the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinqiu Lu, Frank Zabatta, Travis Michael Frazier, Karina Alejandra Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11149650
    Abstract: A turbofan engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan including a circumferential array of fan blades, a compressor in fluid communication with the fan, the compressor including a first compressor section and a second compressor, the second compressor section including a second compressor section inlet with a second compressor section inlet annulus area, a fan duct including a fan duct annulus area outboard of the second compressor section inlet, a shaft assembly having a first portion and a second portion, a turbine in fluid communication with the combustor, the turbine having a first turbine section coupled to the first portion of the shaft assembly to drive the first compressor section, and a second turbine section coupled to the second portion of the shaft assembly to drive the fan, an epicyclic transmission coupled to the fan and rotatable by the second turbine section through the second portion of the shaft assembly to allow the second turbine to turn fa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    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: 11136901
    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: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Binek, Jesse R. Boyer, Evan J. Butcher, Dmytro Mykolayovych Voytovych
  • Patent number: 11136938
    Abstract: A bypass turbofan engine with a nacelle comprising a fan case and a thrust-reversal system. The fan case comprises an exterior wall, and the reversal system comprises a slider having an upstream frame, a downstream frame and a plurality of spars fixed between the upstream frame and the downstream frame, in which the slider is able to move between a forward position and a retracted position. The fan case comprises, at a rear edge of its exterior wall, a support. Each support comprises, for each spar, a shoe fixed to the exterior wall and positioned radially about the spar, and a skirt secured to the shoes and extending the rear edge, in which, in a forward position, the skirt bears around the downstream frame, and in which in a forward/retracted/intermediate position, the shoes are distant from the spars from the upstream frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Gardes, Frédéric Ridray, José Goncalves
  • Patent number: 11131457
    Abstract: A combustor includes a combustion chamber; a nozzle supplied with fuel and air to produce a mixed gas of the fuel and the air and configured to inject the mixed gas into the combustion chamber; a fuel supply section coupled to the nozzle casing and configured to supply the fuel to the nozzle; a fuel conditioner that includes a fuel flow path having a serpentine shape and is disposed between the fuel supply section and the nozzle, the fuel conditioner configured to guide the fuel supplied from the fuel supply section to the nozzle along the fuel flow path; and a nozzle casing having an opening into which the nozzle is inserted. The fuel conditioner extends from a first side of the nozzle casing toward a second side. The fuel conditioner and the nozzle casing form a first passage through which fuel may flow to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventor: Jong Ho Uhm
  • Patent number: 11125494
    Abstract: A method for starting and operating a plant for the liquefaction of a gaseous product comprising the steps of electrically connecting a variable frequency drive to a motor of a first machine string; increasing the speed of the motor of the first machine string up until a first predefined threshold; electrically disconnecting the variable frequency drive from the motor of the first machine string; electrically connecting the variable frequency drive to a motor of a second machine string; the first predefined threshold is function of said frequency of the power supply grid. The variable frequency drive can be switched during operation of the plant among the strings according to process requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: NUOVO PIGNONE SRL
    Inventors: Antonio Pelagotti, Annunzio Lazzari, Andrea Alfani, Oriano Zucchi
  • Patent number: 11125161
    Abstract: An air-oil cooler for a gas turbine engine includes an air cooling structure and a lubricant channel. The lubricant channel extends between a lubricant inlet and a lubricant inlet and is bounded by the air cooling structure. The air cooling structure has an arcuate shape for circumferentially spanning a portion of a gas turbine engine core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard A. Weiner
  • Patent number: 11125165
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbomachine and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a heat source heat exchanger configured to collect heat from the turbomachine during operation; a heat sink heat exchanger; and a thermal transport bus having a heat exchange fluid configured to flow therethrough at a pressure within an operational pressure range. The thermal management system defines an operational temperature range for the heat exchange fluid, the operational temperature range having a lower temperature limit less than about zero degrees Fahrenheit at a pressure within the operational pressure range and an upper temperature limit of at least about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit at a pressure within the operational pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Adon Delgado, Jr., Brandon Wayne Miller, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock
  • Patent number: 11118476
    Abstract: Provided is a transition duct that forms an annular gas flow channel through which a main flow gas flows from a high-pressure turbine to a low-pressure turbine, wherein the gas flow channel has an inner peripheral flow channel surface and an outer peripheral flow channel surface, the inner peripheral flow channel surface and the outer peripheral flow channel surface extend radially outward while angles of inclination relative to an axial direction of a rotating shaft change from the high-pressure turbine (first turbine) toward the low-pressure turbine (second turbine), and an inner peripheral maximum inclined part is provided in a range A2 that extends in the axial direction from a position of alignment with an outer peripheral maximum inclined part to a position advanced toward the low-pressure turbine by a length no more than 20% of the duct length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AERO ENGINES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Hase, Daigo Fujimura, Tadayuki Hanada
  • Patent number: 11111858
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section defining a compressor exit temperature, T3. The gas turbine engine also includes a combustion section and a turbine section, with the turbine section defining a turbine inlet temperature, T4. A ratio, T4:T3, of the turbine inlet temperature, T4, to compressor exit temperature, T3, during operation of the gas turbine engine at a rated speed is less than or equal to 1.85.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Kurt David Murrow
  • Patent number: 11098644
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor section, and a turbine section configured to drive the compressor section and the fan. A buffer system is configured to communicate a buffer supply air to a portion of the gas turbine engine. The buffer system includes a first bleed air supply having a first pressure, a second bleed air supply having a second pressure that is greater than the first pressure, and an ejector that selectively augments the first bleed air supply to prepare the buffer supply air for communication to the portion of the gas turbine engine. A method and a buffer system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter M. Munsell, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Patent number: 11098648
    Abstract: An inlet body for a fluid injector for a turbomachine. The inlet body includes a casing defined by an internal surface and a seal valve housed inside the casing. The valve includes a sealing member including an intake duct, and internal duct into which the intake duct opens, and a seat for the sealing member. The seat defines an opening over a fluid path towards the internal duct. The internal surface includes a recess which defines at least partially a chamber communicating with the opening and with the intake duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Christophe Chabaille
  • Patent number: 11098900
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes an outer body and an inner body. The outer body extends about an axis and has a radially inner surface and a retention groove defined in the inner surface of the outer body. The inner body is positioned within the outer body has an outer surface and a retention tab. The retention tab retains the inner body relative to the outer body by engagement of the retention tab within the retention groove. A is axially offset from the retention tab and fixes the inner body within the outer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventor: Dustin Andrew Borror
  • Patent number: 11092076
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a turbine engine and method for cooling a portion of the combustor assembly, the combustor assembly comprising a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber with an inlet and an outlet, a fuel dome located in the inlet and having a wall adjacent at least a portion of the combustor liner, and a deflector overlying and spaced from at least a portion of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anquan Wang, Hojjat Nasr, Craig Alan Gonyou, Michael Anthony Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11085375
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of combustors spaced circumferentially about the gas turbine engine. Each of the combustors is coupled in flow communication with a manifold configured to channel a liquid to the plurality of combustors. A plurality of fuel lines is coupled in flow communication with the manifold. Each fuel line is coupled in flow communication with a respective combustor of the plurality of combustors. In addition, the combustor assembly includes a flow balance system having a plurality of flow balance devices. Each flow balance device is operatively coupled to one of the fuel lines. Each flow balance device is operative to reduce the flow of liquid to the respective combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kihyung Kim, Anthony Whittenberg
  • Patent number: 11085373
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine unit and an inlet. The engine unit includes an engine core that includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine and a nacelle arranged circumferentially around at least a portion of the engine core. The inlet is removably coupled with the nacelle and configured to conduct fluid into the engine unit. The inlet includes a nose and an intake lip arranged circumferentially around the nose to define an intake passage that extends through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 11085400
    Abstract: An integrated propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, components that include a gas turbine engine, a nacelle assembly and a mounting assembly, the system designed by a process comprising identifying two or more of internal structural loading requirements, external structural mount loading requirements, aerodynamic requirements, and acoustic requirements for the system, and interdependently designing said components to meet said requirements. 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: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 11085399
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine 10 is provided in which a fan having fan blades in which the camber distribution along the span allows the gas turbine engine to operate with improved efficiency when compared with conventional engines, whilst retaining an acceptable flutter margin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventors: Benedict R. Phelps, Mark J. Wilson, Gabriel Gonzalez-Gutierrez, Nigel H S Smith, Marco Barale, Kashmir S. Johal, Stephane M M Baralon, Craig W. Bemment
  • Patent number: 11085641
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a first liner having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a wall having a thickness defined between the first surface and the second surface. The first liner defines a plurality of effusion cooling holes, and at least one of the effusion cooling holes includes an inlet section spaced apart from the first surface, and a converging section downstream of the inlet section. The inlet section and the converging section are each defined so as to be outside of the thickness. The at least one of the effusion cooling holes includes a metering section downstream of the converging section and a portion of the metering section is defined within the thickness. The at least one of the effusion cooling holes includes an outlet section downstream of the metering section. The outlet section is proximate to the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Rodolphe Dudebout, Nagaraja S. Rudrapatna, Atul Verma, David Chou, Christopher Zollars