Patents Examined by Edwin Kang
  • Patent number: 10612469
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, and a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor. Also included in the turbine engine is a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is located between the compressor section and the combustor section and the mixing chamber is radially outward of a primary fluid flow path connecting the compressor section, the combustor section, and the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Vito Guardi, Christopher B. Lyons, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 10598094
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor configured to compress air received at an intake portion to form a compressed airflow that exits into an outlet portion. A combustor is operably connected with the compressor, and receives the compressed airflow. A turbine is operably connected with the combustor, and receives the combustion gas flow. The turbine has a plurality of wheels and a plurality of buckets. The turbine receives compressor bleed off air to cool the wheels and buckets. A cooling system is operatively connected to the turbine. The cooling system includes a plurality of heat pipes located axially upstream of at least one of the wheels. The heat pipes are operatively connected to a bearing cooler system. The heat pipes and the bearing cooler system are configured to transfer heat from the compressor bleed off air to one or more heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Thomas Edward Wickert, Alston Ilford Scipio
  • Patent number: 10590849
    Abstract: A cooling system for a turbine engine including a heat exchanger in fluid communication with a first fluid inlet stream and disposed upstream and in fluid communication with a core engine. The heat exchanger operative to cool the first fluid inlet stream. The heat exchanger including a heat exchanger inlet for input of a heat exchanging medium for exchange of heat from the first fluid inlet stream to the heat exchanging medium. The heat exchanger further including a heat exchanger outlet for discharge of a heated output stream into one of a turbine of a downstream engine, an augmentor or a combustor of the core engine. The heated output stream provides an additional flow to the downstream engine. A turbine engine including the cooling system is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ross Hartley Kenyon, Narendra Digamber Joshi
  • Patent number: 10526897
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a wall portion that includes a first side and a second opposite side. A plurality of passages extends between the first side of the wall portion and the second side of the wall portion and includes a plurality of inlets located on the first side of the wall portion. A plurality of outlets are located on a second side of the wall portion. The plurality of outlets include a first plurality of outlets located on a first side of the plurality of inlets and a second plurality of outlets located on a second side of the plurality of inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony B. Swift, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Patent number: 10508602
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement for sealing between a first stage nozzle and a plurality of aft frames includes a first inner seal and a second inner seal which are circumferentially oriented and circumferentially aligned. Each of the inner seals includes a wing extending radially inward at an oblique angle. A side seal is radially disposed between the first inner seal and the second inner seal. The side seal includes a first wing extending radially outward at an oblique angle and a second wing extending radially outward at an oblique angle, the first wing of the side seal sealingly interfaces with the wing of the first inner seal and the second wing of the side seal sealingly interfaces with the wing of the second inner seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jesse Ellis Barton, Richard Martin DiCintio, Elizabeth Angelyn Monaghan
  • Patent number: 10508599
    Abstract: An exhaust system for a gas turbine engine, such as an APU, comprises a pressure vessel having an annular wall circumscribing an exhaust plenum. The annular wall is composed of an arrangement of individual tubes assembled side-by-side around a central axis of the exhaust plenum. The tubes are fed with pressurized cooling air, such as P3 air. A heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with the exhaust gases flowing through the exhaust plenum receives air from the tubes. The heat transferred from the exhaust gases to the air circulated through the heat exchanger may be used to provide pre-heated air to the engine combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: David H Menheere, Adam Trumpour
  • Patent number: 10502066
    Abstract: A component for a turbine engine includes a fore edge connected to an aft edge via a first surface and a second surface. Multiple cooling passages are defined within the turbine engine component. A skin core passage is defined immediately adjacent the first surface, and at least one pedestal interrupts a flow path through the skin core passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Scott D. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10458655
    Abstract: A system includes a fuel nozzle including a first wall disposed about a central axis, a second wall disposed about the first wall, and a plurality of lobes disposed between the first and second walls, wherein the plurality of lobes is spaced about the central axis to define a plurality of flow passages, and the plurality of flow passages is configured to output a plurality of flows into a flame region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Allen Boardman, Gerardo Antonio Salazar Lois, Jeffrey Michael Martini, Rajesh Sharma, Rishikesh Prakash Karande
  • Patent number: 10458258
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things a gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor section, a plurality of turbine disks in at least one of the compressor section and the turbine sections, at least one cover plate corresponding to at least one of the turbine disks, each of the cover plates includes, at least two snaps connected via a webbing portion, and a bore region radially inward of the at least two snaps and connected to at least one of the at least two snaps via the webbing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Perry Sandoval, Raymond S. Hummel, Scott D. Virkler
  • Patent number: 10451007
    Abstract: An ignition system for a jet includes a squib. A solid propellant gas generator is ignitable by the squib and produces hot gas. An insulated hot gas accumulator is provided for storing the hot gas. A three-way hot gas valve is in fluid communication with the jet, the solid propellant gas generator, and the insulated hot gas accumulator. The three-way hot gas valve has a first condition establishing a first flow path from the solid propellant gas generator to the jet, a second condition establishing a second flow path from the solid propellant gas generator to the insulated hot gas accumulator, and a third condition establishing a third flow path from the insulated hot gas accumulator to the jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shareil Elia
  • Patent number: 10393383
    Abstract: A wave rotor combustor for use in a gas turbine engine includes an inlet assembly, a rotor drum, and an outlet assembly. The inlet assembly is arranged to direct a flow of gasses into rotor passages formed in the rotor drum. The rotor drum is arranged to receive the gasses. The outlet assembly is arranged to direct the gasses out of the rotor drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Philip H Snyder
  • Patent number: 10378448
    Abstract: A water supplying step of supplying water to a liquid-fuel channel of a nozzle is executed during a liquid fuel supply state in which only liquid fuel is supplied to the nozzle; a post-switch water purging step of supplying water to the liquid-fuel channel of the nozzle is executed during a gas fuel supply state in which only gas fuel is supplied to the nozzle; and a mid-switch water purging step of supplying water to the liquid-fuel channel of the nozzle is executed during a fuel switching state which is a state of transition from the liquid fuel supply state to the liquid fuel supply state. A second flow rate of water supplied in the mid-switch water purging step is lower than a first flow rate of water supplied in the water supplying step. In the post-switch water purging step, water is temporarily supplied at a third flow rate which is higher than the second flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakahara
  • Patent number: 10358923
    Abstract: A cooling device includes a hot-part cooling system configured to guide air to a hot part of a gas turbine. The hot-part cooling system includes a compressor capable of operating independently of the gas turbine, and is configured to extract air inside a casing of the gas turbine to pressurize the air with the compressor and guide the air to the hot part of the gas turbine. The cooling device further includes a rotor cooling system configured to extract the air inside the casing of the gas turbine and guide the air to a turbine rotor, and a connecting system configured to guide the air pressurized by the compressor to the rotor cooling system while a fuel supply to the gas turbine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Takata
  • Patent number: 10287981
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment of this disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine. The engine includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, and at least one rotatable shaft. The engine further includes a bearing assembly including an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements. A seal assembly is also included. The seal assembly includes a seal plate mounted for rotation with the rotatable shaft. The seal plate establishes a boundary of a tortuous passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Duffy, Nasr A. Shuaib
  • Patent number: 10274199
    Abstract: A jet engine includes an inlet (11) which takes in air and a combustor (12) which combusts fuel with the air. The combustor (12) has an injector (20), a plurality of flame stabilizers (21, 22) and a vanishment section (31). The injector (20) injects the fuel. The plurality of flame stabilizers (21, 22) can maintain the flame (F) used for combustion in the combustor (12). The vanishment section (31) is provided to cover the dent of the first flame stabilizer (21) which is situated on the side near to the inlet in the plurality of flame stabilizers (21, 22), and vanishes with the passage of time in the flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ueno, Shojiro Furuya
  • Patent number: 10267365
    Abstract: A planet gearbox has a planet gear rotatable on a planet bearing that includes an inner ring that is mounted to a carrier of an epicyclic gearing arrangement. A respective cylindrical inner surface of each opposite respective end of the inner ring is non-rotatably connected to a respective cylindrical outer surface of a respective one of a pair of support plugs that are fixed to the carrier of the epicyclic gearing arrangement. A gas turbine engine includes a fan and LP shaft, which couples a compressor to a turbine. An epicyclic gearing arrangement has a single input from the LP shaft coupled to a sun gear, a single output coupled to the fan's shaft, and at least one planet bearing as described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William Howard Hasting
  • Patent number: 10247017
    Abstract: A system includes a gas delivery disk coupled to a second shaft, wherein the second shaft and the gas delivery disk are disposed about an axis. The gas delivery disk includes an inner axial opening configured to facilitate a first axial flow through a first passage within the second shaft, a duct configured to supply a bearing flow in a radial direction toward the axis, and a bearing face disposed within the first passage and radially interior to the inner axial opening. The bearing face is configured to receive the bearing flow, and the bearing face is configured to form a gas bearing between the bearing face and a first shaft disposed about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Lee Becker, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Bugra Han Ertas
  • Patent number: 10247102
    Abstract: A single, unitary fuel/oil manifold for a gas turbine engine is provided which comprises one or more interfaces for mounting various fuel system and lubricating system components directly to the fuel/oil manifold. The fuel/oil manifold also defines fluid passages for transferring fuel or lubricant from one component to another component. Packing numerous fuel system and lubricating system components within the fuel/oil manifold reduces cost and weight and simplifies maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Dreher, Ryan K. Snyder, James M. McPherson, Ping Su, Fernando Quinones, Gabriel Rivera
  • Patent number: 10240793
    Abstract: A manifold fitting receiving radial and axial manifolds and providing two radial outlets is disclosed. The manifold fitting, when used in conjunction with a fuel injector and a combustor for a gas turbine engine, reduces the radial footprint of the fuel injector and thereby allows for a more compact engine. Additionally, the manifold fitting eliminates parts, reducing weight in the process, as compared to prior art fittings. Such reductions in size, parts count, and weight are particularly beneficial for aircraft applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin Joseph Low
  • Patent number: 10197278
    Abstract: A combustor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The combustor assembly includes a liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber and extending between an aft end a forward end generally along an axial direction. The combustor assembly also includes an annular dome including an enclosed surface defining a slot for receipt of the forward end of the liner. A cap is positioned at the forward end of the liner and at least partially positioned within the slot defined by the enclosed surface of the annular dome. The cap includes a surface configured to contact at least one of the enclosed surface of the annular dome and the forward end of the liner. Such a configuration may form a substantially airtight seal between the forward end of the liner and the annular dome despite a relative thermal expansion between the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas John Bloom, Daniel Kirtley, Michael Alan Stieg, Brian Christopher Towle, Chad Holden Sutton