Patents Examined by Henry Ng
  • Patent number: 11959643
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a forward liner segment; an aft liner segment disposed downstream from the forward liner segment relative to a direction of flow through the combustor, the forward and aft liner segments at least partially defining a combustion chamber; and an intermediate member disposed at least partially between the forward and aft liner segments and extending in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sampath, Pradeep Naik, Veeraraju Vanapalli, Perumallu Vukanti, Shai Birmaher, Daniel J. Kirtley, Deepak Ghiya, Rimple Rakeshkumar Rangrej, Saket Singh, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Rajendra Mahadeorao Wankhade
  • Patent number: 11940151
    Abstract: A turbine engine and associated methods for a combustor as shown and described. The turbine engine including a combustor with a combustor liner having dilution openings and a geometry that changes along an axial direction. The combustor further having a baffle surrounding a combustor liner defining a combustion chamber of the combustor. A method for controlling nitrogen oxides within the combustor, including injecting compressed air into the annular combustion chamber through any of the dilution openings described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Bucaro, Clayton S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 11933216
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a plurality of fuel cell stacks extended around a combustion chamber. The plurality of fuel cell stacks are distributed along a length of the combustion chamber in the axial direction. The fuel cell stacks are configured to provide output products to the combustion chamber to achieve at least one of late lean injection and a desired combustor gas concentration distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Honggang Wang, Michael Anthony Benjamin
  • Patent number: 11920796
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal centerline extending in a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extending orthogonally outward from the longitudinal centerline, and a circumferential direction extending concentrically around the longitudinal centerline, the combustor including: a forward liner segment; an aft liner segment disposed downstream from the forward liner segment relative to a direction of flow through the combustor, the forward and aft liner segments at least partially defining a combustion chamber; and an intermediate member disposed at least partially between the forward and aft liner segments and extending in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Karthikeyan Sampath, Pradeep Naik, Veeraraju Vanapalli, Perumallu Vukanti, Shai Birmaher, Daniel J. Kirtley, Deepak Ghiya, Rimple Rakeshkumar Rangrej, Saket Singh, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Rajendra Mahadeorao Wankhade
  • Patent number: 11920520
    Abstract: In a rotary electric machine housing, a first bearing and a second bearing are provided for supporting a rotating shaft. A lubricating oil is supplied to the first bearing and the second bearing. At least one of the first bearing or the second bearing is sandwiched between the compressed air supplied from one side of the rotating shaft in an axial direction thereof and the compressed air supplied from another side of the rotating shaft in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Manabu Yazaki, Tatsuya Choji, Naoki Ito
  • Patent number: 11920790
    Abstract: A combustor liner for a combustor of a gas turbine includes an outer liner having a plurality of outer liner segments, and an inner liner having a plurality of inner liner segments. Each segment of the inner liner and the outer liner includes at least one slotted dilution opening therethrough extending in a circumferential direction, and each slotted dilution opening includes a deflector wall extending radially from the respective liner into a dilution zone of a combustion chamber between the outer liner and the inner liner. The at least one slotted dilution opening may be a curved slot (either concave or convex) dilution opening, and the curved slot dilution openings for each segment of the outer liner and the inner liner may be connected so as to provide a wavy slotted dilution opening extending annularly through the outer liner and the inner liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Rimple Rangrej, Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Krishnendu Chakraborty, Shai Birmaher
  • Patent number: 11859551
    Abstract: A fuel system can include a selection and shutoff valve (SSOV) configured to allow a primary flow having a primary flow pressure to pass therethrough in a first state such that the primary flow can travel to an output line. The SSOV can also be configured to shut off the primary flow in a second state to prevent the primary flow from travelling to the output line. In the second state, the SSOV can be configured to allow a secondary flow from a secondary flow source to pass therethrough such that the secondary flow can travel to the output line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Morgan O'Rorke, Todd Haugsjaahabink, Matej Rutar, Ryan Susca
  • Patent number: 11859552
    Abstract: A system includes a recirculation conduit that recirculates working fluid and a permanent magnet generator module in communication with the recirculation conduit. The working fluid from the recirculation conduit drives the permanent magnet generator module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventor: Sami Chukrallah
  • Patent number: 11846420
    Abstract: A combustion chamber for a turbomachine including an annular casing delimiting an inner volume of the combustion chamber and provided with a chimney extending to the outside of the inner volume and delimiting a passage for a penetrating part, and a bushing mounted floating on the chimney, further includes: a main air collection chamber open to the upstream arranged facing the downstream portion of the chimney; and a through-opening of the annular casing, connecting the inner volume to the main air collection chamber. The air collected by the main air collection chamber is injected into the inner volume via the through-opening and can cool an annular casing zone downstream of the chimney.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Julien Marc Matthieu Leparoux, Christophe Pieussergues
  • Patent number: 11846419
    Abstract: A dome-deflector assembly for a gas turbine includes a dome, a deflector, and at least one dome-deflector connecting assembly that includes a connecting member connecting the dome and the deflector together with a cavity being defined between the dome and the deflector. The connecting member extends through the deflector and has a first end arranged at a hot surface side of the deflector and a second end arranged to connect with the dome. The dome-deflector connecting assembly is configured to provide a flow of cooling air from the cavity to the hot surface side of the deflector to cool the first end of the connecting member on the hot surface side of the deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Saket Singh, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Nath, Perumallu Vukanti, Ajoy Patra, Karthikeyan Sampath, Pradeep Naik, Rimple Rangrej, Veera Venkata Amarnath Manem
  • Patent number: 11828248
    Abstract: There is provided an exhaust mixer arrangement for a turbofan engine having a bypass passage for channelling a bypass flow and a core passage for channelling a core flow around a central axis. The exhaust mixer arrangement comprises a mixer body mounted for rotation about the central axis. The mixer body has an annular wall extending around the central axis. The annular wall defines a plurality of circumferentially distributed alternating inner and outer lobes, with each inner lobe protruding into the core passage, and each outer lobe protruding into the annular bypass passage. A driving unit is operatively connected to the mixer body for selectively driving the mixer body in rotation about the central axis. A controller is operatively connected to the driving unit for controlling a rotational speed of the mixer body as a function of a flight operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michel Labrecque, Kevin Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11828465
    Abstract: A turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The combustion section can have a combustor with a combustor liner at least partially defining a combustion chamber, as well as a fuel-air mixer including at least one set of mixing tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Michael T. Bucaro, Ajoy Patra, Perumallu Vukanti, R Narasimha Chiranthan, Gregory A. Boardman
  • Patent number: 11821629
    Abstract: A combustion chamber, in particular for a gas turbine, includes a support structure, a plurality of retaining elements fastened to the support structure, and a plurality of heat shield elements which jointly form a heat shield and which each have a hot gas side, a cold gas side and end faces which interconnect the hot gas side and the cold gas side, the retaining elements interlockingly engaging in recesses in the heat shield elements. The retaining elements each have at least two engagement portions for interlockingly engaging in the recesses in a heat shield element, which engagement portions are interconnected in a tensionally rigid manner and are tensionally rigid themselves. Spring elements extend between the support structure and the heat shield elements, which spring elements are designed in particular as leaf springs and effect a frictional connection between the engagement portions of the retaining elements and the heat shield elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Gralki, Claus Krusch, Daniel Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11808210
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotating components housed within a compressor section and a turbine section. A tap connects to the compressor section. A heat exchanger connects downstream of the tap. A cooling compressor connects downstream of the heat exchanger, and the cooling compressor connects to deliver air to at least one of the rotating components. A core housing has an outer peripheral surface and a fan housing defines an inner peripheral surface. At least one bifurcation duct extends between the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface. The heat exchanger is disposed within the at least one bifurcation duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jesse M. Chandler, Brian D. Merry, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 11773773
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses gases entering the gas turbine engine. The combustor receives the compressed gases from the compressor and mixes fuel with the compressed gases. The turbine receives the hot, high pressure combustion products created by the combustor by igniting the fuel mixed with the compressed gases. The turbine extracts mechanical work from the hot, high pressure combustion products to drive the compressor and a fan, shaft, or propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Mazur, Rex M. Little
  • Patent number: 11773785
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a first spool having a low pressure compressor section disposed forward of an air inlet along a direction of travel of the engine, and a low pressure turbine section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section and drivingly engaged thereto. A second spool has a high pressure compressor section disposed forward of the low pressure compressor section, and a high pressure turbine section disposed forward of the high pressure compressor section and drivingly engaged thereto. The high pressure turbine section is disposed aft of the low pressure turbine section. An output drive shaft drivingly engages the low pressure turbine section and extends forwardly therefrom to drive a rotatable load. A method of operating a gas turbine engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Keith Morgan, Robert Peluso, Ghislain Plante, Eugene Gekht, Eric Durocher, Jean Dubreuil
  • Patent number: 11719438
    Abstract: A liner for a combustor in a gas turbine engine. The liner may include a liner body having a cold side and a hot side. The liner may include a dilution opening and a passage extending through the liner body. The passage may be positioned adjacent the dilution opening. The passage may be angled with respect to an interior surface of the liner body. A dilution flow may flow through the dilution opening from the cold side to the hot side and a secondary flow may flow through the passage from the cold side to the hot side. The secondary flow may exit into the hot side behind the dilution flow and may suppresses wakes formed behind the dilution flow on the hot side of the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Rimpie Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik
  • Patent number: 11719189
    Abstract: A ducted fan housing for directing a duct flow includes an annular cowling and an adjustable fan duct nozzle. The nozzle includes a flexible sleeve having rigid areas arranged circumferentially around the nozzle orifice and connected by flexible areas so as to form a unitary sleeve structure. The rigid areas are radially moveable between a normal configuration in which the orifice is smaller and a dilated configuration in which the orifice is larger. A drive mechanism uses drive elements to move at least some of the rigid areas between the configurations to adjust the size of the orifice. The rigid areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and epoxy, and the flexible areas may be constructed from laminated graphite and soft resin. If the housing includes a thrust reverser, then a flexible joint area extends circumferentially around the housing and connects the flexible sleeve to a thrust reverser cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Henry Arnold Schaefer
  • Patent number: 11698192
    Abstract: A combustor liner assembly includes a first liner panel that has a first forward end and a first aft end. A second liner panel has a second forward end and a second aft end. A support band has a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes. The support band is arranged between the first liner panel and the second liner panel. The support band has a protrusion with a first angled surface and a second angled surface. The first angled surface is in engagement with the first aft end and the second angled surface in engagement with the second forward end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Salvatore D'Alessandro, Gary J. Dillard
  • Patent number: 11692488
    Abstract: An embodiment of a torch igniter for a combustor of a gas turbine engine comprises a combustion chamber oriented about an axis, a cap defining an axially upstream end of the combustion chamber and oriented about the axis, a tip defining an axially downstream end of the combustion chamber, a structural wall coaxial with and surrounding the igniter wall, an outlet passage defined by the igniter wall within the tip, and a cooling system. The cooling system comprises an air inlet formed within the structural wall, a first flow path disposed between the structural wall and the igniter wall, and an aperture extending through the igniter wall transverse to the flow direction. The aperture directly fluidly connects the first flow path to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw