Patents Examined by James P McGlynn
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Patent number: 10794273Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to the present disclosure includes a first compressor and a first turbine for driving the first compressor. A core section includes a second compressor and a second turbine for driving the second compressor. A third turbine is arranged fluidly downstream of the first turbine and the second turbine and configured to drive a power take-off. A first duct system is arranged fluidly between the low-pressure compressor and the core section. The first duct system is arranged to reverse fluid flow before entry into the core section.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2015Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Jeffery F. Perlak, Joseph B. Staubach, Gabriel L. Suciu, James D. Hill, Frederick M. Schwarz
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Patent number: 10731571Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods that are useful in control of one or more aspects of a power production plant. More particularly, the disclosure relates to power production plants, methods of starting power production plants, and methods of generating power with a power production plant wherein one or more control paths are utilized for automated control of at least one action. The present disclosure more particularly relates to power production plants, control systems for power production plants, and methods for startup of a power production plant.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: 8 Rivers Capital, LLCInventor: Jeremy Eron Fetvedt
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Patent number: 10690006Abstract: A case is provided for a gas turbine engine. The case includes a wall defining a through-hole. The case also includes first and second pockets adjacent to, and on opposite sides, of the through hole. A method of reducing stress in a case of a gas turbine engine is also provided that includes reducing stress about a through-hole by providing a concavity on each side of the through-hole.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Hoyt Y. Chang, Jr., Yusuke Ichihashi, Yohei Fujimoto, Timothy Dale
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Patent number: 10677161Abstract: A diffuser for a gas turbine engine includes a diffuser housing that has a circumferential array of hollow struts that provide a cavity. The diffuser housing includes inlet and outlet apertures that are in fluid communication with the cavity. An opening on a trailing end of the struts is in fluid communication with the cavity. The diffuser housing is configured to introduce a fluid through the inlet aperture and receive a core flow through the opening. The fluid and core flow exit through the outlet aperture.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher B. Lyons, Albert K. Cheung
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Patent number: 10669959Abstract: Provided is a control device of a gas turbine including a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The control device executes load control of allowing an operation control point for operation control of a gas turbine to vary in response to a load of the gas turbine. The operation of the gas turbine is controlled on the basis of a rated temperature adjustment line for temperature adjustment control of a flue gas temperature at a predetermined load to a rated flue gas temperature at which performance of the gas turbine becomes rated performance, a preceding setting line for setting of the flue gas temperature at the predetermined load to a preceding flue gas temperature that becomes lower in precedence to the rated flue gas temperature, and a limit temperature adjustment line for temperature adjustment control.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Takashi Sonoda, Akihiko Saito, Yoshifumi Iwasaki, Ryuji Takenaka, Kozo Toyama, Koji Takaoka
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Patent number: 10655475Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine and a turbine cooling arrangement. The turbine includes a turbine rotor surrounded by a static rotor track liner, and a nozzle guide vane downstream of the rotor in a core main gas flow path. The cooling arrangement includes a first air duct that provides cooling airflow to a rotor track liner cooling plenum and a second air duct that provides a cooling airflow to the nozzle guide vane. A common manifold is upstream in the cooling airflow of the ducts and provides cooling air to the ducts. A two-way valve modulates air provided to the ducts from the manifold. The valve is operates in a first or second mode. In the first mode, air flow to the first duct is relatively high and airflow to the second duct is relatively low compared to where the valve is operated in the second mode.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Alan R Maguire, Timothy J Scanlon
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Patent number: 10647438Abstract: A system is described that includes a turbine engine including an engine fan including one or more variable-pitch blades driven by a shaft, which rotates at a rotational speed which depends on a pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan. The system further includes a generator configured to produce alternating-current (AC) electricity at a particular frequency relative to the rotational speed of the shaft. The system also includes a propulsor, which includes a propulsor motor and a propulsor fan. The propulsor motor is configured to drive, based on the AC electricity produced by the generator, the propulsor fan. The system includes a controller configured to control the particular frequency of the AC electricity by at least controlling the pitch of the one or more variable-pitch blades of the engine fan and thereby the rotational speed of the generator.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael James Armstrong
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Patent number: 10619572Abstract: A purging and/or sealing apparatus for conveying a purging and/or sealing fluid to at least one burner of a gas turbine plant. The purging and/or sealing apparatus has a pressure accumulator and a heating device, wherein the pressure accumulator is connected to the at least one burner via a first fluid line, with the heating device connected therebetween. A gas turbine plant and a method for purging and/or sealing has at least one burner and a purging and/or sealing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Andreas Waruschewski, Ismail Belkahla, Volker Ertle, Kirjiakos Galanakis, Gülsen Schymetzko, James Smith, Patrick Wünsche
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Patent number: 10612781Abstract: An assembly for a turbine engine is provided that includes a combustor wall, which includes an aperture body between a shell and a heat shield. The aperture body at least partially forms a cavity and an aperture that extends through the combustor wall. An inlet passage extends in the combustor wall to the cavity. An outlet passage extends in the combustor wall from the cavity to the aperture.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2015Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka
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Patent number: 10612472Abstract: A flow ratio calculation device includes: a flow volume ratio computer that, using a predetermined relationship between a first parameter that can express a combustion state in a combustor and a flow volume ratio of fuels flowing through multiple fuel systems, is configured to find the flow volume ratio based on a value of the first parameter; a correction value computer configured to find a correction value of the flow volume ratio when a load of a gas turbine changes; a fluctuation sensor configured to sense fluctuations in a value correlated with the load of the gas turbine; and a corrector configured to correct the flow volume ratio found by the flow volume ratio computer with the correction value found by the correction value computer when a fluctuation in the value correlated with the load of the gas turbine is sensed by the fluctuation sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2015Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Yoji Endo, Jotaro Nakagawa, Yoshiaki Ochiai
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Patent number: 10605170Abstract: An engine component for a gas turbine engine which generates a hot combustion gas flow adjacent a hot surface and provides a cooling fluid flow adjacent a cooling surface comprises a wall separating the hot combustion gas flow and the cooling fluid flow. At least one concavity is provided in the cooling surface and at least one film hole is provided in the cooling surface providing the cooling fluid flow to the hot surface. An inlet for the film hole is spaced from the at least one concavity, located upstream of the at least one concavity and in alignment with the at least one concavity relative to the cooling fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ronald Scott Bunker
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Patent number: 10590860Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine and a control system including sensors for monitoring operating properties of the engine, a signaling device that outputs a discrete switching signal indicative of an engine load change, such as connecting or disconnecting an electrical load in an electrical power system powered by the gas turbine engine, and an electronic control unit. The control unit calculates an engine load estimate based upon the switching signal, the operating properties, and statistical information in a recursive statistical estimator.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2017Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Robert Moroto, Chad Holcomb
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Patent number: 10571125Abstract: An assembly for a turbine engine includes a combustor wall. The combustor wall includes a shell, a heat shield and an annular land. The heat shield is attached to the shell. The land extends vertically between the shell and the heat shield. The land extends laterally between a land outer surface and an inner surface, which at least partially defines a quench aperture in the combustor wall. A lateral distance between the land outer surface and the inner surface varies around the quench aperture.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Dennis M. Moura, Jonathan J. Eastwood, Lee E. Bouldin, Monica Pacheco-Tougas
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Patent number: 10563590Abstract: A method of cooling a shaft of a gas turbine engine includes moving a control valve towards a position that inhibits fluid flow from a high pressure air source to an air turbine starter and enables fluid flow from a blower motor to the air turbine starter, in response to a gas turbine engine shutdown. The method further includes operating the blower motor to provide air to the air turbine starter.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph Kenneth Coldwate, Andreas C. Koenig
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Patent number: 10550768Abstract: An intercooled cooling system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The intercooled cooling system includes cooling stages in fluid communication with an air stream utilized for cooling. A first cooling stage is fluidly coupled to a bleed port of the gas turbine engine to receive and cool bleed air with the air stream to produce a cool bleed air. The intercooled cooling system includes a pump fluidly coupled to the first cooling stage to receive and increase a pressure of the cool bleed air to produce a pressurized cool bleed air. A second cooling stage is fluidly coupled to the pump to receive and cool the pressurized cool bleed air to produce an intercooled cooling air. The intercooled cooling system includes an air cycle machine in fluid communication to outputs of the cooling stages to selectively receive the cool bleed air or the intercooled cooling air.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Joseph B. Staubach, Nathan Snape
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Patent number: 10519794Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a sealing system for a turbine engine including an engine component, the engine component defining an oblique sealing surface defining an annular shape. The oblique sealing surface defines an oblique angle with a centerline of the engine component. The sealing system includes a seal housing and a seal ring. The seal housing is annular and includes a groove that is defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an end wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The seal ring is positioned at least partially within the groove in the seal housing. The seal ring defines a seal contact surface for forming a seal with the oblique sealing surface of the engine component.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Donald Michael Corsmeier, Donald Scott Yeager
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Aeroderivative jet engine accessory starter relocation to main shaft—directly connected to HPC shaft
Patent number: 10458338Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine starting system that includes a shaft coupling a compressor and a turbine. An annular housing extends circumferentially around the shaft such that the annular housing defines a compartment. A flange extends radially outward from the annular housing for mounting the annular housing to a stationary wall. A starter is positioned in the compartment. A collar rotatably couples to the annular housing and selectively couples to the starter. The collar includes a radially inner surface having a plurality of splines for engaging the shaft. The starter, when activated, rotates the collar, which rotates the shaft to start the gas turbine.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Pawel Szczepanowski, Mateusz Goldyn -
Patent number: 10458339Abstract: A gas turbine engine component has an engine case structure surrounding an engine center axis. A plurality of holes are formed in the engine case structure, wherein the holes are circumferentially spaced apart from each other about the engine center axis. The plurality of holes includes at least one balance hole and at least one service hole that is configured to allow another engine component to pass through the at least one service hole. At least one cover is configured to cover at least one balance hole such that air is prevented from passing through the at least one balance hole.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher Treat, Alexander Broulidakis, Andrew D. Burdick
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Patent number: 10443544Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a shaft comprising a first compressor, a fan assembly, and a power circuit that provides power to the shaft in a closed-loop system. An inner housing houses at least a portion of the shaft, the first compressor for compressing a core stream of air, and a combustor. A baffle encloses a portion of the inner housing and forms a first air passageway therebetween. A nacelle encloses a portion of the baffle and forms a second air passageway therebetween. A heat exchanger is positioned in the second air passageway that rejects heat from the power circuit into a heat rejection stream of air passing through the second air passageway. Air is accelerated as streams in parallel and via the fan assembly as the core stream into the inner housing, as a bypass flow stream of air through the first volume, and as the heat rejection stream.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Igor Vaisman, Thomas E. Bastnagel
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Patent number: 10443512Abstract: Herein provided are methods and systems for detecting an uncommanded or uncontrollable high thrust (UHT) event in an aircraft, comprising arming a UHT function, detecting a fuel flow error when an actual fuel flow minus a commanded fuel flow exceeds a first threshold, the fuel flow error indicative of a presence of excess thrust, detecting a UHT event based on excess thrust and as a function of a second threshold, upon detection of the fuel flow error, and accommodating the UHT event.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Yusuf Syed, Michael Krynski, Antwan Shenouda, Frederic Giroux, Ioan Sabau