Patents Examined by Katheryn Malatek
  • Patent number: 11536197
    Abstract: A valve opening degree determination device includes an object operating state acquisition unit configured to acquire an object operating state which is an operating state of a gas turbine before control, and a valve opening degree calculation unit configured to calculate the valve opening degree such that a disk cavity temperature after control is equal to or lower than a target temperature, based on the object operating state. The valve opening degree calculation unit is configured to determine an input value of the valve opening degree such that a prediction value of the disk cavity temperature is equal to or lower than the target temperature as the valve opening degree, based on a prediction model generated based on a plurality of previous data in which the operating state, the disk cavity temperature, and an actual opening degree of the cooling-air adjustment valve previously acquired are associated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Tateishi, Shinichi Yoshioka, Hironao Nagai, Ryuji Takenaka, Koshiro Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 11530651
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft. The gas turbine comprises a staged combustion system having pilot injectors and main injectors, a fuel metering system configured to control fuel flow to the pilot injectors and the main injectors, and a fuel system controller. The controller is configured to identify an atmospheric condition, determine a ratio of pilot fuel flow rate for the pilot injectors to main fuel flow rate for the main injectors in response to the atmospheric condition, and inject fuel by the pilot injectors and the main injectors in accordance with said ratio to control an index of soot emissions caused by combustion of fuel therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Madden, Peter Swann
  • Patent number: 11530652
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft. The gas turbine comprises a combustor, a fuel injection system connected with a source of fuel and configured to inject fuel into the combustor, a water injection system connected with a source of water and which is configured to inject water into the combustor, and a control system. The control system is configured to identify an atmospheric condition; determine a water-fuel ratio for injection into the combustor of the gas turbine engine in response to the atmospheric condition; and control injection of fuel and water by the fuel injection system and the water injection system according to said water-fuel ratio to control an soot emissions caused by combustion of fuel therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Madden, Peter Swann
  • Patent number: 11519331
    Abstract: A gas turbine apparatus includes a turbine configured to be driven by a combustion gas from a combustor, an exhaust passage, an extraction line configured to extract a fluid from a combustor casing, a cooling part disposed in the extraction line and configured to cool the fluid, a return line for returning the fluid from the cooling part to an inside of the combustor casing, the return line being connected to the extraction line downstream of the cooling part, a bypass line for introducing the fluid from the cooling part to the exhaust passage by bypassing the turbine, the bypass line branching from the return line, and a communication state switching part for controlling a communication state between the extraction line and the combustor casing via the return line, and a communication state between the extraction line and the exhaust passage via the bypass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Nishimura, Kengo Okamoto, Yoshifumi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 11519285
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components. The hydrostatic seal includes a seal carrier. The hydrostatic seal also includes a beam extending axially from a forward end to an aft end, the beam cantilevered to the seal carrier at one of the forward end and the aft end, the beam free at the other end. The hydrostatic seal further includes a bellows seal operatively coupled to the seal carrier and in contact with the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jorn Axel Glahn, Brian F. Hilbert
  • Patent number: 11512644
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines and methods of starting gas turbine engines, the gas turbine engine including: an electronic engine controller; one or more spools designated a starting spool for starting the engine, and has a required starting torque ?s; a permanent magnet alternator mechanically coupled with the starting spool, the alternator, in a motor mode, provides a peak torque of ?a, and, in a generator mode, generates electrical power for the electronic engine controller; and an electrical starter-generator mechanically coupled with the starting spool. The starter-generator in a motor mode, provides a peak torque of ?sg, and, in a generator mode, generates electrical power for an external load. ?sg+?a??s and ?sg, ?a<?s, and the electronic engine controller, during a start procedure, operates both the permanent magnet alternator and the starter-generator in a motor mode to drive the starting spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Graham P Bruce, Stephen M Husband, David F Brookes
  • Patent number: 11512646
    Abstract: An air starter for starting a turbine engine that includes a housing, a turbine, an output shaft, and at least one bearing. The housing can define an interior where the turbine couples to the output shaft. A primary air flow path extends through the housing where air from the turbine can be exhausted through a primary outlet or a cooling outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Unison Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Shiloh Montegomery Meyers, Subrata Nayak, Pradeep Hemant Sangli, David Allan Dranschak, Santosh Kumar Prasad, Marc David Zinger, Sharad Pundlik Patil, Harsha Sanjeewa Bulathsinghalage, Sumathi P
  • Patent number: 11506390
    Abstract: A method for operating a fuel injector of a gas turbine engine includes injecting a hydrogen-based primary fuel from a primary fuel passage of the fuel injector directly into a combustion chamber. The primary fuel passage includes a primary fuel outlet located within the combustion chamber. The method further includes injecting a second fuel, different than the hydrogen-based primary fuel, from a secondary fuel passage of the fuel injector into a hood chamber separated from the combustion chamber by a bulkhead. The secondary fuel passage includes a plurality of secondary fuel outlets located within the hood chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11506133
    Abstract: A method of delivering fuel to an engine during operation of the engine, that includes, sensing the speed of sound in the fuel, determining a density or property of the fuel, and based on that density or fuel property adjusting the flow rate of the fuel. Further, an established fuel profile or determined energy density value can also be used to adjust the flow rate of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Adam Edgar Klingbeil, William James Mailander
  • Patent number: 11499440
    Abstract: A turbine vane and a gas turbine including the same are provided. The turbine vane includes an airfoil having a pressure side and a suction side, at least one cooling channel formed radially in the airfoil, and an insert inserted into the at least one cooling channel to divide the cooling channel into a pressure side passage and a suction side passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventors: Hyuk Hee Lee, Sung Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 11492968
    Abstract: A discharge duct (30) of an intermediate housing hub for an aircraft turbojet engine, comprises an inlet end (41) and an outlet end (42), intended to ensure the passage of air from at least one discharge inlet opening to at least one secondary outlet opening, and comprising an ejection grill (32) arranged at the outlet end (42), the ejection grill (32) comprising a plurality of fins (43), characterised in that the fins (43) comprise flow channels (44) for a fluid to be cooled, so as to form a heat exchange system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Benjamin Bulot, Pradeep Cojande, Eva Julie Lebeault
  • Patent number: 11466855
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell comprising metallic materials. The combustor shell is formed to define an internal space. The combustor further includes a heat shield mounted to an axially aft surface of the combustor shell within the internal space and a combustor liner arranged to extend along inner surfaces of the combustor shell within the internal space. The combustor liner cooperates with the heat shield to define a combustor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel
  • Patent number: 11459895
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes an airfoil including a pressure side and a suction side. A platform includes a pressure side wall and a suction side wall, and has a leading edge end wall and a trailing edge end wall. A pocket is positioned under the platform on the pressure side. A hole has a first end communicating with the pocket and having a second end communicating with the pressure side wall. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro David Laureano, John A. Lucena
  • Patent number: 11454171
    Abstract: A method and system for cooling an engine and/or vehicle using energy separation is disclosed herein. An energy separation device is operable for separating a compressed gaseous coolant stream into a first relatively cooler coolant flow stream and a second relatively hotter coolant flow stream. The relative cooler coolant flow stream is directed to a first region requiring increased cooling and the relative hotter coolant flow stream is directed to a second region requiring lower cooling than the first region in the engine or vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: James Rutledge, Matthew Fuqua, Carol Bryant
  • Patent number: 11448132
    Abstract: A turbine engine heat exchanger has an array of heat exchanger plates mounted to an inner case wall for providing heat transfer from a bleed flowpath to a bypass flowpath. Each plate has: first and second faces along the bypass flowpath; a proximal edge mounted to the inner case wall; an inlet along the proximal edge; an outlet along the proximal edge; and a branch segment of the bleed flowpath passing from the inlet to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Wiedenhoefer, Russell J. Bergman, William P. Stillman, Patrick M. Hart
  • Patent number: 11441485
    Abstract: A fuel system for a gas turbine engine includes a first electric motor, a main fuel pump driven by the first electric motor to provide a fuel flow, and an actuator operable by a second electric motor. A first motor controller governs operation of the first electric motor. A second motor controller governs operation of the second electric motor. The second motor controller is operable to control operation of the first electric motor in response the first motor controller being incapable of governing operation of the first electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Neal R. Herring
  • Patent number: 11434822
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an offtake duct that has an offtake inlet coupled to a cooling source, the offtake duct defining a throat, and a valve downstream of the throat. The valve couples the offtake duct and a first cooling flow path. The valve is operable to selectively modulate flow through the offtake duct. A bleed passage includes a bleed inlet coupling the offtake duct and a second cooling flow path. The bleed inlet is defined at a location between the offtake inlet and the throat, inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Ronan
  • Patent number: 11428410
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell, a heat shield and a burner seal. The combustor shell includes metallic materials and is formed to define an interior combustion space. The heat shield includes ceramic matrix composite materials and is configured to shield a portion of the combustor shell from the interior combustion space. The burner seal includes ceramic matrix composite materials and is configured to extend through apertures formed in the combustor shell and the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, Paulo Bazan
  • Patent number: 11421599
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor including a fuel injector having a plurality of annular fuel injection portions in each of which multiple fuel injection holes are formed, is provided with: an auxiliary fuel introduction passage for introducing an auxiliary fuel that is to be supplied to an auxiliary fuel injection portion that is a part of the plurality of annular fuel injection portions, into the fuel injector; a first main fuel introduction passage provided with a flow regulating valve for introducing a main fuel that is to be supplied to a main fuel injection portion that is an annular fuel injection portion other than the auxiliary fuel injection portion, into the fuel injector; and a second main fuel introduction passage provided with a flow regulating valve for introducing the main fuel that is to be supplied to the auxiliary fuel injection portion, into the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Horikawa, Masahide Kazari, Kunio Okada, Kazuki Koga
  • Patent number: 11408348
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for fuel injectors of a multi-stage combustor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The system has a metering and splitting arrangement which receives a pressurised fuel flow and controllably meters and splits the received flow into metered pilot and mains flows for injecting respectively at pilot and mains fuel discharge orifices of the injectors to perform staging control of the combustor. The system further has pilot and mains fuel distribution pipeworks respectively distributing fuel from the metering and splitting arrangement to the pilot and mains discharge orifices. The system further has a controller which is configured to command the metering and splitting arrangement to provide the metered flows, to select the pilot distribution pipework and deselect the mains distribution pipework for pilot-only operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Steven P. Culwick