Patents Examined by Marc J Amar
  • Patent number: 11975857
    Abstract: A front engine attachment system having an engine pylon having a frontal rib fastened against a front face, a front engine attachment having a beam fastened to the frontal rib, two rods articulated to the beam respectively via two connection points and one connection point, and a front casing of an engine, wherein the first rod is articulated to the front casing via a connection point and wherein the second rod is articulated to the front casing via a connection point, wherein each point of connection of a rod to the beam is positioned inside a volume that extends the front face of the engine pylon towards the front. Such a front engine attachment system has reduced bulk and therefore less drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Michael Berjot, Thomas Robiglio
  • Patent number: 11975859
    Abstract: A propulsive assembly for aircraft comprising an engine, a nacelle arranged around the engine and a pylon supporting the engine, the nacelle including two engine cowls and reversing cowls, each cowl having an internal skin, characterized in that at least one of the cowls of the nacelle comprises at least one box arranged in a space situated between the internal skin of the cowl and the engine, the box delimiting a volume of inert material, the inert material being flame retardant foam. This box partially blocks a zone of the engine where a fire is likely to begin, which makes it possible to limit the volume of a fire zone of the engine, and thus reduce the quantity of extinguishing agent which is necessary to extinguish a fire in the zone of the engine concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Julien Cayssials, Adeline Soulie, Arnaud Guichot, Nicolas Brachet
  • Patent number: 11970278
    Abstract: A thrust mount assembly includes a thrust link-lever that has a first end region, a second end region, and a fulcrum region disposed between the first end region and the second end region. A thrust link-lever may be coupled or couplable to a fulcrum body of an aft engine-mount at a fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever. When coupled to a turbomachine, the fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever may be laterally offset and/or laterally adjustable relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine. A load translated from an engine frame of a turbomachine to an engine-mounting linkage system may be determined and a fulcrum position for the thrust mount assembly may be adjusted laterally relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kudum Shinde, Mahesh Shenvi Khandeparker
  • Patent number: 11970279
    Abstract: A control system and methods for controlling the position of one or more engine-mounting links of an engine-mounting linkage system are provided. In one aspect, an engine-mounting linkage system includes one or more engine-mounting links that each have an adjustable inclination angle. An inclination angle of a link may be adjusted by an actuator of the control system. One or more controllers of the control system can control the actuator and thus the inclination angle of the link by determining a control command based at least in part on an output received from one or more sensors of the control system. The controllers can then cause the actuator to change the inclination angle of the link based at least in part on the determined control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Timothy Leo Schelfaut, Anthony Michael Metz, Jonathan Edward Coleman, Thomas P. Joseph
  • Patent number: 11945595
    Abstract: A support structure for attaching an engine to an aircraft pylon at front, mid and rear attachment positions thereof, including a front mount joined to the engine and configured to attach to the pylon at the front attachment position and a rear mount joined to a core casing to attach to the pylon at the rear attachment position, each of the front and rear mounts configured to transfer lateral and vertical loads from the engine to the pylon, and the rear mount being spaced from the front mount such that yaw and pitch torques are transferred from the engine to the pylon through the front and rear mounts. The support structure also includes an axial load transfer formation to transfer axial loads from the engine to the pylon and a roll-torque transfer formation to transfer roll torque from the core casing to the pylon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Richard G Stretton
  • Patent number: 11920793
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine combustor is provided that includes a swirler, a mounting stage, and a distributor. The swirler has a shaft, a collar, a throat section, and first and second axial ends. The throat section includes an inner radial surface that defines a central passage that extends between the swirler inner bore and the collar. The collar includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough disposed radially outside of the central passage. The mounting stage is disposed in the inner bore, and has an annular flange, a central hub, and at least one strut. The distributor has a stem attached to a head. The stem has a distal end opposite the head portion engaged with the central hub. The head portion has an end surface and a side surface. The distributor is selectively positionable relative to the throat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jakub Strzepek, Kian McCaldon, Anna Mamrol, Owen Wong, Maxime La Fleche
  • Patent number: 11905855
    Abstract: A combined power generation system includes a gas turbine, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) configured to heat feedwater using combustion gases discharged from the gas turbine and having a high-pressure section, a medium-pressure section, and a low-pressure section having different pressure levels, an ammonia decomposer decomposing ammonia with the combustion gases discharged from the gas turbine, a first exhaust gas line through which the exhaust gases discharged from the gas turbine are transferred to the HRSG, a second exhaust gas line through which the exhaust gases discharged from the gas turbine are transferred to the ammonia decomposer, a third exhaust gas line through which the exhaust gases discharged from the ammonia decomposer are transferred to the HRSG, and a decomposed gas transfer tube connecting the ammonia decomposer and the combustor to transfer decomposed gases generated with the decomposition of ammonia to the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byoung Youn Kim, Myung Son Kang, Chang Rim Lee, Eun Seong Cho
  • Patent number: 11905887
    Abstract: Multi-engine aircraft power and propulsion systems and methods of restarting an engine of a multi-engine aircraft during fight are provided. One such method comprises: determining a condition to the effect that a flame in the combustion equipment of the second gas turbine engine has been extinguished; responsive to the determination, supplying electrical power from the electrical energy storage system to one or more of the electric machines of the second gas turbine engine and operating said one or more electric machines as motors to limit a reduction in a speed of the one or more spools of the second gas turbine engine following extinguishment of the flame in its combustion equipment; and restarting the second gas turbine engine by relighting the combustion equipment of the second gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Gareth E Moore, Paul R Davies, Stephen M Husband, David R Trainer, David P Scothern, Luke George, Douglas M M Herbert
  • Patent number: 11879364
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel apparatus and methods for augmenting the power of a gas turbine engine, improving gas turbine engine operation, and reducing the response time necessary to meet changing demands of a power plant. Improvements in power augmentation and engine operation include systems and methods for preheating a steam injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Powerphase International, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Kraft, Scott Auerbach
  • Patent number: 11858645
    Abstract: Adjustable support links for aircraft are disclosed herein. An adjustable support link includes a first rod end including a first shaft with first external threads, a second rod end including a second shaft with a bore having first internal threads, and a barrel nut at least partially disposed in the bore of the second rod end. The barrel nut has second external threads engaged with the first internal threads. The barrel nut having a channel. The first shaft is at least partially disposed in the channel. The channel has second internal threads engaged with the first external threads of the first rod end, such that rotation of the barrel nut in a first direction causes the first and second rod ends to move toward each other and rotation of the barrel nut in a second direction causes the first and second rod ends to move away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Jonathan P. Boas
  • Patent number: 11852073
    Abstract: An orifice pack is provided for delivering pressurized air to a compressor bleed valve of a gas turbine engine. The orifice pack has a diffusion chamber in serial flow communication with a tapering passage and a first outlet passage for venting a first portion of the pressurized air from the diffusion chamber. A second outlet passage branches off from the diffusion chamber at an axial location between the inlet and the tapering passage. The second outlet passage is fluidly connected to the compressor bleed valve for directing a second portion of the pressurized air from the diffusion chamber to the compressor bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Martin Dobson, Oleg Iskra, Michael Fryer, Marc Lavoie, Ivan Sidorovich Paradiso, Louis Duranleau-Hendrickx, Domenico Di Florio, Tibor Urac
  • Patent number: 11840348
    Abstract: An engine mounting pylon for suspending a turbofan beneath an aircraft wing, including a primary structure, a fastening device for fastening to the turbofan, and a fastening device for fastening to the wing. The engine mounting pylon furthermore comprises multiple rigid braces that mechanically connect the primary structure to the wing of the aircraft, a first brace-attachment device that mechanically connects a first end of each brace to the wing, and a second brace-attachment device that mechanically connects a second end of each brace to the primary structure. This braced-pylon architecture makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the primary structure and the various elements that constitute the first and second attachment devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Jérôme Colmagro
  • Patent number: 11821369
    Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system including: a gas turbine engine comprising a low speed spool and a high speed spool, the low speed spool comprising a low pressure compressor and a low pressure turbine, and the high speed spool comprising a high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine; an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the high speed spool or the low speed spool; and a controller to: detect an in-flight windmill re-start condition of the gas turbine engine; and cause power to be supplied from a power source to the electric motor in order to augment rotational power of the high speed or the low speed spool during the detected in-flight windmill re-start condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gary Collopy
  • Patent number: 11815266
    Abstract: A combustor nozzle, a combustor, and a gas turbine including the same are proposed. The combustor nozzle includes a nozzle module. The nozzle module includes a fuel supply pipe supplying fuel from the front side to the rear side, a fuel plenum having an internal fuel flow path through which the fuel flows and communicating with the fuel supply pipe, an air inlet formed in front of the fuel plenum, a plurality of tubes disposed through a rear side of the fuel plenum, wherein a front end of each tube communicates with the air inlet, and a fuel port communicating with the fuel flow path is formed on a lateral side of each tube, and a swirler provided with a plurality of swirling guides disposed obliquely in axial and circumferential directions on an inner circumferential surface of each of the plurality of tubes to swirl fluid, with a central portion thereof opened when viewed from the axial direction of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Borys Shershnyov
  • Patent number: 11807374
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly includes an engine below a pylon by engine attachments, including a thrust force uptake device, the engine having a longitudinal axis and a vertical median plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, the thrust force uptake device having a main fitting fixed below the pylon and two links disposed on either side of the vertical median plane and which each have a rear end articulated to the main fitting by a spreader mounted to pivot on the main fitting about an axis of rotation which, on the one hand, is orthogonal to a mean plane for transmitting thrust forces parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the links, and which is disposed in the vertical median plane, each link being articulated to the spreader by a connecting pin extending parallel to the mean plane for transmitting thrust forces and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Michael Berjot, Thomas Robiglio, Karla Mariana Arellanes Mendoza
  • Patent number: 11808178
    Abstract: A diffuser case for a gas turbine engine including: a pre-diffuser; a diffuser case defining a dump region, an inner plenum, and an outer plenum, the pre-diffuser being fluidly connected to the inner plenum and the outer plenum through the dump region; a tangential onboard injector module fluidly connected to the inner plenum through inlet orifice located in the diffuser case proximate an aft end of the inner plenum; and an inlet extender initiating at the inlet orifice of the tangential onboard injector module, extends through the inner plenum, and terminates at a distal end proximate the pre-diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin Prenter, Ricardo Trindade, Ryan Lundgreen
  • Patent number: 11772809
    Abstract: A fuselage for an aircraft. The fuselage has a control element with an integrated engine outlet. The control element is integrated at a rear end of the fuselage, so that the control element terminates flush with an outer skin of the fuselage in a circumferential direction of the fuselage. An outer wall of the control element surrounds the engine outlet wherein the engine outlet is directed towards an open rear side of the control element. The control element is connected to the fuselage such that the control element jointly the engine outlet is pivotable about a rotation axis with respect to the fuselage. The rotation axis runs transversely to a longitudinal direction of the fuselage and the control element functions as a tailplane when pivoting about the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Stangl, Robert Osterhuber, Philipp Ernstberger
  • Patent number: 11746701
    Abstract: An example thermal management system may include a first heat exchanger including a bleed air inlet configured to receive input bleed air from a gas turbine engine and a bleed air outlet configured to output cooled bleed air. A turbine including a turbine inlet may be fluidically coupled to the bleed air outlet. The turbine may be configured to drive a shaft mechanically coupled to the turbine in response to expansion of the cooled bleed air through the turbine. A second heat exchanger may include an expanded bleed air inlet fluidically coupled to a turbine outlet of the turbine. The second heat exchanger may be configured to extract heat from at least one heat source using the expanded bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul O'Meallie, Douglas J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11746728
    Abstract: A rocket motor includes at least one inert rod. The inert rod has a groove that extends along the length of the inert rod. The groove may be machined by a lathe, die, and/or CNC machine, such that the groove is configured helically around the rod. A reactive wire is inserted into the groove along the length of the inert rod. The grooved inert rod, and the reactive wire together constitute the burn rate enhancer assembly. The rocket motor is configured such that the burn rate enhancer assembly is inserted into a rocket motor casing. The rocket motor casing is then filled with a burnable propellant grain, the highly loaded grain, which is in a liquid or semi-solid state. The highly loaded grain then cures in the rocket motor casing around the burn rate enhancer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Adam I. Lefcourt, Bradley J. Goodman, Todd R. Kornfeld
  • Patent number: 11732659
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a variable geometry combustor having pilot fuel injectors and main fuel injectors; a fuel metering system configured to control fuel flow to the pilot fuel injectors and the main fuel injectors; a variable geometry airflow arrangement for the variable geometry combustor, which is configured to vary the airflow through the pilot fuel injectors and/or the main fuel injectors; a control system configured to control the variable geometry airflow arrangement in dependence upon airflow delivered to the combustor, the fuel flow to the pilot fuel injectors and the main fuel injectors, and a target index of soot emissions, thereby controlling airflow through the pilot fuel injectors and/or the main fuel injectors and hence the quantity of soot produced by combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Peter Swann, Christopher P Madden