Patents Examined by Sean V Meiller
  • Patent number: 11408609
    Abstract: A tile for a combustor dome of a gas turbine engine includes a tile body defining an upstream surface and an axially opposed downstream surface with at least one injection orifice defined through the tile body from the upstream surface to the downstream surface. The tile body extends in a radial direction from a radially inner surface to a radially outer surface. The radially inner and outer surfaces define circular arcs that are concentric with one another. The tile body extends circumferentially from a first end face to a second end face. The first end face follows a sigmoid profile and the second end face follows a sigmoid profile configured to interlock with the sigmoid profile of the first end face of another identical tile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Lev Alexander Prociw, Jason A. Ryon, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11402096
    Abstract: A combustor dome may be formed by way of additive layer manufacturing. The combustor dome may further include a raised outer surface and a recessed outer surface on a hot side of the combustor dome. The recessed outer surfaces may be closer to the cold side than the raised outer surfaces. The combustor dome may include a shadow surface defined between the raised outer surface and recessed outer surface. The shadow surface may define a corresponding cooling outlet in fluid communication with an internal cooling channel defined inside of the combustor dome. The cooling outlet may release air from the internal cooling channel to the hot axial side of the combustor dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Sauer, Lewis Dailey, Keith McCormick, Duane Smith, Christopher D. DeBruhl
  • Patent number: 11384936
    Abstract: A hot fairing structure for a pre-diffuser includes a ring-strut-ring structure that comprises a multiple of hollow struts; and a multiple of diffusion passage ducts attached to the ring-strut-ring structure. A pre-diffuser for a gas turbine engine includes an exit guide vane ring having a multiple of exit guide vanes defined around an engine longitudinal axis; a ring-strut-ring structure adjacent to the exit guide vane ring to form a multiple of diffusion passages defined around the engine longitudinal axis, an inlet to each of the multiple of diffusion passages smaller than an exit from each of the multiple diffusion passage through the ring-strut-ring structure; a diffusion passage duct attached to the ring-strut-ring structure at the exit from each of the multiple diffusion passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey, Matthew Andrew Hough, Pedro Rivero
  • Patent number: 11378008
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase intake air flow to a gas turbine engine of a hydraulic fracturing unit when positioned in an enclosure may include providing an intake expansion assembly to enhance intake air flow to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly may include an intake expansion wall defining a plurality of intake ports positioned to supply intake air to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly also may include one or more actuators connected to a main housing of the enclosure and the intake expansion assembly. The one or more actuators may be positioned to cause the intake expansion wall to move relative to the main housing between a first position preventing air flow through the plurality of intake ports and a second position providing air flow through the plurality of intake ports to an interior of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: BJ Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Tony Yeung, Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon, Joseph Foster
  • Patent number: 11371704
    Abstract: A hot fairing structure for a pre-diffuser includes a ring-strut-ring structure that comprises a multiple of hollow struts and a multiple of inlets to a respective diffusion passage, one of the multiple of inlets formed between each one of the multiple of hollow struts located between two diffusion passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey, Matthew Andrew Hough, Pedro Rivero
  • Patent number: 11313274
    Abstract: A power generation system using a combined solar-assisted fuel reformer and oxy-combustion membrane reactor is proposed. The system uses solar heating to activate the endothermic fuel steam reforming reaction. The produced gas is separated into streams of H2 and CO for separate oxy-combustion reactions. The O2 used in the oxy-combustion reactions is produced by permeating O2 through ion transport membranes in contact with solar-heated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Esmail M. A. Mokheimer, Mohamed A. Habib
  • Patent number: 11306919
    Abstract: A cooling hole arrangement for a combustor panel including a first group of cooling holes, each of the first cooling holes extending from a first inlet to a first outlet. Also included is a second group of cooling holes, each of the second cooling holes extending from a second inlet to a second outlet, each of the first cooling holes and the second cooling holes spaced from an edge of the combustor panel in an axial direction to be arranged substantially parallel to the edge of the combustor panel. At least a portion of the first inlet of each first cooling holes is axially overlapped with a portion of the second inlet of the second cooling holes. The first outlet of each of the first cooling holes is closer to the edge of the combustor panel than the second outlet of the second cooling holes is to the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Scott D. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11300050
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase intake air flow to a gas turbine engine of a hydraulic fracturing unit when positioned in an enclosure may include providing an intake expansion assembly to enhance intake air flow to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly may include an intake expansion wall defining a plurality of intake ports positioned to supply intake air to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly also may include one or more actuators connected to a main housing of the enclosure and the intake expansion assembly. The one or more actuators may be positioned to cause the intake expansion wall to move relative to the main housing between a first position preventing air flow through the plurality of intake ports and a second position providing air flow through the plurality of intake ports to an interior of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: BJ Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Tony Yeung, Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon, Joseph Foster
  • Patent number: 11300086
    Abstract: A fuel and oil system includes a fuel pump, an oil pump, and a fixed electrical drive. A first electric motor controller of the fuel and oil system supplies a variable electrical drive, and a second electric motor controller supplies a variable electrical drive. The fuel pump is selectively connected to and driven by the first electric motor controller or the second electric motor controller. The oil pump is selectively connected to and driven by the second electric motor controller or the fixed electrical drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Gian Incerpi, Edward W Adams
  • Patent number: 11274599
    Abstract: A method of operating a multi-engine aircraft having two or more gas turbine engines includes operating a first engine in a powered mode to provide motive power to the aircraft, and, in flight, operating a second engine in either a powered mode to provide motive power to the aircraft or in a standby mode to provide substantially no motive power to the aircraft. When operating the second engine in the powered mode, pressurized air is bled from a first bleed location of a compressor of the second engine. When operating the second engine in the standby mode, pressurized air is bled from a second bleed location of the compressor of the second engine and supplying the pressurized air to a bleed air system of the second engine. The second bleed location is downstream of the first bleed location within the compressor of the second engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kevin Ng, Johnny Vinski, Adam Logan
  • Patent number: 11261783
    Abstract: A combined power generation system improves the generation efficiency of a pressure difference power generation facility by using at least one of air for cooling a turbine of a gas turbine power generation facility and waste heat of flue gas generated by the gas turbine power generation facility. Working fluid to be used in a supercritical fluid power generation facility is cooled by using cold energy of liquefied natural gas. The system includes an air discharge channel via which compressed air is discharged; a fuel gas heater for heating the natural gas to be introduced into the pressure difference power generation facility by performing a heat exchange between the discharged air and the natural gas being heated; and a cooling air inflow channel for guiding the cooled air passed through the fuel gas heater to a turbine of the gas turbine power generation facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Inventors: Sanghyeun Kim, Hwachang Sung, Juntae Jang, Songhun Cha
  • Patent number: 11255270
    Abstract: A fuel injector system includes an outer support and an inner support, with a feed arm extending radially between the inner support and the outer support. A plurality of outlet openings extend in an axial direction from the feed arm for feeding respective injection nozzles. The outer support and feed arm define a plurality of fuel passages therethrough to convey fluid from an external source through the outer support and feed arm to the outlet openings. A heat shield extends around the feed arm from the outer support to the inner support. The heat shield is spaced apart from the feed arm with an insulative gap therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Delavan Inc.
    Inventors: Jason A. Ryon, Lev Alexander Prociw, Gregory A. Zink
  • Patent number: 11255268
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a main compressor section having a downstream most location, and a turbine section, with both the main compressor section and the turbine section housing rotatable components. A first tap taps air compressed by the main compressor section at an upstream location upstream of the downstream most location. The first tap passes through a heat exchanger, and to a cooling compressor. Air downstream of the cooling compressor is selectively connected to reach at least one of the rotatable components. The cooling compressor is connected to rotate at a speed proportional to a rotational speed in one of the main compressor section and the turbine section. A valve system includes a check valve for selectively blocking flow downstream of the cooling compressor from reaching the at least one rotatable component. A dump valve selectively dumps air downstream of the cooling compressor. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Turney
  • Patent number: 11230978
    Abstract: Aircraft turbine engine, including at least one first compressor, an annular combustion chamber and at least one first turbine, which define a first flow duct for a primary flow. Between the combustion chamber and the first turbine is a device for discharging at least part of the primary flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Arnaud Nicolas Negri, Nils Edouard Romain Bordoni, Michel Gilbert Rolland Brault, Guillaume Patrice Kubiak, Nathalie Nowakowski, Romain Guillaume Cuvillier
  • Patent number: 11215365
    Abstract: A nozzle, a combustor, and a gas turbine are capable of efficiently atomizing fuel. The nozzle includes an outer tube; a first inner tube installed in the outer tube and configured to form an air passage between the first inner tube and the outer tube; a second inner tube installed in the first inner tube and configured to form a main fuel passage between the first inner tube and the second inner tube and to form a pilot fuel passage within the second inner tube; and a splash plate configured to form a first space between the outer tube and the splash plate, the first space communicating with the main fuel passage and with the air passage, and to form an injection slot communicating with the first space, the splash plate having a front end and a diameter increasing toward the front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander Myatlev, Jungmin Seok, Borys Shershnyov
  • Patent number: 11208953
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase intake air flow to a gas turbine engine of a hydraulic fracturing unit when positioned in an enclosure may include providing an intake expansion assembly to enhance intake air flow to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly may include an intake expansion wall defining a plurality of intake ports positioned to supply intake air to the gas turbine engine. The intake expansion assembly also may include one or more actuators connected to a main housing of the enclosure and the intake expansion assembly. The one or more actuators may be positioned to cause the intake expansion wall to move relative to the main housing between a first position preventing air flow through the plurality of intake ports and a second position providing air flow through the plurality of intake ports to an interior of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: BJ Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Tony Yeung, Ricardo Rodriguez-Ramon, Joseph Foster
  • Patent number: 11156185
    Abstract: A cascade array includes a first strongback having a first thermoset or thermoplastic composite material. The cascade array further includes a second strongback having a second thermoset or thermoplastic composite material. The cascade array further includes a first vane that is coupled to the first strongback and the second strongback and includes a third thermoset or thermoplastic composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventor: Teresa Kruckenberg
  • Patent number: 11149577
    Abstract: A device for controlling the clearance between a rotor and a stator surrounding same, which is carried out by modifying the delivery flow carried in a rotor recess in order to provide a bleed flow that prevents the gases from the flow section from penetrating into the recess. A valve can partially close the delivery circuit, thus reducing the cooling of the rotor structure and allowing the expansion thereof and the reduction of the clearance with the stator, for certain operating speeds including cruise operating speeds. In addition, the delivery air is heated more at a lower flow rate, especially if it is made to follow a bypass provided with meanders in the hottest portions of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Baptiste Marie Aubin Pierre Jouy, Laurent Claude Descamps, Bertrand Guillaume Robin Pellaton, Loic Fabien Francois Villard
  • Patent number: 11136942
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a sound-absorbing exhaust center plug for an aircraft gas turbine engine comprising a center plug adapted for attachment within an exhaust nozzle of the engine. The center plug comprises an outer skin, and at least one cavity within the center plug and the at least one cavity extending between a forward bulkhead and an aft bulkhead, where the aft bulkhead is canted inwardly. The outer skin includes a plurality of outer skin openings providing an acoustic pathway through the outer skin and into the at least one cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Rohr, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos A. Lopez, Lisa K. Martini-Saliers, David Gaul, Jose S. Alonso-Miralles, Keith E. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 11130582
    Abstract: Systems and methods of heat management of turbine engines including turbofans, turboprops and turboshafts and fan driven propulsion systems. The propulsion system may comprise a fan, nacelle, an electrical or mechanical heat source and a cooling system consisting of heat exchangers in the fan duct and on the nacelle and coolant pumps. The heat source can be a motor or a generator or turbine machinery or accessories rotationally coupled to rotating shafts. The heat management system transfers heat to the air in the fan flow path to provide additional fan thrust. The heat management system also transfers heat to structural members in the gas flow path that require anti-icing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Alan Smith, Paul O'Meallie