Patents Examined by Steven M Sutherland
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Patent number: 11976592Abstract: An anti-icing system includes a nozzle assembly, a bleed air supply, a bleed control valve assembly, and a controller. The bleed air supply is configured to direct pressurized bleed air to the nozzle assembly. The bleed air supply includes a first pressure sensor configured to measure a first pressure of the pressurized bleed air. The bleed control valve assembly includes a control valve and a valve actuator. The control valve is positionable to control a flow rate of the pressurized bleed air. The valve actuator is configured to control a position of the control valve. The controller is configured to identify a power condition of the bleed air supply as a first power condition or a second power condition and control the valve actuator to position the control valve in a fully opened position for the first power condition and in a predetermined position based on the first pressure for the second power condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2023Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: ROHR, INC.Inventor: Phillip Andelson
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Patent number: 11976580Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft having at least one wing, on which at least one propulsion unit is arranged, comprising at least one heat engine, especially a gas turbine, as well as an exhaust gas passage for conducting exhaust gas of the heat engine into and inside the wing.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AGInventor: Hermann Klingels
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Patent number: 11965459Abstract: An air intake plenum for a gas turbine engine is provided that includes an axial centerline, first and second gas path surfaces, and a plurality of struts. The gas path surfaces are spaced apart from one another and define at least a portion of a plenum interior. The struts extend lengthwise between the gas path surfaces. Each strut has a cross-section geometry. The cross-section geometry has a center, and major and minor axes. The struts are circumferentially spaced apart from one another within the plenum. Each strut is oriented at a clocking angle theta. The clocking angle theta for each respective strut is disposed between the major axis of that strut and a line that intersects the cross-section geometry center of that strut and the axial centerline. At least one strut of the plurality of struts is oriented at a clocking angle theta that is greater than zero.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2022Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Hien Duong, Jason Nichols
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Patent number: 11959424Abstract: An output corrector is provided with an adjustment coefficient creating unit which creates an adjustment coefficient, an output adjusting unit which adjusts a control output using the adjustment coefficient, and an output accepting unit which accepts an output from an output meter for detecting the output of a gas turbine. The adjustment coefficient creating unit includes a first coefficient element calculating unit which calculates a first coefficient element, a second coefficient element calculating unit which calculates a second coefficient element, and an adjustment coefficient calculating unit which calculates the adjustment coefficient using the first and second coefficient elements. The first coefficient element is the ratio of an immediately preceding output in an immediately preceding time period, to a reference output at a reference time point in the past. The second coefficient element is the ratio of the current output in the current time period, to the immediately preceding output.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Naoki Nakata, Hidehiko Nishimura, Jotaro Nakagawa
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Patent number: 11959417Abstract: A gas turbine (A, B, C) is provided that includes at least a compressor (1), a combustor (2), and a turbine (3) and combusts ammonia serving as fuel in the combustor (2), including a reducing agent supply device (6) configured to supply a reducing agent for reducing nitrogen oxides in a combustion gas to at least one of: a combustion gas flow path between the combustor (2) and the turbine (3); and the turbine (3).Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: TOHOKU UNIVERSITYInventor: Hisashi Nakamura
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Patent number: 11952942Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core engine casing and a bypass duct defined between a nacelle and the core engine casing. The gas turbine engine further includes a plurality of diverter fences pivotally coupled to the core engine casing. Each diverter fence is pivotable relative to the core engine casing about a pivot axis, which is circumferentially and obliquely inclined with respect to a principal rotational axis. Each diverter fence is configured to move between a first position in which an outboard edge is disposed adjacent to a casing outer surface, and a second position in which the outboard edge is radially spaced apart from the casing outer surface, such that each diverter fence radially extends outwards from the casing outer surface into the bypass duct.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2023Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Vasileios Pachidis, David J Rajendran
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Patent number: 11946417Abstract: A combination of a gas turbine engine and power electronics, includes an engine core and oil circuit to cool and lubricate bearings of the engine core, and a fuel circuit for supplying fuel to the combustor. The fuel circuit includes a low pressure pump for pressurising the fuel to a low pressure, and a high pressure pump to receive the low pressure fuel and increase the pressure to a high pressure for supply to a fuel metering system and the combustor. The engine includes a fuel-oil heat exchanger having a fuel side on the fuel circuit between an outlet of the low pressure pump and an inlet of the high pressure pump, and an oil side on the oil circuit to transfer heat from the oil circuit to the fuel circuit. The power electronics transfers heat to a cooling flow formed by a portion of the low pressure fuel.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2023Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Andrea Minelli
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Patent number: 11946421Abstract: A system includes one or more debris sensors or particulate sensors are used to sense engine inlet debris or particulate matter which are drawn into the engine during flight, in real-time. The system employs that information, in conjunction with other engine health and module health techniques, to identify which gas-path modules of the aircraft engine may require maintenance or repair. In one embodiment, existing engine health technique may be based on various engine operational parameters for a new engine or an average engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jacques Paul, Charles W. Dowdell, James R. Noel
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Patent number: 11939873Abstract: A compander comprises a bull gear connected to a generator a first pinion member comprising at least one first pinion provided on one side of the bull gear; and a second pinion member comprising at least one second pinion provided on the other side of the bull gear, wherein a first compressor and a first expander are mounted on the first pinion of the first pinion member, and a second compressor and a second expander are mounted on the second pinion of the second pinion member.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: HANWHA POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTDInventor: Kil Young Kim
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Patent number: 11939913Abstract: An engine system includes a turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor section having a burner, a turbine section, and a nozzle in an open-loop configuration. The engine system also includes a bottom-cycle apparatus and an exhaust heat exchanger downstream of the turbine section of the turbine engine configured to reject heat from the turbine engine to the bottoming-cycle apparatus and create a cooled turbine exhaust in the turbine engine. The engine system further includes an exhaust compressor arranged downstream of the exhaust heat exchanger and upstream of the nozzle of the turbine engine configured to compress the cooled turbine exhaust stream and increase a pressure of the cooled turbine exhaust stream prior to exiting the nozzle of the turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Neil J. Terwilliger, Joseph B. Staubach
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Patent number: 11939917Abstract: An apparatus for oil lubrication of a rotationally fixed connection between two shafts. A first shaft engages with a hollow region of the second shaft. The shafts are operatively connected to each other in a form-fitting manner in the overlapping region. Oil is introduced into a first chamber in the hollow region, which chamber is connected to a second chamber in the hollow region. The second chamber is connectable to a third chamber is arranged in the overlapping region. The fluidic connection between the second chamber and the third chamber is separated above a defined oil volume in the second chamber and above a rotational speed threshold of the shafts via a sealing element. The sealing element is reversibly deformable by the oil volume in the second chamber and the centrifugal force acting thereon and, in the deformed state, seals the connection between the second and third chambers.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KGInventor: Jürgen Beier
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Patent number: 11933227Abstract: An air starter for an engine, such as a turbine engine, that includes a turbine for rotatably extracting mechanical power from a flow of fluid. The turbine includes a drive shaft that can be coupled to an output shaft to provide a rotational output. The interface between the drive shaft and the output shaft can be offset and include piloted portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Unison Industries, LLCInventors: Sharad Pundlik Patil, Subrata Nayak, David Allan Dranschak, Shiloh Montegomery Meyers, Bajarang Agrawal, Jasraj Asdev, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger
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Patent number: 11933224Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel metering unit for an aircraft engine, comprising: —a metering member configured to receive a position control signal and to meter the feed of fuel to the engine depending on said position control; —a cutting member configured to cut the feed of fuel to the engine; and characterized in that the fuel metering unit also has a computer for protecting and cutting the engine, said protecting and cutting computer being configured to—detect an overspeeding state of the engine speed and—in response to the detection of an overspeeding state, to transmit a cutting control signal to a cutting control member contained in the cutting member.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Guilhem Alcide Auguste Foiret, Arnaud Bernard Clément Thomas Joudareff
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Patent number: 11933197Abstract: A method for starting up a combined cycle plant in which the following steps are executed: a gas turbine start-up step of increasing an output of a gas turbine to a rated output, a steam admission step of starting steam supply to a steam turbine when a temperature of the steam from a waste heat recovery boiler reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature, and an ST generator output control step of controlling a flow rate of steam flowing into the steam turbine after a generator is synchronized so that an output of the generator increases according to a target output change pattern. In the ST generator output control step, when a thermal stress reaches or exceeds a predetermined first thermal stress, the flow rate of the steam is controlled so that the change in the generator output is smaller than a change indicated by the target output change pattern.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Yuichiro Furukawa, Masataka Naruse, Kazuhiko Maruta
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Patent number: 11933232Abstract: A hybrid-electric gas turbine engine and method of operating includes independently controlling a first electric machine providing torque to a first shaft to maintain a desired clearance between a first set of blades rotatably coupled to the first shaft, and a casing.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Timothy L. Schelfaut, Timothy M. Kasberg, Tyler F. Hooper, Massimo Rufo, Kevin Graziano, Brendon Leeker
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Patent number: 11927135Abstract: An oil tank for a gas turbine engine is provided. The oil tank includes an oil cavity defined within structural walls of a nacelle of the gas turbine engine, the oil cavity having an oil inlet and an oil outlet. At least one of the structural walls has an interior side facing the oil cavity and an exterior side. The interior side includes a plurality of upstanding protrusions extending into the oil cavity and fully immersed in oil when the gas turbine engine is in use during steady state operation. The exterior side includes a plurality of fins extending therefrom and exposed to an ambient air stream during steady state operation of the gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Enzo Macchia, Daniel Alecu
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Patent number: 11920510Abstract: An electrical power generation system including a micro-turbine alternator including a combustion chamber, at least one turbine driven by combustion gases from the combustion chamber, a first stage compressor, and a second stage compressor located aft of the first stage compressor. The first stage compressor and the second stage compressor being operably connected to the combustion chamber to provide a compressed airflow thereto. The micro-turbine alternator including one or more shafts connecting the at least one turbine to the first stage compressor and the second stage compressor such that rotation of the at least one turbine drives rotation of the first and second stage compressor. An electric generator is disposed along the one or more shafts such that electrical power is generated via rotation of the one or more shafts. The electric generator is disposed along the one or more shafts between the first and second stage compressors.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
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Patent number: 11913349Abstract: A turbofan engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan, a compressor section, a turbine section including a fan drive turbine and a second turbine, an epicyclic gear system with a gear reduction, first and second bearings, and a fan drive shaft interconnecting the gear system and the fan. The fan drive turbine has a first exit area at a first exit point and is rotatable at a first speed. The second turbine has a second exit area at a second exit point and is rotatable at a second speed. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of the first speed squared and the first area. A second performance quantity is defined as the product of the second speed squared and the second area.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Michael E. McCune
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Patent number: 11905881Abstract: A component for a turbine engine includes a body having an outer surface confronting a combustion air flow path and defining an interior, as well as a first cooling passage having at least a portion supplying cooling air to the interior of the body. The component also includes a cyclone separator having a cooling air inlet, a clean air outlet, and a dirty air outlet.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Endecott Osgood, Jonathan Russell Ratzlaff, Kirk D. Gallier
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Patent number: 11898468Abstract: A sub-assembly for a low-pressure compressor of an aircraft turbine engine includes a straightener provided with cantilevered vanes and a rotor hub having a cavity covered by an inner shroud opposite the vanes. Orifices are made in the inner shroud to allow an air flow to circulate in the downstream to upstream direction of the low-pressure compressor.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERSInventor: Stéphane Hiernaux