Patents Examined by Thomas P Burke
  • Patent number: 12366203
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section for compressing air flowing therethrough to provide a compressed air flow, a combustor including a combustion chamber, the combustion chamber configured to combust a mixture of a fuel flow and the compressed air flow to generate combustion products, and a turbine section having at least one turbine driven by the combustion products. The gas turbine engine includes a multicavity damper in fluid communication with the combustion chamber to dampen an instability generated in the combustion chamber by the combustion products. The multicavity damper has a plurality of cavity volumes and the length of each cavity volume is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas Arthur Magina, Fei Han
  • Patent number: 12359622
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine support system includes a support arc segment piece that defines radially inner and outer sides, axially forward and aft sides, and first and second circumferential mate face sides. The radially inner side has a radially open socket that is configured to engage a mating component and transmit loads from the mating component. The radially open socket is elongated in an axial direction with respect to the axially forward and aft sides The support arc segment piece has radial and axial reaction surfaces that are configured, respectively, to transmit radial and axial components of the loads from the mating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon E. Sobanski, Howard J. Liles
  • Patent number: 12352442
    Abstract: In one aspect, a panel for lining a combustor shell of a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a front surface configured to face a combustion chamber and a back surface configured to face the combustor shell, a plurality of cooling holes extending from the back surface to the front surface, a rail extending from the back surface and defining a perimeter of the panel, and a plurality of studs disposed adjacent to and connected to the rail. The rail is configured to contact the combustor shell. The plurality of studs are configured to be received in a plurality of holes of the combustor shell. The plurality of studs is asymmetrically arranged around the perimeter of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Jon Sobanski, Steven Porter
  • Patent number: 12345206
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly having a combustion chamber and a turbine, a nacelle with a front cowl facing the turbine, with a window passing through it, and a rear cowl to the rear of the turbine, a fire barrier between the front cowl and the rear cowl, a dihydrogen supply pipe meandering from the inside of the rear cowl, then in a sealed manner through the fire barrier, then through the window as far as the combustion chamber, wherein the supply pipe has an intermediate section between the fire barrier and the window, and a plate fastened in a sealed manner to the intermediate section and fastened in a sealed manner to the front cowl around the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Lionel Czapla, Rémi Amargier
  • Patent number: 12326110
    Abstract: A hydrogen production and electricity generation system includes an electrolyzer that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, a renewable power source that powers the electrolyzer, a combustion gas turbine, and a turbo-expander. An oxygen storage tank receives compressed oxygen from the combustion gas turbine, and a hydrogen storage tank receives compressed hydrogen form the turbo-expander fluid communication with the second compressor to receive and store a portion of the compressed hydrogen. The system is operable in a first mode, where the compressed oxygen and hydrogen are provided to the combustion gas turbine while the electrolyzer is powered by the renewable power source, and a second mode, where the renewable power source is unable to power the electrolyzer and the compressed oxygen and hydrogen are provided to the combustion gas turbine from the oxygen and hydrogen storage tanks, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdullah Nasser Al-Qahtani, Hamad Mohammed Alowaiydh, Matlaq Mahdi Al-Qahtani, Abdulaziz Mutlaq Alotaibi, Ali Hemoud Alshehri, Mohammed Salah Alhazzaa
  • Patent number: 12313025
    Abstract: Rocket tank liquid level determination, and associated systems and methods. A representative system includes a computer-readable medium having instructions that, when executed, receive an image corresponding to a view of the liquid in the rocket tank, identify an edge between the liquid and a wall of the tank, and, based on at least one of a size, shape, location, or orientation of the edge, estimate a level of the liquid in the tank. In addition to or in lieu of determining the liquid level, the system can determine a characteristic of a sloshing motion of the liquid in the tank, and, based at least on the characteristic of the sloshing motion, direct operation of a forcing element that imparts a force to the rocket to at least partially counteract a force placed on the rocket by the sloshing motion of the liquid in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Blue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick W. Boelitz, Richard D. Jones
  • Patent number: 12259137
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) dome including a swirler opening therethrough with a flare interface surface surrounding the swirler opening, a swirler assembly including (a) a secondary swirler having a threaded flare attachment portion, and (b) a flare having (i) a threaded secondary swirler attachment portion, and (ii) a dome interface wall that interfaces with the flare interface surface of the CMC dome, and a swirler-dome attachment member. The flare is connected to the secondary swirler via the threaded flare attachment portion and the threaded secondary swirler attachment portion, and the swirler-dome attachment member applies a force to the CMC dome to engage the dome interface wall and the flare interface surface so as to connect the CMC dome and the swirler assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerardo Antonio Salazar Lois, Nicholas John Bloom, Daniel J. Kirtley, Shai Birmaher, Ryan Christopher Jones
  • Patent number: 12258135
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system is disclosed and includes a first gas turbine engine including a first input shaft driving a first gear system, a first fan driven by the first gear system, a first generator supported on the first input shaft and a fan drive electric motor providing a drive input to the first fan, a second gas turbine engine including a second input shaft driving a second gear system, a second fan driven by the second gear system, a second generator supported on the second input shaft and a second fan drive electric motor providing a drive input to the second fan and a controller controlling power output from each of the first and second generators and directing the power output between each of the first and second fan drive electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz, William G. Sheridan, Glenn Levasseur
  • Patent number: 12215866
    Abstract: A turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The combustion section can include a combustor having a fuel-air mixer. The fuel-air mixer can include a body with at least an air passage, as well as a set of mixing passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pradeep Naik, Manampathy G. Giridharan, Ajoy Patra, Perumallu Vukanti, R Narasimha Chiranthan
  • Patent number: 12180847
    Abstract: An electric module for an aircraft turbomachine includes an electric machine stator having an annular shape around an axis (A) and being configured to surround a rotor of the electric machine, and an annular support element of the stator. The support element includes an outer annular surface configured to be swept over by a gas stream (F) from the turbomachine with a view to conductively cooling the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Vincent François Georges Millier, Loïc Paul Yves Guillotel
  • Patent number: 12129766
    Abstract: A vertical joint coupling structure includes a first casing in which combustion gases flow, a second casing connected to the first casing, a vertical joint mounted on the second casing and coupled to the first casing, a plurality of bolt fasteners fastened to the vertical joint and the first casing, a plurality of jacking screws inserted into the vertical joint to secure a gap between the vertical joint and the first casing upon disassembly or assembly between the first casing and the second casing, and a shim member inserted into the gap between the vertical joint and the first casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Chan Yang, Dong Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 12129790
    Abstract: A new power plant cycle that does not condense the vapor leaving the turbine facilitated by an innovative vapor compression apparatus to repressurize the vapor with heat input to the cycle from a new renewable energy or other heat source. The new cycle can be used in place of the conventional low efficiency Rankine cycle to provide economical production of electricity. Using the cycle with heat input from a fossil fuel would reduce air pollution from this source to a fraction of current emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Inventor: Calvin E. Phelps, Sr.
  • Patent number: 12129813
    Abstract: A new power plant cycle facilitated by an innovative vapor compression apparatus to repressurize the air vapor and generate renewable energy for heat input to the cycle. The new cycle can be used in place of the conventional low efficiency Rankine cycle or other cycles to provide economical production of electricity without air pollution. The new cycle can also be used on-board land-based vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft to power them electrically or mechanically, or be used in a package unit for supplying electricity and controlling temperatures of indoor homes, business, and other structures. The new cycle can be used in Ramjet aircraft applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Inventor: Calvin E. Phelps, Sr.
  • Patent number: 12104795
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine includes a combustor liner that has an outer liner and an inner liner. At least one of the outer liner and the inner liner includes (a) an upstream liner section fixedly connected in the combustor, (b) a downstream liner section fixedly connected in the combustor, and (c) a dilution liner section including a movable portion including at least a part of the dilution liner section and having at least one dilution opening therethrough. The movable portion is arranged to translate in an upstream direction and in a downstream direction. At least one actuator is connected to the movable portion of the dilution liner section and controls translational movement of the movable portion in the upstream direction and the downstream direction to adjust a volume of a primary combustion zone within the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Nath, Michael A. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 12092330
    Abstract: A gas turbine combustor includes a vane, a plurality of supports, and a pressure dynamics damping hole. The vane is disposed at the outer circumferential side of the combustion liner. The plurality of supports are disposed at an inner side of the combustion casing for fixing the vane. The pressure dynamics damping hole is formed in the combustion liner at a position corresponding to the vane for communication with the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shohei Yoshida, Yoshitaka Hirata, Akinori Hayashi, Satoshi Dodo, Hirokazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11994293
    Abstract: An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment. The combustion liner includes a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The integrated combustor nozzle further includes an impingement cooling apparatus positioned within the cavity. The impingement cooling apparatus includes a flange. The impingement cooling apparatus further includes a plurality of impingement members that each extend from a respective opening defined in the flange to a respective closed end. Each impingement member defines a plurality of impingement apertures that direct air to impinge upon one of the first side wall and the second side wall. The impingement cooling apparatus further includes stand-offs extending from each impingement member of the plurality of impingement members. The stand-offs space apart each impingement member of the plurality of impingement members from surrounding surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Clay Thomas Griffis, Keith Cletus Belsom, Charles Van Buchan
  • Patent number: 11994292
    Abstract: An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment, the combustion liner includes a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The aft end portion of the combustion liner defines a turbine nozzle. The combustion liner defines a cavity forward of the turbine nozzle. The cavity extends between the first side wall and the second side wall. An impingement cooling apparatus positioned within the cavity. The impingement cooling apparatus includes a flange. The impingement cooling apparatus further includes a plurality of impingement members configured to direct coolant to impinge upon the first side wall and the second side wall. Each impingement member extends from a respective inlet defined within the flange to a respective closed end. A plurality of impingement apertures are defined on each impingement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Dwight Berry, Michael John Hughes
  • Patent number: 11965653
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine has a combustor liner that has a cold surface side and a hot surface side, the liner defining an upstream end and a downstream end, and a dilution opening through the combustor liner. The dilution opening includes a main dilution hole portion having an upstream edge and a downstream edge, a notched portion disposed at the upstream edge and extending upstream from the upstream edge, the notched portion being in fluid communication with the main dilution hole portion, and a slotted portion disposed at the downstream edge and extending downstream of the downstream edge, the slotted portion being in fluid communication with the main dilution hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ranganatha Narasimha Chiranthan, Rimple Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Gregory A. Boardman
  • Patent number: 11939936
    Abstract: A cascade type thrust reverser device for a turbomachine of an aircraft, comprising a cascade including first partitions, second partitions intersecting the first partitions, and cavities, and a casing including a housing into which the cascade can be inserted in a first direction, the casing and the cascade being in relative translation with respect to one another in the first direction. The casing comprises a perforated wall intended to be in contact with an air flow and including orifices and wall strips with no orifices and intended to face the first walls of the cascade when the device is in a first position in which the cascade is entirely positioned in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Norman Bruno André Jodet, Jéremy Paul Francisco Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11913406
    Abstract: A thrust reverser system is provided that includes a sleeve, a fixed cascade structure and a blocker door. The fixed cascade structure is within a cavity of the sleeve when the sleeve is in a sleeve stowed position. The blocker door is within the cavity of the sleeve when the sleeve is in the sleeve stowed position and the blocker door is in a blocker door stowed position. The blocker door projects in a radial inward direction away from the sleeve towards the centerline when the sleeve is in a sleeve deployed position and when the blocker door is in a blocker door deployed position. The blocker door includes a pivot attachment fixed at an end of the blocker door. The pivot attachment is configured to move in a forward direction from a first location to a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventor: Jai Ganesh Palanisamy