Patents Examined by Thomas P Burke
  • Patent number: 11566566
    Abstract: An aircraft engine apparatus (1) includes: a rotating shaft (6); a fan (10) driven by the rotating shaft; a fan case surrounding the fan; aircraft equipment (28) disposed upstream of the fan and, in a radial direction of the rotating shaft, disposed inward of a peripheral edge of the fan case; a casing (2) that accommodates at least part of the rotating shaft and supports the fan case; a first motive force transmitter (9) coupled to the rotating shaft and the fan; a second motive force transmitter (32) disposed inward of the first motive force transmitter in the radial direction of the rotating shaft and coupled to the rotating shaft and the aircraft equipment; and a support member (12) disposed between the first motive force transmitter and the second motive force transmitter, the support member coupling the casing and the aircraft equipment and supporting the aircraft equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Abe, Tatsuhiko Goi
  • Patent number: 11542867
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a supersonic inlet with synchronous adjustment of capture area and throat area, wherein the throat area may be adjusted by providing a movable throat section, while the capture area may be adjusted by providing a movable cowl section at the front end of the cowl lip, thereby realizing the effect that the capture area and the throat area of the inlet may be adjusted in synchronization. Meanwhile, the present invention also provides a control method and a design method of the above-mentioned inlet. The present invention greatly simplifies the actuation system and control system, significantly reduces the weight of the accessory system, and enables the performance of the inlet within a wide envelope range to be maintained in an excellent state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS
    Inventors: Huijun Tan, Yazhou Liu, Fajia Sheng, Ziyun Wang, Hexia Huang, Yue Zhang
  • Patent number: 11466858
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell, a burner seal, and a burner seal retainer. The combustor shell includes metallic materials and is formed to define an 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. The burner seal retainer is configured to retain the burner seal to the combustor shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, Jack D. Petty, Gregory W. Zeaton
  • Patent number: 11448161
    Abstract: A thrust reverser arrangement may comprise an inner fixed structure (IFS), a track beam, a translating sleeve slideably mounted to the track beam, a bypass duct defined between the IFS and the translating sleeve, and an acoustic treated fairing coupled to the translating sleeve, wherein the acoustic treated fairing is configured to attenuate noise generated during operation of a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventors: Pablo T. Sanz Martinez, Jose S. Alonso-Miralles, Bryce Tyler Kelford
  • Patent number: 11448160
    Abstract: A mixing system for a power generation system. The power generation system includes a rotary machine, an exhaust processing system, and a duct system. The rotary machine is configured to produce an exhaust stream. The exhaust processing system is positioned to receive and process the exhaust stream. The duct system is oriented to channel an air stream to the exhaust processing system and to channel the exhaust stream from the rotary machine to the exhaust processing system. The mixing system is within the duct system. The mixing system includes a plurality of supports, a plurality of links extending between at least two of the supports, and at least one wrap circumscribing at least two of the links. The at least one wrap is oriented to change an effective direction of momentum of the exhaust stream and the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dimitrios Vasilios Doupis, Paul Chapman, Alimustapha Tabikh
  • Patent number: 11408377
    Abstract: A method for non-destructively determining a mechanical property of a solid rocket motor propellant grain may comprise applying a force to a surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain, wherein a deformation is formed on the surface of the solid rocket motor propellant grain in response to the applying, and calculating a value of the mechanical property of the solid rocket motor propellant grain based on the deformation. The force may be applied by moving a liquid into the perforation. This process may be performed over time to determine a lifespan of the propellant grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua David Carter, Kevin Mueller
  • Patent number: 11401886
    Abstract: A turbofan having a nacelle including a slider translationally mobile to open a window between a duct and the exterior, a plurality of blades, each rotationally mobile on the slider, and a maneuvering system moving each blade and comprising for each blade, a shaft rotationally mobile on the slider and onto which the blade is fixed, an arm having a first end fixed to the shaft, an arc coaxial with the longitudinal axis, mounted rotationally mobile on the slider about the longitudinal axis, a rectilinear rod fixed by its base to the arc, the rectilinear rod inserted into a through-bore of a stock, wherein the stock is mounted translationally free relative to the rectilinear rod, and the stock is mounted rotationally free on the arm at its second end about a rocking axis parallel to the rotational axis, and an actuation system producing arc rotation in two opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Pascal Gardes, Wolfgang Brochard, Antoine Boudou
  • Patent number: 11377216
    Abstract: A method and aircraft for providing bleed air to environmental control systems of an aircraft using a gas turbine engine, including determining a bleed air demand for the environmental control systems, selectively supplying low pressure and high pressure bleed air to the environmental control systems, wherein the selectively supplying is controlled such that the conditioned air stream satisfies the determined bleed air demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventor: Dominique Patrick Sautron
  • Patent number: 11359814
    Abstract: A fluid conduit may be provided comprising a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) cross-over tube and a flange. The CMC cross-over tube may comprise a first end configured to extend into a first combustor liner of a gas turbine engine, and a second end configured to extend into a second combustor liner of a gas turbine engine. The interior of the CMC cross-over tube may define a passageway. The flange may extend outwardly from an outer surface of the CMC cross-over tube. The flange may be configured to engage at least one of the first combustor liner and the second combustor liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventor: Sujit Nanda
  • Patent number: 11346557
    Abstract: A guide plate for a swirler assembly is disclosed. In various embodiments, the guide plate includes a guide plate flange configured for engagement with a swirler body having a swirler inlet; and a guide plate collar, the guide plate collar having an aft protrusion with respect to an axial direction extending through the swirler body, the aft protrusion having an aft protrusion tip position configured to be equal to or extend downstream of a swirler inlet forward position with respect to the axial direction and a radially outer surface that forms a radially outer surface angle greater than ninety degrees with respect to a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11293346
    Abstract: There is provided an air intake system for providing air to a tip clearance control system. The air intake system comprises a ram-air intake having a scoop portion and a body portion. The body portion of the ram-air intake houses a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michael I. Elliott, Peter Banister, Michael C. Willmot, Silvia Fernandez Arranz
  • Patent number: 11286858
    Abstract: A combustor of an embodiment includes: a cylindrical combustor liner; and a fuel nozzle which is provided at one end of the combustor liner and jets a fuel and an oxidant into the combustor liner. The fuel nozzle includes: a plurality of fuel supply passages which each supply the fuel; and a plurality of oxidant supply passages which each supply the oxidant. Flow rates of the fuel supplied to the respective fuel supply passages and flow rates of the oxidant supplied to the respective oxidant supply passages are each individually regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuaki Nakamura, Yasunori Iwai, Masao Itoh, Yuichi Morisawa
  • Patent number: 11248538
    Abstract: A split case assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an outer diameter case defining a partial case structure for a gas turbine engine and multiple fixed-variable vanes attached to an inner diameter surface of the outer diameter case. Each of the fixed-variable vanes protrudes radially inward from the outer diameter case. Each of the fixed-variable vanes in the plurality of fixed-variable vanes is interfaced with one of a plurality of inner diameter boxes at a radially inward end of the fixed-variable vane, such that the inner diameter boxes define an inner diameter of a flow path and the outer diameter case defines an outer diameter flow path. Each of the fixed-variable vanes are interfaced with the one of the plurality of inner diameter boxes through at least one inner diameter shoe in a plurality of inner diameter shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Robertson, Jr., Nathan F. Champion, Steven J. Feigleson
  • Patent number: 11236639
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core flowpath for flowing a core stream, a second flowpath located radially outward from the core flowpath for flowing a second stream, and an auxiliary flowpath located radially outward from the second flowpath for flowing an auxiliary stream. A heat exchanging device is constructed and arranged to divert a portion of the second stream into the auxiliary flowpath. A turbine exhaust case is constructed and arranged to flow the auxiliary stream into the core flowpath for mixing with the core stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hanlon, Daniel B. Kupratis, Walter A. Ledwith, William F. Schneider, Sean Danby, Robert H. Bush, Benjamin Bellows
  • Patent number: 11221142
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle assembly and a gas turbine having the fuel nozzle assembly includes a fuel nozzle guide disposed in a compressed air channel formed between a body and a housing of a gas turbine and includes a nozzle body disposed in the housing, a shroud mounted on an outer side of the nozzle body, and two or more flow guides arranged at predetermined distances from each other between the shroud and the outer side of the nozzle body and formed to correspond to the shape of an end of the shroud and the shape of the outer surface of the nozzle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Inventors: Youngsam Shim, Ujin Roh, Dongsik Han, Jae Won Seo
  • Patent number: 11181271
    Abstract: A fuel nozzle includes a main cylinder extending in one direction; an auxiliary cylinder surrounding the main cylinder and defining a fuel passage between the auxiliary cylinder and the main cylinder; a shroud spaced that is apart from the auxiliary cylinder and surrounds the auxiliary cylinder; a swirler vane that is disposed between the auxiliary cylinder and the shroud and defines a fuel cavity communicating with the fuel passage so that fuel flowing in the fuel passage flows into the fuel cavity; and a fuel flow guide disposed inside the fuel cavity to guide fuel that flows from the fuel passage and enters the fuel cavity and to distribute the guided fuel in the fuel cavity. A fuel aperture is formed in the swirler vane to communicate with the fuel passage and the fuel cavity so that the fuel flows into the fuel cavity via the fuel aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Yunyoung Doh, Donggon Lee
  • Patent number: 11149639
    Abstract: Systems and methods of conditioning inlet air flow in a turbine engine. Where distortions in uniformity of inlet air flow are caused at least in part by the interaction of the air flow with the air inlet duct, a method of adaptively removing the distortions prior to the compressor stage comprises determining the distortion in the airflow; exposing the airflow to a plurality of correction vanes; and positioning the plurality of correction vanes based at least upon the determined distortion. An inlet conditioner system comprises an adaptable conditioning grid located within an air passage; a sensor suite configured to sense a characteristic of the airflow within the air passage; and a control system operably connected to the sensor suite and the adaptable conditioning grid. The control system may be adapted to configure the adaptable conditioning grid based on a sensed characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Duge
  • Patent number: 11143142
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first spool, a second spool, a primary combustor, and a diffuser. The first spool includes a first compressor rotationally driven by a first turbine via a first shaft. The second spool includes a second compressor driven by a second turbine via a second shaft. The first compressor, the diffuser, and the primary combustor are arranged in series to provide a compressed airflow discharged from the first compressor to the primary combustor via the diffuser, which includes walls that diverge towards the primary combustor. The second compressor is fluidly coupled to the diffuser to receive at least a portion of the compressed airflow from the diffuser. The second turbine is fluidly coupled to the diffuser to discharge an expanded airflow to the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Hanrahan, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 11143407
    Abstract: A combustor a gas turbine engine includes an axial fuel injection system in communication with a combustion chamber, the axial fuel injection system operable to supply between about 10%-35% of a combustion airflow. A radial fuel injection system communicates with the combustion chamber downstream of the axial fuel injection system, where the radial fuel injection system is operable to supply between about 30%-60% of the combustion airflow. A multiple of dilution holes are in communication with a combustion chamber downstream of said radial fuel injection system, where the multiple of dilution holes are operable to supply between about 5%-20% of the combustion airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Hoke, Randal G. McKinney, Albert K. Cheung
  • Patent number: 11118481
    Abstract: A turbine exhaust assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a turbine exhaust case comprised of CMC material and attachable to a turbine case, a tail cone comprised of CMC material that has a leading edge and a trailing edge, and an exhaust mixer comprised of CMC material and coupled to the turbine exhaust case. The exhaust mixer has a plurality of lobes arranged about the tail cone to define an exhaust flow path. A plurality of struts extend from the tail cone to support the exhaust mixer at a location aft of the leading edge of the tail cone. A method of assembling a propulsion system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian Merry, Ioannis Alvanos