Patents Examined by Thuyhang N Nguyen
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Patent number: 11814154Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft engine coupled to a wing of an aircraft including: setting a pitch of a plurality of rotor blades of a rotor assembly of the aircraft engine at non-uniform pitch angles along a circumferential direction of the aircraft engine such that the plurality of rotor blades define a first pitch at a first position and a second pitch at a second position, wherein the second position is 180 degrees offset from the first position, and wherein the first pitch is different from the second pitch.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brendan Michael Freely, Kurt David Murrow, Michael James McMahon
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Patent number: 11815106Abstract: A small gas turbine engine, such as is used to power a UAV, that includes at least one centrifugal compressor having an impeller with blades that form a gap between the blade tips and stationary shroud of the gas turbine engine, and where a resistance heating element, such as an impingement air manifold, is secured to or bonded to a compressor casing of the gas turbine engine in order to use heat to control the gap between the impeller blades and the stationary shroud. The resistance heating element is activated at cruise mode to move the shroud toward the impeller. Additionally or alternatively, the compressor casing is heated with bled-off compressed air to move the shroud toward the impeller. A capacitance tip clearance sensor can be mounted on the impeller shroud to monitor and control tip clearance in real time.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Robert A. Ress, Jr.
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Patent number: 11815020Abstract: A tangential on-board injector (TOBI), comprising: a body defining an annular passageway to receive cooling air, the TOBI defining a plurality of discharge nozzles; a rotating component mounted for rotation relative to the body about an axis of rotation; a seal extending between the body and the rotating component; a plurality of vanes circumferentially distributed about the axis of rotation and located downstream of the plurality of discharge nozzles relative to a flow of the cooling air circulating toward the seal from the plurality of discharge nozzles and upstream of the seal; and flow passages defined between the plurality of vanes, a flow passage of the flow passages extending along a passage axis, the passage axis having a tangential component at an outlet of the flow passage that is different than a tangential component of an exit flow axis of a nozzle of the plurality of discharge nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Gabriel Naccache, Christopher Gover, Alexander Smith, Alain Martel, Matthieu Boudreau
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Patent number: 11725584Abstract: A heat engine comprising a compressor providing a flow of compressed air from a core flowpath of the heat engine; a cooled cooling air (CCA) heat exchanger system to which the flow of compressed air is provided from the compressor; a coolant supply system providing a flow of coolant to the CCA heat exchanger in thermal communication with the flow of compressed air at the CCA heat exchanger, in which the coolant supply system and CCA heat exchanger together define a CCA circuit through which the compressed air flows in thermal communication with the coolant; and a hot section disposed downstream of the compressor section along the core flowpath through which combustion gases flow, in which the hot section defines a secondary flowpath through which the flow of compressed air from the CCA heat exchanger is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2018Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Matthew Robert Cerny
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Patent number: 11725580Abstract: An engine system of an aircraft includes a gas turbine engine comprising at least one spool and at least one electric machine operably coupled with the at least one spool. A controller is configured to detect if the at least one spool of the gas turbine engine is in or is approaching an overspeed condition and apply a load to the at least one spool via the at least one electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Marc J. Muldoon, Michael D. Greenberg, Nancy Poisson, Martin Richard Amari
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Patent number: 11724815Abstract: A hybrid engine including features to meet aircraft thrust, passenger airflow, and fuel cell requirements. The engine includes a combustor burning the same fuel as the fuel cell. The engine has electric motors to utilize the power output of the fuel cell. The engine shafts have sprags to allow motors to drive the compressors and over run the turbines. The engine has variable flowpath geometry to bypass the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Steve G. Mackin, Eric B. Gilbert, Russell H. Higgins
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Patent number: 11719167Abstract: There are described methods and systems for operating an aircraft turboprop engine. The method comprises controlling a propeller of the turboprop engine based on a selected one of a reference propeller rotational speed and a minimum propeller blade angle while the turboprop engine is running; detecting an inflight restart of the turboprop engine; and controlling the propeller during the inflight restart in accordance with at least one of a modified reference propeller rotational speed and a modified minimum propeller blade angle to maintain an actual propeller blade angle above an aerodynamic disking angle during the inflight restart.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventors: Simon Lopez, Jeremie Hebert
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Patent number: 11719164Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine case along an engine axis, a conformal accessory drive gearbox housing mounted to the engine case, and at least one accessory mounted to the conformal housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventor: Gary D. Roberge
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Patent number: 11713722Abstract: In general, techniques are described by which to provide a turbine engine compressor particulate offtake. A gas turbine engine comprising a compressor may perform the techniques. The compressor may comprise a plurality of compressor stages, where each compressor stage comprises a circumferential row of stator vanes and a rotor. The compressor may also include an outer circumferential casing that defines a fluidic opening within or between adjacent compressor stages. The fluidic opening may be configured to receive particulate flowing and air through the compressor and output the particulate and air outside of the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine also includes a combustor in series flow downstream of the compressor, and a turbine in series flow downstream of the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: James Carl Loebig
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Patent number: 11668251Abstract: An actuator includes a housing that defines a first inlet to receive a fluid, a second inlet to receive the fluid and a chamber. The actuator includes an actuator rod movably coupled to the housing. The actuator rod includes a head. A first face of the head is responsive to the fluid from the first inlet, and a second face of the head is responsive to the fluid from the second inlet to move the actuator rod. The head defines at least one cross-bore. The actuator includes at least one plug coupled to the cross-bore to inhibit a flow of the fluid through the cross-bore in a first state such that the plug fluidly isolates the fluid from the first inlet from the fluid from the second inlet. The plug is to enable the flow of the fluid through the at least one plug in a second state.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventors: Abigail Parsons, Charles Walejewski, Sammuel Tillich, Michael Gogola
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Patent number: 11655736Abstract: A CCPP includes a gas turbine, a HRSG, a steam turbine a flash tank and first and second supply lines. The gas turbine, the HRSG and the steam turbine are interconnected to generate power. The gas turbine may include an air preheating system to preheat the air supplied in the gas turbine to enable expedite combustion therein. The flash tank is fluidically connected at a cold end of the HRSG to extract waste hot water from the cold end. Further, the first supply line is configured to interconnect the flash tank and the steam turbine to supply of flash steam to the steam turbine. Furthermore, the second supply line is configured to interconnect the flash tank and the air preheating system to supply hot flash condensate thereto.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY GMBHInventors: Klara Berg, Mariah Couzzi-Carneiro, Paul Drouvot, Torbjörn Stenström
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Patent number: 11649764Abstract: An aircraft comprises a machine body. The machine body encloses a turbofan gas turbine engine and a plurality of ancillary systems. The turbofan gas turbine engine comprises, in axial flow sequence, a heat exchanger module, a fan assembly, a compressor module, a combustor module, a turbine module, and an exhaust module. The machine body comprises a single fluid inlet aperture, with the fluid inlet aperture being configured to allow a fluid cooling flow to enter the machine body and to pass through the heat exchanger module. The heat exchanger module is configured to transfer a waste heat load from the gas turbine engine and the ancillary systems to the fluid cooling flow prior to an entry of the entire fluid cooling flow into the fan module.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Natalie C Wong, Thomas S Binnington, David A Jones, Daniel Blacker
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Patent number: 11643979Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a gas turbine engine and a fuel tank, wherein the fuel includes at least a proportion of a sustainable aviation fuel—SAF—having a density between 90% and 98% of the density, ?K, of kerosene and a calorific value between 101% and 105% the calorific value CVK, of kerosene. The engine includes a combustor; and a fuel pump arranged to supply a fuel thereto at an energy flow rate, C, the pump being arranged to output fuel at a volumetric flow rate, Q, the percentage of fuel passing through the pump not provided to the combustor being referred to as a spill percentage. The fuel include X % SAF, where X % is in the range from 5% to 100%, and has a density, ?F, and a calorific value CVF.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2022Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Craig W Bemment, Benjamin J Keeler, Paul W Ferra, Alastair G Hobday, Kevin R McNally, Andrea Minelli, Martin K Yates
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Patent number: 11639707Abstract: A method for monitoring an aircraft turboshaft engine including a vibration sensor capable of outputting a vibration signal and a spark plug. The method includes, based on the vibration signal output by the vibration sensor, a step of determining a level of vibration of the turboshaft engine as well as a step of determining an indicator of spark plug wear.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventor: François Maurice Marcel Demaison
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Patent number: 11629651Abstract: A gas turbine engine including: a turbomachine coupled to a propeller of the gas turbine engine, the turbomachine being in fluid communication with an external environment through an air inlet; and an electric motor coupled to the propeller, wherein the air inlet is in fluid communication with a bypass duct having a selectively variable geometry.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: William Joseph Bowden
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Patent number: 11624319Abstract: A reverse-flow gas turbine engine includes a core of the gas turbine engine comprising multiple spools rotatable about a center axis of the gas turbine engine. Each spool is configured to pressurize air and to extract energy from combustion gases. The air and combustion gases are configured to flow through the core in a forward direction from an air inlet at an aft end of the core to an outlet at a forward end of the core. A propeller is disposed forward of the outlet. A reduction gearbox (RGB) is drivingly engaged to the core. An electric motor is drivingly engaged to the propeller and disposed axially between the RGB and the propeller.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Guy Lefebvre
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Patent number: 11619170Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a centrifugal compressor, a combustor, a radial turbine, and a cooling air metering system. The centrifugal compressor is configured to rotate about an axis to produce compressed air. The combustor is fluidly connected downstream of the centrifugal compressor to receive the compressed air from the centrifugal compressor. The radial turbine is fluidly connected with the combustor and is axially spaced apart from the centrifugal compressor. The cooling air metering system is configured to selectively block or allow a portion of the compressed air flowing radially between the centrifugal compressor and the radial turbine, bypassing the combustor, and through a heat exchanger for cooling the radial turbine and other components.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Michael A. Karam
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Patent number: 11619177Abstract: A combustion engine including at least one combustion chamber, a first bleed air supply fluidly coupled to a portion of the combustion engine upstream the combustion chamber, a second bleed air supply fluidly coupled to a portion of the combustion engine downstream the combustion chamber, a first thermal bus, and a turbomachine including a compressor, a rotary pump, and a first turbine, with the compressor and rotary pump in serial flow arrangement and the rotary pump being fluidly coupled to the first thermal bus.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLCInventors: Kevin P. Hallisey, Dominique Patrick Sautron
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Patent number: 11603802Abstract: Methods and systems of starting a gas turbine engine are provided. During startup, a fuel pressure associated with a primary fuel supply of the gas turbine engine is monitored. A low-pressure event for the primary fuel supply is detected when the fuel pressure falls below a predetermined threshold. Responsive to detecting the low pressure event, an electric backup boost pump is activated by an engine controller to provide fuel to the gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.Inventor: Sean Durand
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Patent number: 11603799Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes an inner liner and an outer liner positioned outward of the inner liner along the radial direction such that a combustion chamber is defined between the inner and outer liners. Furthermore, the combustor includes a fuel nozzle configured to supply fuel to the combustion chamber. Moreover, the combustor includes a bristle pack having a base plate and a plurality of bristles extending outward from the base plate such that the bristle pack forms at least a portion of at least one of a heat shield coupled to the fuel nozzle, a deflector of the combustor, or a flare of the combustor.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Michael Anthony Benjamin, Rajendra Mahadeorao Wankhade, Gurunath Gandikota