Patents Examined by Todd E. Manahan
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Patent number: 11846249Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided that includes an engine core and a bypass duct. The engine core includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section and a core flowpath. The compressor section includes a radial flow compressor rotor. The core flowpath extends through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section from a core inlet to a core exhaust. The bypass duct includes a bypass flowpath that extends outside of the engine core from a bypass inlet to a bypass exhaust. The bypass inlet is disposed along the compressor section and fluidly coupled with core flowpath.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Jose R. Paulino, Lawrence A. Binek, Sean R. Jackson
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Patent number: 11840348Abstract: An engine mounting pylon for suspending a turbofan beneath an aircraft wing, including a primary structure, a fastening device for fastening to the turbofan, and a fastening device for fastening to the wing. The engine mounting pylon furthermore comprises multiple rigid braces that mechanically connect the primary structure to the wing of the aircraft, a first brace-attachment device that mechanically connects a first end of each brace to the wing, and a second brace-attachment device that mechanically connects a second end of each brace to the primary structure. This braced-pylon architecture makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the primary structure and the various elements that constitute the first and second attachment devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Jérôme Colmagro
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Patent number: 11840967Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a compressor section including a compressor mean radius; a combustor section fluidly coupled downstream of the compressor section and include a combustor mean radius; and a turbine section fluidly coupled downstream of the combustor section and a turbine mid-span radius. The combustor mean radius is greater than each of the compressor mean radius and the turbine mid-span radius.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Peter Daniel Silkowski
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Patent number: 11834997Abstract: A face sheet of an acoustic liner for a gas turbine engine, having: a first surface, a second surface, and a sheet body extending from the first surface to the second surface; a forward end, an aft end, and the sheet body extending from the forward end to the aft end; and a hole formed in the sheet body, extending from the first surface to the second surface, the hole defining a hole opening at the first surface of the face sheet, and an elongated edge that extends aft at the hole opening, wherein the elongated edge defines a flow ramp surface that tapers toward the first surface and is configured to direct flow toward the first surface, wherein the flow ramp surface is a streamlining feature.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Anthony R. Bifulco, Michael Raymond LaFavor
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Patent number: 11821369Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system including: a gas turbine engine comprising a low speed spool and a high speed spool, the low speed spool comprising a low pressure compressor and a low pressure turbine, and the high speed spool comprising a high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine; an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the high speed spool or the low speed spool; and a controller to: detect an in-flight windmill re-start condition of the gas turbine engine; and cause power to be supplied from a power source to the electric motor in order to augment rotational power of the high speed or the low speed spool during the detected in-flight windmill re-start condition.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventor: Gary Collopy
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Patent number: 11821387Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for an aircraft turbomachine, comprising a central element (1) for the ejection of gas, and a connecting flange (9) interposed between, upstream, a gas outlet (22a) made of metal for a turbomachine, and, at the downstream end, the central element (1). The connecting flange comprises an annular portion (9a) and flexible tabs (11) having axially: a first end (111a) where the tab is connected to the said annular portion, and a second free end (111b), projecting radially inwardly with respect to the first end and to which said tab is attached with the central element (1).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: SAFRAN CERAMICSInventors: Eric Conete, Benoit Carrere
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Patent number: 11808178Abstract: A diffuser case for a gas turbine engine including: a pre-diffuser; a diffuser case defining a dump region, an inner plenum, and an outer plenum, the pre-diffuser being fluidly connected to the inner plenum and the outer plenum through the dump region; a tangential onboard injector module fluidly connected to the inner plenum through inlet orifice located in the diffuser case proximate an aft end of the inner plenum; and an inlet extender initiating at the inlet orifice of the tangential onboard injector module, extends through the inner plenum, and terminates at a distal end proximate the pre-diffuser.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Robin Prenter, Ricardo Trindade, Ryan Lundgreen
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Patent number: 11808216Abstract: A propulsion system includes two gas turbine engines and an air-provisioning system. The air-provisioning system includes a first ejector, a second ejector, a plenum fluidically connected with the first ejector and the second ejector, and a first propulsor. The air-provisioning system is configured to bleed and mix air from each gas turbine engine in the ejectors so as to provide selectively a flow of plenum air from the plenum to the first propulsor at a desired pressure and a desired flow rate to power the first propulsor.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Paul K. Johnson, Andrew J. Eifert, Richard Peace, Richard Young, Robert T. Duge
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Patent number: 11808456Abstract: A combustion chamber includes a bottom wall having at least one opening, at least one sleeve mounted upstream of the bottom wall and fixed to the bottom wall, a closing ring defining an annular groove with the sleeve and fixed to the sleeve, and at least one air and fuel injection system having an axis, mounted in the opening of the bottom wall. The injection system has an annular flange extending radially with respect to the axis and is mounted in the groove with radial clearance. A baffle is situated downstream of the bottom wall and is fixed to the sleeve and/or to the bottom wall.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Jacques Marcel Arthur Bunel, William Louis Rodolphe Dousse, Benjamin Frantz Karl Villenave
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Patent number: 11807374Abstract: A propulsion assembly includes an engine below a pylon by engine attachments, including a thrust force uptake device, the engine having a longitudinal axis and a vertical median plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, the thrust force uptake device having a main fitting fixed below the pylon and two links disposed on either side of the vertical median plane and which each have a rear end articulated to the main fitting by a spreader mounted to pivot on the main fitting about an axis of rotation which, on the one hand, is orthogonal to a mean plane for transmitting thrust forces parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the links, and which is disposed in the vertical median plane, each link being articulated to the spreader by a connecting pin extending parallel to the mean plane for transmitting thrust forces and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the link.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)Inventors: Michael Berjot, Thomas Robiglio, Karla Mariana Arellanes Mendoza
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Patent number: 11808211Abstract: An aircraft power system includes an auxiliary power unit (APU), a transmission unit, and a generator. The APU is configured to output a first APU rotational power in response to determining a first condition and a second APU rotational power in response to a determining a second condition. The transmission unit is configured to receive the first APU rotational output power from the APU. The transmission unit outputs a transmission rotational power based on the first APU rotational output power and outputs the transmission rotational power based on the second APU rotational output power. The generator receives the transmission rotational power and produces an alternating current (AC) voltage having a target frequency based on the transmission rotational power.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventors: Jonathan C. Dell, David S. Behling, Glenn C. Lemmers, Jr.
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Patent number: 11808215Abstract: A system includes a bleed system configured to direct a bleed flow from a compressor section to an exhaust section of a gas turbine engine. The bleed system includes a first bleed conduit section configured to couple to the compressor section, a second bleed conduit section configured to couple to the exhaust section, and a first rotatable joint coupling together adjacent conduits of the first and second bleed conduit sections. The second bleed conduit section has components configured to rotate between a plurality of configurations relative to the first bleed conduit section and the compressor section via the first rotatable joint. The plurality of orientations corresponds to a plurality of exhaust outlet orientations of the exhaust section, and the components of the second bleed conduit section are the same in each orientation.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jorge Mario Rochin Machado, Michael Anthony Acosta, Jordan Scott Warton, Richard Michael Watkins, David Garza-Maldonado
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Patent number: 11802492Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine assembly having a compressor configured to increase pressure of incoming air, a combustion chamber, at least one turbine coupled to a generator, a torsional damper, and a controller. The combustion chamber is configured to receive a pressurized air stream from the compressor. Further, fuel is injected into the pressurized air in the combustion chamber and ignited so as to raise a temperature and energy level of the pressurized air. The turbine is operatively coupled to the combustion chamber so as to receive combustion products that flow from the combustion chamber. The generator is coupled to the turbine via a shaft. Thus, the torsional damper is configured to dampen torsional oscillations of the generator. Moreover, the controller is configured to provide additional damping control to the generator.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paul Robert Gemin, Thomas Lee Becker, Tod Robert Steen
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Patent number: 11788491Abstract: Systems and methods for attaching a protective liner to a an aircraft engine component having a different coefficient of thermal expansion in comparison to the protective liner include a mounting member configured to be mounted to the aircraft engine component and an attachment member configured to be attached to the protective liner. The mounting member and the attachment member are coupled to each other such that a portion of the mounting member is received within a portion of the attachment member and such that the mounting member is permitted to move with both radial and rotational freedom relative to the attachment member.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nicholas Direnzi, John Philip McKay, Apostolos Karafillis, David L. Dawson, Rosa Nemec
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Patent number: 11788726Abstract: A combustor for a turbomachine engine includes a combustion chamber, a liner forming a boundary of the combustion chamber, and multiple dilution holes through the liner to permit airflow into the combustion chamber. The dilution holes include converging dilution holes and diverging dilution holes, the converging dilution holes having a converging cross-sectional profile and the diverging dilution holes having a diverging cross-sectional profile.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Rimple Rangrej, Saket Singh, Pradeep Naik, Ajoy Patra
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Patent number: 11781504Abstract: A bleed plenum for a compressor section associated with a gas turbine engine includes a plenum chamber having a first wall spaced apart from a second wall to define a plenum slot configured to receive a flow of fluid from the compressor section. A slot angle of the plenum slot is defined between a centerline of the plenum slot and a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine and varies about a circumference of the bleed plenum. The second wall includes a bullnose having a wedge angle defined between the second wall and a surface associated with the compressor section. The bullnose faces into the flow of fluid through the plenum slot, and the wedge angle of the bullnose varies about the circumference of the bleed plenum.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: Masayoshi Shimo
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Patent number: 11781477Abstract: A hybrid-electric aircraft system is provided and includes first and second hybrid-electric engines, first and second ducting systems fluidly communicative with each other and with the first and second hybrid-electric engines, respectively, and a control system. The control system is operably coupled to each of the first and second hybrid-electric engines and to each of the first and second ducting systems. The control system is configured to run the first hybrid-electric engine normally, to run the second hybrid-electric engine in a lower power mode and to control each of the first and second ducting systems to direct bleed air from the first hybrid-electric engine to the second hybrid-electric engine.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventor: Marc J. Muldoon
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Patent number: 11781449Abstract: The invention provides various designs of an apparatus and method for attemperating a gas stream temperature. The apparatus of the present invention provides a body through which a gas stream passes that permits, as desired, a second gas, such as gas outside of the gas duct or such as ambient air, to be added to the main gas stream to attemperate the temperature of the main gas stream. The body or device may be referred to as a variable eductor having a plurality of openings through which a second gas may pass into the main gas stream. The openings may be opened or closed, and the variable eductor provides control over which openings and the degree to which each opening is opened. In some designs the variable eductor is inserted between two portions of a gas duct. The variable eductor has widespread application, such as downstream of a gas turbine to attemperate the exhaust gas temperature during startup.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.Inventor: Merrill Stanton Quintrell
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Patent number: 11773783Abstract: A sensor array system includes a skin. The sensor array system includes a lattice network coupled to a portion of the skin. The lattice network includes a plurality of interconnects and a plurality of nodes. The plurality of nodes are respectively defined by an intersection of two or more interconnects of the plurality of interconnects. The sensor array system includes a first sensor electrically connected to the lattice network at a first node of the plurality of nodes.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: John J. Gangloff, Jr., Callum Bailey, Wenping Zhao, Steven M. Kestler, Sameh Dardona
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Patent number: 11773747Abstract: A turbine rotor for aircraft turbine engine includes a mobile disc supporting mobile blades, the mobile disc including a plurality of slots into which are inserted the roots of the mobile blades a passage being formed between the bottom of the slots and the roots of the mobile blades inserted into the slots. The rotor also includes a circulation channel configured to allow circulation of fluid, the circulation channel including the passage, and a calibration device configured to allow the flow of a first fluid flow rate in the circulation channel when the temperature within the channel is less than a predetermined temperature threshold value, and to change state so as to allow the flow of a second fluid flow rate, greater than the first flow rate, in the channel, when the temperature within the channel is greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Eddy Stephane Joel Fontanel, Matthieu Etienne Attali, Gerard Philippe Gauthier, Wilfried Lionel Schweblen