Patents Examined by Woody A Lee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11274566
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal for a gas turbine engine includes a platform having a leading edge and a trailing edge. A pair of circumferential edges connect the leading edge and the trailing edge. An end wall protrudes radially outward from the platform at the trailing edge. A first support rib connects one of the circumferential edges to the end wall and structurally supports the end wall. A first boss portion extends axially forward from the end wall and is disposed radially outward of the first support rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christina G. Ciamarra, Anthony B. Swift
  • Patent number: 11274563
    Abstract: A turbine rear frame for a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of struts disposed between an outer ring and an inner ring. The struts can be mounted adjacent to one or more mount surfaces defined within the outer ring. The mount surface can comprise a recess in the outer ring having a maximum radial distance upstream of engine mounts inserted therein. The struts can further comprise a pitch angle offset from a centerline of the mount surface and a tangentially curved trailing edge at a tip to improve aerodynamic performance of the turbine rear frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mohsin Hasan Khan, Sarasija Sudharsan, Ganesh Seshadri, Ravikanth Avancha, Lyle Douglas Dailey
  • Patent number: 11268393
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes an airfoil. The airfoil has first and second platforms and an airfoil between the first and second platforms. A support ring is configured to retain the first platform. The support ring has a lip which extends radially inward from the support ring. The lip is configured to engage an axial face of the first platform. The lip has a primary retention feature and a secondary retention feature. The primary and secondary retention features are configured to retain the first face of the first platform with respect to the annular ring. A support structure for an airfoil and a method of retaining an airfoil assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube, Bryan H. Farrar
  • Patent number: 11268515
    Abstract: A turbopump includes an impeller (22) that is rotatable about an axis (A). A discharge collector (28) is located radially outward of the impeller. A passage (30) fluidly connects the impeller to the discharge collector. The passage is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: AEROJET ROCKETDYNE, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Miller, Saleh Tyebjee, Thaddeus Chilcoat, Steven Grota
  • Patent number: 11268406
    Abstract: A movement- and/or load transfer-limiting device for a turbine engine, comprises a first fitting including a retention member, with the first fitting being engaged with a fancase surrounding a turbine engine fan blade system. A second fitting is engaged with a fancowl disposed radially outward of the fancase. The second fitting includes a constraint member arranged to be received by the retention member. The retention member is arranged to limit radially outward movement of the fancowl via engagement with the constraint member. The constraint member comprises at least one of (i) a hook member arranged to limit radially inward movement of the first fitting in relation to the fancowl or (ii) a laterally-extending shaft having opposed ends and a flange engaged with at least one of the ends, arranged to limit lateral movement of the retention member in relation to the first fitting. Associated devices and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Adrian Stanescu, Jennifer Bender Zielinski, Michael Patrick Foy, Daniel F. Gelzer
  • Patent number: 11261736
    Abstract: A vane for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil section that has an airfoil wall defining a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, and a suction side that bound an internal cavity. The airfoil section has associated characteristics including a center of pressure and an aerodynamic load vector through the center of pressure. The airfoil wall has a single rib connecting the pressure side and the suction side. The single rib is aligned with the aerodynamic load vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon E. Sobanski, Rutva A. Patel, Robert White, III
  • Patent number: 11255211
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a blade track segment and a carrier. The blade track segment includes a runner that extends circumferentially partway around a central axis and an attachment post that extends radially from the runner. The carrier is coupled with the attachment post to support the blade track segment relative to the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Walston, Andrew Hurst
  • Patent number: 11255197
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an airfoil section that has an internal wall and an external wall. The external wall defines pressure and suction sides that extends in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, a first impingement cavity and a second impingement cavity bounded by the external wall at a leading edge region that defines the leading edge. A first crossover passage within the internal wall is connected to the first impingement. The first crossover passage defines a first passage axis that intersects a surface of the first impingement cavity. A second crossover passage within the internal wall is connected to the second impingement cavity. The second crossover passage defines a second passage axis that intersects a surface of the second impingement cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Shenny, Jeffrey T. Morton, Alberto A. Mateo, San Quach, Gregory Anselmi
  • Patent number: 11254404
    Abstract: The blades of the propeller are characterized by a blade center axis which corresponds to a generator line of a cone to which the blade, or blade thrust surface, conforms. The propeller hub is fixed to the blade at the root, in line with the blade center axis, such that the hub axis and blade center axis lie in the same plane, and the leading edge of the blade is positioned forward (referring to the upstream direction of movement caused by the propeller) of the trailing edge of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Conic Propulsion, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Russell
  • Patent number: 11255308
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind tower (10) for delivering wind flow to a turbine. The wind tower (10) including includes a support structure (12) mounted to a support surface (14) and a wind intake section 16 rotatably mounted to the support structure (12) and elevated with respect to the support surface (14). The intake section (16) includes a plurality of internal passageways (32) extending between a plurality of wind-facing inlets (22) and a plurality of outlets (34). The plurality of inlets (22) are orientated for concurrently receiving an oncoming wind-flow W. Each of the inlets (22) are in fluid communication with one of the outlets 34 via one of the passageways (32). The wind tower (10) further includes an output passageway (42) for collecting wind flow W from the plurality of outlets (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Vaclav Puta
  • Patent number: 11255213
    Abstract: The centrifugal compressor can have a shroud engaged to a case via a plurality of circumferentially interspaced slots and lugs, the slots extending in at least one of a radial direction and an axial direction relative to a rotation axis of the compressor, the lugs slidingly received in a corresponding slot and configured for sliding in the slot in response to thermal growth of the case relative to the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Dave Menheere
  • Patent number: 11255222
    Abstract: A guide blade carrier for a turbine, the guide blade carrier separating an upstream volume from a downstream volume within the turbine, the guide blade carrier further including a carrier body with a fixation device for fixing of the guide blade carrier within a turbine casing of the turbine. The fixation device has a circumferential fixation basis, wherein the fixation basis is confined at its upstream end by a circumferential limitation element. A turbine casing for a turbine and a turbine, the turbine having a turbine casing and a guide blade carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jiri Koukal
  • Patent number: 11254418
    Abstract: A tiltrotor controls shield having a blade or wire substructure under a fragile spinner fairing improves bird strike durability. The present disclosure discloses a spinner wind fairing with a shield structure disposed thereunder for providing protection to the proprotor assembly components. The shield structure can segment a projectile, such as a bird, that penetrates the spinner fairing into a series of smaller and lower energy elements spread across a wider area, such that the rotor components can withstand the impact of the smaller elements without damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Shundo, Michael Dearman, Terry Thompson
  • Patent number: 11255210
    Abstract: An assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a carrier and a blade track segment that is supported by the carrier relative to a high temperature zone. The blade track segment provides a heat shield for use in high temperature applications protecting the carrier and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Jeremy Roehm
  • Patent number: 11248615
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side-channel machine having a housing (4a), located in the housing (4a) a side-channel (28) for guiding a gas, and at least one gas inlet opening (34) which is formed in the housing (4a) and is fluidically connected to the side-channel (28). Furthermore, the side-channel machine has at least one gas inlet pipe (29a) which connects to the at least one gas inlet opening (34). The side-channel machine further comprises at least one gas outlet opening (33) and at least one gas outlet pipe (31a) which connects to the at least one gas outlet opening (33). Furthermore, the side-channel machine has an impeller that can be made to rotate in the housing (4a), with impeller blades, which bound impeller cells arranged in the side-channel (28), for delivering the gas in the impeller cells from the at least one gas inlet opening (34) to the at least one gas outlet opening (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: GARDNER DENVER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Rudi Dittmar, Peter Fischer
  • Patent number: 11248533
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft. The gas turbine engine for an aircraft comprising: an engine core comprising an annular gas passage, a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; and a power gearbox that receives an input from the core shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the core shaft. The engine further has a recirculatory lubricant system which feeds lubricant to and scavenges lubricant from the power gearbox. The engine further has a circumferential row of inlet guide vanes, located downstream of the fan at an air inlet of the annular gas passage. The recirculatory lubricant system includes one or more return passages for lubricant scavenged from the power gearbox, the return passages crossing the annular gas passage through one or more of the inlet guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Nicholas E Chilton
  • Patent number: 11248624
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes a volute base block, a volute cover plate, an impeller, a diffuser-adjusting assembly, a radial constraint assembly, an axial constraint assembly and a driving assembly. A diffuser and a connected volute are formed between the cover plate and the base block. The impeller discharges gas to the centrifugal compressor through the diffuser and the volute. The diffuser adjustment assembly includes a driving ring, a driving rod, a pin and a diffuser ring. The radial constraint assembly is disposed on an inner circumference surface of the driving ring. The axial constraint assembly on an outer circumference surface of the driving ring is located between the top and bottom portions. The drive assembly is to rotate the driving ring. When the driving ring rotates, the pin slides along the pin track, and the driving rod displaces the diffuser ring to adjust a flow-path width of the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jun-Jie Lin, Jenn-Chyi Chung, Chung-Che Liu, Kuo-Shu Hung
  • Patent number: 11248484
    Abstract: A gas turbine component for a gas turbine is provided. The gas turbine component has a shell portion having an abradable portion (2) to allow rotor blade ends (1) of a rotor blade array of the gas turbine to rub into the same. The abradable portion adjoins a neighboring portion (3) of the shell portion axially at both sides and is additively manufactured together therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Steffen Schlothauer, Thomas Hess, Christian Liebl, Richard Scharl, Daniel Kirchner, Alexander Buck
  • Patent number: 11248491
    Abstract: An example gas turbine engine component includes a component configured to separate a cooling air plenum from a heated gas environment. The component includes a substrate defining a surface, and a unitary structure. The unitary structure includes a cooling region and a cover layer. The cover layer defines a hot wall surface configured to face the heated gas environment. The cooling region is disposed between the cover surface and the substrate and includes a plurality of support structures extending between the cover layer and the surface of the substrate. At least some of the support structures define a respective bond surface bonded to the substrate at the surface of the substrate. An example technique for fabricating the gas turbine engine component includes additively depositing the unitary structure on the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bruce Edward Varney
  • Patent number: 11248495
    Abstract: A casing for a turbomachine is disclosed. The casing includes a casing body including an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least one sensor is coupled relative to the interior surface of the body, the at least one sensor at most only partially extending through the body. A communications lead is operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, and extends circumferentially along the interior surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Mario Joseph Arceneaux, Michael Allen Ball, Andrew David Ellis, Robert David Jones, Donald Shaw