Patents by Inventor Alan Roy Stuart

Alan Roy Stuart has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10669893
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction, an upstream end and a downstream end opposite of the upstream end along the longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The gas turbine engine includes a high speed turbine rotor coupled to a high pressure (HP) shaft and HP compressor, a low speed turbine rotor comprising an axially extended hub, and a first turbine bearing disposed radially between the low speed turbine rotor and the high speed turbine rotor. The high speed turbine rotor defines a turbine cooling conduit through the high speed turbine rotor. The low speed turbine rotor includes a rotating nozzle adjacent to the turbine cooling conduit. The first turbine bearing defines an outer air bearing and an inner air bearing. The first turbine bearing defines a stationary nozzle adjacent to the rotating nozzle of the first turbine rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Patent number: 10663036
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine, wherein the gas turbine engine defines a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes an annular stationary turbine frame centered around the axial centerline; an engine shaft extended generally along the longitudinal direction; an input shaft extended generally along the longitudinal direction; and a gear assembly including a first gear coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to the turbine frame, and an inner spool coupling the first gear and the second gear, in which the inner spool defines a gear axis extended therethrough. The inner spool, the first gear, and the second gear are together rotatable about the gear axis. The gear axis is rotatable about the axial centerline of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 10655537
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of operating a gas turbine engine with an interdigitated turbine section. The engine includes a fan rotor, an intermediate pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement. The turbine section includes, in serial flow arrangement, a first stage of a low speed turbine rotor, a high speed turbine rotor, a second stage of the low speed turbine rotor, an intermediate speed turbine rotor, and one or more additional stages of the low speed turbine rotor. The low speed turbine rotor is coupled to the fan rotor via a low pressure shaft. The intermediate speed turbine rotor is coupled to the intermediate pressure compressor via an intermediate pressure shaft. The high speed turbine rotor is coupled to the high pressure compressor via a high pressure shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Patent number: 10605168
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extended from an axial centerline, and a circumferential direction. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a low speed turbine rotor including a hub extended along the longitudinal direction and radially within the combustion section; a high speed turbine rotor including a high pressure (HP) shaft coupling the high speed turbine rotor to a HP compressor in the compressor section; and a first turbine bearing disposed radially between the hub of the low speed turbine rotor and the HP shaft. The HP shaft extends along the longitudinal direction and radially within the hub of the low speed turbine rotor. The high speed turbine rotor defines a turbine cooling conduit extended within the high speed turbine rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Publication number: 20200088037
    Abstract: An apparatus for a turbine engine comprising an outer casing, an engine core provided within outer casing and having a at least one set of blades, and through which gasses flow in a forward to aft direction, an outer drum located within the outer casing to define an annular cavity. A set of seals extending between the first surface and the second surface to define at least one cooled cavity within the annular cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Arnab Sen, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Rajesh Kumar, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Alan Roy Stuart, Robert Proctor, Christopher Charles Glynn
  • Patent number: 10544734
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end long the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section including a low speed turbine rotor, a high speed turbine rotor, and an intermediate speed turbine rotor. The low speed turbine rotor includes an inner shroud and an outer shroud outward of the inner shroud in the radial direction. The outer shroud defines a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction. The low speed turbine rotor further includes at least one connecting airfoil coupling the inner shroud to the outer shroud. The high speed turbine rotor is disposed upstream of the one or more connecting airfoils of the low speed turbine rotor along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Patent number: 10539020
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section that includes a first rotating component and a second rotating component. The first rotating component includes an inner shroud and an outer shroud outward of the inner shroud in the radial direction. The outer shroud defines a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction. The first rotating component further includes at least one connecting airfoil coupling the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The second rotating component is upstream of the one or more connecting airfoils of the first rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The second rotating component includes a plurality of second airfoils extended outward in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Publication number: 20200003157
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section, a gearbox proximate to the turbine section, and a driveshaft. The turbine section includes a first rotating component interdigitated with a second rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The first rotating component includes an outer shroud defining a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction and one or more connecting airfoils coupling the outer shroud to a radially extended rotor. The second rotating component includes an inner shroud defining a plurality of inner shroud airfoils extended outward of the inner shroud along the radial direction. The second rotating component is coupled to an input shaft connected to an input gear of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Patent number: 10519860
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction and includes a turbine frame defined around the axial centerline. The turbine frame includes a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface, and a third bearing surface. The first bearing surface corresponds to a first turbine rotor, the second bearing surface corresponds to a second turbine rotor, and the third bearing surface corresponds to a third turbine rotor, and each turbine rotor is independently rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 10480322
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a portion of a turbine engine comprising an outer casing defining an axial centerline, a turbine section through which a flow of combustion gasses flows in a forward to aft direction, an outer drum located between the outer casing and the turbine section defining an annular cavity therebetween. A set of seals extends between the outer casing and outer drum to define at least one cooled cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arnab Sen, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Rajesh Kumar, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Alan Roy Stuart, Robert Proctor, Christopher Charles Glynn
  • Patent number: 10465606
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section, a gearbox proximate to the turbine section, and a driveshaft. The turbine section includes a first rotating component interdigitated with a second rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The first rotating component includes an outer shroud defining a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction and one or more connecting airfoils coupling the outer shroud to a radially extended rotor. The second rotating component includes an inner shroud defining a plurality of inner shroud airfoils extended outward of the inner shroud along the radial direction. The second rotating component is coupled to an input shaft connected to an input gear of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Patent number: 10465538
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a forward thrust mode and a reverse thrust mode is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a variable pitch fan configured for generating forward thrust in the forward thrust mode of the engine and reverse thrust in the reverse thrust mode of the engine. The engine also includes a fan cowl surrounding the variable pitch fan, wherein the fan cowl forms a bypass duct for airflow generated by the fan. The fan cowl includes an aft edge that defines a physical flow area of the bypass duct, and a deflection device configured for deflecting airflow near the aft edge, wherein the deflection device is configured for operation in the reverse thrust mode of the engine. The physical flow area of the bypass duct at the aft edge remains the same in the forward thrust mode of the engine and in the reverse thrust mode of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick John Lonneman, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Publication number: 20190218913
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a portion of a turbine engine comprising an outer casing defining an axial centerline, a turbine section through which a flow of combustion gasses flows in a forward to aft direction, an outer drum located between the outer casing and the turbine section defining an annular cavity therebetween. A set of seals extends between the outer casing and outer drum to define at least one cooled cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Arnab Sen, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Rajesh Kumar, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Alan Roy Stuart, Robert Proctor, Christopher Charles Glynn
  • Patent number: 10294821
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines a core flowpath extended generally along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine frame defined around the axial centerline, the turbine frame comprising a first bearing surface disposed inward along the radial direction. The gas turbine engine further includes a turbine rotor assembly including a bearing assembly coupled to the first bearing surface of the turbine frame and the turbine rotor assembly. The turbine rotor assembly further includes a first turbine rotor disposed upstream of the turbine frame and a second turbine rotor disposed downstream of the turbine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Gert Johannes van der Merwe, Joel Francis Kirk, Richard Wesling
  • Patent number: 10247137
    Abstract: A thrust reverser system suitable for a high-bypass turbofan engine of a type having a nacelle. The thrust reverser system includes a transcowl having a stowed, deployed and open positions. A hinge assembly translationally and rotationally couples the transcowl to a fixed structure that does not translate when the transcowl is translated in the aft direction. The hinge assembly includes a first member connected to the transcowl for translation therewith, and a fixed second member that defines a channel in which a portion of the first member is slidably received. The first and second members are configured to enable the portion of the first member to translate within the slider channel in an aft direction corresponding to a translational movement of the transcowl, and to enable the portion of the first member to rotate within the channel corresponding to a pivotal movement of the transcowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alan Roy Stuart
  • Patent number: 10247136
    Abstract: A thrust reverser system for incorporation into a nacelle assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a frame member and a forward ring movable along an axial centerline relative to the frame member. The forward ring is movable between a first position and the second position. The thrust reverser system additionally includes a cascade segment slidably attached to the frame member and rotatably attached to the forward ring. When the forward ring is in the first position the cascade segment is in a radially outer position, and when the forward ring is in the second position, the cascade segment is in a radially inner position for changing a direction of a flow of air to generate reverse thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alan Roy Stuart
  • Publication number: 20190085766
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a turbine section including a first rotating component interdigitated along a longitudinal direction with a second rotating component. The first rotating component and the second rotating component are each coupled to a speed reduction assembly in counter-rotating arrangement. The first rotating component comprising an outer shroud and a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward along a radial direction from the outer shroud. A connecting member couples the outer shroud to a radially extended first rotor. The second rotating component comprising an inner shroud and a plurality of inner shroud airfoils extended outward along the radial direction from the inner shroud, the plurality of inner shroud airfoils in alternating arrangement along the longitudinal direction with the plurality of outer shroud airfoils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Publication number: 20180362170
    Abstract: A system for mounting an engine to an aircraft includes an engine forward mount angled toward the forward end of the engine at a first angle. At least two thrust links extend between an engine aft mount to a link support connection at a second angle. The engine aft mount is angled toward the forward end of the engine at a third angle. A projection of a load vector of the engine forward mount onto a vertical plane extending through the axis of rotation of the engine and a projection of a load vector of each of the at least two thrust links onto the vertical plane intersect the axis of rotation of the engine within a first vertical plane segment extending between a forward end of a nose of a fan assembly and forward of a forward mount interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Thomas Ory Moniz, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Joseph George Rose
  • Publication number: 20180355951
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine, wherein the gas turbine engine defines a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes an annular stationary turbine frame centered around the axial centerline; an engine shaft extended generally along the longitudinal direction; an input shaft extended generally along the longitudinal direction; and a gear assembly including a first gear coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to the turbine frame, and an inner spool coupling the first gear and the second gear, in which the inner spool defines a gear axis extended therethrough. The inner spool, the first gear, and the second gear are together rotatable about the gear axis. The gear axis is rotatable about the axial centerline of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20180340423
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction, an upstream end and a downstream end opposite of the upstream end along the longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The gas turbine engine includes a high speed turbine rotor coupled to a high pressure (HP) shaft and HP compressor, a low speed turbine rotor comprising an axially extended hub, and a first turbine bearing disposed radially between the low speed turbine rotor and the high speed turbine rotor. The high speed turbine rotor defines a turbine cooling conduit through the high speed turbine rotor. The low speed turbine rotor includes a rotating nozzle adjacent to the turbine cooling conduit. The first turbine bearing defines an outer air bearing and an inner air bearing. The first turbine bearing defines a stationary nozzle adjacent to the rotating nozzle of the first turbine rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz