Patents by Inventor Alan W. Smith

Alan W. Smith 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).

  • Publication number: 20200309039
    Abstract: An example system includes a gas-turbine configured to generate mechanical energy using fuel; an electrical generator configured to generate electrical energy using the mechanical energy generated by the gas-turbine; an electrical converter configured to process the electrical energy generated by the electrical generator; and a converter controller configured to reduce, responsive to detecting occurrence of a fault in the electrical generator or the electrical converter, an amount of fuel provided to the gas-turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 9803553
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine starting system including an electric start generator (ESG) free of temperature sensors and configured to provide torque to a gas turbine engine. A fuel metering module is configured to provide a quantity of fuel to the gas turbine engine, and an electronic control system (ECS). The ESG includes a plurality of subcomponents. The ECS is configured to predict a future temperature of the ESG, predict that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful, and provide the prediction that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful to an operator. The prediction of the future temperature of the ESG is based on a plurality of historical ESG thermal trending information and an input ambient temperature. The prediction that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful is based on the future temperature of the ESG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Mark J. Blackwelder
  • Patent number: 9765640
    Abstract: An exemplary system may include a gas turbine engine configured to operate at an engine power level to satisfy an engine power demand. The system may also include at least one generator operatively coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power based at least in part on the engine power demand. The system further may include at least one heating element in communication with the at least one generator, and at least one control unit coupled to the at least one heating element. The at least one heating element may be configured to receive electrical power from the at least one generator to generate thermal energy. The at least one control unit may be configured to energize the heating element when the engine power demand is below the engine power level and/or there is an anticipated increase in the engine power demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160178464
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine torque monitoring system includes a gas turbine engine and gas turbine engine electronics. The gas turbine engine includes a torque sensor coupled to a rotatable element of the gas turbine engine, such as a drive shaft. The torque monitoring system analyzes torque signals output by the torque sensor, using a combination of frequency domain analysis and time domain analysis, and generates an interpretation of the torque sensor output signals. The gas turbine engine torque monitoring system can initiate a variety of different types of actions in relation to the gas turbine engine based on the interpretation of the torque sensor output signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Donald W. Burns, Alan W. Smith, Mark Amshoff
  • Publication number: 20160160682
    Abstract: An exemplary system may include a gas turbine engine configured to operate at an engine power level to satisfy an engine power demand. The system may also include at least one generator operatively coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power based at least in part on the engine power demand. The system further may include at least one heating element in communication with the at least one generator, and at least one control unit coupled to the at least one heating element. The at least one heating element may be configured to receive electrical power from the at least one generator to generate thermal energy. The at least one control unit may be configured to energize the heating element when the engine power demand is below the engine power level and/or there is an anticipated increase in the engine power demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150308347
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine starting system including an electric start generator (ESG) free of temperature sensors and configured to provide torque to a gas turbine engine. A fuel metering module is configured to provide a quantity of fuel to the gas turbine engine, and an electronic control system (ECS). The ESG includes a plurality of subcomponents. The ECS is configured to predict a future temperature of the ESG, predict that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful, and provide the prediction that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful to an operator. The prediction of the future temperature of the ESG is based on a plurality of historical ESG thermal trending information and an input ambient temperature. The prediction that at an ongoing start or an uninitiated start will be unsuccessful is based on the future temperature of the ESG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Mark J. Blackwelder
  • Patent number: 5463865
    Abstract: A pressure transducer adapted to measure the position of a pneumatic valve by measuring pressure immediately downstream of a valve restrictor (e.g. a valve plate or butterfly plate) and comparing that pressure with a pressure measured at a second measurement port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5063963
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to bleed air systems which derive air from a compressor. In one embodiment of the present invention, a compressor including three bleed ports is connected in a predetermined manner to a bleed air output connector through three controllable shutoff valves and two check valves. More particularly, the bleed air port connected to the highest pressure compressor stage is connected to the output connector through all three of the shutoff valves. The bleed air port connected to the second highest pressure compressor stage is connected to the output connector through one of the check valves and the second and third shutoff valves. Finally, the bleed air port connected to the lowest pressure compressor stage is connected to the output connector through the second check valve and the third shutoff valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith