Patents by Inventor Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow

Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow 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: 10132323
    Abstract: A compressor is provided including a casing, a hub, a flowpath, a plurality of blades defining a plurality of axially extending compressor stages and an endwall treatment formed in the casing on at least two downstream most stages of the plurality of compressor stages. The remaining stages of the plurality of compressor stages located upstream of the at least two downstream most stage are devoid of any endwall treatment. Each of the endwall treatments faces a tip of each blade in the at least two downstream most stages. The tip of each blade and the endwall treatment are configured to move relative to each other. The endwall treatment formed in the casing on at least two downstream most stages of the plurality of compressor stages is configured to extend a stall margin to delay stall due to ice ingestion. A method and engine application are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Swati Saxena, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Rajkeshar Vijayraj Singh, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Patent number: 10106265
    Abstract: An aerodynamic stabilizer assembly for stabilizing an aft fan mounted to a fuselage of an aircraft is presented. The stabilizer assembly includes one or more generally horizontal stabilizers for mounting to a nacelle of the aft fan and the fuselage so as to stabilize the aft fan. Each of the generally horizontal stabilizers includes an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portions are mounted to a nacelle of the aft fan and the fuselage at a predetermined downward angle with respect to a central axis of the aft fan so as to direct airflow upwards and into the aft fan, the outer portion being mounted to the inner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jixian Yao, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20180195527
    Abstract: A containment structure comprising an annular structure configured to provide close tolerance to a rotation structure. The containment structure includes a first abradable structure, a second abradable structure, and a shroud that is defined in part by the first abradable structure and in part by the second abradable structure. An annular surface of the shroud is defined by the first abradable structure and by the second abradable structure. The first abradable structure is harder than the second abradable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Daniel Edward Mollmann, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20180073518
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine includes: an annular casing; a disk disposed inside the casing and mounted for rotation about an axial centerline, the disk including a row of fan blades extending radially outwardly therefrom; each of the fan blades including an airfoil having circumferentially opposite pressure and suction sides extending radially in span from a root to a tip, and extending axially in chord between spaced-apart leading and trailing edges, with the airfoils defining corresponding flow passages therebetween for pressurizing air; the row including no more than 21 and no less than 13 of the fan blades; and wherein each of the fan blades has a solidity defined by a ratio of the airfoil chord over a circumferential pitch of the fan blades, measured at 60% of a radial distance from the root to the tip, of less than about 1.6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Allen Wilkin, II, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 9878501
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a frangible laminate is provided. The method comprises constructing a reinforced polymer matrix, cutting the reinforced polymer matrix into a plurality of laminae, forming a laminate via stacking the plurality of laminae and at least one energy dissipating member, and consolidating the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Ian Francis Prentice, Randy M. Vondrell, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20180017019
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes: a turbomachinery core; and a low-pressure turbine configured to drive a fan to produce a fan flow, the fan being configured such that at least a portion of the fan flow exits the engine without passing through a turbine. The fan includes: a rotor having at least one rotor stage including axial-flow rotor airfoils, and at least one stator stage including axial-flow stator airfoils. At least one of the rotor or stator stages includes an array of airfoil-shaped splitter airfoils alternating with the rotor or stator airfoils of the corresponding stage. At least one of a chord dimension of the splitter airfoils and a span dimension of the splitter airfoils is less than the corresponding dimension of the airfoils of the at least one stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Anthony Louis DiPietro, JR., Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Richard Mark Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20180017079
    Abstract: A variable-cycle compressor includes: an axial-flow compressor, a flowpath downstream of the compressor, and at least one variable-cycle device operable to vary a choked flow capacity of the downstream flowpath. The compressor includes: a rotor having at least one rotor stage including a rotatable disk defining a rotor flowpath surface and an array of axial-flow rotor airfoils extending outward from the flowpath surface; at least one stator stage including a wall defining a stator flowpath surface, and an array of axial-flow stator airfoils extending away from the stator flowpath surface. At least one stage includes splitter airfoils alternating with the rotor or stator airfoils of the corresponding stage. At least one of a chord dimension of the splitter airfoils and a span dimension of the splitter airfoils is less than the corresponding dimension of the airfoils of the at least one stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Anthony Louis DiPietro, JR., Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Gregory John Kajfasz
  • Publication number: 20170369152
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aerodynamic stabilizer assembly for stabilizing an aft fan mounted to a fuselage of an aircraft. For example, the stabilizer assembly includes one or more generally horizontal stabilizers for mounting to a nacelle of the aft fan and the fuselage so as to stabilize the aft fan. Each of the generally horizontal stabilizers includes an inner portion and an outer portion. As such, the inner portions are mounted to a nacelle of the aft fan and the fuselage at a predetermined downward angle with respect to a central axis of the aft fan so as to direct airflow upwards and into the aft fan, the outer portion being mounted to the inner portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Jixian Yao, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 9828862
    Abstract: A frangible airfoil that mitigates adverse conditions associated with release of material resulting from impact damage to the composite blade is provided, the airfoil having provisions for dissipating energy, self-shredding, and predetermined release trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Ian Francis Prentice, Randy M. Vondrell, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Raymond Anthony Humble
  • Patent number: 9777642
    Abstract: A method and system for a turbofan gas turbine engine system is provided. The gas turbine engine system includes a variable pitch fan (VPF) assembly coupled to a first rotatable shaft and a low pressure compressor LPC coupled to a second rotatable shaft. The LPC including a plurality of variable pitch stator vanes interdigitated with rows of blades of a rotor of the LPC. The gas turbine engine system also includes a speed reduction device coupled to said first rotatable shaft and said second rotatable shaft. The gas turbine engine system further includes a modulating pressure relief valve positioned between an outlet of said LPC and a bypass duct and a controller configured to schedule a position of said plurality of variable pitch stator vanes and said modulating pressure relief valve in response to an operational state of said turbofan gas turbine engine system and a temperature associated with said LPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Randy M. Vondrell, Tsuguji Nakano, Jeffrey Anthony Hamel, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20170268520
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling a multi-stage compressor of a gas turbine engine having a front-block of stages with variable stator vanes (VSVs), a rear block of stages downstream of the front-block, and a bleed air off-take from at least one of the stages. The method includes sensing the pressure of the bleed air from the bleed air off-take and adjusting the position of the VSV for the front-block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Curtis William Moeckel, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Peter John Wood, Eric Andrew Falk
  • Publication number: 20170233060
    Abstract: An aircraft having a fuselage terminating in an empennage with a tail extending upwardly from the empennage. An engine strut extends from the empennage with an engine mounted to the engine strut and a moveable control surface provided on the engine strut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey Glover, Alan Roy Stuart, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20170226960
    Abstract: A propulsion device that defines a central axis and a circumferential direction is provided. The propulsion device may include a core engine and a core casing. The core engine may include an engine shaft extending along the central axis. The core casing may have an inner surface and an outer surface. The core casing may extend along the circumferential direction about the propulsion device, as well as along the central axis from a forward end to an aft end. The core casing may define a primary air flowpath having an annular inlet at the forward end and an exhaust at the aft end. The core casing may further define a reverse flow passage extending from an outer surface entrance to an inner surface exit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Tsuguji Nakano, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 9725155
    Abstract: An aircraft and method of operating the aircraft are provided. The aircraft includes a fuselage including a nose, a tail, and a hollow, elongate body extending therebetween, a wing extending laterally away from the fuselage, the wing including a leading edge in a direction of motion of the aircraft during normal flight and a trailing edge on an opposing edge of the wing, and an engine configured to drive a bladed rotatable member, the engine coupled to at least one of the wing and the fuselage. The aircraft further includes at least one of a forward chine member and an aft chine member extending from the fuselage at a point forward of the engine aftward to a point aft of the bladed rotatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Trevor Wayne Goerig, Trevor Howard Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20170190409
    Abstract: An aircraft and method of operating the aircraft are provided. The aircraft includes a fuselage including a nose, a tail, and a hollow, elongate body extending therebetween, a wing extending laterally away from the fuselage, the wing including a leading edge in a direction of motion of the aircraft during normal flight and a trailing edge on an opposing edge of the wing, and an engine configured to drive a bladed rotatable member, the engine coupled to at least one of the wing and the fuselage. The aircraft further includes at least one of a forward chine member and an aft chine member extending from the fuselage at a point forward of the engine aftward to a point aft of the bladed rotatable member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Trevor Wayne Goerig, Trevor Howard Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20170138370
    Abstract: A variable pitch fan for a propulsion device is provided. The variable pitch fan includes a plurality of fan blades coupled to a disk and a rotatable front hub covering the disk. Each fan blade is rotatable about a pitch axis to vary a pitch of the fan blade. The pitch is variable within a pitch range that is at least about 80° to about 130°. Each fan blade extends radially outward from the disk along a span from a root to a tip. A portion of the span adjacent the root defines a root span region, a portion of the span adjacent the tip defines a tip span region. A solidity of the variable pitch fan is at least 1.0 in the root span region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Syed Arif Khalid, Christopher James Kroger, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Publication number: 20170089217
    Abstract: A compressor is provided including a casing, a hub, a flowpath, a plurality of blades defining a plurality of axially extending compressor stages and an endwall treatment formed in the casing on at least two downstream most stages of the plurality of compressor stages. The remaining stages of the plurality of compressor stages located upstream of the at least two downstream most stage are devoid of any endwall treatment. Each of the endwall treatments faces a tip of each blade in the at least two downstream most stages. The tip of each blade and the endwall treatment are configured to move relative to each other. The endwall treatment formed in the casing on at least two downstream most stages of the plurality of compressor stages is configured to extend a stall margin to delay stall due to ice ingestion. A method and engine application are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Swati Saxena, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Rajkeshar Vijayraj Singh, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Publication number: 20160201503
    Abstract: A frangible airfoil that mitigates adverse conditions associated with release of material resulting from impact damage to the composite blade is provided, the airfoil having provisions for dissipating energy, self-shredding, and predetermined release trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Ian Francis Prentice, Randy M. Vondrell, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Raymond Anthony Humble
  • Publication number: 20160200085
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a frangible laminate is provided. The method comprises constructing a reinforced polymer matrix, cutting the reinforced polymer matrix into a plurality of laminae, forming a laminate via stacking the plurality of laminae and at least one energy dissipating member, and consolidating the laminate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Ian Francis Prentice, Randy M. Vondrell, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Publication number: 20160146115
    Abstract: A method and system for a turbofan gas turbine engine system is provided. The gas turbine engine system includes a variable pitch fan (VPF) assembly coupled to a first rotatable shaft and a low pressure compressor LPC coupled to a second rotatable shaft. The LPC including a plurality of variable pitch stator vanes interdigitated with rows of blades of a rotor of the LPC. The gas turbine engine system also includes a speed reduction device coupled to said first rotatable shaft and said second rotatable shaft. The gas turbine engine system further includes a modulating pressure relief valve positioned between an outlet of said LPC and a bypass duct and a controller configured to schedule a position of said plurality of variable pitch stator vanes and said modulating pressure relief valve in response to an operational state of said turbofan gas turbine engine system and a temperature associated with said LPC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Randy M. Vondrell, Tsuguji Nakano, Jeffrey Anthony Hamel, Darek Tomasz Zatorski