Patents by Inventor Anthony R. Bifulco

Anthony R. Bifulco 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: 20130008144
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a spool, a turbine coupled to drive the spool and a propulsor that is coupled to be driven by the turbine through the spool. A gear assembly is coupled between the propulsor and the spool such that rotation of the spool drives the propulsor at a different speed than the spool. The propulsor includes a hub and a row of propulsor blades that extends from the hub. The row includes no more than 16 of the propulsor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Jun Jiang, Becky E. Rose, Jason Elliott, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 8287242
    Abstract: A rotor has a central shaft having a central longitudinal axis. The rotor has a longitudinal stack of a plurality of disks surrounding the shaft. An aft hub couples the stack to the shaft. The aft hub has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion tapers at a lower characteristic half angle than does the proximal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20120171029
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor drum includes spaced apart discs providing a cavity between the discs. The discs are configured to rotate in a rotational direction about an axis. An annular support is mounted on at least one of the discs and within the cavity. A cascade of relatively short anti-vortex members is mounted circumferentially on the annular support. The anti-vortex members include an outer end having a concave surface extending within the cavity radially outward from the annular support. The concave surface faces the rotational direction and promotes swirl as the rotor drum rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew E. Bintz, Peter T. Schutte, Anthony R. Bifulco, Eric W. Malmborg
  • Patent number: 8177503
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor drum includes spaced apart discs providing a cavity between the discs. The discs are configured to rotate in a rotational direction about an axis. An annular support is mounted on at least one of the discs and within the cavity. A cascade of relatively short anti-vortex members is mounted circumferentially on the annular support. The anti-vortex members include an outer end having a concave surface extending within the cavity radially outward from the annular support. The concave surface faces the rotational direction and promotes swirl as the rotor drum rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew E. Bintz, Peter T. Schutte, Anthony R. Bifulco, Eric W. Malmborg
  • Publication number: 20120070271
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bleed structure which includes a forward wall and a rear structural wall to define a deposit space downstream of the bleed structure for a hail event of a predetermined duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Justin R. Urban, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20100266401
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor drum includes spaced apart discs providing a cavity between the discs. The discs are configured to rotate in a rotational direction about an axis. An annular support is mounted on at least one of the discs and within the cavity. A cascade of relatively short anti-vortex members is mounted circumferentially on the annular support. The anti-vortex members include an outer end having a concave surface extending within the cavity radially outward from the annular support. The concave surface faces the rotational direction and promotes swirl as the rotor drum rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew E. Bintz, Peter T. Schutte, Anthony R. Bifulco, Eric W. Malmborg
  • Publication number: 20100124495
    Abstract: A rotor has a central shaft having a central longitudinal axis. The rotor has a longitudinal stack of a plurality of disks surrounding the shaft. An aft hub couples the stack to the shaft. The aft hub has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion tapers at a lower characteristic half angle than does the proximal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Patent number: 6884025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bumper system for use with a compressor variable vane system. The bumper system broadly comprises a synchronizing ring, a bumper, a shim for defining a gap between a bumper pad and the bumper, a pin for preventing rotation of the bumper relative to the synchronizing ring, and a device for fully trapping the shim. In a first embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a sleeve passing through the synchronizing ring. In a second embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a pin which passes through the synchronizing body. In a third embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a fastener with a shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Phillip Alexander, Anthony R. Bifulco, Kevin J. Cummings
  • Publication number: 20040062641
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bumper system for use with a compressor variable vane system. The bumper system broadly comprises a synchronizing ring, a bumper, a shim for defining a gap between a bumper pad and the bumper, a pin for preventing rotation of the bumper relative to the synchronizing ring, and a device for fully trapping the shim. In a first embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a sleeve passing through the synchronizing ring. In a second embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a pin which passes through the synchronizing body. In a third embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a fastener with a shoulder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Phillip Alexander, Anthony R. Bifulco, Kevin J. Cummings