Patents by Inventor Ashok K. Jain

Ashok K. Jain 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: 10309315
    Abstract: An example turbofan engine starting system includes a core nacelle housing a compressor and a turbine. The core nacelle is disposed within a fan nacelle. The fan nacelle includes a turbofan. A bypass flow path downstream from the turbofan is arranged between the two nacelles. A controller is programmed to manipulate the nozzle exit area to facilitate startup of the engine. In one example, manipulates the nozzle exit area using nozzles, in response to an engine shutdown condition. The nozzles open and close to adjust the nozzle exit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 9611758
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving integrated fluid conduits are provided. In this regard, a representative engine casing for a gas turbine engine includes: a casing wall; and a fluid conduit integrated into the casing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Publication number: 20160290239
    Abstract: An example turbofan engine starting system includes a core nacelle housing a compressor and a turbine. The core nacelle is disposed within a fan nacelle. The fan nacelle includes a turbofan. A bypass flow path downstream from the turbofan is arranged between the two nacelles. A controller is programmed to manipulate the nozzle exit area to facilitate startup of the engine. In one example, manipulates the nozzle exit area using nozzles, in response to an engine shutdown condition. The nozzles open and close to adjust the nozzle exit area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 9328666
    Abstract: An example turbofan engine restarting system includes a core nacelle housing, a compressor, and a turbine. The core nacelle is disposed within a fan nacelle. A bypass flowpath downstream from the turbofan is arranged between the two nacelles. A controller is programmed to manipulate the nozzle exit area of the bypass flowpath to facilitate startup of the engine. In one example, the controller manipulates the nozzle exit area using hinged flaps in response to an engine shutdown condition. The flaps open and close to adjust the nozzle exit area and the associated bypass flow rate, the mass flow rate of the air through the core nacelle and the rotational speed of the compressor rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 9228534
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section and a nacelle assembly which at least partially surrounds the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section. At least a portion of the nacelle assembly includes an adjustable contour. The portion of the nacelle assembly including the adjustable contour is selectively moveable between a first portion and a second position to influence the adjustable contour of the nacelle assembly. A controller identifies an abnormal aircraft operating condition and selectively moves the portion of the nacelle assembly including the adjustable contour between the first position and the second position in response to detecting the abnormal aircraft operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 9004399
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl for a turbine engine. The cowl has a first surface spaced from a second surface. The second surface defines defining a bypass flow passage. A flow volume is spaced between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of holes are disposed on the cowl. Each of the plurality of holes are configured to alter local air pressure about one of the first surface and the second surface of the cowl. The plurality of holes are in communication with the flow volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8935073
    Abstract: A turbofan engine control system and method includes a core nacelle housing (12), a compressor and a turbine. A turbofan is arranged upstream from the core nacelle and is surrounded by a fan nacelle (34). A bypass flow path (39) is arranged downstream from the turbofan between the core and fan nacelles. The bypass flow path includes a nozzle exit area (40). A controller (50) detects at least one of a take-off condition and a landing condition. The controller changes effectively the nozzle exit area to achieve a thrust vector in response to the take-off and landing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Hurwitz, Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8727267
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly includes an inlet lip section having a highlight diameter and a throat diameter. One of the highlight diameter and the throat diameter is fixed and the other of the highlight diameter and the throat diameter is selectively adjustable in each of a first direction and a second direction relative to the inlet lip section to influence a contraction ratio associated with the inlet lip section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 8720182
    Abstract: A variable area fan nozzle for use with a gas turbine engine system includes a nozzle having a cross-sectional area associated with a discharge air flow from a fan bypass passage. The nozzle is selectively moveable between multiple static positions for varying the cross-sectional area and multiple thrust reverse positions that are different from the static positions for reversing a direction of the discharge flow from the fan bypass passage to produce a thrust reversing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8657567
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided with a nacelle having a hollow inner space. The inner space is utilized as a plenum for directing air from an inlet to an outlet at the upstream end of the nacelle to allow control of an effective lip width of the nacelle under certain flight conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Cloft, Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8650854
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a core nacelle housing a spool having a turbine. A turbofan is arranged upstream from the core nacelle and is coupled to the spool. A fan nacelle surrounds the turbofan and core nacelle. A bifurcation supports the core nacelle relative to the fan nacelle and extends radially between the nacelles. The core and fan nacelles provide a bypass flow path receiving bypass flow from the turbofan. In the example, the nacelles provide a fixed nozzle exit area. The bifurcation includes an inlet that is in communication with a passage. The passage is selectively opened and closed by a valve to provide air from the inlet to a vent opening near the nozzle exit area. By opening the valve, the nozzle exit area is effectively increased to provide increased bypass flow through the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward F. Migliaro, Jr., Michael Winter, Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8596573
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl for a turbine engine. The cowl has a first surface spaced from a second surface. The second surface defines defining a bypass flow passage. A flow volume is spaced between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of holes are disposed on the cowl. Each of the plurality of holes are configured to alter local air pressure about one of the first surface and the second surface of the cowl. The plurality of holes are in communication with the flow volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8408491
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly includes an inlet lip section and an airfoil adjacent to the inlet lip section. The airfoil is selectively moveable between a first position and a second position to adjust the flow of oncoming airflow and to influence an effective boundary layer thickness of the nacelle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 8402739
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly includes an inlet section having a plurality of discrete sections. Each of the plurality of discrete sections includes an adaptive structure. A thickness of each of the plurality of discrete sections is selectively adjustable between a first position and a second position to influence the adaptive structure of each of the plurality of discrete sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Zaffir A. Chaudhry
  • Publication number: 20120325978
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl for a turbine engine. The cowl has a first surface spaced from a second surface. The second surface defines defining a bypass flow passage. A flow volume is spaced between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of holes are disposed on the cowl. Each of the plurality of holes are configured to alter local air pressure about one of the first surface and the second surface of the cowl. The plurality of holes are in communication with the flow volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8282037
    Abstract: A nacelle assembly for a turbine engine has a cowl for a turbine engine. The cowl has a first surface spaced from a second surface. The second surface defines defining a bypass flow passage. A flow volume is spaced between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of holes are disposed on the cowl. Each of the plurality of holes are configured to alter local air pressure about one of the first surface and the second surface of the cowl. The plurality of holes are in communication with the flow volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Publication number: 20120243972
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving integrated fluid conduits are provided. In this regard, a representative engine casing for a gas turbine engine includes: a casing wall; and a fluid conduit integrated into the casing wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8240979
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving integrated fluid conduits are provided. In this regard, a representative engine casing for a gas turbine engine includes: a casing wall; and a fluid conduit integrated into the casing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8209953
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system for an aircraft includes a nacelle having a fan cowl with an inlet lip section and a core cowl, at least one compressor and at least one turbine, at least one combustor between the compressor and the turbine, a bleed passage, and a controller. The bleed passage includes an inlet for receiving a bleed airflow and an outlet that discharges the bleed airflow in an upstream direction from the outlet. The controller identifies an operability condition and selectively introduces the bleed airflow near a boundary layer of the inlet lip section in response to the operability condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Winter, Ashok K. Jain
  • Patent number: 8209950
    Abstract: A turbofan engine deicing system includes a core nacelle (12) housing a turbine. A turbofan (20) is arranged upstream from the core nacelle. A controller (50) manipulates the turbofan in response to detecting an icing condition for avoiding undesired ice buildup on the turbofan engine (10) and nacelle parts. In one example, a variable area nozzle (40) is actuated to generate pressure pulses or a surge condition to break up any ice buildup. The icing condition can be determined by at least one sensor (52) and/or predicted based upon icing conditions schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter