Patents by Inventor Billy W. Helton

Billy W. Helton 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: 11692443
    Abstract: A boundary layer turbomachine can include a housing (10) defining an interior space and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening to facilitate movement of a fluid through the housing (10). The boundary layer turbomachine can also include a rotor assembly (20) disposed in the rotor chamber and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation (1). The rotor assembly (20) can have a plurality of disks (21) spaced apart along the axis of rotation (1) to provide gaps (54) between the disks (21). The plurality of disks (21) can also define an interior opening (26) along the axis of rotation (1). The rotor assembly (20) can have a disk carrier (46) disposed at least partially in the interior opening (26) in support of the plurality of disks (21). The disk carrier (46) can have a fluid passageway (47) exposed to two or more of the gaps (54) between the disks (21). The fluid can pass through gaps (54) between the disks (21) and the interior opening (26) as the fluid moves through the housing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Wesley Turbines IP Limited
    Inventors: Mark W. Jones, Billy W. Helton
  • Patent number: 11208890
    Abstract: A boundary layer turbomachine can include a housing defining an interior space and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening to facilitate movement of a fluid through the housing. The boundary layer turbomachine can also include a rotor assembly disposed in the rotor chamber and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The rotor assembly can have a plurality of disks spaced apart along the axis of rotation and defining an interior opening along the axis of rotation. The fluid can pass through gaps between the disks and the interior opening as the fluid moves through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventors: Billy W. Helton, Mark W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20200256191
    Abstract: A boundary layer turbomachine (100) can include a housing (110) defining an interior space (115) and having an inlet opening (112) and an outlet (113) opening to facilitate movement of a fluid through the housing (110). The boundary layer turbomachine (100) can also include a rotor assembly (120) disposed in the rotor chamber (117) and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation (101). The rotor assembly (120) can have a plurality of disks (121) spaced apart along the axis of rotation (101) and defining an interior opening along the axis of rotation (101). The fluid can pass through gaps between the disks (121) and the interior opening as the fluid moves through the housing (110). Corresponding rotor assembly and partition are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Billy W. Helton, Mark W. Jones
  • Publication number: 20190264566
    Abstract: A boundary layer turbomachine can include a housing (10) defining an interior space and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening to facilitate movement of a fluid through the housing (10). The boundary layer turbomachine can also include a rotor assembly (20) disposed in the rotor chamber and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation (1). The rotor assembly (20) can have a plurality of disks (21) spaced apart along the axis of rotation (1) to provide gaps (54) between the disks (21). The plurality of disks (21) can also define an interior opening (26) along the axis of rotation (1). The rotor assembly (20) can have a disk carrier (46) disposed at least partially in the interior opening (26) in support of the plurality of disks (21). The disk carrier (46) can have a fluid passageway (47) exposed to two or more of the gaps (54) between the disks (21). The fluid can pass through gaps (54) between the disks (21) and the interior opening (26) as the fluid moves through the housing (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Mark W. Jones, Billy W. Helton
  • Publication number: 20160258442
    Abstract: A boundary layer turbomachine can include a housing defining an interior space and having an inlet opening and an outlet opening to facilitate movement of a fluid through the housing. The boundary layer turbomachine can also include a rotor assembly disposed in the rotor chamber and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The rotor assembly can have a plurality of disks spaced apart along the axis of rotation and defining an interior opening along the axis of rotation. The fluid can pass through gaps between the disks and the interior opening as the fluid moves through the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Billy W. Helton, Mark W. Jones