Patents by Inventor Bradley C. Schafer

Bradley C. Schafer 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: 11959386
    Abstract: A method is provided for a gas turbine engine. During this method, a first lubricant parameter is determined during a first period of an engine operating cycle. The first lubricant parameter is indicative of a first quantity of lubricant within a reservoir of the gas turbine engine. A second lubricant parameter is determined during a second period of the engine operating cycle. The second lubricant parameter is indicative of a second quantity of the lubricant within the reservoir. The first lubricant parameter and the second lubricant parameter are compared to determine a lubricant consumption parameter. The lubricant consumption parameter is indicative of a quantity of the lubricant consumed by the gas turbine engine during the engine operating cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward T. Rocco, Grant A. Carey, Bradley C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20230332547
    Abstract: Aircraft control architectures include a triplex sensor configured to output three signals. First and second channels are configured to receive respective signals of the three output signals, with each channel having a respective processor and are configured to output respective control signals. A remote interface device is configured to receive a third signal of the three output signals and an effector is configured to receive the first and second control signals and perform an action in response to the control signals. An output from the remote interface device is transmitted to the first and second channels and an output from each channel is received at the other channel. The control signals are based on the received signals, the received outputs from the remote interface device, and the received output from the other channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Bradley C. Schafer, Ramesh Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20230313700
    Abstract: A method is provided for a gas turbine engine. During this method, a first lubricant parameter is determined during a first period of an engine operating cycle. The first lubricant parameter is indicative of a first quantity of lubricant within a reservoir of the gas turbine engine. A second lubricant parameter is determined during a second period of the engine operating cycle. The second lubricant parameter is indicative of a second quantity of the lubricant within the reservoir. The first lubricant parameter and the second lubricant parameter are compared to determine a lubricant consumption parameter. The lubricant consumption parameter is indicative of a quantity of the lubricant consumed by the gas turbine engine during the engine operating cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Edward T. Rocco, Grant A. Carey, Bradley C. Schafer
  • Patent number: 11700567
    Abstract: A system of a machine includes a first node and a second node configured to establish a first communication path through a waveguide system to guide a radio frequency transmission between the first node and the second node in the machine. The system also includes a third node and a fourth node configured to establish a second communication path in the machine. The first node is grouped with the third node as a first node group, and the second node is grouped with the fourth node as a second node group such that the second communication path provides a redundant communication path with respect to the first communication path for communication between the first node group and the second node group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley C. Schafer, Coy Bruce Wood
  • Publication number: 20230166857
    Abstract: A system of an aircraft includes one or more gas turbine engines and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a pre-takeoff condition of the aircraft and determine one or more control parameters for one or more current conditions at a target location of the aircraft. The controller is further configured to determine a final takeoff speed of the one or more gas turbine engines based on the one or more control parameters. At least one of the one or more gas turbine engines is controlled to accelerate to the final takeoff speed after transitioning from the pre-takeoff condition to a takeoff condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: David Wasselin, Nancy Poisson, Brian V. Winebrenner, Bradley C. Schafer, Ramesh Rajagopalan
  • Publication number: 20230129383
    Abstract: A rotor bow mitigation system for a gas turbine engine includes a control system in communication with an actuator, the control system actuates a power source to repeatedly actuate the actuator for a duration of time to intermittently rotate a rotary component such as a high spool of the gas turbine engine. A method of rotor bow mitigation for a gas turbine engine includes intermittently actuating an actuator of a rotor bow mitigation system in selective mechanical connection with a gear within an accessory gearbox to intermittently rotate the rotary component of the gas turbine engine to mitigate rotor bow conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Bradley C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20220124596
    Abstract: A system of a machine includes a first node and a second node configured to establish a first communication path through a waveguide system to guide a radio frequency transmission between the first node and the second node in the machine. The system also includes a third node and a fourth node configured to establish a second communication path in the machine. The first node is grouped with the third node as a first node group, and the second node is grouped with the fourth node as a second node group such that the second communication path provides a redundant communication path with respect to the first communication path for communication between the first node group and the second node group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Bradley C. Schafer, Coy Bruce Wood
  • Publication number: 20190120140
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment that has at least one seal, a bearing disposed in the bearing compartment, a deoiler fluidly connected with the bearing compartment, and a vacuum generator fluidly connected with the deoiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Matthew J. Howlett, Myles R. Kelly, Victor M. Pinedo, Gregory E. Reinhardt, Bradley C. Schafer, Ethan K. Stearns
  • Patent number: 8235325
    Abstract: A positional measurement system for a fan variable area nozzle (FVAN) remotely determines the position of each flap or set of flaps relative a core nacelle. The positional measurement system includes a sensor system with a multiple of transceivers located within the core nacelle to remotely measure the position of each flap or set of flaps without the heretofore necessity of moving measurement components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Bradley C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20100095650
    Abstract: An example core nacelle includes a core cowl positioned adjacent to an inner duct boundary of a fan bypass passage having an associated discharge airflow cross-sectional area. The core cowl includes a translating section located aft of an exit guide vane positioned within the fan bypass passage. The translating section is moveable to vary the discharge airflow cross-sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Bradley C. Schafer
  • Publication number: 20080302907
    Abstract: A positional measurement system for a fan variable area nozzle (FVAN) remotely determines the position of each flap or set of flaps relative a core nacelle. The positional measurement system includes a sensor system with a multiple of transceivers located within the core nacelle to remotely measure the position of each flap or set of flaps without the heretofore necessity of moving measurement components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Bradley C. Schafer
  • Patent number: 5752379
    Abstract: Indications of non-recoverable compressor surge and blowout are provided by sensing compressor pressure, temperature and speed and comparing exhaust temperature with stored values and successive values depending upon instantaneous compressor speed and its derivative. Blowout indication is provided in timed intervals that are reset if surge indications are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley C. Schafer, John C. Szillat
  • Patent number: 4991389
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine control system modulates a compressor bleed valve between full open and full closed during transient engine operation as a function of the rate of change of compressor speed biased by flight conditions, such as altitude, and corrected for engine power level. A hysteresis construct may be applied to the rate of change of compressor speed before such rate is used to determine the new bleed valve position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Bradley C. Schafer