Patents by Inventor Brady Walker

Brady Walker 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: 11274564
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a sealing system for an engine having an axial centerline, comprising: a stationary carbon segment, and a seal plate that rotates when the engine is operated, where the seal plate includes an end face that is opposed to an interface between the carbon segment and the seal plate, and where the end face includes at least one groove that conveys a liquid cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
  • Patent number: 11035253
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a static component, a seal body associated with the static component, the seal body having an end surface configured to face a rotating seal seat, and a damper positioned radially outward of the seal body. The damper includes a contact that engages the seal body to dampen radial movement of the seal body while accommodating axial movement of the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brady Walker
  • Patent number: 10962118
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal nose, a bellows, and a plurality of bristles. The seal nose is configured to be in sealing contact with a rotating seal plate, the bellows extends between and couples the seal nose to a support structure, and the plurality of bristles extends from the support structure toward the bellows, with at least one bristle of the plurality of bristles being in contact with the bellows to damp vibration of the bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker
  • Patent number: 10883542
    Abstract: A ring for use in a roller bearing includes an outer wall. The ring further includes two side walls extending away from the outer wall, defining a cavity therebetween for receiving at least one roller, and each of the two side walls having an outer edge at a location facing the cavity and farthest from the outer wall. The ring further includes a curved crown extending inward from at least one of the two side walls and configured to contact the at least one roller to reduce wear of the outer edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brady Walker
  • Publication number: 20200370601
    Abstract: A ring for use in a roller bearing includes an outer wall. The ring further includes two side walls extending away from the outer wall, defining a cavity therebetween for receiving at least one roller, and each of the two side walls having an outer edge at a location facing the cavity and farthest from the outer wall. The ring further includes a curved crown extending inward from at least one of the two side walls and configured to contact the at least one roller to reduce wear of the outer edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brady Walker
  • Publication number: 20200248588
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a static component, a seal body associated with the static component, the seal body having an end surface configured to face a rotating seal seat, and a damper positioned radially outward of the seal body. The damper includes a contact that engages the seal body to dampen radial movement of the seal body while accommodating axial movement of the seal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventor: Brady Walker
  • Patent number: 10619741
    Abstract: A face seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a seal body having a seal face defining a contact area disposed between tapered sides. The seal body defines an axial width between a back surface of the seal body and the seal face. A decrease in the axial width from wear increases the contact area. A bearing assembly and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brady Walker, Robert D. Szolomayer
  • Publication number: 20200109785
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal nose, a bellows, and a plurality of bristles. The seal nose is configured to be in sealing contact with a rotating seal plate, the bellows extends between and couples the seal nose to a support structure, and the plurality of bristles extends from the support structure toward the bellows, with at least one bristle of the plurality of bristles being in contact with the bellows to damp vibration of the bellows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker
  • Publication number: 20200063585
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a sealing system for an engine having an axial centerline, comprising: a stationary carbon segment, and a seal plate that rotates when the engine is operated, where the seal plate includes an end face that is opposed to an interface between the carbon segment and the seal plate, and where the end face includes at least one groove that conveys a liquid cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
  • Patent number: 10494941
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a sealing system for an engine having an axial centerline, comprising: a stationary carbon segment, and a seal plate that rotates when the engine is operated, where the seal plate includes an end face that is opposed to an interface between the carbon segment and the seal plate, and where the end face includes at least one groove that conveys a liquid cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
  • Patent number: 10385713
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal housing that extends about an axis. The seal housing defines an annular groove. A contacting-type seal is at least partially received in the annular groove. The seal includes a seal member and a seal carrier that extends about and mechanically attaches to an outer diameter of the seal member. The seal member defines an annular seal face that is moveable along the axis to abut against a seal seat. The seal member includes a first material, and the seal carrier includes a second, different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brady Walker, Gregory S. Piehler
  • Patent number: 10329951
    Abstract: Sealing configurations with active cooling features are provided. A forward sealing configuration may comprise a forward bellows spring configured to interface with a forward seal plate. An aft sealing configuration may comprise an aft bellows configured to interface with an aft seal plate. The forward bellows spring and the aft bellows spring may be configured to provide an axial force against each respective seal plate. The forward seal plate and the aft seal plate may include cooling holes configured to deliver a lubricating fluid to each respective seal interface to provide active cooling to each respective sealing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brady Walker
  • Publication number: 20190078688
    Abstract: A face seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a seal body having a seal face defining a contact area disposed between tapered sides. The seal body defines an axial width between a back surface of the seal body and the seal face. A decrease in the axial width from wear increases the contact area. A bearing assembly and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Brady Walker, Robert D. Szolomayer
  • Publication number: 20190063247
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal housing that extends about an axis. The seal housing defines an annular groove. A contacting-type seal is at least partially received in the annular groove. The seal includes a seal member and a seal carrier that extends about and mechanically attaches to an outer diameter of the seal member. The seal member defines an annular seal face that is moveable along the axis to abut against a seal seat. The seal member includes a first material, and the seal carrier includes a second, different material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Brady Walker, Gregory S. Piehler
  • Patent number: 10174635
    Abstract: A rolling element bearing includes a plurality of rolling elements that are arranged circumferentially around an axis, and radially between a bearing inner ring and a bearing outer ring. The inner ring extends axially between a first end and a second end, and includes a plurality of passages that are fluidly coupled with a channel. The passages are arranged circumferentially around the axis. The channel extends axially into the inner ring from the second end, and includes a gutter that extends radially into and axially within the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brady Walker, Ronnie K. Kovacik
  • Publication number: 20180355757
    Abstract: Sealing configurations with active cooling features are provided. A forward sealing configuration may comprise a forward bellows spring configured to interface with a forward seal plate. An aft sealing configuration may comprise an aft bellows configured to interface with an aft seal plate. The forward bellows spring and the aft bellows spring may be configured to provide an axial force against each respective seal plate. The forward seal plate and the aft seal plate may include cooling holes configured to deliver a lubricating fluid to each respective seal interface to provide active cooling to each respective sealing configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brady Walker
  • Publication number: 20180106157
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a sealing system for an engine having an axial centerline, comprising: a stationary carbon segment, and a seal plate that rotates when the engine is operated, where the seal plate includes an end face that is opposed to an interface between the carbon segment and the seal plate, and where the end face includes at least one groove that conveys a liquid cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
  • Patent number: 9909438
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with an engine of an aircraft, the system comprising: a fluid source that is configured to provide a fluid at a first pressure value, a carbon seal, a seal plate that includes at least one lift-off feature that interfaces to the carbon seal, and a pressure boosting mechanism configured to obtain the fluid from the fluid source, increase the pressure of the fluid to a second pressure value, and provide the fluid at the second pressure value to the at least one lift-off feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Duffy, Ronald K. Kovacik, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
  • Publication number: 20180045316
    Abstract: A seal seat includes a base having an annular shape, a neck having an annular shape and being radially outward from the base with the neck having an axial length that is less than an axial length of the base, and a head having an annular shape and being radially outward from the neck with the head having and outer end, a sealing surface, and an axial length that is greater than the axial length of the neck. The seal seat also includes a notch adjacent to the neck formed by the base, neck, and head and a plurality of cooling lubricant passages with each passage of the plurality of cooling lubricant passages extending from the notch to a point on the outer end of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Brady Walker
  • Publication number: 20170292394
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with an engine of an aircraft, the system comprising: a fluid source that is configured to provide a fluid at a first pressure value, a carbon seal, a seal plate that includes at least one lift-off feature that interfaces to the carbon seal, and a pressure boosting mechanism configured to obtain the fluid from the fluid source, increase the pressure of the fluid to a second pressure value, and provide the fluid at the second pressure value to the at least one lift-off feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin Duffy, Ronald K. Kovacik, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles