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).
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Patent number: 11274564Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
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Patent number: 11035253Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventor: Brady Walker
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Patent number: 10962118Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 9, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker
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Patent number: 10883542Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: Brady Walker
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Publication number: 20200370601Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2019Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Brady Walker
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Publication number: 20200248588Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Inventor: Brady Walker
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Patent number: 10619741Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Brady Walker, Robert D. Szolomayer
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Publication number: 20200109785Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2018Publication date: April 9, 2020Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker
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Publication number: 20200063585Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
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Patent number: 10494941Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 17, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
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Patent number: 10385713Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Brady Walker, Gregory S. Piehler
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Patent number: 10329951Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Brady Walker
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Publication number: 20190078688Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Brady Walker, Robert D. Szolomayer
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Publication number: 20190063247Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2017Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Brady Walker, Gregory S. Piehler
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Patent number: 10174635Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Brady Walker, Ronnie K. Kovacik
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Publication number: 20180355757Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: Brady Walker
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Publication number: 20180106157Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2016Publication date: April 19, 2018Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Kevin Duffy, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
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Patent number: 9909438Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Kevin Duffy, Ronald K. Kovacik, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles
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Publication number: 20180045316Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2016Publication date: February 15, 2018Inventors: Ronnie K. Kovacik, Brady Walker
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Publication number: 20170292394Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2016Publication date: October 12, 2017Inventors: Kevin Duffy, Ronald K. Kovacik, Brady Walker, Antonio F. Artiles