Patents by Inventor Brandon W. Spangler

Brandon W. Spangler 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: 10612390
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component comprises a body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a radial span. One internal channel in the body provides an upstream supply pressure. Another internal channel in body receives the upstream supply pressure and provides a downstream supply pressure. At least one axial rib separates an internal area adjacent to the trailing edge into a plurality of individual cavities. At least one pressure regulating feature is located at an entrance to at least one individual cavity entrance to control downstream supply pressure to the trailing edge. Exits formed in the trailing edge communicate with an exit pressure. The rib and pressure regulating features cooperate such that the downstream supply pressure mimics the exit pressure along the radial span. A method of manufacturing a gas turbine engine component and a method of controlling flow in a gas turbine engine component are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Carey Clum, Matthew A. Devore
  • Patent number: 10590785
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a platform that has a gas path side, a non-gas path side, a first mate face, and a second mate face. The second mate face has a beveled edge sloping towards the first mate face. The gas turbine engine also includes a coverplate that includes a first bend, a flat portion substantially parallel to the first mate face and a first wing substantially parallel to the second mate face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Publication number: 20200072060
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes an airfoil defined by a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure sidewall, and a suction sidewall. An internal cavity extends radially through the airfoil and is partially defined by an inner surface of the pressure sidewall and an inner surface of the suction sidewall. A baffle is disposed within the internal cavity, and includes a baffle wall conformal with adjacent surfaces of the internal cavity, a divider separating a forward chamber and an aft chamber, and a plurality of orifices extending through the baffle wall at the forward chamber. At least one axial rib is disposed between the baffle wall and the internal cavity, and is positioned at a discrete spanwise location of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 10577947
    Abstract: A baffle insert for a component of a gas turbine engine is provided. The baffle insert having: a plurality of trip strips extending upwardly from an exterior surface of the baffle insert; and at least one rib extending upwardly from the exterior surface of the baffle insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Atul Kohli
  • Patent number: 10544682
    Abstract: Airfoils and methods of making the same, the airfoils having an airfoil body radially extending from a first end to a second end and axially extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the airfoil body defining an airfoil cavity therein, the airfoil cavity defined by a cavity wall having at least one smooth portion, at least one expansion seal installed within the airfoil cavity, the at least one expansion seal dividing the airfoil cavity into at least a first sub-cavity and a second sub-cavity, wherein the at least one expansion seal engages with the smooth portion of the cavity wall by an expansion force that biases ends of the at least one expansion seal into contact with the smooth portion of the cavity wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Publication number: 20200024967
    Abstract: Airfoils for gas turbine engines are described. The airfoils include an airfoil body having a leading edge and a trailing edge extending in a radial direction, a cooling cavity defined within the airfoil body at the trailing edge, and a plurality of angled pedestals arranged along the trailing edge, wherein the plurality of angled pedestals define a plurality of angled trailing edge slots therebetween. Adjacent angled pedestals of the plurality of angled pedestals define a meter section of a respective angled trailing edge slot and a diffuser section of the respective angled trailing edge slot, wherein the meter section is defined by parallel sides of the adjacent angled pedestals, wherein the parallel sides of the adjacent angled pedestals are oriented at a bleed direction that is less than 90° with respect to a feed direction through the cooling cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Kevin D. Tracy, Dominic J. Mongillo, JR.
  • Patent number: 10526917
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a turbine section positioned about an engine central longitudinal axis. The turbine section includes a component with a platform providing a lip, a rail extending radially from the platform and at an axial location spaced from an outer axial extension of the lip. An inner face of the rail and a surface of the platform at least partially provide a cavity. At least one opening extends from the inner face to an outer face of the rail opposite the inner face to provide fluid communication from the cavity to the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Corey D. Anderson, Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 10519781
    Abstract: Airfoils having hollow bodies defining first and second airfoil cavities and having inner and outer diameter ends, a first airfoil platform at one end of the hollow body having a gaspath surface and a non-gaspath surface, wherein the hollow body extends from the gaspath surface. A first cavity opening is formed in the non-gaspath surface of the platform to fluidly connect to the first airfoil cavity and a second cavity opening in the platform is fluidly connected to the second airfoil cavity. A first turn cap is fixedly attached to the first airfoil platform on the non-gaspath surface covering the first and second cavity openings of the first airfoil platform and defines a first turning cavity such that the first cavity opening in the first airfoil platform is fluidly connected to the second cavity opening in the first airfoil platform by the first turning cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Publication number: 20190383149
    Abstract: A gaspath component for a gas turbine engine includes a platform having at least one internal cooling passage. The at least one internal cooling passage has a plurality of trip strips extending into the cooling passage from at least one internal surface of the cooling passage. Each of the trip strips is defined by a z-shaped configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Dominic J. Mongillo, JR.
  • Patent number: 10494939
    Abstract: An engine component assembly includes at least one cavity that is in communication with a source of cooling air. An insert disposed within the cavity includes a plurality of scoops protruding into a flow of cooling air for directing cooling air through the insert and against an inner surface of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Atul Kohli
  • Patent number: 10487668
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a structure including spaced apart first and second exterior walls that extend in a first direction to an endwall. The first and second exterior walls are joined at the endwall to provide a cooling cavity. A wishbone baffle is arranged in the cooling cavity and includes first and second interior walls respectively adjacent to the first and second exterior walls. The first and second interior walls extend in the first direction to and are joined by an apex to provide a first cavity. The wishbone baffle separates the first cavity from a second cavity provided between the apex and the endwall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Edwin Otero
  • Patent number: 10480329
    Abstract: Turn caps for airfoils of gas turbine engines having exterior side walls, an exterior top wall extending between the exterior side walls, a first turn cap divider extending from the exterior top wall and positioned between the exterior side walls and defining a first turning feature between the first turn cap divider and the exterior side walls, the first turning feature comprising a first suction-side turn passage and a first pressure-side turn passage wherein the first turn cap divider fluidly separates the first pressure-side turn passage from the first suction-side turn passage within the turn cap, and a merging chamber is formed in the turn cap wherein fluid flows passing through the first suction side turn passage and the first pressure side turn passage are merged at the merging chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Dominic J. Mongillo
  • Publication number: 20190345829
    Abstract: A baffle for airfoil cooling contains multiple segments capable of nesting within each other. When the segments are nested within each other, the baffle is in a collapsed state, and is capable of insertion into an airfoil around an obstruction platform or rail. The multiple segments can be expanded after insertion so that the cavity of the airfoil is filled with the baffle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Corey D. Anderson, Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 10465528
    Abstract: Turn caps for airfoils of gas turbine engines including cavity sidewalls, a first turn cap divider extending between the cavity sidewalls and defining a turning cavity between the first turn cap divider and the cavity sidewalls, and a second turn cap divider disposed radially inward within the turning cavity. A first turning path is defined between the first turn cap divider and the second turn cap divider and a second turning path is defined radially inward of the second turn cap divider and a merging chamber is formed in the turn cap wherein fluid flows through the first turning path and the second turning path are merged, the merging chamber, the first turning path, and the second turning path forming the turning cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Dominic J. Mongillo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10465542
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes pressure and suction side walls joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The pressure and suction side walls surround an airfoil cavity and provide an exterior airfoil surface. A baffle is arranged in the airfoil cavity and includes a supply hole. Ribs extend between at least one of the pressure and suction side walls into the airfoil cavity to support the baffle relative to the at least one of the pressure and suction side walls. The ribs are configured to provide a serpentine cooling passage between the baffle and at least one of the pressure and suction side walls. The serpentine cooling passage has first and second passes joined by a bend. The ribs form a film cooling cavity between the first and second passes. The supply hole fluidly connects the baffle to the film cooling cavity. Film cooling holes extend through the at least one of the pressure and suction side walls. The film cooling holes are in fluid communication with the film cooling cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Ryan Alan Waite, Steven Bruce Gautschi, Benjamin F. Hagan
  • Publication number: 20190330986
    Abstract: Components for gas turbine engines are provided. The components include a platform, a first airfoil extending from the platform, a first cavity located within the first airfoil, the first cavity includes a forward portion and an aft portion separated by a divider, a cover plate attached to the platform on a side opposite the airfoil, wherein a platform cavity is defined between the cover plate and the platform and wherein the first cavity is fluidly connected to the platform cavity through a first cavity inlet, and a first cavity separating rail dividing the platform cavity into a first platform forward cavity and a first platform aft cavity, wherein the first platform forward cavity is fluidly connected to the aft portion of the first cavity and the first platform aft cavity is fluidly connected to the forward portion of the first cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Corey D. Anderson, Brandon W. Spangler
  • Publication number: 20190330987
    Abstract: Baffles and airfoils for installation within gas turbine engines are provided. The baffles include a baffle side wall extending between a first end and a second end and a baffle divider within the baffle side wall, wherein the baffle divider and the baffle side wall define a first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity is located at a first side at the first end and the second cavity is located at a second side at the first end and the baffle divider includes a spiral portion such that the first cavity is transitioned toward the second side and the second cavity is transitioned toward the first side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Corey D. Anderson, Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 10458252
    Abstract: A gas path component for a gas turbine engine includes an element configured to be exposed to a gas path. The element includes a plurality of internal cooling passages. At least one of the internal cooling passages includes a cross section having a plurality of asymmetrical filleted corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Atul Kohli
  • Patent number: 10458291
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes a platform having a non-gas path side and a gas path side, an airfoil extending from the gas path side of the platform, and a cover plate positioned adjacent to the non-gas path side of the platform. The cover plate can include a first plurality of openings that communicate a first portion of a cooling air to a first cooling cavity of the platform and a second plurality of openings that can communicate a second portion of the cooling air to the second cooling cavity that is separate from the first cooling cavity. Each of the first cooling cavity and the second cooling cavity can include a plurality of augmentation features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Russell J. Bergman
  • Patent number: 10458264
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a body including a cold side surface adjacent to a mate face. A plurality of ridges extends from the cold side surface. A seal member abuts the plurality of ridges to define a plurality of cooling passages. The seal member is configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to the plurality of ridges. Each of the plurality of cooling passages includes a first inlet defined at the first position and a second, different inlet defined at the second position. A method of sealing between adjacent components of a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dominic J. Mongillo, Jr., Brandon W. Spangler, Lane Thornton