Patents by Inventor Brandon Wayne Miller

Brandon Wayne Miller 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).

  • Publication number: 20200165974
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; a fuel delivery system for providing a flow of fuel to the combustion section; and a waste heat recovery system. The waste heat recovery system includes a heat source exchanger in thermal communication with the turbine section, the exhaust section, or both; a heat sink exchanger in thermal communication with the fuel delivery system, the core air flowpath, or both; a thermal transfer bus including a thermal transfer fluid and extending from the heat source exchanger to the heat sink exchanger; and a pump in fluid communication with the thermal transfer bus downstream of the heat source exchanger and upstream of the heat sink exchanger for increasing a temperature and a pressure of the thermal transfer fluid in the thermal transfer bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Helmut Ripplinger
  • Patent number: 10654577
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a longitudinal direction, and a circumferential direction, an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction, and an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a low pressure (LP) turbine defining an outer flowpath. The outer flowpath defines a first outer flowpath radius at an upstream-most end of the LP turbine, a last outer flowpath radius disposed at a downstream-most end of the LP turbine, a middle outer flowpath radius disposed therebetween along the longitudinal direction. The middle outer flowpath radius is greater than the last outer flowpath radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Ory Moniz, Monty Lee Shelton, Joel Francis Kirk, Jeffrey Donald Clements
  • Patent number: 10648365
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a core engine. The core engine includes an inlet, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust. The gas turbine engine also includes a bearing sump arranged in the core engine for containing lubrication, the bearing sump and lubrication having an operational range between at least about 0° F. and about 550° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kyle Robert Snow, Brandon Wayne Miller, Duane Howard Anstead, Jonothan Allen Scheetz, Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun, Ning Fang
  • Publication number: 20200140114
    Abstract: An engine includes a combustion section and a fuel delivery system in fluid communication with the combustion section for providing fuel to the combustion section. The fuel delivery system includes a fuel oxygen reduction unit defining a circulation gas flowpath. The fuel oxygen reduction unit includes a gas oxygen reduction unit positioned in the circulation gas flowpath for reducing an oxygen content of a flow of stripping gas through the circulation gas flowpath and a pre-heater positioned in thermal communication with the circulation gas flowpath upstream of the gas oxygen reduction unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Allen Andrews, JR., Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20200141575
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet, a stripping gas inlet and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; and a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in flow communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor and an axis. The fuel gas separator further includes a stationary casing; and a separator assembly including a core and a plurality of paddles extending from the core, the separator assembly rotatable about the axis within the stationary casing to separate a fuel/gas mixture received through the fuel/gas mixture inlet into a liquid fuel flow and stripping gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20200140113
    Abstract: A fuel system for an aircraft includes a fuel source and a fuel oxygen reduction unit defining a liquid fuel supply path, a stripping gas supply path, a liquid fuel outlet path, and a stripping gas return path, wherein the stripping gas return path and stripping gas supply path are each in airflow communication with the fuel source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20200141574
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas flowpath for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas boost pump positioned in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath for increasing a pressure of a flow of stripping gas through the stripping gas flowpath; a contactor defining a stripping gas inlet in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath, a liquid fuel inlet, and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, a stripping gas outlet, and a liquid fuel outlet; and a connection assembly mechanically coupling the stripping gas boost pump to the fuel gas separator, the connection assembly having a speed change mechanism such that the stripping gas boost pump rotates at a different rotational speed than the fuel gas separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Peter Allen Andrews, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200140111
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel tank; a draw pump downstream of the fuel tank for generating a liquid fuel flow from the fuel tank; a main fuel pump downstream of the draw pump; and a fuel oxygen conversion unit downstream of the draw pump and upstream of the main fuel pump. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas line; a contactor in fluid communication with the stripping gas line and the draw pump for forming a fuel/gas mixture; and a dual separator pump in fluid communication with the contactor for receiving the fuel/gas mixture and separating the fuel/gas mixture into a stripping gas flow and the liquid fuel flow at a location upstream of the main fuel pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, David Justin Brady
  • Publication number: 20200141337
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet, a stripping gas inlet and a fuel/gas mixture outlet. The fuel oxygen conversion unit also includes a fuel/gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in flow communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, an axial direction, and a radial direction. The fuel/gas separator includes a separator assembly including a core including a gas-permeable section extending along the axial direction and defining a maximum diameter, the maximum diameter of the gas-permeable section being substantially constant along the axial direction; and a stationary casing, the fuel/gas separator defining a fuel/gas chamber in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture inlet at a location inward of the stationary casing and outward of the gas-permeable section of the separator assembly along the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20200140109
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor; a fuel gas separator, the fuel oxygen conversion unit defining a circulation gas flowpath from the fuel gas separator to the contactor; and an isolation valve in airflow communication with the circulation gas flowpath for modulating a gas flow through the circulation gas flowpath to the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Peter Allen Andrews, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200140110
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle includes a contactor; a mechanically-driven, first fuel gas separator defining a liquid fuel outlet and a stripping gas outlet, the fuel oxygen conversion unit defining a liquid fuel outlet path in fluid communication with the liquid fuel outlet of the first fuel gas separator; and a second fuel gas separator positioned in fluid communication with the liquid fuel outlet path at a location downstream of the first fuel gas separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20200140112
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel oxygen reduction unit for a vehicle or a gas turbine engine of the vehicle is provided. The fuel oxygen reduction unit including a contactor and a fuel gas separator, and further defining a stripping gas flowpath in flow communication with a stripping gas inlet of the contactor and a stripping gas outlet of the fuel gas separator. The method includes receiving data indicative of a parameter of a stripping gas flow through the stripping gas flowpath or of a component in flow communication with the stripping gas flow through the stripping gas flowpath; and determining an operability condition of the fuel oxygen reduction unit, or a component operable with the fuel oxygen reduction unit, based on the data received indicative of the parameter of the stripping gas flow or of the component in flow communication with the stripping gas flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Sridhar Adibhatla
  • Publication number: 20200140115
    Abstract: An engine includes a stripping gas source, a combustion section, and a fuel oxygen conversion unit positioned upstream of the combustion section, the fuel oxygen conversion unit defining a stripping gas flowpath in airflow communication with the stripping gas source. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a fuel inlet, a gas inlet in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath, and a fuel gas mixture outlet; and a fuel gas separator defining a fuel gas mixture inlet for receiving a fuel gas mixture from the contactor, a liquid fuel outlet, and a stripping gas outlet; wherein the stripping gas flowpath receives substantially all of a stripping gas flow therethrough from the stripping gas source and provides the stripping gas flow to the contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Peter Allen Andrews, JR., Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christian Xavier Stevenson, David Vickery Parker
  • Patent number: 10633104
    Abstract: A method of operating a hybrid-electric propulsion system for an aircraft includes determining a flight phase parameter for the aircraft is equal to a first value, and operating the hybrid-electric propulsion system in an electric charge mode in response to determining the flight phase parameter for the aircraft is equal to the first value. The method also includes determining the flight phase parameter for the aircraft is equal to a second value different from the first value, and operating the hybrid-electric propulsion system in an electric discharge mode in response to determining the flight phase parameter for the aircraft is equal to the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Michael Thomas Gansler, Sridhar Adibhatla, Daniel E. Bergsten, Nicholas Adam Wagner, David Allen Gutz
  • Publication number: 20200088106
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a fan, a core including at least one rotatable shaft, and a gearbox mechanically coupling at least one rotatable shaft of the core to the fan is provided. The gas turbine engine also includes a coupling system for mounting the gearbox within the gas turbine engine. The coupling system includes a flexible coupling connected to at least one of a fan frame or a core frame, as well as a torque frame connected to the flexible coupling and the gearbox. Moreover, a deflection limiter is provided, loosely attaching the flexible coupling to the gearbox to provide a predetermined axial range of motion, radial range of motion, and circumferential range of motion between the gearbox and the frame to which the flexible coupling is attached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Donald Albert Bradley
  • Publication number: 20200079513
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric fan of an aircraft propulsion system includes driving a plurality of fan blades of the electric fan with an electric machine to generate thrust for the aircraft; and driving the electric machine with the plurality of fan blades of the electric fan to generate electrical power subsequent to driving the plurality of fan blades of the electric fan with the electric machine to generate thrust for the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Nikolai N. Pastouchenko, Randy M. Vondrell, Kurt David Murrow, Jixian Yao, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Narendra Digamber Joshi
  • Publication number: 20200063606
    Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining a gas turbine engine installed on an aircraft, the gas turbine engine including an electric machine mounted at least partially inward of a core air flowpath of the gas turbine engine. The method includes removing a rotor mount connecting a rotor of the electric machine to a rotary component of the gas turbine engine; removing a stator mount connecting a stator of the electric machine to a stationary component of the gas turbine engine; and removing in situ the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Christopher Charles Glynn
  • Publication number: 20200040821
    Abstract: A structure for damping at a fluid manifold assembly for an engine is generally provided. The fluid manifold assembly includes a first walled conduit defining a first fluid passage therewithin. A flow of fluid defining a first frequency is permitted through the first fluid passage. A second walled conduit includes a pair of first portions each coupled to the first walled conduit. A second portion is coupled to the pair of first portions. A second fluid passage is defined through the first portion and the second portion in fluid communication with the first fluid passage. The flow of fluid is permitted through the second fluid passage at a second frequency approximately 180 degrees out of phase from the first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Donald Scott Yeager, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20200044518
    Abstract: In one an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an engine includes a drive shaft; an electric machine including a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly rotatable relative to the stator assembly; and an electrical break, the drive shaft coupled to the rotor assembly through the electrical break.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Christopher James Kroger, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 10550724
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section and a core turbine engine operable with the fan section. The gas turbine engine also includes a sump pressurization assembly including a valve, a first duct in airflow communication with the valve and a first pressurized air source, and a second duct in airflow communication with the valve and a second pressurized air source. Further, the sump pressurization assembly includes a supply duct selectively in airflow communication with the first duct and the second duct through the valve. The supply duct is located at least partially inward of a core air flowpath of the core turbine engine for pressurizing a sump of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Daniel Robert Dwyer, Mark John Laricchiuta, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller