Patents by Inventor Brian Ellis Clouse

Brian Ellis Clouse 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: 10253645
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion. A retention flange extends from the leading edge portion and a leaf seal contacts the retention flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Ellis Clouse, David F. Cloud, Donna Clough
  • Patent number: 10240475
    Abstract: An outer air seal includes a seal wall, a heat shield, a side wall and a blade seal disposed radially inward of the seal wall. The seal wall has axially opposed first and second ends. The heat shield is radially outward of the seal wall and has first and second ends axially opposed ends. The second end of the heat shield is joined to the second end of the seal wall. The side wall is between the seal wall and the heat shield and spaces the first ends of the heat shield and the seal wall apart to form an inner cavity therebetween. Inner and outer diameter ends of the side wall are joined to the first ends of the seal wall and of the heat shield, respectively. The heat shield is configured to thermally isolate an outer case from the inner cavity and the seal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Patent number: 9803491
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion and a shiplap structure that at least partially overlaps at least a portion of at least one of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ellis Clouse, David F. Cloud, Donna Clough
  • Patent number: 9506367
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion and a seal land that extends from the seal body and includes an inward pointing extension that extends radially inwardly from the radially inner face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Publication number: 20160305267
    Abstract: An outer air seal includes a seal wall, a heat shield, a side wall and a blade seal disposed radially inward of the seal wall. The seal wall has axially opposed first and second ends. The heat shield is radially outward of the seal wall and has first and second ends axially opposed ends. The second end of the heat shield is joined to the second end of the seal wall. The side wall is between the seal wall and the heat shield and spaces the first ends of the heat shield and the seal wall apart to form an inner cavity therebetween. Inner and outer diameter ends of the side wall are joined to the first ends of the seal wall and of the heat shield, respectively. The heat shield is configured to thermally isolate an outer case from the inner cavity and the seal wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Patent number: 9447695
    Abstract: A diffuser seal for an aft end of a high pressure compressor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The diffuser seal includes a flow guide carrier coupled to the diffuser case. The flow guide carrier is also coupled to a static seal. The static seal engages a rotary seal and permits air flow through the static and rotary seals in the aft direction. The flow guide carrier is also coupled to a fairing and a fairing/hub support. The flow guide carrier supports the fairing in a spaced-apart position with respect to the rear hub so that air flowing through the static and rotary seals passes between a forward surface of the fairing and the rear hub. The fairing/hub support extends forward from the flow guide support and engages an aft surface of the fairing thereby limiting movement of the rear hub and fairing in the aft direction. This design helps to prevent parts or debris from piercing the rear hub and entering the high pressure turbine in the even of a fan blade-out or fan blade-off event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul W. Baumann, Charles H. Warner, Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Patent number: 9404580
    Abstract: The sealing apparatus and method of assembling the same is disclosed. The sealing apparatus may comprise a resilient member and a sealing member. The resilient member may define a cavity having a closed end and an open end. The resilient member may include a first wall having a first inner sealing surface and a second wall having a second inner sealing surface. The first and second walls may be joined at the closed end. The sealing member may be disposed at least partially in the cavity in sealing engagement with the first and second inner sealing surfaces. The sealing member may comprise an upper plurality of layered finger seals and a lower plurality of layered finger seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Patent number: 9115596
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion. At least one of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion includes a solid wall and a perforated wall. At least a portion of the perforated wall is spaced from the solid wall such that a passage extends between the solid wall and the perforated wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Publication number: 20140186163
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion and a shiplap structure that at least partially overlaps at least a portion of at least one of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Ellis Clouse, David F. Cloud, Donna Clough
  • Publication number: 20140140825
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion and a seal land that extends from the seal body and includes an inward pointing extension that extends radially inwardly from the radially inner face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Publication number: 20140044528
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion. At least one of the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion includes a solid wall and a perforated wall. At least a portion of the perforated wall is spaced from the solid wall such that a passage extends between the solid wall and the perforated wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Publication number: 20130270777
    Abstract: The sealing apparatus and method of assembling the same is disclosed. The sealing apparatus may comprise a resilient member and a sealing member. The resilient member may define a cavity having a closed end and an open end. The resilient member may include a first wall having a first inner sealing surface and a second wall having a second inner sealing surface. The first and second walls may be joined at the closed end. The sealing member may be disposed at least partially in the cavity in sealing engagement with the first and second inner sealing surfaces. The sealing member may comprise an upper plurality of layered finger seals and a lower plurality of layered finger seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventor: Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Publication number: 20130230386
    Abstract: A diffuser seal for an aft end of a high pressure compressor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The diffuser seal includes a flow guide carrier coupled to the diffuser case. The flow guide carrier is also coupled to a static seal. The static seal engages a rotary seal and permits air flow through the static and rotary seals in the aft direction. The flow guide carrier is also coupled to a fairing and a fairing/hub support. The flow guide carrier supports the fairing in a spaced-apart position with respect to the rear hub so that air flowing through the static and rotary seals passes between a forward surface of the fairing and the rear hub. The fairing/hub support extends forward from the flow guide support and engages an aft surface of the fairing thereby limiting movement of the rear hub and fairing in the aft direction. This design helps to prevent parts or debris from piercing the rear hub and entering the high pressure turbine in the even of a fan blade-out or fan blade-off event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney
    Inventors: Paul W. Baumann, Charles H. Warner, Brian Ellis Clouse
  • Patent number: 6439842
    Abstract: A stator case for a gas turbine engine having a stator and a rotor. The rotor has a plurality of circumferential rows of blades. Each blade extends radially outward from a root to a tip. The case includes a tubular shell extending axially between a forward end and an aft end. The shell has an interior surface defining a hollow interior sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the rotor of the gas turbine engine. The case also includes a circular forward flange extending radially outward from the forward end of the shell and a circular aft flange extending radially outward from the aft end of the shell. In addition, the case includes a circular rib extending radially outward from the shell between adjacent rows of blades. The rib is sized and shaped for adjusting transient deflections of the shell to generally match transient deflections of the tips of the plurality of rotor blades to reduce a transient clearance between the interior surface of the tubular shell and the tips of the rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Myron Daniel Toomey, Brian Ellis Clouse, Michael Thomas Hogan, Craig Robert Jacobson
  • Patent number: 6375410
    Abstract: A frangible cover is provided for a recess in a containment case for turbofan engine blade removal and access. The recess provided in the containment case allows outward radial movement of the engine fan blade when the engine fan blade is to be removed from the containment case. The present invention proposes a frangible component to cover the recess. A plurality of initiation points, notched in the frangible cover at intersections of surfaces encourages brittle fracture of the frangible component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Ellis Clouse, Robert Armstrong Morse
  • Publication number: 20010031198
    Abstract: A frangible cover is provided for a recess in a containment case for turbofan engine blade removal and access. The recess provided in the containment case allows outward radial movement of the engine fan blade when the engine fan blade is to be removed from the containment case. The present invention proposes a frangible component to cover the recess. A plurality of initiation points, notched in the frangible cover at intersections of surfaces encourages brittle fracture of the frangible component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Brian Ellis Clouse, Robert Armstrong Morse
  • Patent number: RE43928
    Abstract: An adapter to permit borescope access inside a gas turbine engine including a compressor stator having a plurality of compressor stator segments comprises a body portion defining a bore extending longitudinally therethrough from a first end to be disposed adjacent to outside surfaces of adjacent compressor stator segments to a second end to be disposed adjacent to inside surfaces of adjacent compressor stator segments. The bore permits a borescope to enter therethrough. The adapter further comprises an attachment portion for circumferentially coupling at least one compressor stator segment to an outer casing of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Ellis Clouse, David P. Dube