Patents by Inventor Brian K. Kestner

Brian K. Kestner 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: 11448127
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a translating inlet assembly are provided. In one embodiment, a core engine of a gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. The compressor section can include an inner flowpath surface. A core casing can enclose the core engine. A forward end of the core casing can include a translating inlet assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The translating inlet assembly and the inner flowpath surface can together define an inlet to an engine airflow path. A translating inlet assembly can define a first inlet area in the first position and a second inlet area in the second position, the first inlet area being greater than the second inlet area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11073090
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a valved airflow passage assembly are provided. A gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. The compressor section can include a compressor. The gas turbine engine can further include a valved airflow passage assembly comprising a valve and a duct, the duct defining an inlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path at a location downstream of the compressor and an outlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path at a location upstream of the compressor, the duct comprising an airflow passage extending between the inlet and outlet. The valve can be operable with the airflow passage for controlling an airflow through the airflow passage to adjust airflow distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20200340401
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a translating inlet assembly are provided. In one embodiment, a core engine of a gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. The compressor section can include an inner flowpath surface. A core casing can enclose the core engine. A forward end of the core casing can include a translating inlet assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The translating inlet assembly and the inner flowpath surface can together define an inlet to an engine airflow path. A translating inlet assembly can define a first inlet area in the first position and a second inlet area in the second position, the first inlet area being greater than the second inlet area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 10794281
    Abstract: Instrumented airflow path components configured to determine airflow path distortion in an airflow path of a gas turbine engine (e.g., using for propulsion of an aircraft) are provided. In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine for an aircraft can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and turbine section in series flow. The compressor section, combustion section, and turbine section define at a portion of an engine airflow path for the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine further includes one or more members extending at least partially into the engine airflow path of the gas turbine engine and one or more pressure sensor devices at least partially integrated into the one or more members extending at least partially into the engine airflow path. The one or more pressure sensor devices are configured to obtain measurements for determining a distortion condition for the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 10753278
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a translating inlet assembly are provided. In one embodiment, a core engine of a gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. The compressor section can include an inner flowpath surface. A core casing can enclose the core engine. A forward end of the core casing can include a translating inlet assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The translating inlet assembly and the inner flowpath surface can together define an inlet to an engine airflow path. A translating inlet assembly can define a first inlet area in the first position and a second inlet area in the second position, the first inlet area being greater than the second inlet area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20170284296
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a secondary airflow passage assembly are disclosed. A gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. A casing can enclose the gas turbine engine and be at least partially exposed to a bypass airflow. The gas turbine engine can further include a secondary airflow passage assembly comprising a door and a duct, the duct defining an inlet located on the casing, the duct defining an outlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path, the duct comprising an airflow passage extending between the inlet and outlet. The door can be moveable between an open and closed position to allow a portion of the bypass airflow to flow through the airflow passage to adjust airflow distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20170284297
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a translating inlet assembly are provided. In one embodiment, a core engine of a gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. The compressor section can include an inner flowpath surface. A core casing can enclose the core engine. A forward end of the core casing can include a translating inlet assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The translating inlet assembly and the inner flowpath surface can together define an inlet to an engine airflow path. A translating inlet assembly can define a first inlet area in the first position and a second inlet area in the second position, the first inlet area being greater than the second inlet area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20170284304
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a valved airflow passage assembly are provided. A gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. The compressor section can include a compressor. The gas turbine engine can further include a valved airflow passage assembly comprising a valve and a duct, the duct defining an inlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path at a location downstream of the compressor and an outlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path at a location upstream of the compressor, the duct comprising an airflow passage extending between the inlet and outlet. The valve can be operable with the airflow passage for controlling an airflow through the airflow passage to adjust airflow distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 9777633
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a secondary airflow passage assembly are disclosed. A gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. A casing can enclose the gas turbine engine and be at least partially exposed to a bypass airflow. The gas turbine engine can further include a secondary airflow passage assembly comprising a door and a duct, the duct defining an inlet located on the casing, the duct defining an outlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path, the duct comprising an airflow passage extending between the inlet and outlet. The door can be moveable between an open and closed position to allow a portion of the bypass airflow to flow through the airflow passage to adjust airflow distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20170218854
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine engine on an aircraft in response to airflow distortion in an airflow path of the gas turbine engine is provided. In one embodiment, a method can include determining, by one or more control devices located on an aircraft, a distortion condition associated with the gas turbine engine. The method can further include determining, by the one or more control devices, a stall margin for the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the distortion condition. The method can further include determining, by the one or more control devices, an engine control parameter based at least in part on the stall margin. The method can further include controlling, by the one or more control devices, a component of the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the engine control parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20170218841
    Abstract: Instrumented airflow path components configured to determine airflow path distortion in an airflow path of a gas turbine engine (e.g., using for propulsion of an aircraft) are provided. In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine for an aircraft can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and turbine section in series flow. The compressor section, combustion section, and turbine section define at a portion of an engine airflow path for the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine further includes one or more members extending at least partially into the engine airflow path of the gas turbine engine and one or more pressure sensor devices at least partially integrated into the one or more members extending at least partially into the engine airflow path. The one or more pressure sensor devices are configured to obtain measurements for determining a distortion condition for the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20170218842
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine on an aircraft. The gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow. An engine airflow can flow through the compressor section, the combustion suction, and turbine section of the gas turbine engine. In one example, a method can include determining a distortion condition associated with one or more members extending at least partially into the engine airflow path. The method can further include controlling at least one sector of a plurality of sectors of variable guide vanes positioned at least partially within the engine airflow path to adjust the distortion condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller