Patents by Inventor Brian P. Cigal

Brian P. Cigal 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: 20160003105
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine may include a geared architecture, a central body support and a bearing package. The geared architecture may interconnect a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. The central body support may provide an annular wall for a core flow path and an integral flex support inwardly extending therefrom. The integral flex support may couple the geared architecture to the central body support. The bearing package may include a bearing support removably coupled to the integral flex support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Brian P. Cigal, Todd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8915702
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a central body support that provides an inner annular wall for a core flow path. The central body support includes a first mount feature. A geared architecture interconnects a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. A flex support interconnects the geared architecture to the central body support. The flex support includes a second mount feature that cooperates with the first mount feature for transferring torque there between. A method of disassembling a front architecture of a gas turbine engine includes the steps of accessing forward-facing fasteners that secure a central body support to a flex support, wherein the flex support includes a geared architecture supported thereon, removing the fasteners, and decoupling first and second mount features respectively provided on the central body support and the flex support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Otto, Brian P. Cigal, Sunil Sharma
  • Patent number: 8911204
    Abstract: A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes disassembling a bearing compartment, providing access from a forward side of the gas turbine engine to a gearbox contained within said bearing compartment. The gas turbine engine provides a core flow path that extends from the forward side aftward in a core flow direction. The method includes servicing a component located within the bearing compartment. A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward side of a front center body assembly, and servicing a component located within a bearing compartment aft of the front center body assembly. The gas turbine engine includes a seal package located aft of a bearing package. A front wall is mounted to the front center body support and is removable from a front center body support to access at least one of the gearbox, the bearing package and the seal package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20140317926
    Abstract: A method for maintaining a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward section of a front center body assembly to a flex support mounted to a front center body support. The flex support is mounted to a geared architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
  • Patent number: 8702373
    Abstract: The present disclosure is applicable to all gear trains using a journal bearing as a means of supporting gear shaft rotation. It is related in some embodiments to a system and method for supplying lubricant to the journal bearings of a gear-turbofan engine gear train when the fan rotor is subjected to a wind-milling condition in both directions, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Valva, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20130192242
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a fan drive gear system coupled to drive the fan, a compressor section including a first compressor and a second compressor and a turbine section. The turbine section includes a first turbine coupled to drive a first spool, which is coupled at a first axial position to a compressor hub that is coupled to drive the first compressor. The first spool is also coupled at a second axial position to a fan drive input shaft that is coupled to drive the fan drive gear system. A second turbine is coupled through a second spool to drive the second compressor. A speed sensor probe is operable to determine a rotational speed of the first spool. The speed sensor probe is located axially aft of the first axial position and the second axial position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
  • Patent number: 8366385
    Abstract: A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward section of the gas turbine engine to a gearbox contained within a bearing compartment. A gas turbine is also disclosed in which a bearing package is mounted to a front center body support and a low spool. A front wall is removable from the front center body support to provide access to the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
  • Patent number: 8360714
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a central body support that provides an inner annular wall for a core flow path. The central body support includes first splines. A geared architecture interconnects a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. A flex support interconnects the geared architecture to the central body support. The flex support includes second splines that intermesh with the first splines for transferring torque there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Otto, Brian P. Cigal, Sunil Sharma
  • Patent number: 8308426
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, an annular fluid collection cavity, and a bearing. The shaft is rotatable around an axially extending shaft centerline. The annular fluid collection cavity is formed by an axial panel extending between a forward radial panel and an aft radial panel. The aft radial panel includes a plurality of fluid apertures, each fluid aperture having a center disposed at a first radius from the shaft centerline. The bearing includes an inner race having a shaft mounting surface and a plurality of axially extending race fluid passages. The shaft mounting surface is engaged with an exterior surface of the shaft, and is disposed at a second radius from the shaft centerline, wherein the second radius is less than the first radius. At least some of the axially extending race fluid passages are fluidly connected with at least some of the fluid apertures in the aft radial panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Cigal, Mark A. Metzger
  • Publication number: 20120260623
    Abstract: A coupling shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a forward coupling shaft section with a forward interface spline and a forward mid shaft interface spline and an aft coupling shaft section includes an aft mid shaft interface spline and an aft interface spline, the aft mid shaft interface spline engageable with the forward mid shaft interface spline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20120260669
    Abstract: A front center body support for a gas turbine engine includes a front center body section, a bearing section and a frustro-conical interface section, the frustro-conical interface section between the front center body section and the bearing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20120263578
    Abstract: A method for servicing a gas turbine engine includes providing access from a forward section of the gas turbine engine to a gearbox contained within a bearing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20120263579
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a central body support that provides an inner annular wall for a core flow path. The central body support includes first splines. A geared architecture interconnects a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. A flex support interconnects the geared architecture to the central body support. The flex support includes second splines that intermesh with the first splines for transferring torque there between.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: John R. Otto, Brian P. Cigal, Sunil Sharma
  • Patent number: 8215894
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotational assembly includes a first seal, a second seal and a crossover support. The crossover support includes a first geometry that interacts with the first seal and a second, different geometry that interacts with the second seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Logan Miller, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20120027570
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, an annular fluid collection cavity, and a bearing. The shaft is rotatable around an axially extending shaft centerline. The annular fluid collection cavity is formed by an axial panel extending between a forward radial panel and an aft radial panel. The aft radial panel includes a plurality of fluid apertures, each fluid aperture having a center disposed at a first radius from the shaft centerline. The bearing includes an inner race having a shaft mounting surface and a plurality of axially extending race fluid passages. The shaft mounting surface is engaged with an exterior surface of the shaft, and is disposed at a second radius from the shaft centerline, wherein the second radius is less than the first radius. At least some of the axially extending race fluid passages are fluidly connected with at least some of the fluid apertures in the aft radial panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian P. Cigal, Mark A. Metzger
  • Publication number: 20120011824
    Abstract: An assembly includes a tube fitting integrally joined with a nozzle and adapted with a plurality of passages to spray lubricating oil at components within a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine. In another aspect, the tube fitting and the nozzle are attached to a lubrication tube such that the tube fitting and nozzle can be inserted or removed from the bearing compartment along with the lubrication tube without disassembling the bearing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian P. Cigal, Leslie C. Kurz, Fred NguyenLoc
  • Publication number: 20090121441
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotational assembly includes a first seal, a second seal and a crossover support. The crossover support includes a first geometry that interacts with the first seal and a second, different geometry that interacts with the second seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Jonathan Logan Miller, Brian P. Cigal
  • Patent number: 6607049
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism for a drive unit (e.g., a wheel drive unit or an integrated drive unit) including a wheel carrying hub rotatably attached to a frame and a reciprocal input shaft operable to selectively connect a power source (e.g., a hydraulic motor) to a transmission connected to the hub. The disconnect mechanism is connected to the input shaft and is adapted to be selectively hand actuated. The disconnect mechanism includes a hand rotatable knob rotatably connected to a cover removably attached to and enclosing an end of the hub. The knob includes an annular helical surface (i.e., ramp surface) operable to axially displace the input shaft from a first position in which the input shaft is drivingly connected to the transmission and, thus, the hub to a second position in which the input shaft is disconnected from the transmission. A disconnect pin is positioned intermediate the disconnect knob and the input shaft and rides on the ramp surface of the disconnect knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Auburn Gear, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20020125060
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism for a drive unit (e.g., a wheel drive unit or an integrated drive unit) including a wheel carrying hub rotatably attached to a frame and a reciprocal input shaft operable to selectively connect a power source (e.g., a hydraulic motor) to a transmission connected to the hub. The disconnect mechanism is connected to the input shaft and is adapted to be selectively hand actuated. The disconnect mechanism includes a hand rotatable knob rotatably connected to a cover removably attached to and enclosing an end of the hub. The knob includes an annular helical surface (i.e., ramp surface) operable to axially displace the input shaft from a first position in which the input shaft is drivingly connected to the transmission and, thus, the hub to a second position in which the input shaft is disconnected from the transmission. A disconnect pin is positioned intermediate the disconnect knob and the input shaft and rides on the ramp surface of the disconnect knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Brian P. Cigal