Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Varney

Bruce E. Varney 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: 20190093512
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may comprise a blade track and a method of making the same. The blade track may be constructed of ceramic matrix composite components including segments and joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron D. Sippel, Bruce E. Varney, Ted J. Freeman, Kevin P. Holley
  • Patent number: 10240476
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine having a plurality of vanes, a plurality of blades, a turbine shroud arranged around the vanes and blades, and a turbine case arranged around the turbine shroud. The turbine shroud is sized to block combustion products from passing over the blades without pushing the blades to rotate. The turbine shroud includes a runner arranged around the blades and a carrier arranged around the runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Varney, Jack D. Petty, Daniel K. Vetters, Eugene Clemens
  • Publication number: 20190071993
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The vane assembly includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and a ceramic-containing airfoil. The ceramic-containing airfoil extends between the inner platform and the outer platform. A reinforcement spar extends between the inner platform and the outer platform through a hollow core of the ceramic-containing airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Bruce E. Varney, David J. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Walston
  • Patent number: 10221715
    Abstract: A turbine shroud for a gas turbine engine includes an annular metallic carrier and a blade track. One or more cavities are formed between the carrier and blade track to provide cooling air to the blade track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Varney, Daniel K. Vetters
  • Patent number: 10203115
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine variable porosity combustor liner has a laminated alloy structure. The laminated alloy structure has combustion chamber facing holes on one side and cooling plenum facing holes on a radially opposite side. The combustion chamber facing holes are in fluid communication with the cooling plenum facing holes via axially and circumferentially extending flow passages sandwiched between metal alloy sheets of the laminated alloy structure. Porous zones having respective different cooling flow amounts are formed in the laminated alloy structure based on at least one of an arrangement of the combustion chamber facing holes, an arrangement of the cooling plenum facing holes, and an arrangement of the flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Pinnick, Kenneth W. Froemming, Bruce E. Varney
  • Publication number: 20180371930
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may comprise a blade track and a method of making the same. The blade track may be constructed of ceramic matrix composite components including main body members and joints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron D. Sippel, Bruce E. Varney, Ted J. Freeman, Christopher Barrett
  • Publication number: 20180371947
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes ceramic material containing (i.e. ceramic matrix composite) segments and joints that couple the segments together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Aaron D. Sippel, Ted J. Freeman, Joseph P. Lamusga, Daniel K. Vetters, Sean E. Landwehr, Bruce E. Varney
  • Publication number: 20180347383
    Abstract: A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine incorporating a ceramic matrix composite airfoil is disclosed in this paper. The turbine vane includes an attachment unit configured to mount the ceramic matrix composite airfoil to other metallic components of the turbine vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Bruce E. Varney
  • Publication number: 20180340440
    Abstract: A turbine shroud adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The turbine shroud includes a blade track segment comprising ceramic matrix composite materials and an attachment unit comprising metallic materials. The attachment unit is coupled to the blade track segment and is configured to interface with other metallic components in the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Bruce E. Varney
  • Patent number: 10094239
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The vane assembly includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and a ceramic-containing airfoil. The ceramic-containing airfoil extends from the inner platform to the outer platform. A reinforcement spar made from a metallic material extends from the inner platform to the outer platform through a hollow core of the ceramic-containing airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Bruce E. Varney, David J. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Walston
  • Publication number: 20180149023
    Abstract: An airfoil for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The airfoil includes a pressure side wall, a suction side wall, and a cooling air distribution system. The suction side wall is arranged opposite the pressure side wall. The cooling air distribution system is formed internal to at least one of the pressure side wall and the suction side wall. The cooling air distribution system is configured to distribute cooling air through the airfoil to cool the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Brett J. Barker, Bruce E. Varney, Paul H. Davis, Kevin P. Holley
  • Publication number: 20180135460
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The turbine assembly includes a turbine vane and an annular turbine shroud. The turbine vane has an airfoil extending through a primary gas path and is formed to include cooling passages sized to conduct cooling air from an inlet aperture to a discharge aperture. The turbine shroud is adapted to extend around a bladed turbine wheel to resist gasses from passing over turbine blades without interacting with the turbine blades. The turbine shroud includes a ceramic matrix composite blade track having a radially-inwardly facing inner surface arranged in confronting relation with the primary gas path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Brett J. Barker, Bruce E. Varney
  • Patent number: 9970317
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The vane assembly includes an inner platform, an outer platform, and a ceramic-containing airfoil. The ceramic-containing airfoil extends from the inner platform to the outer platform. A clamp mechanism couples the inner platform and the outer platform to the ceramic-containing airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North America Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Bruce E. Varney, David J. Thomas, Jeffrey A. Walston
  • Patent number: 9879861
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine variable porosity combustor liner has a laminated alloy structure. The laminated alloy structure has combustion chamber facing holes on one side and cooling plenum facing holes on a radially opposite side. The combustion chamber facing holes are in fluid communication with the cooling plenum facing holes via axially and circumferentially extending flow passages sandwiched between metal alloy sheets of the laminated alloy structure. Porous zones having respective different cooling flow amounts are formed in the laminated allow structure based on at least one of an arrangement of the combustion chamber facing holes, an arrangement of the cooling plenum facing holes, and an arrangement of the flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Pinnick, Kenneth W. Froemming, Bruce E. Varney, James C. Loebig, Todd Taylor
  • Publication number: 20170292703
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine variable porosity combustor liner has a laminated alloy structure. The laminated alloy structure has combustion chamber facing holes on one side and cooling plenum facing holes on a radially opposite side. The combustion chamber facing holes are in fluid communication with the cooling plenum facing holes via axially and circumferentially extending flow passages sandwiched between metal alloy sheets of the laminated alloy structure. Porous zones having respective different cooling flow amounts are formed in the laminated alloy structure based on at least one of an arrangement of the combustion chamber facing holes, an arrangement of the cooling plenum facing holes, and an arrangement of the flow passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Pinnick, Kenneth W. Froemming, Bruce E. Varney
  • Patent number: 9719684
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine variable porosity combustor liner has a laminated alloy structure. The laminated alloy structure has combustion chamber facing holes on one side and cooling plenum facing holes on a radially opposite side. The combustion chamber facing holes are in fluid communication with the cooling plenum facing holes via axially and circumferentially extending flow passages sandwiched between metal alloy sheets of the laminated alloy structure. Porous zones having respective different cooling flow amounts are formed in the laminated alloy structure based on at least one of an arrangement of the combustion chamber facing holes, an arrangement of the cooling plenum facing holes, and an arrangement of the flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North America Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald E. Pinnick, Kenneth W. Froemming, Bruce E. Varney
  • Publication number: 20170204744
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine having a plurality of vanes, a plurality of blades, a turbine shroud arranged around the vanes and blades, and a turbine case arranged around the turbine shroud. The turbine shroud is sized to block combustion products from passing over the blades without pushing the blades to rotate. The turbine shroud includes a runner arranged around the blades and a carrier arranged around the runner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce E. Varney, Jack D. Petty, Daniel K. Vetters, Eugene Clemens
  • Publication number: 20170204736
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine having a plurality of vanes, a plurality of blades, a turbine shroud arranged around the vanes and blades, and a turbine case arranged around the turbine shroud. The turbine shroud is sized to block combustion products from passing over the blades without pushing the blades to rotate. The turbine shroud includes a runner arranged around the blades and a carrier arranged around the runner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce E. Varney, Jack D. Petty, Daniel K. Vetters, Eugene Clemens
  • Publication number: 20170204737
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine having a plurality of vanes, a plurality of blades, a turbine shroud arranged around the vanes and blades, and a turbine case arranged around the turbine shroud. The turbine shroud is sized to block combustion products from passing over the blades without pushing the blades to rotate. The turbine shroud includes a runner arranged around the blades and a carrier arranged around the runner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce E. Varney, Jack D. Petty, Daniel K. Vetters, Eugene Clemens
  • Publication number: 20170138596
    Abstract: A liner for a combustor includes a support member, an intermediate member, and a liner member. The intermediate member is positioned intermediate the support member and the liner member and has a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses. The support member is coupled to the intermediate member at a tangent of each protrusion. Additionally, the liner member is comprised of a ceramic matrix composite material. The liner member is coupled to the intermediate member at a tangent of each recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Ted Joseph Freeman, Bruce E. Varney, Adam L. Chamberlain