Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Eckett

Christopher A. Eckett 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: 12215628
    Abstract: An aircraft system is provided that includes a gas turbine engine, a gearbox and at least one compressor. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a turbine section, a combustor section and a rotating structure. The combustor section is fluidly coupled with and between the compressor section and the turbine section. The rotating structure includes a compressor section rotor within the compressor section and a turbine section rotor within the turbine section. The at least one compressor includes a compressor rotor rotatably driven by the rotating structure through the gearbox. The gas turbine engine may be dedicated to powering the at least one compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Burd, Christopher A. Eckett
  • Publication number: 20240026827
    Abstract: An aircraft system is provided that includes a gas turbine engine, a gearbox and at least one compressor. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a turbine section, a combustor section and a rotating structure. The combustor section is fluidly coupled with and between the compressor section and the turbine section. The rotating structure includes a compressor section rotor within the compressor section and a turbine section rotor within the turbine section. The at least one compressor includes a compressor rotor rotatably driven by the rotating structure through the gearbox. The gas turbine engine may be dedicated to powering the at least one compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Steven W. Burd, Christopher A. Eckett
  • Patent number: 11661906
    Abstract: An integrated propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section, a gas turbine engine, a geared architecture, a nacelle assembly and a mounting assembly. The nacelle assembly includes a fan nacelle and an aft nacelle, the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan and the engine, and the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a core cowling to define a bypass flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Publication number: 20220049671
    Abstract: An integrated propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section, a gas turbine engine, a geared architecture, a nacelle assembly and a mounting assembly. The nacelle assembly includes a fan nacelle and an aft nacelle, the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan and the engine, and the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a core cowling to define a bypass flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 11085400
    Abstract: An integrated propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, components that include a gas turbine engine, a nacelle assembly and a mounting assembly, the system designed by a process comprising identifying two or more of internal structural loading requirements, external structural mount loading requirements, aerodynamic requirements, and acoustic requirements for the system, and interdependently designing said components to meet said requirements. The nacelle assembly includes a fan nacelle and an aft nacelle, the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan and the engine, and the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a core cowling to define a bypass flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 10927696
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section having a first portion and an aft portion. A compressor case clearance (CCC) control system is configured to adjust an amount of bleed air delivered to the front portion and the aft portion based on an in-flight phase of an aircraft. In response to invoking a first mode, the CCC control system delivers air to both the front portion and the aft portion. In response to invoking a second mode, the CCC control system reduces the amount of air delivered to the aft portion prior to transitioning from the cruise phase to the descent phase. Accordingly, clearance areas within the compressor section can be selectively increased during specific portions of the flight to avoid contact between blade tips and the engine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20210003282
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel delivery conduit, a nozzle block with a nozzle aperture, and a cavity block with a cavity. The nozzle aperture has a first cross sectional area, and injects fuel received from the fuel delivery conduit into the cavity. The cavity has a second cross sectional area that is greater than the first cross sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Torence P. Brogan, Jeffery A. Lovett, Christopher A. Eckett, May L. Corn
  • Publication number: 20200123923
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section having a first portion and an aft portion. A compressor case clearance (CCC) control system is configured to adjust an amount of bleed air delivered to the front portion and the aft portion based on an in-flight phase of an aircraft. In response to invoking a first mode, the CCC control system delivers air to both the front portion and the aft portion. In response to invoking a second mode, the CCC control system reduces the amount of air delivered to the aft portion prior to transitioning from the cruise phase to the descent phase. Accordingly, clearance areas within the compressor section can be selectively increased during specific portions of the flight to avoid contact between blade tips and the engine case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, William K. Ackermann
  • Patent number: 10619855
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel delivery conduit, a nozzle block with a nozzle aperture, and a cavity block with a cavity. The nozzle aperture has a first cross sectional area, and injects fuel received from the fuel delivery conduit into the cavity. The cavity has a second cross sectional area that is greater than the first cross sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Torence P. Brogan, Jeffery A. Lovett, Christopher A. Eckett, May L. Corn
  • Publication number: 20200025147
    Abstract: An integrated propulsion system according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, components that include a gas turbine engine, a nacelle assembly and a mounting assembly, the system designed by a process comprising identifying two or more of internal structural loading requirements, external structural mount loading requirements, aerodynamic requirements, and acoustic requirements for the system, and interdependently designing said components to meet said requirements. The nacelle assembly includes a fan nacelle and an aft nacelle, the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan and the engine, and the fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a core cowling to define a bypass flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Publication number: 20180163665
    Abstract: A method of designing an engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, designing an engine and a nacelle assembly together in an interactive process, the engine including a turbine section that drives a fan section and a compressor section. The step of designing the compressor section includes the step of designing a first compressor and a second compressor, with an overall pressure ratio being greater than or equal to about 35. The step of designing the nacelle assembly includes the step of designing the fan section to include a fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan, with the fan section having a fan pressure ratio of less than about 1.7. The step of designing the fan section includes configuring the fan section to deliver a portion of air into the compressor section, and a portion of air into a bypass duct, and with a bypass ratio equal to or greater than about 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 9915225
    Abstract: A method of designing an engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, designing an engine and a nacelle assembly together in an interactive process, the engine including a turbine section configured to drive a fan section and a compressor section. The step of designing the compressor section includes the step of designing a first compressor and a second compressor, with an overall pressure ratio being greater than or equal to about 35. The step of designing the nacelle assembly includes the step of designing the fan section to include a fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan, with the fan section having a fan pressure ratio of less than about 1.7. The step of designing the fan section includes configuring the fan section to deliver a portion of air into the compressor section, and a portion of air into a bypass duct, and with a bypass ratio equal to or greater than about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Publication number: 20180030926
    Abstract: A method of designing an engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, designing an engine and a nacelle assembly together in an interactive process, the engine including a turbine section configured to drive a fan section and a compressor section. The step of designing the compressor section includes the step of designing a first compressor and a second compressor, with an overall pressure ratio being greater than or equal to about 35. The step of designing the nacelle assembly includes the step of designing the fan section to include a fan nacelle arranged at least partially about a fan, with the fan section having a fan pressure ratio of less than about 1.7. The step of designing the fan section includes configuring the fan section to deliver a portion of air into the compressor section, and a portion of air into a bypass duct, and with a bypass ratio equal to or greater than about 5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher A. Eckett, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Publication number: 20140060059
    Abstract: A fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel delivery conduit, a nozzle block with a nozzle aperture, and a cavity block with a cavity. The nozzle aperture has a first cross sectional area, and injects fuel received from the fuel delivery conduit into the cavity. The cavity has a second cross sectional area that is greater than the first cross sectional area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Torence P. Brogan, Jeffery A. Lovett, Christopher A. Eckett, May L. Corn
  • Publication number: 20130263572
    Abstract: A gas turbine or rocket engine hot section includes a first duct case, a second duct case, a plurality of vanes arranged about an axial centerline, and an igniter located with a first of the plurality of vanes. The first of the plurality of vanes extends axially between a leading edge and a flame holder surface at a trailing edge. The flame holder surface extends radially between a first vane end connected to the first duct case and a second vane end connected to the second duct case. The flame holder surface includes a first section that tapers towards the first vane end, and a second section that tapers away from the first section and towards the second vane end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Lovett, Donald J. Hautman, Torence P. Brogan, Christopher A. Eckett, Meredith B. Colket, III
  • Patent number: 8534071
    Abstract: A gas turbine or rocket engine hot section includes a first duct case, a second duct case, a plurality of vanes arranged about an axial centerline, and an igniter located with a first of the plurality of vanes. The first of the plurality of vanes extends axially between a leading edge and a flame holder surface at a trailing edge. The flame holder surface extends radially between a first vane end connected to the first duct case and a second vane end connected to the second duct case. The flame holder surface includes a first section that tapers towards the first vane end, and a second section that tapers away from the first section and towards the second vane end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Lovett, Donald J. Hautman, Torence P. Brogan, Christopher A. Eckett, Meredith B. Colket, III