Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Hanlon

Christopher J. Hanlon 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: 12312996
    Abstract: A powerplant is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft powerplant includes a turbine engine core, a steam system and a bypass system. The turbine engine core includes a flowpath, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. The flowpath extends through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section from an inlet into the flowpath to an exhaust from the flowpath. The steam system includes an evaporator disposed along the flowpath downstream of the turbine section. The steam system is configured to evaporate water into steam using the evaporator. The steam system is configured to introduce the steam into the flowpath upstream of the turbine section. The bypass system is configured to bleed fluid from the flowpath upstream of the turbine section to provide bleed fluid. The bypass system is configured to direct the bleed fluid into the flowpath downstream of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20250146441
    Abstract: An electrically boosted cooling air system including a high pressure compressor; at least one cooling air supply line coupling the high pressure compressor with at least one of a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine; and an electrically powered centrifugal compressor fluidly coupled with the at least one cooling air supply line; wherein the electrically powered centrifugal compressor is configured to provide at least one of a pressure increase and a flow rate increase for cooling air supplied from the high pressure compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Applicant: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Kimberly J. Liang, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20250043730
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section located at an engine central longitudinal axis, a combustor configured to drive rotation of the turbine with combustion products, and a compressor section coupled to the turbine section at the engine central longitudinal axis and driven by the turbine section. An auxiliary compressor is located fluidly between the compressor section and the combustor such that an airflow exiting the compressor section is directed toward the auxiliary compressor. The auxiliary compressor is driven independently from the compressor section and is configured to output the airflow toward the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, Lance L. Smith, Neal R. Herring, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 12196137
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section located at an engine central longitudinal axis, a combustor configured to drive rotation of the turbine with combustion products, and a compressor section coupled to the turbine section at the engine central longitudinal axis and driven by the turbine section. An auxiliary compressor is located fluidly between the compressor section and the combustor such that an airflow exiting the compressor section is directed toward the auxiliary compressor. The auxiliary compressor is driven independently from the compressor section and is configured to output the airflow toward the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, Lance L. Smith, Neal R. Herring, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 12180846
    Abstract: A method for active bi-directional control of an outer structure of a gas turbine engine comprises sending, by a controller, a first control signal to a power electronics for varying an electric current supplied to a heating element to cause the outer structure to move in a first radial direction, and sending, by the controller, a second control signal to a valve assembly for varying a cooling air flow supplied to the outer structure to cause the outer structure to move in a second radial direction. The first radial direction is opposite the second radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, Christopher J Hanlon, Sorin Bengea, Zubair Ahmed Baig
  • Publication number: 20240369014
    Abstract: A powerplant is provided for an aircraft. This aircraft powerplant includes a turbine engine core, a steam system and a bypass system. The turbine engine core includes a flowpath, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. The flowpath extends through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section from an inlet into the flowpath to an exhaust from the flowpath. The steam system includes an evaporator disposed along the flowpath downstream of the turbine section. The steam system is configured to evaporate water into steam using the evaporator. The steam system is configured to introduce the steam into the flowpath upstream of the turbine section. The bypass system is configured to bleed fluid from the flowpath upstream of the turbine section to provide bleed fluid. The bypass system is configured to direct the bleed fluid into the flowpath downstream of the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Inventor: Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 12134984
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an intercooling system with a plurality of injectors for injecting an intercooling waterflow into a portion of a compressor passage. The plurality of injectors are spaced apart about the compressor passage and the injection of the intercooling water flow is varied between the plurality of injectors to influence flow that is communicated through the compressor passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Simon W. Evans, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 12031485
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system includes a core engine for generating an exhaust gas flow that is used to generate a power output. A condenser assembly extracts water from the gas flow and stores water in a water storage tank. A cooling system maintains water stored in the storage tank at a temperature within a predefined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil J. Terwilliger, Andressa L. Johnson, Joseph E. Turney, Christopher J. Hanlon, Justin R. Urban
  • Patent number: 11952947
    Abstract: A disclosed gas turbine engine includes a first electric motor assembly that provides a first drive input for driving fan blades about an axis. A geared architecture is driven by a turbine section and is coupled to the fan section to provide a second drive input for driving the fan blades. A second electric motor assembly is coupled to rotate the geared architecture relative to a fixed structure for controlling a speed of the fan blades provided by a combination of the first drive input and the second drive input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Christopher J. Hanlon, William G Sheridan
  • Patent number: 11840958
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan positioned at an engine central longitudinal axis, and a fan drive turbine located at the engine central longitudinal axis and configured to drive rotation of the fan. A gas generator is non-coaxial with the fan drive turbine and operably connected to the fan drive turbine such that exhaust from the gas generator drives rotation of the fan drive turbine. An auxiliary power core is located at the engine central longitudinal axis, and one or more bleed passages connect the gas generator and the auxiliary power core. The one or more bleed passages are configured to selectably combine a bleed airflow from the gas generator and an auxiliary core airflow at the auxiliary power core to direct the combined airflow to the fan drive turbine to increase output of the fan drive turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Paul R. Hanrahan, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 11781479
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core section including a compressor, a main combustor, and a main turbine. Combustion products from the main combustor drive rotation of the turbine and the compressor. A power turbine is fluidly connected to the main turbine and driven by exhaust from the main turbine. The gas turbine engine further includes a fan section having a fan rotor located fluidly upstream of the core section. The power turbine is operably connected to the fan rotor to drive rotation of the fan rotor via rotation of the power turbine. The gas turbine engine includes a bleed arrangement having one or more bleed passages configured to divert a bleed airflow from the compressor around the main combustor and main turbine, and reintroduce the bleed airflow into the power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul R. Hanrahan, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 11680531
    Abstract: An aspect includes a system for a gas turbine engine. The system includes one or more bleeds of the gas turbine engine and a control system configured to check one or more activation conditions of a dirt rejection mode in the gas turbine engine. A bleed control schedule of the gas turbine engine is adjusted to extend a time to hold the one or more bleeds of the gas turbine engine partially open at a power setting above a threshold based on the one or more activation conditions. One or more deactivation conditions of the dirt rejection mode in the gas turbine engine are checked. The dirt rejection mode is deactivated to fully close the one or more bleeds based on the one or more deactivation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hanlon, James F. Krenzer, Becky E. Rose, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Publication number: 20230136475
    Abstract: A method for active bi-directional control of an outer structure of a gas turbine engine comprises sending, by a controller, a first control signal to a power electronics for varying an electric current supplied to a heating element to cause the outer structure to move in a first radial direction, and sending, by the controller, a second control signal to a valve assembly for varying a cooling air flow supplied to the outer structure to cause the outer structure to move in a second radial direction. The first radial direction is opposite the second radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, Christopher J. Hanlon, Sorin Bengea, Zubair Ahmed Baig
  • Publication number: 20230037652
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan positioned at an engine central longitudinal axis, and a fan drive turbine located at the engine central longitudinal axis and configured to drive rotation of the fan. A gas generator is non-coaxial with the fan drive turbine and operably connected to the fan drive turbine such that exhaust from the gas generator drives rotation of the fan drive turbine. An auxiliary power core is located at the engine central longitudinal axis, and one or more bleed passages connect the gas generator and the auxiliary power core. The one or more bleed passages are configured to selectably combine a bleed airflow from the gas generator and an auxiliary core airflow at the auxiliary power core to direct the combined airflow to the fan drive turbine to increase output of the fan drive turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Paul R. Hanrahan, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20220397062
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section located at an engine central longitudinal axis, a combustor configured to drive rotation of the turbine with combustion products, and a compressor section coupled to the turbine section at the engine central longitudinal axis and driven by the turbine section. An auxiliary compressor is located fluidly between the compressor section and the combustor such that an airflow exiting the compressor section is directed toward the auxiliary compressor. The auxiliary compressor is driven independently from the compressor section and is configured to output the airflow toward the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, Lance L. Smith, Neal R. Herring, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20220356840
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core section including a compressor, a main combustor, and a main turbine. Combustion products from the main combustor drive rotation of the turbine and the compressor. A power turbine is fluidly connected to the main turbine and driven by exhaust from the main turbine. The gas turbine engine further includes a fan section having a fan rotor located fluidly upstream of the core section. The power turbine is operably connected to the fan rotor to drive rotation of the fan rotor via rotation of the power turbine. The gas turbine engine includes a bleed arrangement having one or more bleed passages configured to divert a bleed airflow from the compressor around the main combustor and main turbine, and reintroduce the bleed airflow into the power turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Paul R. Hanrahan, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Publication number: 20220307427
    Abstract: An aspect includes a system for a gas turbine engine. The system includes one or more bleeds of the gas turbine engine and a control system configured to check one or more activation conditions of a dirt rejection mode in the gas turbine engine. A bleed control schedule of the gas turbine engine is adjusted to extend a time to hold the one or more bleeds of the gas turbine engine partially open at a power setting above a threshold based on the one or more activation conditions. One or more deactivation conditions of the dirt rejection mode in the gas turbine engine are checked. The dirt rejection mode is deactivated to fully close the one or more bleeds based on the one or more deactivation conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hanlon, James F. Krenzer, Becky E. Rose, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Patent number: 11421545
    Abstract: A clearance control system for a gas turbine engine may include a rotor blade, an outer structure disposed radially outward from the rotor blade, a heating element, a hybrid electric power source, and a controller. The heating element is configured to cause the outer structure to be heated in response to electric current being supplied to the heating element. A gap between the rotor blade and the outer structure is at least one of increased, decreased, and maintained in response to the outer structure being heated. The hybrid electric power source is configured to supply the electric current to the heating element. The controller is configured to regulate the electric current being supplied to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, Christopher J Hanlon, Sorin Bengea, Zubair Ahmed Baig
  • Patent number: 11415044
    Abstract: An aircraft gas turbine engine system comprises first and second gas turbine engines. The first gas turbine engine has first and second spools. A first power linkage connects the second gas turbine engine to the first spool of the gas turbine engine, and a second power linkage connects the second gas turbine engine to the second spool of the first gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Neil Terwilliger, Christopher J. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 11261800
    Abstract: An aspect includes a system for a gas turbine engine. The system includes one or more bleeds of the gas turbine engine and a control system configured to check one or more activation conditions of a dirt rejection mode in the gas turbine engine. A bleed control schedule of the gas turbine engine is adjusted to extend a time to hold the one or more bleeds of the gas turbine engine partially open at a power setting above a threshold based on the one or more activation conditions. One or more deactivation conditions of the dirt rejection mode in the gas turbine engine are checked. The dirt rejection mode is deactivated to fully close the one or more bleeds based on the one or more deactivation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Hanlon, James F. Krenzer, Becky E. Rose, Mark F. Zelesky