Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Knortz

Christopher J. Knortz 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: 11512602
    Abstract: A rotor assembly is provided for a piece of rotational equipment. This rotor assembly includes a rotor disk, a rotor blade and a seal element. The rotor disk is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotor blade includes an airfoil, a platform and a mount attaching the rotor blade to the rotor disk. The seal element is seated in a groove of the rotor disk. The seal element is configured to sealingly engage the platform and the mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Knortz
  • Patent number: 11441440
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a piece of rotational equipment includes a rotor disk configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotor disclose includes a first rotor attachment member including a first mount slot and a second rotor attachment member including a second mount slot. The rotor disk further includes an outer diameter surface extending between the first rotor attachment member and the second rotor attachment member. The rotor assembly further includes a rotor blade including an airfoil, a platform, a first mount portion retained within the first mount slot, and a second mount portion retained within the second mount slot. The platform includes an inner platform surface facing the outer diameter surface. The rotor disk and the rotor blade define a circumferential portion of a circumferentially-extending cavity between the inner platform surface, the outer diameter surface, the first rotor attachment member, and the second rotor attachment member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William S. Pratt, Christopher J. Knortz
  • Patent number: 11293294
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine has: a first rotor disk; an interstage flange that extends from the first rotor disk to a flange end portion that has an axial end surface and first radial outer and inner surfaces; a circumferential groove, formed in the flange end portion and extending from the axial end surface toward the first rotor disk; radial outer and inner slots formed in the first radial outer and inner surfaces along the circumferential groove and extend through the first radial outer and inner surfaces; and a valve member disposed within the circumferential groove and is secured within the circumferential groove when the flange end portion is connected to a second rotor disk, wherein the valve member deflects from rotor rotational speeds to seal or unseal the radial outer slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher J. Knortz
  • Publication number: 20210363894
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine has: a first rotor disk; an interstage flange that extends from the first rotor disk to a flange end portion that has an axial end surface and first radial outer and inner surfaces; a circumferential groove, formed in the flange end portion and extending from the axial end surface toward the first rotor disk; radial outer and inner slots formed in the first radial outer and inner surfaces along the circumferential groove and extend through the first radial outer and inner surfaces; and a valve member disposed within the circumferential groove and is secured within the circumferential groove when the flange end portion is connected to a second rotor disk, wherein the valve member deflects from rotor rotational speeds to seal or unseal the radial outer slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher J. Knortz
  • Publication number: 20210332711
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a piece of rotational equipment includes a rotor disk configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotor disclose includes a first rotor attachment member including a first mount slot and a second rotor attachment member including a second mount slot. The rotor disk further includes an outer diameter surface extending between the first rotor attachment member and the second rotor attachment member. The rotor assembly further includes a rotor blade including an airfoil, a platform, a first mount portion retained within the first mount slot, and a second mount portion retained within the second mount slot. The platform includes an inner platform surface facing the outer diameter surface. The rotor disk and the rotor blade define a circumferential portion of a circumferentially-extending cavity between the inner platform surface, the outer diameter surface, the first rotor attachment member, and the second rotor attachment member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: William S. Pratt, Christopher J. Knortz
  • Publication number: 20210222571
    Abstract: A rotor assembly is provided for a piece of rotational equipment. This rotor assembly includes a rotor disk, a rotor blade and a seal element. The rotor disk is configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The rotor blade includes an airfoil, a platform and a mount attaching the rotor blade to the rotor disk. The seal element is seated in a groove of the rotor disk. The seal element is configured to sealingly engage the platform and the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher J. Knortz
  • Patent number: 10954796
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor disks that each have a rim portion. The plurality of rotor disks includes a first rotor disk and at least one first bleed air passage that extends through a forward rim portion of the first rotor disk. At least one second bleed air passage that extends through an aft rim portion of the first rotor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Knortz, William W. Frank, Erica J. Harvie, Conor Lee
  • Publication number: 20200049013
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor disks that each have a rim portion. The plurality of rotor disks includes a first rotor disk and at least one first bleed air passage that extends through a forward rim portion of the first rotor disk. At least one second bleed air passage that extends through an aft rim portion of the first rotor disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher J. Knortz, William W. Frank, Erica J. Harvie, Conor Lee