Patents by Inventor Christopher W. Robak

Christopher W. Robak 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: 11255267
    Abstract: A method of designing a gas turbine engine includes locating purge openings in fluid communication with a first stage cavity. At least one of a cover plate or a rotor disk is positioned adjacent the first stage cavity and radially inward from the purge openings. A portion of a rotor blade is positioned radially outward from the purge openings. A mass flow rate of cooling air through the purge openings is selected based on a radial location of the purge openings to create an air barrier between a radially inner side of the purge openings and a radially outer side of the purge openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christopher W. Robak
  • Patent number: 11230940
    Abstract: A rotational equipment assembly includes a plurality of seal shoes, a seal base, a plurality of spring elements and a secondary seal assembly. The seal shoes are arranged circumferentially around an axial centerline and include a first seal shoe. The first seal shoe includes a first seal shoe base and a first seal shoe rib that projects axially out from the first seal shoe base to an axial distal end of the first seal shoe rib. The seal base extends circumferentially around the axial centerline. The spring elements include a first spring element that connects and extends between the first seal shoe and the seal base. The secondary seal assembly is configured to seal a gap between the seal base and the seal shoes. The secondary seal assembly includes a free floating seal plate that axially contacts and is configured to slide radially along the first seal shoe rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael G. McCaffrey, Joseph D. Evetts, Kristine M. Carnavos, Conway Chuong, Christopher W. Robak, William Proscia, Purity Dele-Oni, Caroline Karanian, John E. Paul, Jagannath Pranatharthikaran
  • Patent number: 10975713
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components. The seal includes a base. The seal also includes a seal housing. The seal further includes a shoe operatively coupled to the base and extending axially from a forward end to an aft end. The seal yet further includes a plurality of teeth extending radially from a sealing surface of the shoe, one of the teeth being a longest tooth that extends furthest radially from the sealing surface, the axial distance from the forward end of the shoe to the longest tooth being greater than a radial distance from a radial tooth tip to the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. Grover, Brian F. Hilbert, Nathan L. Messersmith, Christopher W. Robak
  • Patent number: 10961858
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components includes a base. The seal also includes a seal housing. The seal further includes a shoe operatively coupled to the base and extending axially from a forward end to an aft end. The seal yet further includes a plurality of teeth extending radially from a sealing surface of the shoe, one of the teeth being a longest tooth that extends furthest radially from the sealing surface, the axial distance from the forward end of the shoe to the longest tooth being greater than a radial distance from a radial tooth tip to the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric A. Grover, Brian F. Hilbert, Daniel L. Gysling, Christopher W. Robak
  • Patent number: 10835848
    Abstract: A particle collection device for an engine is provided. The particle collection device having: an inlet for directing air towards a first member having a first orifice located therein; and a second member having a second orifice located therein, the second orifice being aligned with the first orifice and wherein the second member and the second orifice are spaced from the first member and the first orifice by a first distance, and wherein the particle collection device is located in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carey Clum, Christopher W. Robak
  • Patent number: 10823417
    Abstract: A combustor may include a combustor shell, a particle collection panel, and a combustor panel. The combustor shell may define a plurality of first impingement holes, the particle collection panel may include a plurality of particle collection chambers and may define a plurality of second impingement holes, and the combustor panel may define a plurality of effusion holes. The particle collection panel may be disposed inward of the combustor shell and the combustor panel may be disposed inward of the particle collection panel. Each particle collection chamber may have a closed inward end and an opening defined in an outward end. The particle collection chambers may be configured to entrap particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carey Clum, Shayan Ahmadian, Christopher W. Robak
  • Publication number: 20200217215
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components includes a base. The seal also includes a seal housing. The seal further includes a shoe operatively coupled to the base and extending axially from a forward end to an aft end. The seal yet further includes a plurality of teeth extending radially from a sealing surface of the shoe, one of the teeth being a longest tooth that extends furthest radially from the sealing surface, the axial distance from the forward end of the shoe to the longest tooth being greater than a radial distance from a radial tooth tip to the sealing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Eric A. Grover, Brian F. Hilbert, Daniel L. Gysling, Christopher W. Robak
  • Publication number: 20200217216
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components. The seal includes a base. The seal also includes a seal housing. The seal further includes a shoe operatively coupled to the base and extending axially from a forward end to an aft end. The seal yet further includes a plurality of teeth extending radially from a sealing surface of the shoe, one of the teeth being a longest tooth that extends furthest radially from the sealing surface, the axial distance from the forward end of the shoe to the longest tooth being greater than a radial distance from a radial tooth tip to the sealing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Eric A. Grover, Brian F. Hilbert, Nathan L. Messersmith, Christopher W. Robak
  • Publication number: 20200131992
    Abstract: A method of designing a gas turbine engine includes locating purge openings in fluid communication with a first stage cavity. At least one of a cover plate or a rotor disk is positioned adjacent the first stage cavity and radially inward from the purge openings. A portion of a rotor blade is positioned radially outward from the purge openings. A mass flow rate of cooling air through the purge openings is selected based on a radial location of the purge openings to create an air barrier between a radially inner side of the purge openings and a radially outer side of the purge openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: Christopher W. Robak
  • Patent number: 10329941
    Abstract: An impingement manifold includes a fluid inlet passage and a pressurized chamber. The pressurized chamber includes at least one lobe. The at least one lobe includes a flow improving feature configured to minimize vorticity of a flow field within the pressurized chamber, and at least one flow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Werkheiser, Christopher W. Robak, Thomas J. Martin, Matthew E. Lynch
  • Publication number: 20190086084
    Abstract: A combustor may include a combustor shell, a particle collection panel, and a combustor panel. The combustor shell may define a plurality of first impingement holes, the particle collection panel may include a plurality of particle collection chambers and may define a plurality of second impingement holes, and the combustor panel may define a plurality of effusion holes. The particle collection panel may be disposed inward of the combustor shell and the combustor panel may be disposed inward of the particle collection panel. Each particle collection chamber may have a closed inward end and an opening defined in an outward end. The particle collection chambers may be configured to entrap particulates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carey Clum, Shayan Ahmadian, Christopher W. Robak
  • Publication number: 20190048796
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes setting a build clearance at assembly in response to a running tip clearance defined with a cooled cooling air. A method of operating a gas turbine engine includes supplying a cooled cooling air to a high pressure turbine in response to an engine rotor speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Walter A. Ledwith, Jr., Scott A. Carr, Christopher J. Hanlon, Peter A. White, Theodore W. Hall, John R. Farris, Andrew S. Miller, Christopher W. Robak, David C. Pimenta, David Richard Griffin
  • Publication number: 20170328231
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes setting a build clearance at assembly in response to a running tip clearance defined with a cooled cooling air. A method of operating a gas turbine engine includes supplying a cooled cooling air to a high pressure turbine in response to an engine rotor speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Walter A. Ledwith, JR., Scott A. Carr, Christopher J. Hanlon, Peter A. White, Theodore W. Hall, John R. Farris, Andrew S. Miller, Christopher W. Robak, David C. Pimenta, David Richard Griffin
  • Publication number: 20170321568
    Abstract: An impingement manifold includes a fluid inlet passage and a pressurized chamber. The pressurized chamber includes at least one lobe. The at least one lobe includes a flow improving feature configured to minimize vorticity of a flow field within the pressurized chamber, and at least one flow outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michael D. Werkheiser, Christopher W. Robak, Thomas J. Martin, Matthew E. Lynch
  • Publication number: 20170080371
    Abstract: A particle collection device for an engine is provided. The particle collection device having: an inlet for directing air towards a first member having a first orifice located therein; and a second member having a second orifice located therein, the second orifice being aligned with the first orifice and wherein the second member and the second orifice are spaced from the first member and the first orifice by a first distance, and wherein the particle collection device is located in the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Carey Clum, Christopher W. Robak