Patents by Inventor Clayton L. Smith

Clayton L. Smith 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: 4860534
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine inertial inlet particle separator having anti-icing. The separator has inner and outer walls defining a main inlet channel and splitter walls dividing the main channel into inner and outer branches. At least one of the walls has a surface portion subject to icing and a partition on the separator is closely disposed behind the one wall to define therewith a narrow annular tunnel. An inlet passage ducts hot compressed air from the engine to one end of the narrow tunnel and a discharge passage ducts the hot compressed air from the other end of the tunnel to a discharge, the flow area of the tunnel being less than the flow area of at least one of the discarge and inlet passages so that the tunnel defines a high velocity, enhanced heat transfer segment of a heating air channel consisting of the tunnel and the inlet and discharge passages. Heat conducting bridges extend across the tunnel to further enhance heat transfer to the icing surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sydney E. Easley, Craig E. Heathco, Clayton L. Smith