Patents by Inventor Daniel Alan NIERGARTH

Daniel Alan NIERGARTH 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).

  • Publication number: 20210246836
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a first heat source assembly including a first heat source exchanger, a first thermal fluid inlet line extending to the first heat source exchanger, and a first thermal fluid outlet line extending from the first heat source exchanger; a second heat source assembly including a second heat source exchanger, a second thermal fluid inlet line extending to the second heat source exchanger, and second a thermal fluid outlet line extending from the second heat source exchanger; a shared assembly including a thermal fluid line and a heat sink exchanger, the shared assembly defining an upstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid outlet line and second thermal fluid outlet line and a downstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid inlet line and second thermal fluid inlet line; and a controller configured to selectively fluidly connect the first heat source assembly or the second heat source assembly to the shared assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11085310
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a core having in serial flow order a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine—the compressor, combustor, and turbine together defining a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine additionally includes a fan section mechanically coupled to the core, the fan section including a plurality of fan blades, and each of the plurality fan blades defining a pitch axis. An actuation device is operable with the plurality fan blades for rotating the plurality fan blades about their respective pitch axes, the actuation device including an actuator located outward of the core air flowpath to, e.g., simplify the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11085636
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas flowpath for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas boost pump positioned in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath for increasing a pressure of a flow of stripping gas through the stripping gas flowpath; a contactor defining a stripping gas inlet in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath, a liquid fuel inlet, and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, a stripping gas outlet, and a liquid fuel outlet; and a connection assembly mechanically coupling the stripping gas boost pump to the fuel gas separator, the connection assembly having a speed change mechanism such that the stripping gas boost pump rotates at a different rotational speed than the fuel gas separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Peter Allen Andrews, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210215062
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11053812
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11022037
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section arranged in serial flow order and together defining at least in part a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine also includes a thermal management system including a flowpath heat exchanger coupled to, or integrated into, one or more components of the compressor section, the combustion section, the turbine section, or the exhaust section such that the flowpath heat exchanger is directly thermally coupled to an airflow through the core air flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Raymond Floyd Martell, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Ryan James Matthys, Joel Francis Kirk
  • Patent number: 11025104
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a stator assembly including a first stator segment and a second stator segment, the first and second stator segments each including a plurality of laminations extending generally along a circumferential direction, each pair of adjacent laminations of the first and second stator segments defining a gap therebetween. The first and second stator segments are assembled together such that the laminations of the first stator segment are arranged at least partially in the gaps between the laminations of the second stator segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Paul Robert Gemin, Arthur Vorwerk Radun, Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 11015534
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a first heat source assembly including a first heat source exchanger, a first thermal fluid inlet line extending to the first heat source exchanger, and a first thermal fluid outlet line extending from the first heat source exchanger; a second heat source assembly including a second heat source exchanger, a second thermal fluid inlet line extending to the second heat source exchanger, and second a thermal fluid outlet line extending from the second heat source exchanger; a shared assembly including a thermal fluid line and a heat sink exchanger, the shared assembly defining an upstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid outlet line and second thermal fluid outlet line and a downstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid inlet line and second thermal fluid inlet line; and a controller configured to selectively fluidly connect the first heat source assembly or the second heat source assembly to the shared assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Publication number: 20210148283
    Abstract: A thermal management system is provided for incorporation into at least one of a gas turbine engine or an aircraft. The thermal management system includes: a thermal transport bus having a heat exchange fluid flowing therethrough, the thermal transport bus further including: a first flow loop comprising at least one first heat source exchanger, at least one first heat sink exchanger, and a first pump to move the heat exchange fluid through the first flow loop; and a second flow loop comprising at least one second heat source exchanger, at least one second heat sink exchanger, and a second pump to move the heat exchange fluid through the second flow loop; wherein the first flow loop is isolated from the second flow loop, and wherein the first heat source exchanger and the second heat source exchanger are configured with a common heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Justin Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 11008883
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a turbine section including a turbine. The turbine includes a first plurality of turbine rotor blades and a second plurality of turbine rotor blades, the first plurality of turbine rotor blades and second plurality of turbine rotor blades alternatingly spaced along the axial direction. The turbomachine also includes a gearbox. The first plurality of turbine rotor blades and the second plurality of turbine rotor blades are each coupled to one of a ring gear, a planet gear, or a sun gear of the gearbox such that the first plurality of turbine rotor blades is rotatable with the second plurality of turbine rotor blades through the gearbox. The turbomachine also includes an electric machine assembly including a rotor coupled to one of the ring gear, the planet gear, or the sun gear of the gearbox such that the rotor rotates relative to a stator during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Gert Johannes van der Merwe, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Publication number: 20210108597
    Abstract: A propulsion system, the propulsion system comprising a rotating element, a stationary element, and an inlet between the rotating element and the stationary element, wherein the inlet passes radially inward of the stationary element; wherein the inlet passes radially inward of the stationary element; wherein the inlet leads to an inlet duct containing a ducted fan having an axis of rotation and a plurality of blades; and wherein the inlet duct divides into a first duct and a second duct, separate from the first duct. A method of operating a propulsion system, comprising the steps of: operating a first rotating fan assembly to produce a first stream of air; directing a portion of the first stream of air into a second ducted rotating fan assembly; operating the second ducted rotating fan assembly to produce a second stream of air; dividing the second stream of air into a core stream and a fan stream; and directing the core stream into a gas turbine engine core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: David Marion Ostdiek, Alan Roy Stuart, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Gert Johannes van der Merwe, Brandon Wayne Miller, Stephen William Freund
  • Patent number: 10951095
    Abstract: In one an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, an engine includes a drive shaft; an electric machine including a stator assembly and a rotor assembly, the rotor assembly rotatable relative to the stator assembly; and an electrical break, the drive shaft coupled to the rotor assembly through the electrical break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Christopher James Kroger, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 10941706
    Abstract: An aeronautical gas turbine engine includes a turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section in serial flow order. The aeronautical gas turbine engine additionally includes a closed cycle heat engine including a compressor configured to compress a working fluid; a primary heat exchanger in thermal communication with the turbomachine and the working fluid, the primary heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the turbomachine to the working fluid; an expander coupled to the compressor for expanding the working fluid; and an output shaft driven by the expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arnab Sen, Brandon Wayne Miller, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Kishanjit Pal, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Publication number: 20210003139
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core turbine engine and a fan mechanically coupled to the core turbine engine. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade defining a base and an inner end along a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. The fan also includes a hub covering the base of each of the plurality of fan blades. Further, the fan includes one or more bearings for supporting rotation of the plurality of fan blades. The one or more bearings define a fan bearing radius along a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. Similarly, the hub defines a hub radius along the radial direction of the gas turbine engine. The ratio of the hub radius to the fan bearing radius is less than about three, providing for desired packaging of the various components within the fan of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 10826343
    Abstract: An electric machine is provided which includes a rotor disk extending along a radial direction and having a rotor flange attached to or formed integrally with the rotor disk and extending substantially along the axial direction. A plurality of rotor magnets are mounted on the rotor disk and supported by the rotor flange such that the rotor flange absorbs centrifugal loads exerted on the magnets and enables high speeds of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Paul Robert Gemin
  • Patent number: 10826344
    Abstract: An electric machine is provided which includes a rotor disk extending along a radial direction and a having a rotor magnet embedded within the rotor disk. The electric machine further includes a stator assembly in axial or radial magnetic flux communication with the rotor magnets to generate a torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Paul Robert Gemin
  • Publication number: 20200331622
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft having an aft end is provided herein. The propulsion system can include an electric propulsion engine defining a central axis. The electric propulsion engine can include an electric motor, a fan rotatable about the central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor, a bearing supporting rotation of the fan, and a thermal management system. The thermal management system can include a lubrication oil circulation assembly for providing the bearing with lubrication oil. The lubrication oil circulation assembly can be driven independently of a shaft of the electric propulsion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko
  • Patent number: 10800539
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a gas turbine engine and an electric propulsion engine defining a central axis. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about the central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor. The electric propulsion engine additionally includes a bearing supporting rotation of the fan and a thermal management system including a thermal fluid circulation assembly. The thermal fluid circulation assembly is in thermal communication with at least one of the electric motor or the bearing and is further in thermal communication with a heat exchanger of a thermal management system of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko
  • Patent number: 10804762
    Abstract: An axial flux electric machine includes a rotor assembly rotatable about an axis, and a stator assembly. The stator assembly includes a stator face defining an air gap along an axial direction with the rotor assembly, the stator assembly further including a yoke, the yoke including a back surface, the back surface defining an inwardly sloped angle with the radial direction greater than two degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Taylor Moore, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Paul Robert Gemin
  • Patent number: 10787928
    Abstract: A casing for use in a turbofan engine is provided. The casing includes an inner hub, an intermediate casing positioned radially outward from the inner hub, an outer casing positioned radially outward from the intermediate casing, and a plurality of struts spaced circumferentially about the inner hub and extending between the inner hub and the outer casing. At least one strut of the plurality of struts includes a flow channel extending therethrough. The casing also includes a fluid scoop defined within the inner hub, and a collector that couples the fluid scoop in flow communication with the flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: General Electric Company, GE Avio, S.r.l.
    Inventors: Andrew Michael Tompkins, Brandon Wayne Miller, Donald Albert Bradley, Michele Gravina, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Lorenzo Cipolla