Patents by Inventor Daniel Bernard Kupratis

Daniel Bernard Kupratis 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: 20190120084
    Abstract: A turbofan engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan, and an outer housing surrounding the fan to define a bypass flow path, a compressor, a turbine section including a fan drive turbine and a second turbine, an epicyclic gear system with a gear reduction, the fan drive turbine driving the fan through the gear system, and the gear system straddle-mounted by first and second bearings. The fan drive turbine has a first exit area at a first exit point and is rotatable at a first speed. The second turbine has a second exit area at a second exit point and is rotatable at a second speed. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of the first speed squared and the first area. A second performance quantity is defined as the product of the second speed squared and the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 10267228
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section and a compressor section. The compressor section includes both a first compressor section and a second compressor section. A turbine section includes at least one turbine and driving the second compressor section and a fan drive turbine driving at least a gear arrangement to drive the fan section. A power ratio is provided by the combination of the first compressor section and the second compressor section, with the power ratio being provided by a first power input to the first compressor section and a second power input to the second compressor section, the power ratio being equal to, or greater than, about 1.0 and less than, or equal to, about 1.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20190107047
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine has a high pressure turbine configured to rotate with a high pressure compressor as a high pressure spool in a first direction about a central axis and a low pressure turbine configured to rotate with a low pressure compressor as a low pressure spool in the first direction about the central axis. A power density is greater than or equal to about 1.5 and less than or equal to about 5.5 lbf/cubic inches. A fan is connected to the low pressure spool via a speed changing mechanism and rotates in the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 10253694
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine section includes a plurality of spaced rotor stages, with a static guide vane intermediate the spaced rotor stages. The static guide vane provides swirl into air passing toward a downstream one of the spaced rotor stages, and an outer housing surrounding the spaced rotor stages. A diverter diverts a portion of air radially outwardly through the outer housing, and across at least one heat exchanger. The diverted air passes back into a duct radially inwardly through the outer housing, and is exhausted toward the downstream one of the spaced rotor stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Anthony R. Bifulco
  • Publication number: 20190093553
    Abstract: The engine (10) includes a low spool (16) disposed aft of an air inlet (12) and a high spool (34) disposed aft of the low spool (16). An intake reverse-duct (44) is disposed radially outward of the high spool (34) and reverses direction of low pressure compressed air from the low spool (16) into a forward-flow high pressure compressor (40) of the high spool (34). A discharge reverse-manifold (48) directs flow of an exhaust gas stream (50) from a forward-flow low pressure turbine (20) into a rearward-flow direction and into at least one pulse detonation firing tube (54). An annular bypass air duct (72) directs cooling air along the engine (10)—The at least, one firing tube is positioned radially outward of the high spool (34), overlies the high spool (34) and is also positioned within the bypass air duct (72).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Francis R. Moon
  • Patent number: 10240526
    Abstract: A compressor section is in fluid communication with a fan, which includes a first compressor section and a second compressor section. A turbine section includes a first turbine section driving the fan and the first compressor section and a second turbine section driving the second compressor section and the second compressor rotor. A first performance quantity is defined as a product of the first speed squared and the first area. A second performance quantity is defined as a product of the second speed squared and the second exit area. A performance ratio of the first performance quantity to the second performance quantity is between about 0.2 and about 0.8. A gear reduction is included between the first turbine section and the first compressor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Frederick M. Schwarz, William K. Ackermann, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20190024584
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan at an axially outer location, the fan rotating about an axis of rotation, delivering air into an outer bypass duct, a radially middle duct, and a radially inner core duct. Air from the inner core duct is directed into a compressor, and then flows axially in a direction back toward the fan through a combustor section, and across a core turbine section, and is then directed into the middle duct. A gear reduction drives the fan from a fan drive turbine section. A method of operating a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Francis R. Moon
  • Publication number: 20190024610
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes a turbine section having a very high speed fan drive turbine such that a quantity defined by the exit area of the fan drive turbine multiplied by the square of the fan drive turbine rotational speed compared to the same parameters for a second turbine is at a ratio between 0.5 and 1.5. The engine includes a power density greater than 1.5 lbf/in3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10174680
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of distributed fan rotors. A gas generator has a core fan rotor. at least one compressor rotor. at least one gas generator turbine rotor, and a combustion section. A fan drive turbine is downstream of the at least one gas generator turbine rotor. A shaft is configured to be driven by the fan drive turbine, the shaft engaging gears to drive the plurality of distributed fan rotors. The core fan rotor delivers a portion of air into the at least one compressor rotor, and a portion of bypass air into a bypass duct which bypasses the gas generator. The bypass air mixes with products of combustion downstream of the at least one gas generator turbine rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20180363565
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes first and second shafts rotatable about a common axis. A first turbine section is supported on the first shaft. Second compressor and turbine sections are supported on the second shaft. The gas turbine engine includes a fan. A first compressor section is arranged in an axial flow relationship with the second compressor and the first and second turbines. A geared architecture operatively connects the first shaft and the fan. An inducer operative couples to the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10138809
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine has a high pressure turbine configured to rotate with a high pressure compressor as a high pressure spool in a first direction about a central axis and a low pressure turbine configured to rotate with a low pressure compressor as a low pressure spool in the first direction about the central axis. A power density is greater than or equal to about 1.5 and less than or equal to about 5.5 lbf/cubic inches. A fan is connected to the low pressure spool via a speed changing mechanism and rotates in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 10125693
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine has a high pressure turbine configured to rotate with a high pressure compressor as a high pressure spool in a first direction about a central axis and a low pressure turbine configured to rotate with a low pressure compressor as a low pressure spool in the first direction about the central axis. A power density is greater than or equal to about 1.5 and less than or equal to about 5.5 lbf/cubic inches. A fan is connected to the low pressure spool via a speed changing mechanism and rotates in a second direction opposed to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20180320591
    Abstract: A drive architecture comprises a rotor and a gearbox for driving the rotor. A pair of input gears provides rotational drive to the gearbox. A first recuperative cycle engine drives one of the pair of gears and a second engine drives the other of the pair of gears. The first recuperative cycle engine and the second engine are both gas turbine engines. A power takeoff from a drive shaft of the second engine supplies rotational drive to drive at least one component in the first recuperative cycle drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20180306116
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor fluidly connected to the compressor section via a primary flowpath and a turbine section fluidly connected to the combustor via the primary flowpath. Also included is a cascading cooling system having a first inlet connected to a first compressor bleed, a second inlet connected to a second compressor bleed downstream of the first compressor bleed, and a third inlet connected to a third compressor bleed downstream of the second compressor bleed. The cascading cooling system includes at least one heat exchanger configured to incrementally generate cooling air for at least one of an aft compressor stage and a foremost turbine stage relative to fluid flow through the turbine section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Paul R. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 10107193
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan at an axially outer location, the fan rotating about an axis of rotation, delivering air into an outer bypass duct, a radially middle duct, and a radially inner core duct. Air from the inner core duct is directed into a compressor, and then flows axially in a direction back toward the fan through a combustor section, and across a core turbine section, and is then directed into the middle duct. A gear reduction drives the fan from a fan drive turbine section. A method of operating a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Francis R. Moon
  • Patent number: 10100739
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor fluidly connected to the compressor section via a primary flowpath and a turbine section fluidly connected to the combustor via the primary flowpath. Also included is a cascading cooling system having a first inlet connected to a first compressor bleed, a second inlet connected to a second compressor bleed downstream of the first compressor bleed, and a third inlet connected to a third compressor bleed downstream of the second compressor bleed. The cascading cooling system includes at least one heat exchanger configured to incrementally generate cooling air for at least one of an aft compressor stage and a foremost turbine stage relative to fluid flow through the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Paul R. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 10072570
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan rotor for delivering air into a bypass duct and into a core airflow duct. Air in the core flow duct passes axially downstream from the fan and past a reverse core engine including a turbine section, a combustor section, and a compressor section. The core airflow duct reaches a turning duct which turns the airflow radially inwardly to communicate with an inlet for the compressor section. Air in the compressor section passes to the combustor section. Products of the combustion pass downstream across a turbine rotor. An exhaust turning duct communicates products of the combustion from a full cylindrical portion downstream of the turbine rotor through a plurality of circumferentially separated mixing lobe outlets to mix with the bypass air in the bypass duct. The bypass duct extends past the mixing lobe outlets, and is defined circumferentially intermediate the mixing lobe outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 10066547
    Abstract: A drive architecture comprises a rotor and a gearbox for driving the rotor. A pair of input gears provides rotational drive to the gearbox. A first recuperative cycle engine drives one of the pair of gears and a second engine drives the other of the pair of gears. The first recuperative cycle engine and the second engine are both gas turbine engines. A power takeoff from a drive shaft of the second engine supplies rotational drive to drive at least one component in the first recuperative cycle drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Publication number: 20180245541
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a very high speed low pressure turbine such that a quantity defined by the exit area of the low pressure turbine multiplied by the square of the low pressure turbine rotational speed compared to the same parameters for the high pressure turbine is at a ratio between about 0.5 and about 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10036350
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan rotor, a first compressor rotor and a second compressor rotor. The second compressor rotor compresses air to a higher pressure than the first compressor rotor. A first turbine rotor drives the second compressor rotor and a second turbine rotor. The second turbine drives the compressor rotor. A fan drive turbine is positioned downstream of the second turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine drives the fan through a gear reduction. The first compressor rotor and second turbine rotor rotate as an intermediate speed spool. The second compressor rotor and first turbine rotor together as a high speed spool. The high speed spool, the intermediate speed spool, and the fan drive turbine configured to rotate in the same first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Thomas J. Praisner