Patents by Inventor DANIEL E. MOLNAR, JR.

DANIEL E. MOLNAR, JR. 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: 11965528
    Abstract: A fan case assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a case at extends circumferentially at least partway about an axis of the gas turbine engine and a plurality of vanes. The case is formed to define a plenum that extends circumferentially at least partway about the axis. The plurality of vanes are arranged in the plenum and spaced apart circumferentially about the axis to define a plurality of inlet openings in fluid communication with the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Jonathan M. Rivers
  • Patent number: 11946414
    Abstract: An acoustic panel for a gas turbine engine, includes a panel body, a panel-body cover, and a support bracket. The panel body is configured to dampen vibrations caused by the gas turbine engine. The forward support bracket is configured to mount the acoustic panel to portions of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Christopher D. Hall, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11946379
    Abstract: A fan case assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a fan track liner and an annular case. The fan track liner extends circumferentially at least partway about a central axis of the gas turbine engine. The annular case is configured to support the fan track liner at a radial position relative to the central axis. The fan case assembly further includes an air recirculation duct configured to redirect air around the fan track liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11879343
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan duct, an inlet fan, an outlet guide vane assembly, and a control system. The inlet fan includes fan blades adapted to rotate about a central axis to force fan exit air toward an aft end of the fan duct. The outlet guide vane assembly is located in the fan duct downstream of the inlet fan and is configured to adjust a direction of the fan exit air. The outlet guide vane assembly includes a plurality of guide vanes that extend radially relative to the central axis and are configured to rotate to a first vane-pitch angle. The control system is configured to rotate the guide vanes redirect the fan exit air, vary a pressure downstream of the fan inlet, minimize intake flow distortion experienced by the inlet fan, reduce inlet fan vibratory response and/or improve fan operability margins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hall, William B. Bryan, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11835064
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises an engine core and an electric fan array. The engine core includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses and delivers air to the combustor. The combustor mixes fuel with the compressed air received from the compressor and ignites the fuel. The hot, high-pressure products of the combustion reaction in the combustor are directed into the turbine to cause the turbine to rotate about an axis and drive the compressor. The electric fan array may include at least two non-concentric fans having parallel shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Kathryn A. Sontag, Michael G. Meyer
  • Patent number: 11828197
    Abstract: A guide vane assembly includes a fan case, a vane, and a retention ring. The fan case extends circumferentially partway about an axis. The vane extends radially inward away from the fan case and is coupled to the fan case. The retention ring extends circumferentially partway about the axis and is coupled with the fan case and supports the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11802490
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan duct, an inlet fan, and an outlet guide vane assembly. The inlet fan includes blades adapted to force fan exit air toward an aft end of the fan duct. The outlet guide vane assembly is located in the fan duct downstream of the inlet fan and is configured to adjust a direction of the fan exit air received from the blades. The outlet guide vane assembly includes a first plurality of outlet guide vanes including a first outlet guide vane configured to rotate to a first angle so as to redirect the fan exit air in a first direction and a second outlet guide vane configured to rotate to a second angle so as to redirect the fan exit air in a second direction. The second outlet guide vane is located at a different circumferential position than the first outlet guide vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hall, William B. Bryan, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11788429
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan duct, an inlet fan, and an outlet guide vane assembly. The inlet fan includes blades adapted to force fan exit air toward an aft end of the fan duct. The outlet guide vane assembly is located in the fan duct downstream of the inlet fan and is configured to adjust a direction of the fan exit air received from the blades. The outlet guide vane assembly includes a first plurality of vanes configured to rotate to redirect the fan exit air in a first direction, and a second plurality of vanes located downstream of the first plurality of vanes. The second plurality of vanes are configured to rotate to redirect the fan exit air flowing in the first direction in a second direction to minimize losses created by distortions in fan inlet air and created by the first vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hall, William B. Bryan, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11746659
    Abstract: An airfoil for use in a gas turbine engine is formed to define a cavity formed in the airfoil. The airfoil further includes at least one obstructing member arranged within the cavity and a shear-thickening fluid disposed in the cavity. A viscosity of the shear-thickening fluid increases in response to the airfoil experiencing an aeromechanic response or vibrations such that the obstruction of the movement of the thicker fluid by the obstructing member dampens the vibrations of the airfoil and reduces negative effects of a dynamic response of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Christopher D. Hall
  • Patent number: 11732612
    Abstract: A fan case assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a fan track liner and an annular case. The fan track liner extends circumferentially at least partway about a central axis of the gas turbine engine. The annular case is configured to support the fan track liner at a radial position relative to the central axis. The fan case assembly further includes an air recirculation duct configured to redirect air around the fan track liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Robert W. Heeter
  • Patent number: 11725520
    Abstract: An airfoil for use in a gas turbine engine is formed to define cavities formed in the airfoil and a passage that extends between and fluidly interconnects the cavities. The airfoil further includes damping fluid located in the cavities and the damping fluid is adapted to flow between the cavities via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Christopher D. Hall
  • Patent number: 11702945
    Abstract: A fan case assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a fan track liner and an annular case. The fan track liner extends circumferentially at least partway about a central axis of the gas turbine engine. The annular case is configured to support the fan track liner at a radial position relative to the central axis. The fan case assembly further includes an air recirculation duct configured to redirect air around the fan track liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230203953
    Abstract: Methods for forming a blade for a gas turbine engine include altering the crystallographic texture of the blade in a discrete region relative to the surrounding locations of the blade to minimize flutter and/or mistune the blade by changing the natural frequency response of at least one mode of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Glavicic, Daniel E. Molnar, JR., Matthew Jordan, Michael Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230203952
    Abstract: An airfoil for use in a gas turbine engine is formed to define a cavity formed in the airfoil. The airfoil further includes at least one obstructing member arranged within the cavity and a shear-thickening fluid disposed in the cavity. A viscosity of the shear-thickening fluid increases in response to the airfoil experiencing an aeromechanic response or vibrations such that the obstruction of the movement of the thicker fluid by the obstructing member dampens the vibrations of the airfoil and reduces negative effects of a dynamic response of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, JR., Christopher D. Hall
  • Patent number: 11686202
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a rotor extending circumferentially about a central axis. The rotor includes a ring that extends around the central axis and a mount that extends axially away from the ring. The ring includes an axially facing engagement surface. A blade extends radially outward from the ring of the rotor. A damper is coupled with the mount of the rotor and engaged with the engagement surface to minimize vibrations of the rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11686211
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a fan duct, an inlet fan, and an outlet guide vane assembly. The inlet fan forces fan exit air toward an aft end of the fan duct. The outlet guide vane assembly is located in the fan duct downstream of the inlet fan and adjusts a direction of the fan exit air, and includes a plurality of outlet guide vanes and a plurality of actuation assemblies that control rotation of the outlet guide vanes about a pitch axis. The outlet guide vanes include a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion rotatably coupled to an axially aft edge of the leading edge portion. The actuation assembly rotates the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion to minimize losses created by distortions in fan inlet air and created by the leading edge portion redirecting the fan exit air in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hall, William B. Bryan, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230193778
    Abstract: A fan case assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a fan track liner and an annular case. The fan track liner extends circumferentially at least partway about a central axis of the gas turbine engine. The annular case is configured to support the fan track liner at a radial position relative to the central axis. The fan case assembly further includes an air recirculation duct configured to redirect air around the fan track liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230193823
    Abstract: An acoustic panel for a gas turbine engine, includes a panel body, a panel-body cover, and a support bracket. The panel body is configured to dampen vibrations caused by the gas turbine engine. The forward support bracket is configured to mount the acoustic panel to portions of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Christopher D. Hall, Daniel E. Molnar, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230193771
    Abstract: A fan case assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a fan track liner and an annular case. The fan track liner extends circumferentially at least partway about a central axis of the gas turbine engine. The annular case is configured to support the fan track liner at a radial position relative to the central axis. The fan case assembly further includes an air recirculation duct configured to redirect air around the fan track liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, JR.
  • Publication number: 20230193762
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a rotor extending circumferentially about a central axis. The rotor includes a ring that extends around the central axis and a mount that extends axially away from the ring. The ring includes an axially facing engagement surface. A blade extends radially outward from the ring of the rotor. A damper is coupled with the mount of the rotor and engaged with the engagement surface to minimize vibrations of the rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventor: Daniel E. Molnar, JR.