Patents by Inventor Daniel Kent Vetters

Daniel Kent Vetters 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: 11149567
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a roller joint formed between a ceramic airfoil portion and a carrier allowing sliding (rolling) radial movement therebetween to accommodate thermal growth disparity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel Kent Vetters, Eric Koenig
  • Patent number: 11110692
    Abstract: In some examples, a braze material includes a first set of particles, a second set of particles, and a polymeric binder. The first set of particles includes a braze powder, where the braze powder comprises an Si-containing alloy. The first set of particles defines an average or median particle diameter between about 1 ?m and about 40 ?m. The second set of particles includes at least one of SiC or a transition metal carbide, where the second set of particles has a multimodal particle size distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Nelson, Raymond Ruiwen Xu, Sean E. Landwehr, Daniel Kent Vetters, Samantha Tatar
  • Patent number: 11008881
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 10907493
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a rotatable turbine in a gas turbine engine comprising a carrier, a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment, and an elongated pin. The carrier defines a pin-receiving carrier bore and the CMC seal segment defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore. The pin-receiving carrier bore includes a cantilevered member such that the carrier bore has a length sufficient to effect radial flexion between the carrier bore and the pin received within the carrier bore during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 10808565
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a blade including a blade tip and a blade track or blade shroud segment including a substrate and an abradable coating layer on the substrate. The substrate defines a leading edge and a trailing edge. The abradable coating layer includes a first tapered portion that substantially continuously tapers from a center portion of the substrate toward the leading edge of the substrate, a second tapered portion that substantially continuously tapers from the center portion of the substrate toward the trailing edge of the substrate, and a blade rub portion that extends between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion. The abradable coating extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and the blade tip is configured to contact at least a portion of the blade rub portion upon rotation of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce plc, Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Walston, Roy Peter McIntyre, Daniel Kent Vetters
  • Publication number: 20200088048
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a roller joint formed between a ceramic airfoil portion and a carrier allowing sliding (rolling) radial movement therebetween to accommodate thermal growth disparity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel Kent Vetters, Eric Koenig
  • Publication number: 20200025012
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a rotatable turbine in a gas turbine engine comprising a carrier, a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment, and an elongated pin. The carrier defines a pin-receiving carrier bore and the CMC seal segment defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore. The pin-receiving carrier bore includes a cantilevered member such that the carrier bore has a length sufficient to effect radial flexion between the carrier bore and the pin received within the carrier bore during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Publication number: 20190360351
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes a blade including a blade tip and a blade track or blade shroud segment including a substrate and an abradable coating layer on the substrate. The substrate defines a leading edge and a trailing edge. The abradable coating layer includes a first tapered portion that substantially continuously tapers from a center portion of the substrate toward the leading edge of the substrate, a second tapered portion that substantially continuously tapers from the center portion of the substrate toward the trailing edge of the substrate, and a blade rub portion that extends between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion. The abradable coating extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and the blade tip is configured to contact at least a portion of the blade rub portion upon rotation of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Walston, Roy Peter McIntyre, Daniel Kent Vetters
  • Patent number: 10370998
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine comprises a carrier comprising a flange; a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising a portion defining a pin-receiving bore; an elongated pin extending through the pin-receiving bore; a bushing surrounding the elongated pin within the bore; and a flexible mounting member, the flexible mounting member being connected to the bushing and the carrier flange to thereby flexibly mount the CMC seal segment to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, Todd Engel, Matt Brandt
  • Patent number: 10370997
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a rotatable turbine in a gas turbine engine comprising a carrier, a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment, and an elongated pin. The carrier defines a pin-receiving carrier bore and the CMC seal segment defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore. The pin-receiving carrier bore includes a cantilevered member such that the carrier bore has a length sufficient to effect radial flexion between the carrier bore and the pin received within the carrier bore during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 10253639
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a gas turbine engine blade that includes a dovetail portion comprising a first ceramic matrix composite, an airfoil portion comprising the first ceramic matrix composite, a transition portion between the airfoil portion and the dovetail portion, and a platform portion that substantially surrounds the transition portion. The airfoil portion may define a capture feature that is configured to engage with and mechanically restrain the platform portion from moving beyond the capture feature toward a tip of the airfoil portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Sippel, Daniel Kent Vetters, Ted Freeman, Joseph Pan Lamusga
  • Publication number: 20190100467
    Abstract: In some examples, a braze material includes a first set of particles, a second set of particles, and a polymeric binder. The first set of particles includes a braze powder, where the braze powder comprises an Si-containing alloy. The first set of particles defines an average or median particle diameter between about 1 ?m and about 40 ?m. The second set of particles includes at least one of SiC or a transition metal carbide, where the second set of particles has a multimodal particle size distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Scott Nelson, Raymond Ruiwen Xu, Sean E. Landwehr, Daniel Kent Vetters, Samantha Tatar
  • Patent number: 10221713
    Abstract: A cartridge for a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment of a segmented turbine shroud of a gas turbine engine is provided. The cartridge comprises a carrier segment and a CMC seal segment. A surface of the carrier segment and a surface of the CMC seal segment form a mating region proximate the entire perimeter of the CMC seal segment. The carrier segment surface may comprise a channel, and a compressible mating element may be disposed within the channel. Air may be supplied to a cavity, formed by the carrier and CMC seal segment, and the mating region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Joseph Lamusga, Rick Uskert
  • Publication number: 20180328213
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce Notth American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 10087770
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 9963990
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment for use in a segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The CMC seal segment comprises an arcuate flange having a surface facing the turbine and a portion defining a bore for receiving an elongated pin, with the bore having a length that is at least 70% of the length of the elongated pin received therein. The CMC seal segment is carried by the carrier by at least one of the elongated pins being received within the bore. The CMC seal segment portion defining a pin-receiving bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange extending radially outward from the arcuate flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 9890640
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having a thermoelectric device capable of changing a tip clearance in a turbomachinery component. In one non-limiting form the turbomachinery component is a compressor. The thermoelectric device can be used in some forms to harvest power derived from a waste heat. The tip clearance control system can include a sensor used to determine a clearance between a tip and a wall of the turbomachinery component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, Michael Abraham Karam
  • Patent number: 9856884
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having an air injection system useful to supply a relatively pressurized air to a flow path of a compressor. The air injection system includes a port cover operable to open and close a port through which the air can flow to the compressor from a relatively pressurized source. The port cover extends circumferentially around the gas turbine engine and can include a portion that is anchored and an opposite portion coupled to an actuator. Movement of the actuator causes the port cover to open and close the port. Biasing members can be used to urge the port cover into one of an open and closed position against the movement of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Daniel Kent Vetters
  • Patent number: 9771867
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique aircraft propulsion gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines with heat exchange systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Abraham Karam, Eric Sean Donovan, Michael Stephen Krautheim, Daniel Kent Vetters, Donald G. Chouinard
  • Publication number: 20170044920
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a rotatable turbine in a gas turbine engine comprising a carrier, a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment, and an elongated pin. The carrier defines a pin-receiving carrier bore and the CMC seal segment defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore. The pin-receiving carrier bore includes a cantilevered member such that the carrier bore has a length sufficient to effect radial flexion between the carrier bore and the pin received within the carrier bore during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel