Patents by Inventor Darek Tomasz Zatorski

Darek Tomasz Zatorski 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: 10737797
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a wing coupled to, and extending from, the fuselage; and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a plurality of electric fans integrated into the wing and oriented to generate thrust along a vertical direction, the plurality of electric fans arranged along a length of the wing and including an outer-most electric fan along a transverse direction relative to the fuselage. The outer-most electric fan is at least one of a variable pitch fan or a variable speed fan to provide increased stability to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Dominic Barone
  • Publication number: 20200251970
    Abstract: An electric machine for a drive system having a first DS rotor and a second DS rotor includes a first EM rotor rotatable about an axis in a first circumferential direction and including a plurality of magnets, the first EM rotor configured for mechanical coupling to the first DS rotor; and a second EM rotor rotatable about the axis in a second circumferential direction and including a plurality of windings, the second EM rotor configured for mechanical coupling to the second DS rotor and the plurality of magnets of the first EM rotor operably engaged with the plurality of windings of the second EM rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Jia Xiaochuan, Kurt David Murrow
  • Publication number: 20200244199
    Abstract: A turbomachine and method for operating a turbomachine comprising a first rotatable component and a second rotatable component each defining a rotatable speed mechanically independent of one another, and an electric machine electrically coupled to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component such that a load level relative to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component is adjustable is generally provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 10711629
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of operating an active clearance control system for an interdigitated turbine engine. The method includes flowing air from a compressor section to a rotatable outer shroud of an interdigitated turbine section; and adjusting the flow of air to the outer shroud based at least on an engine condition of the turbine engine. The present disclosure is further directed to a gas turbine engine including a low speed turbine rotor comprising an inner shroud, an outer shroud, and at least one connecting airfoil coupling the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The outer shroud includes a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward along a radial direction. The engine further includes a turbine frame at least partially surrounding the low speed turbine rotor; a seal assembly disposed between the outer shroud of the low speed turbine rotor and the turbine frame; and a fifth manifold coupled to the turbine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Generl Electric Company
    Inventors: Gert Johannes van der Merwe, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 10704410
    Abstract: An unducted thrust producing system has a rotating element with an axis of rotation and a stationary element. The rotating element includes a plurality of blades, and the stationary element has a plurality of vanes configured to impart a change in tangential velocity of the working fluid opposite to that imparted by the rotating element acted upon by the rotating element. The system includes an inlet forward of the rotating element and the stationary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Jeffrey Hamel, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 10669881
    Abstract: A unshrouded vane assembly for an unducted propulsion system includes a plurality of vanes which have non-uniform characteristics configured to generate a desired vane exit swirl angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Richard David Cedar
  • Patent number: 10663036
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine, wherein the gas turbine engine defines a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes an annular stationary turbine frame centered around the axial centerline; an engine shaft extended generally along the longitudinal direction; an input shaft extended generally along the longitudinal direction; and a gear assembly including a first gear coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to the turbine frame, and an inner spool coupling the first gear and the second gear, in which the inner spool defines a gear axis extended therethrough. The inner spool, the first gear, and the second gear are together rotatable about the gear axis. The gear axis is rotatable about the axial centerline of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20200141421
    Abstract: The variable pitch propeller assembly includes a hub. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a plurality of propeller blade assemblies spaced circumferentially about the hub. Each of the plurality of propeller blade assemblies configured to rotate a respective propeller blade. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a hydraulic fluid port assembly integrally formed and including at least three hydraulic fluid ports configured to receive respective flows of hydraulic fluid from a stationary hydraulic fluid transfer sleeve. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a pitch actuator assembly coupled in flow communication with at least three hydraulic fluid ports through respective hydraulic fluid transfer tubes. The pitch actuator coupled to the plurality of propeller blade assemblies to selectively control a pitch of the propeller blades. The pitch actuator assembly includes a travel stop configured to limit a rotation of at least one of the pitch actuator assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Christopher James Kroger
  • Patent number: 10644630
    Abstract: A turbomachine and method for operating a turbomachine comprising a first rotatable component and a second rotatable component each defining a rotatable speed mechanically independent of one another, and an electric machine electrically coupled to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component such that a load level relative to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component is adjustable is generally provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Publication number: 20200085988
    Abstract: A method for operating a propulsion system of an aircraft includes moving a plurality of forward and aft propulsors to a vertical thrust position. While in the vertical thrust positions, the method also includes providing a first forward to aft ratio of electric power to the plurality of forward and aft propulsors. The method also includes moving the plurality of forward and aft propulsors to a forward thrust position. While in the forward thrust positions, the method also includes providing a second forward to aft ratio of electric power to the plurality of forward and aft propulsors. The first forward to aft ratio of electric power is different than the second forward to aft ratio of electric power to provide certain efficiencies for the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Kurt David Murrow, Glenn Crabtree, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20200063606
    Abstract: A method is provided for maintaining a gas turbine engine installed on an aircraft, the gas turbine engine including an electric machine mounted at least partially inward of a core air flowpath of the gas turbine engine. The method includes removing a rotor mount connecting a rotor of the electric machine to a rotary component of the gas turbine engine; removing a stator mount connecting a stator of the electric machine to a stationary component of the gas turbine engine; and removing in situ the electric machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Christopher Charles Glynn
  • Patent number: 10544793
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a first turbine rotor comprising an inner shroud, an outer shroud outward of the inner shroud in the radial direction, at least one connecting airfoil coupling the inner shroud and the outer shroud at least partially along the radial direction, and an outer band outward of the outer shroud in the radial direction and extended at least partially in the circumferential direction, and a plurality of connecting members couples the outer shroud and the outer band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Wesling, Gert Johannes van der Merwe
  • Publication number: 20200025010
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a turbine rotor, a turbine frame at least partially surrounding the turbine rotor, and an outer diameter seal assembly. The turbine rotor includes an inner shroud, an outer shroud, and at least one connecting airfoil coupling the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The outer shroud includes a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward along a radial direction. The outer diameter seal assembly includes a sliding portion disposed between the turbine frame and the outer shroud of the turbine rotor. The outer diameter seal assembly defines a secondary tooth at the outer shroud radially inward of a longitudinal face of the sliding portion, and a primary tooth defined axially adjacent to a radial face of the sliding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20200024981
    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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 10533436
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling a pitch of blades of a fan assembly having a centerline axis of rotation is provided. The system includes a pitch change mechanism (PCM) including a hydraulic actuator positioned axisymmetric with respect to the fan assembly and configured to angularly displace the blades of the fan assembly between a first position and a second position. The PCM further includes a plurality of hydraulic fluid supply lines coupled in flow communication between the hydraulic actuator and a hydraulic fluid transfer sleeve, the hydraulic fluid transfer sleeve configured to transfer a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid across a gap between a stationary member of the hydraulic fluid transfer sleeve and a rotatable member of the hydraulic fluid transfer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20200003157
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section, a gearbox proximate to the turbine section, and a driveshaft. The turbine section includes a first rotating component interdigitated with a second rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The first rotating component includes an outer shroud defining a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction and one or more connecting airfoils coupling the outer shroud to a radially extended rotor. The second rotating component includes an inner shroud defining a plurality of inner shroud airfoils extended outward of the inner shroud along the radial direction. The second rotating component is coupled to an input shaft connected to an input gear of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Patent number: 10519860
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction and includes a turbine frame defined around the axial centerline. The turbine frame includes a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface, and a third bearing surface. The first bearing surface corresponds to a first turbine rotor, the second bearing surface corresponds to a second turbine rotor, and the third bearing surface corresponds to a third turbine rotor, and each turbine rotor is independently rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 10508546
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a turbine section including a turbine, the turbine having a plurality of turbine rotor blades spaced along the axial direction, each turbine rotor blade extending generally along the radial direction between a radial inner end and a radial outer end. The plurality of turbine rotor blades includes a first turbine rotor blade; and a second turbine rotor blade spaced from the first turbine rotor blade along the axial direction, the radial outer end of the first turbine rotor blade coupled to the radial outer end of the second turbine rotor blade. The plurality of turbine rotor blades additionally includes a third turbine rotor blade spaced from the second turbine rotor blade along the axial direction, the radial inner end of the second turbine rotor blade coupled to the radial inner end of the third turbine rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peeyush Pankaj, Shashank Suresh Puranik, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Christopher Charles Glynn, Richard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10465606
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section, a gearbox proximate to the turbine section, and a driveshaft. The turbine section includes a first rotating component interdigitated with a second rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The first rotating component includes an outer shroud defining a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction and one or more connecting airfoils coupling the outer shroud to a radially extended rotor. The second rotating component includes an inner shroud defining a plurality of inner shroud airfoils extended outward of the inner shroud along the radial direction. The second rotating component is coupled to an input shaft connected to an input gear of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Patent number: 10465538
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a forward thrust mode and a reverse thrust mode is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a variable pitch fan configured for generating forward thrust in the forward thrust mode of the engine and reverse thrust in the reverse thrust mode of the engine. The engine also includes a fan cowl surrounding the variable pitch fan, wherein the fan cowl forms a bypass duct for airflow generated by the fan. The fan cowl includes an aft edge that defines a physical flow area of the bypass duct, and a deflection device configured for deflecting airflow near the aft edge, wherein the deflection device is configured for operation in the reverse thrust mode of the engine. The physical flow area of the bypass duct at the aft edge remains the same in the forward thrust mode of the engine and in the reverse thrust mode of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick John Lonneman, Alan Roy Stuart