Patents by Inventor David P. Houston

David P. Houston 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: 10982551
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element has an airfoil. The airfoil has an inboard end, an outboard end, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, and a suction side. A span between the inboard and an outboard end is 1.4-1.6 inch. A chord length at 50% span is 0.9-1.4 inch. The element is remanufactured by providing first, second, third, fourth, and fifth mode resonance frequencies respectively of 2591.5±10% Hz, 4675.2±10% Hz, 7892.9±10% Hz, 10098.2±10% Hz, and 14808.2±10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan C. Atkins, Robert J. Esteve, Richard A. Lomenzo, Jr., David P. Houston
  • Patent number: 10704989
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine includes the steps of: (a) receiving information from actual flights of an aircraft including an engine to be monitored, and including at least one of the ambient temperature at takeoff, and internal engine pressures, temperatures and speeds; (b) evaluating the damage accumulated on an engine component given the data received in step (a); (c) storing the determined damage from step (b); (d) repeating steps (a)-(c); (e) recommending a suggested future use for the component based upon steps (a)-(d). A system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Marnie A. Rizo, David P. Houston, David M. Nissley, Paul J. Hiester, Timothy Dale, Timothy B. Winfield, Madeline Campbell, James R. Midgley
  • Patent number: 10570755
    Abstract: A dovetail root of a fan blade configured for operation within the fan assembly of a gas turbine engine. The dovetail root is imparted with a compressive residual stress layer along the outer faces of the dovetail root preventing crack formation within the dovetail root when the gas turbine engine is in operation. To further protect and structurally enhance the dovetail root, a wear covering is disposed on the dovetail root. The wear covering may consist of a composite laminate layer that is bonded to the metallic core of the dovetail root providing additional cracking protection of the dovetail root when the gas turbine engine is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott C. Billings, William R. Graves, Jason Elliott, David P. Houston, Ethan C. Drew
  • Publication number: 20190219484
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine includes the steps of: (a) receiving information from actual flights of an aircraft including an engine to be monitored, and including at least one of the ambient temperature at takeoff, and internal engine pressures, temperatures and speeds; (b) evaluating the damage accumulated on an engine component given the data received in step (a); (c) storing the determined damage from step (b); (d) repeating steps (a)-(c); (e) recommending a suggested future use for the component based upon steps (a)-(d). A system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Marnie A. Rizo, David P. Houston, David M. Nissley, Paul J. Hiester, Timothy Dale, Timothy B. Winfield, Madeline Campbell, James R. Midgley
  • Patent number: 10288011
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10288010
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10234359
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine includes the steps of: (a) receiving information from actual flights of an aircraft including an engine to be monitored, and including at least one of the ambient temperature at takeoff, and internal engine pressures, temperatures and speeds; (b) evaluating the damage accumulated on an engine component given the data received in step (a); (c) storing the determined damage from step (b); (d) repeating steps (a)-(c); (e) recommending a suggested future use for the component based upon steps (a)-(d). A system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Marnie A. Rizo, David P. Houston, David M. Nissley, Paul J. Hiester, Timothy Dale, Timothy B. Winfield, Madeline N. Campbell, James R. Midgley
  • 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: 10151204
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil body that has a leading edge and a trailing edge and a first sidewall and a second sidewall that is spaced apart from the first sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall join the leading edge and the trailing edge between a radially outer end and a radially inner end. The first sidewall and the second sidewall at least partially define a cavity extending radially in the airfoil body. A damper member has a free radially inner end in the cavity and a free radially outer end in the cavity. The damper member is free-floating in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Benjamin T. Fisk, Anita L. Tracy
  • Patent number: 10077663
    Abstract: A rotor stack assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly axially downstream from the first rotor assembly. The first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly include a rim, a bore and a web that extends between the rim and the bore. A tie shaft is positioned radially inward of the bores. The tie shaft maintains a compressive load on the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly. The compressive load is communicated through a first load path of the first rotor assembly and a second load path of the second rotor assembly. At least one of the first load path and the second load path is radially inboard of the rims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric W. Malmborg, David P. Houston, James R. Midgley, Robert A. Grelotti, Joseph W. Bridges
  • Patent number: 10072507
    Abstract: An airfoil attachment according to one example of this disclosure includes an airfoil and a disk supporting the airfoil. Further, there are primary contact surfaces and secondary contact surfaces between the airfoil and the disk. The secondary contact surfaces are not engaged during a normal operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: David P. Houston
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20180119643
    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: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9885242
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element has an airfoil. The airfoil has an inboard end, an outboard end, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, and a suction side. A span between the inboard and an outboard end is 1.4-1.6 inch. A chord length at 50% span is 0.9-1.4 inch. At least three of the following resonance frequencies are present. A first mode resonance frequency is 2591.5±10% Hz. A second mode resonance frequency is 4675.2±10% Hz. A third mode resonance frequency is 7892.9±10% Hz. A fourth mode resonance frequency is 10098.2±10% Hz. A fifth mode resonance frequency is 14808.2±10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan C. Atkins, Robert J. Esteve, Richard A. Lomenzo, Jr., David P. Houston
  • Patent number: 9828944
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20170335796
    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: July 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20170336288
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine includes the steps of: (a) receiving information from actual flights of an aircraft including an engine to be monitored, and including at least one of the ambient temperature at takeoff, and internal engine pressures, temperatures and speeds; (b) evaluating the damage accumulated on an engine component given the data received in step (a); (c) storing the determined damage from step (b); (d) repeating steps (a)-(c); (e) recommending a suggested future use for the component based upon steps (a)-(d). A system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Marnie A. Rizo, David P. Houston, David M. Nissley, Paul J. Hiester, Timothy Dale, Timothy B. Winfield, Madeline N. Campbell, James R. Midgley
  • Publication number: 20170298835
    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 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20170298833
    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 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20170298834
    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 17, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: David P. Houston, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Frederick M. Schwarz