Patents by Inventor David William Crall

David William Crall 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: 20160376889
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a tie-bolt support assembly is provided which includes a support spring for engagement with both the tie-bolt and a rotor assembly to maintain a load path between the tie-bolt and the rotor assembly while also allowing for axial movement of the tie-bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Benjamin Vincent RAWE, Robert C. VON DER ESCH, Jason Francis PEPI, David William CRALL
  • Publication number: 20160312795
    Abstract: A ribbed composite shell includes an annular grid of relatively thick crack arresting ribs embedded in a relatively thin annular shell and relatively thin panels in thin annular shell between arresting ribs wherein each of panels are completely surrounded by a set of relatively thick adjoining ones of ribs. A shell forward flange may extend radially inwardly from thin annular shell. Arresting ribs may include radially stacked layers of strips between radially stacked annular layers of shell. Annular grid may include a rectangular grid pattern, a diamond grid pattern, or a hexagonal grid pattern. A nacelle inlet may have the ribbed composite shell within one or both of radially spaced apart composite inner and outer skins of an inner barrel. Nacelle inlet may be part of attached to a fan casing and axially disposed forward of fan blades circumscribed by the casing. The inlet may be on an engine nacelle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventor: David William CRALL
  • Patent number: 9260974
    Abstract: Active clearance control ejector systems and methods are disclosed. An example system may include an air ejector; an entrance pipe arranged to supply compressor bleed air to the air ejector; an inlet duct arranged to supply fan bypass air to the air ejector; and a supply pipe arranged to receive ejector outlet air from the air ejector and supply the ejector outlet air to an active clearance control system. The ejector outlet air may include a mixture of the compressor bleed air and the fan bypass air. The air ejector may include a venturi arranged to conduct the compressor bleed air therethrough, thereby drawing the fan bypass air into the air ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Howard Hasting, David William Crall, Craig William Higgins, Erich Alois Krammer
  • Patent number: 8727721
    Abstract: A vane includes a composite airfoil having one or more pockets and one or more spars received therein respectively. The spars extending radially away from a bridge of a vane mount supporting airfoil. The spars may be integrally formed with the bridge. The spars may be adhesively bonded to the composite airfoil within the pockets. A passage may extend between an airfoil base and an airfoil tip. A gas turbine engine annular fan frame includes an annular row of the composite outlet guide vanes extending radially between and connecting radially inner and outer rings of the fan frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Courtney James Tudor, Frank Worthoff, David William Crall, Seth Alexander McDonald
  • Patent number: 8690531
    Abstract: A vane includes a composite airfoil having one or more outer pockets and one or more outer spars received therein respectively. The outer spars extending radially inwardly from an outer bridge of the outer vane mount outwardly supporting airfoil. The spars may be integrally formed with the bridge and adhesively bonded to the composite airfoil within the pockets with a passage extending between an airfoil base and an airfoil tip. A metallic leading edge tip may be disposed along the leading edge of the composite airfoil. A gas turbine engine annular fan frame incorporates the vanes in an annular row of composite outlet guide vanes extending radially between and connecting radially inner and outer rings of the fan frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electroc Co.
    Inventors: Courtney James Tudor, Frank Worthoff, David William Crall, Seth Alexander McDonald
  • Publication number: 20130287551
    Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a rotatable shaft in a gas turbine engine, wherein the shaft includes sections of greater shaft diameter located both forward and aft of the seal shaft coupling point is provided. The seal assembly includes a first semi-annular segment with a first end, a second end, and a plurality of seal teeth, where the first and second ends each include an overlap joint. The seal assembly also includes a second semi-annular segment with a first end, a second end, and a plurality of seal teeth, where the first and second ends each include an overlap joint. The first end of the second segment is coupled to the first end of the first segment, and the second end of the second segment is coupled to the second end of the first segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Del Donno, David William Crall, Jason Francis Pepi, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20120171028
    Abstract: A vane includes a composite airfoil having one or more pockets and one or more spars received therein respectively. The spars extending radially away from a bridge of a vane mount supporting airfoil. The spars may be integrally formed with the bridge. The spars may be adhesively bonded to the composite airfoil within the pockets. A passage may extend between an airfoil base and an airfoil tip. A gas turbine engine annular fan frame includes an annular row of the composite outlet guide vanes extending radially between and connecting radially inner and outer rings of the fan frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Courtney James Tudor, Frank Worthoff, David William Crall, Seth Alexander McDonald
  • Publication number: 20120171025
    Abstract: A vane includes a composite airfoil having one or more outer pockets and one or more outer spars received therein respectively. The outer spars extending radially inwardly from an outer bridge of the outer vane mount outwardly supporting airfoil. The spars may be integrally formed with the bridge and adhesively bonded to the composite airfoil within the pockets with a passage extending between an airfoil base and an airfoil tip. A metallic leading edge tip may be disposed along the leading edge of the composite airfoil. A gas turbine engine annular fan frame incorporates the vanes in an annular row of composite outlet guide vanes extending radially between and connecting radially inner and outer rings of the fan frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Courtney James Tudor, Frank Worthoff, David William Crall, Seth Alexander McDonald
  • Patent number: 7972109
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a fan assembly is provided, wherein the method includes providing a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades. At least one rotor blade is fabricated from a frangible material. The method also includes coupling a casing substantially circumferentially about the rotor, and positioning the casing a distance from the plurality of rotor blades. The distance is selected to facilitate increasing an amount of initial resistance created between the casing and the plurality of rotor blades after a bladeout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Crall, Frank Worthoff, Daniel Edward Mollmann, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Max Farson
  • Patent number: 7780410
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes providing at least one blade assembly. The method also includes forming at least one blade tip fuse within at least a portion of the at least one blade assembly. The method further includes coupling the at least one blade assembly into the gas turbine engine. The blade assembly includes an airfoil and a metal leading edge (MLE) coupled to at least a portion of the airfoil. The MLE includes the at least one blade tip fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, David William Crall, Daniel Edward Mollmann
  • Patent number: 7575417
    Abstract: A fan blade including a plurality of fiber composite layers and at least one high elongation fiber composite strip joining one of the fiber composite layers at a joint. A method of making a fan blade includes joining a plurality of fiber composite layers and joining at least one high elongation fiber composite strip to one of the plurality of fiber composite layers. An end of the high elongation fiber composite strip meets an end of the fiber composite layer at a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Roger Finn, Govindarajan Rengarajan, David William Crall, Ian Francis Prentice
  • Publication number: 20080159868
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes providing at least one blade assembly. The method also includes forming at least one blade tip fuse within at least a portion of the at least one blade assembly. The method further includes coupling the at least one blade assembly into the gas turbine engine. The blade assembly includes an airfoil and a metal leading edge (MLE) coupled to at least a portion of the airfoil. The MLE includes the at least one blade tip fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, David William Crall, Daniel Edward Mollmann
  • Publication number: 20080159854
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a fan assembly is provided, wherein the method includes providing a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades. At least one rotor blade is fabricated from a frangible material. The method also includes coupling a casing substantially circumferentially about the rotor, and positioning the casing a distance from the plurality of rotor blades. The distance is selected to facilitate increasing an amount of initial resistance created between the casing and the plurality of rotor blades after a bladeout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: David William Crall, Frank Worthoff, Daniel Edward Mollmann, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Max Farson
  • Patent number: 7018168
    Abstract: A method facilitates fabricating a gas turbine engine. The method comprises coupling an engine casing circumferentially around a gas turbine engine. The method also comprises coupling an engine containment wrap to the gas turbine engine, such that the containment wrap circumscribes at least a portion of the gas turbine engine casing, wherein the containment wrap includes a plurality of layers coupled together such that a first layer is formed from at least three sheets coupled together such that the first sheet fibers are oriented substantially in a first direction, such that the second sheet fibers are oriented in a second direction that is offset approximately forty-five degrees from the first sheet, and such that the third sheet fibers are oriented substantially parallel to the first direction, and wherein the plurality of first sheet fibers are aligned substantially axially with the respect to the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frank Worthoff, Christopher Charles Glynn, David William Crall, David Lawrence Bedel
  • Patent number: 6893225
    Abstract: An article made of a metallic material and comprising a body and a body end portion integral with the body, includes a band of the metallic material at the end portion substantially through the entire end portion, the band being under a compressive stress greater than the body. An example of the article is a turbine engine balding member in which the body is the airfoil of the member and the band is disposed at the radially outer tip portion of the airfoil. One method for providing the band includes performing roller deformation on the end portion until a desired amount of compressive stress is developed in the band substantially through the entire end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Crall, Peter John Linko, III
  • Publication number: 20040109767
    Abstract: An article made of a metallic material and comprising a body and a body end portion integral with the body, includes a band of the metallic material at the end portion substantially through the entire end portion, the band being under a compressive stress greater than the body. An example of the article is a turbine engine blading member in which the body is the airfoil of the member and the band is disposed at the radially outer tip portion of the airfoil. One method for providing the band includes performing roller deformation on the end portion until a desired amount of compressive stress is developed in the band substantially through the entire end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: David William Crall, Peter John Linko
  • Patent number: 6672838
    Abstract: An article made of a metallic material and comprising a body and a body end portion integral with the body, includes a band of the metallic material at the end portion substantially through the entire end portion, the band being under a compressive stress greater than the body. An example of the article is a turbine engine blading member in which the body is the airfoil of the member and the band is disposed at the radially outer tip portion of the airfoil. One method for providing the band includes performing roller deformation on the end portion until a desired amount of compressive stress is developed in the band substantially through the entire end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Crall, Peter John Linko, III
  • Patent number: 6666017
    Abstract: A counterrotatable booster compressor assembly for a gas turbine engine having a counterrotatable fan section with a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft and a second fan blade row axially spaced from the first fan blade row and connected to a second drive shaft. The counterrotatable booster compressor assembly includes a first compressor blade row connected to the first drive shaft, a plurality of fan shaft extensions connected to the second drive shaft for driving the second fan blade row, and at least one compressor blade integral with each fan shaft extension so as to form a second compressor blade row interdigitated with the first compressor blade row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, David William Crall, Bruce Clark Busbey, Christopher Charles Glynn, Donald Ray Bond
  • Publication number: 20030217546
    Abstract: A counterrotatable booster compressor assembly for a gas turbine engine having a counterrotatable fan section with a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft and a second fan blade row axially spaced from the first fan blade row and connected to a second drive shaft. The counterrotatable booster compressor assembly includes a first compressor blade row connected to the first drive shaft, a plurality of fan shaft extensions connected to the second drive shaft for driving the second fan blade row, and at least one compressor blade integral with each fan shaft extension so as to form a second compressor blade row interdigitated with the first compressor blade row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, David William Crall, Bruce Clark Busbey, Christopher Charles Glynn, Donald Ray Bond
  • Patent number: 6568909
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip plate, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. The first sidewall extends in radial span between an airfoil root and the tip plate. Furthermore, the first sidewall defines a pressure side of the airfoil. The second sidewall is connected to the first sidewall at the leading and trailing edges, and extends in radial span between the airfoil root and the tip plate. The second sidewall defines a suction side of the airfoil. The tip plate includes at least one groove that extends substantially between the first and second sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Nicholas Szucs, Gregory Scott McNulty, Syed Arif Khalid, David William Crall