Patents by Inventor Drew Michael CAPPS

Drew Michael CAPPS 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: 20260036063
    Abstract: An engine for aeromechanical instability abatement includes a sensor configured to capture data from rotating blades of the engine system, a airflow effector device, and an engine controller. The engine controller is configured to control the airflow effector device according to a nominal schedule, detect, based on a signal from the sensor indicating a vibration amplitude of the rotating blades within a frequency band, an incipient instability condition, in response to the incipient instability condition being present, determine a modified control parameter for at least one of the airflow effector device, and control the airflow effector device according to the modified control parameter, deviating from the nominal schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2025
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Inventors: Syed J. Khalid, David Marion Ostdiek, William J. Solomon, Drew Michael Capps, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, Matthew Vincent Gettemy, Matthew Truong
  • Publication number: 20250382887
    Abstract: A system for preventing abnormal fan blade deflection or fan flutter includes an optical emitting source, an optical receiver, and a retroreflector for attachment to a fan blade of an engine. The system emits radiant flux from the optical emitting source towards the retroreflector when the engine is operating; receives an incident radiant flux from the retroreflector by the optical receiver; determines a deflection value of the fan blade based on the incident radiant flux received by the optical receiver; determines whether the deflection value is greater than or equal to a threshold for deflection of the fan blade to identify abnormal fan blade deflection or fan flutter; and selectively changes a state of the engine when abnormal fan blade deflection or fan flutter is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Inventors: Phillip Schultz, Drew Michael Capps
  • Patent number: 12497899
    Abstract: A system for preventing abnormal fan blade deflection or fan flutter includes an optical emitting source, an optical receiver, and a retroreflector for attachment to a fan blade of an engine. The system emits radiant flux from the optical emitting source towards the retroreflector when the engine is operating; receives an incident radiant flux from the retroreflector by the optical receiver; determines a deflection value of the fan blade based on the incident radiant flux received by the optical receiver; determines whether the deflection value is greater than or equal to a threshold for deflection of the fan blade to identify abnormal fan blade deflection or fan flutter; and selectively changes a state of the engine when abnormal fan blade deflection or fan flutter is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Phillip Schultz, Drew Michael Capps
  • Patent number: 12359588
    Abstract: An engine for aeromechanical instability abatement includes a sensor configured to capture data from rotating blades of the engine system, a airflow effector device, and an engine controller. The engine controller is configured to control the airflow effector device according to a nominal schedule, detect, based on a signal from the sensor indicating a vibration amplitude of the rotating blades within a frequency band, an incipient instability condition, in response to the incipient instability condition being present, determine a modified control parameter for at least one of the airflow effector device, and control the airflow effector device according to the modified control parameter, deviating from the nominal schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Syed J. Khalid, David Marion Ostdiek, William J. Solomon, Drew Michael Capps, Stefan Joseph Cafaro, Matthew Vincent Gettemy, Matthew Truong
  • Patent number: 10822965
    Abstract: An apparatus for an aircraft engine that is configured for actively adjusting physical characteristics of an airfoil. The apparatus includes an airfoil that has a body and a filler that is embedded within the body. A source for electromagnetic energy is positioned in a portion of the engine and configured to generate electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range which encompasses the airfoil. A physical property of the filler is configured to change between a first state in the absence of electromagnetic energy and a second state in the presence of electromagnetic energy. The airfoil has a first airfoil characteristic when the filler is in the first state and the airfoil has a second airfoil characteristic when the filler is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carl L. MacMahon, Julie Ann Duselis, Drew Michael Capps, Yoon Seok Choi, Mark Joseph Mielke
  • Patent number: 10801329
    Abstract: A vibration-damping component, a gas turbine engine having the vibration-damping component and a method for forming such component are disclosed. The vibration-damping component comprises a body formed from an additive manufacturing material by an additive manufacturing process and defining a cavity within the body, and a vibration damper disposed within the cavity. The vibration damper comprises a damping element and a damping medium containing a viscoelastic material surrounding the damping element. The damping element has a relative motion when the component vibrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Terrence Garay, Drew Michael Capps, Yoon Choi
  • Publication number: 20190292923
    Abstract: An apparatus for an aircraft engine that is configured for actively adjusting physical characteristics of an airfoil. The apparatus includes an airfoil that has a body and a filler that is embedded within the body. A source for electromagnetic energy is positioned in a portion of the engine and configured to generate electromagnetic energy having a predetermined range which encompasses the airfoil. A physical property of the filler is configured to change between a first state in the absence of electromagnetic energy and a second state in the presence of electromagnetic energy. The airfoil has a first airfoil characteristic when the filler is in the first state and the airfoil has a second airfoil characteristic when the filler is in the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Carl L. MacMahon, Julie Ann Duselis, Drew Michael Capps, Yoon Seok Choi, Mark Joseph Mielke
  • Publication number: 20190153869
    Abstract: A vibration-damping component, a gas turbine engine having the vibration-damping component and a method for forming such component are disclosed. The vibration-damping component comprises a body formed from an additive manufacturing material by an additive manufacturing process and defining a cavity within the body, and a vibration damper disposed within the cavity. The vibration damper comprises a damping element and a damping medium containing a viscoelastic material surrounding the damping element. The damping element has a relative motion when the component vibrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory Terrence GARAY, Drew Michael CAPPS, Yoon CHOI