Patents by Inventor Ethan K. Stearns

Ethan K. Stearns 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: 11028730
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear system of an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed. The heat exchangers include at least an air/oil cooler wherein air is pulled across the air/oil cooler to cool oil. The air/oil cooler is provided with an ejector tapping compressed air from a compressor section to increase airflow across the air/oil cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan K. Stearns, John Axel Glahn, Daniel J. McKaveney
  • Patent number: 10400671
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a heat exchanger and a valve that controls an amount of a first fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger. A first sensor senses a first characteristic of a second fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the first fluid and a second sensor senses a second characteristic of the second fluid. A positioning of the valve is based on at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Federico Papa, Thomas G. Phillips, Kathleen R. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Justin W. Heiss
  • Publication number: 20190170016
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear system of an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed. The heat exchangers include at least an air/oil cooler wherein air is pulled across the air/oil cooler to cool oil. The air/oil cooler is provided with an ejector tapping compressed air from a compressor section to increase airflow across the air/oil cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Ethan K. Stearns, John Axel Glahn, Daniel J. McKaveney
  • Publication number: 20190120140
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment that has at least one seal, a bearing disposed in the bearing compartment, a deoiler fluidly connected with the bearing compartment, and a vacuum generator fluidly connected with the deoiler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Matthew J. Howlett, Myles R. Kelly, Victor M. Pinedo, Gregory E. Reinhardt, Bradley C. Schafer, Ethan K. Stearns
  • Patent number: 10196936
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear system of an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed. The heat exchangers include at least an air/oil cooler wherein air is pulled across the air/oil cooler to cool oil. The air/oil cooler is provided with an ejector tapping compressed air from a compressor section to increase airflow across the air/oil cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan K. Stearns, Jorn A. Glahn, Daniel J. McKaveney
  • Patent number: 10107198
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear system of an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed. The heat exchangers include at least an air/oil cooler wherein air is pulled across the air/oil cooler to cool oil. The air/oil cooler is provided with an ejector tapping compressed air from a compressor section to increase airflow across the air/oil cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan K. Stearns, Jorn A. Glahn, Daniel J. McKaveney
  • Patent number: 9878799
    Abstract: A method of protecting fuel hardware for a gas turbine engine in an aircraft is disclosed. The method may include determining a current altitude of the aircraft, and controlling a temperature of fuel for the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the current altitude. A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine in an aircraft is also disclosed. The thermal management system may include a sensor configured to detect a current altitude of the aircraft, and a controller in operative communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to manage a fuel temperature for the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the current altitude detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz, Ethan K. Stearns
  • Patent number: 9879563
    Abstract: A lubricant supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant lube pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear for an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kathleen R. Phillips, Thomas G. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20180016024
    Abstract: A fuel system for use with a gas turbine engine with a fuel flow and an oil flow includes a fuel-oil cooler in fluid communication with the fuel flow and the oil flow, the fuel-oil cooler to transfer heat between the fuel flow and the oil flow, a fuel filter associated with the fuel-oil cooler, the fuel filter in fluid communication with the fuel flow, and an electric heating element disposed adjacent to at least one of the fuel-oil cooler and the fuel filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Ethan K. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20160332743
    Abstract: A method of protecting fuel hardware for a gas turbine engine in an aircraft is disclosed. The method may include determining a current altitude of the aircraft, and controlling a temperature of fuel for the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the current altitude. A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine in an aircraft is also disclosed. The thermal management system may include a sensor configured to detect a current altitude of the aircraft, and a controller in operative communication with the sensor. The controller may be configured to manage a fuel temperature for the gas turbine engine based at least in part on the current altitude detected by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz, Ethan K. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20160201563
    Abstract: A system is provided for a turbine engine that includes a fuel injector and an actuator. The system includes a fuel management system configured to receive fuel from a flow path. The fuel management system is also configured to provide a first portion of the fuel received from the flow path to the fuel injector at a first temperature, and a second portion of the fuel received from the flow path to the actuator at a second temperature different than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ethan K. Stearns, Clifton J. Crawley, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160201557
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a heat exchanger and a valve that controls an amount of a first fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger. A first sensor senses a first characteristic of a second fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the first fluid and a second sensor senses a second characteristic of the second fluid. A positioning of the valve is based on at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Federico PAPA, Thomas G. PHILLIPS, Kathleen R. PHILLIPS, Ethan K. STEARNS, Justin W. HEISS
  • Patent number: 9341080
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. A fan drive gear system is configured for driving the fan at a speed different than the turbine section. A lubricant system includes a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line splits into at least a hot line and into a cool line. The hot line is directed primarily to locations in the gas turbine engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant. The cool line is directed through one or more heat exchangers at which the lubricant is cooled, and the cool line then is routed to the fan drive gear system. At least one of the one or more heat exchangers is a fuel/oil cooler at which lubricant will be cooled by fuel leading to the combustion section. The fuel/oil cooler is downstream of a point where the outlet line splits into the at least the hot line and the cool line, such that the hot line is not directed through the fuel/oil cooler. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kathleen R. Phillips, Thomas G. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Federico Papa
  • Patent number: 9334802
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a heat exchanger and a valve that controls an amount of a first fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger A first sensor senses a first characteristic of a second fluid that is communicated through the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the first fluid and a second sensor senses a second characteristic of the second fluid. A positioning of the valve is based on at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Federico Papa, Thomas G. Phillips, Kathleen R. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Justin W. Heiss
  • Publication number: 20160024968
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear system of an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed. The heat exchangers include at least an air/oil cooler wherein air is pulled across the air/oil cooler to cool oil. The air/oil cooler is provided with an ejector tapping compressed air from a compressor section to increase airflow across the air/oil cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ethan K. Stearns, Jorn A. Glahn, Daniel J. McKaveney
  • Publication number: 20150361887
    Abstract: An oil supply system for a gas turbine engine has a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line is split into at least a hot line and into a cool line, with the hot line directed primarily to locations associated with an engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant, and the cool line directed through one or more heat exchangers at which lubricant is cooled. The cool line then is routed to a fan drive gear system of an associated gas turbine engine. A method and apparatus are disclosed. The heat exchangers include at least an air/oil cooler wherein air is pulled across the air/oil cooler to cool oil. The air/oil cooler is provided with an ejector tapping compressed air from a compressor section to increase airflow across the air/oil cooler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ethan K. Stearns, Jorn A. Glahn, Daniel J. McKaveney
  • Patent number: 9038397
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a fan. A geared architecture is configured for driving the fan. A turbine section is configured for driving the geared architecture. A thermal management system that includes a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit that manage heat generated in at least a portion of the gas turbine engine. A first heat exchanger is incorporated into each of the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A second heat exchanger is incorporated into the first fluid circuit. A valve controls an amount of a first fluid that is communicated to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A controller is configured to control a positioning of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Federico Papa, Thomas G. Phillips, Kathleen R. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Justin W. Heiss
  • Patent number: 9039013
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic non-contacting seal wherein the sealing surface of a rotatable sealing member is grooved in a spiral pattern such that the depth of the grooves decreases in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the rotatable sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Antonio F. Artiles, Ethan K. Stearns
  • Publication number: 20140360153
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a fan. A geared architecture is configured for driving the fan. A turbine section is configured for driving the geared architecture. A thermal management system that includes a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit that manage heat generated in at least a portion of the gas turbine engine. A first heat exchanger is incorporated into each of the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A second heat exchanger is incorporated into the first fluid circuit. A valve controls an amount of a first fluid that is communicated to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A controller is configured to control a positioning of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Federico Papa, Thomas G. Phillips, Kathleen R. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Justin W. Heiss
  • Publication number: 20140216003
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. A fan drive gear system is configured for driving the fan at a speed different than the turbine section. A lubricant system includes a lubricant pump delivering lubricant to an outlet line. The outlet line splits into at least a hot line and into a cool line. The hot line is directed primarily to locations in the gas turbine engine that are not intended to receive cooler lubricant. The cool line is directed through one or more heat exchangers at which the lubricant is cooled, and the cool line then is routed to the fan drive gear system. At least one of the one or more heat exchangers is a fuel/oil cooler at which lubricant will be cooled by fuel leading to the combustion section. The fuel/oil cooler is downstream of a point where the outlet line splits into the at least the hot line and the cool line, such that the hot line is not directed through the fuel/oil cooler. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kathleen R. Phillips, Thomas G. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Federico Papa