Patents by Inventor Flavien L. Thomas

Flavien L. Thomas 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: 10247018
    Abstract: A disclosed fan section of a gas turbine engine includes a fan rotor having a plurality of fan blades and a duct defining a passageway aft of the fan rotor. A fan exit guide vane is disposed within the duct downstream of the fan blades. The fan exit guide vane includes a plurality of exit guide vanes positioned downstream of the fan rotor with at least two of the plurality of exit guide vanes including different aft geometries for guiding airflow through the passage to reduce pressure distortions at the fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Glen E. Potter, Flavien L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10196897
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan section with a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an engine axis generating an airflow, a bypass passage through which the airflow passes, and a fan exit guide vane. The fan exit guide vane assembly includes a plurality of airfoils disposed between an inner platform wall and an outer platform wall. At least one of the inner platform wall and the outer platform wall includes a contoured surface between adjacent airfoils. The contoured surface includes at least one concave region and at least one convex region. A method of reducing secondary flow structures in bypass air flow with the turbofan is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Flavien L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10151210
    Abstract: An airfoil array for a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of airfoils spaced circumferentially apart from each other about an engine center axis. Each airfoil is associated with a platform. An endwall extends circumferentially about the engine center axis, and is defined by adjacent platforms. Each pair of adjacent platforms are separated from each other by a gap. An endwall contour shape extends from a first location on one side of the gap to a second location on an opposite of the gap. The endwall contour shape is the same for all adjacent platforms. A gas turbine engine and a method of forming an airfoil array for a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Flavien L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9540938
    Abstract: A disclosed fan section of a gas turbine engine includes a fan rotor having a plurality of fan blades and a duct defining a passageway aft of the fan rotor. A fan exit guide vane is disposed within the duct downstream of the fan blades. The fan exit guide vane includes a plurality of exit guide vanes positioned downstream of the fan rotor with at least two of the plurality of exit guide vanes including different aft geometries for guiding airflow through the passage to reduce pressure distortions at the fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Glen E. Potter, Flavien L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160363137
    Abstract: A disclosed fan section of a gas turbine engine includes a fan rotor having a plurality of fan blades and a duct defining a passageway aft of the fan rotor. A fan exit guide vane is disposed within the duct downstream of the fan blades. The fan exit guide vane includes a plurality of exit guide vanes positioned downstream of the fan rotor with at least two of the plurality of exit guide vanes including different aft geometries for guiding airflow through the passage to reduce pressure distortions at the fan blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Glen E. Potter, Flavien L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160076392
    Abstract: An airfoil array for a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of airfoils spaced circumferentially apart from each other about an engine center axis. Each airfoil is associated with a platform. An endwall extends circumferentially about the engine center axis, and is defined by adjacent platforms. Each pair of adjacent platforms are separated from each other by a gap. An endwall contour shape extends from a first location on one side of the gap to a second location on an opposite of the gap. The endwall contour shape is the same for all adjacent platforms. A gas turbine engine and a method of forming an airfoil array for a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventor: Flavien L. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160017732
    Abstract: An off-cambered vane for a guide vane assembly in a gas turbine engine is described. The guide vane assembly may comprise a nominal vane having a tip portion, a mid-span portion, and a hub portion. The mid-span portion of the nominal vane may adopt a nominal geometry and the hub portion of the nominal vane may adopt a common geometry. The guide vane assembly may further comprise an off-cambered vane having a tip portion, a mid-span portion, and a hub portion. The mid-span portion of the off-cambered vane may deviate variably with respect to the nominal geometry and at least one of the hub portion and the tip portion may adopt the common geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Flavien L. THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20160017715
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan section with a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an engine axis generating an airflow, a bypass passage through which the airflow passes, and a fan exit guide vane. The fan exit guide vane assembly includes a plurality of airfoils disposed between an inner platform wall and an outer platform wall. At least one of the inner platform wall and the outer platform wall includes a contoured surface between adjacent airfoils. The contoured surface includes at least one concave region and at least one convex region. A method of reducing secondary flow structures in bypass air flow with the turbofan is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Flavien L. Thomas