Patents by Inventor Francis Parnin

Francis Parnin 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: 11668247
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a low pressure turbine driving a fan rotor through a gear reduction gearbox. The low pressure turbine has an input shaft driving a sun gear. The sun gear drives intermediate gears. There is an output shaft driven by one of a carrier and a ring gear in the gear reduction to in turn drive a fan drive shaft to drive the fan. A bearing compartment housing encloses the gear reduction gearbox. A fan shaft bearing supports the fan drive shaft. An oil supply system delivers oil to at least one of the sun gear, the intermediate gears and the ring gear. A scavenge system returns oil from the bearing compartment housing to a sump. An ejector pump communicates with a source of pressurized fluid to assist in driving oil from within the bearing compartment housing into a scavenge tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Vaidyanathan Sankaran
  • Patent number: 11506079
    Abstract: A diffuser for an oil drainback system drain tube includes a flow chamber configured for attachment to an open end of a drain tube, wherein the flow chamber has a side wall and an end wall, and openings in at least the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew V. Schwendenmann, Francis Parnin, Matthew Gomes
  • Publication number: 20220333532
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a low pressure turbine driving a fan rotor through a gear reduction gearbox. The low pressure turbine has an input shaft driving a sun gear. The sun gear drives intermediate gears. There is an output shaft driven by one of a carrier and a ring gear in the gear reduction to in turn drive a fan drive shaft to drive the fan. A bearing compartment housing encloses the gear reduction gearbox. A fan shaft bearing supports the fan drive shaft. An oil supply system delivers oil to at least one of the sun gear, the intermediate gears and the ring gear. A scavenge system returns oil from the bearing compartment housing to a sump. An ejector pump communicates with a source of pressurized fluid to assist in driving oil from within the bearing compartment housing into a scavenge tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Vaidyanathan Sankaran
  • Patent number: 11428163
    Abstract: A two-tier lubrication system may comprise an oil nozzle located in a bearing compartment. A main oil system may be configured to provide oil to the oil nozzle. A scavenge system may be configured to collect oil from the bearing compartment. A valve may be fluidly coupled between the main oil system and the scavenge system. The valve may be configured to actuate between a main flow position and a scavenge flow position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Parnin
  • Patent number: 11236637
    Abstract: A lubrication system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the lubrication system includes a storage tank configured to store a lubricant; a flow management valve configured to direct the lubricant to a starvation tolerant component and to a valve exit conduit; and a main pump configured to receive the lubricant from the storage tank and to pump the lubricant to the flow management valve and to a starvation intolerant component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Anthony Spagnoletti
  • Patent number: 11193422
    Abstract: A lubrication system is disclosed. The lubrication system may be used in conjunction with a gas turbine engine for generating power or lift. The lubrication system utilized a flow scheduling valve which reduces lubricant flow to at least one component based on an engine load. The lubrication system may further include a main pump which may be regulated by an engine speed. Thus, a lubrication system which provides a lubricant to engine components based on the load and speed of the engine is possible. The system may improve efficiency of the engine by reducing the power previously spent in churning excess lubricant by at least one engine component as well as reducing the energy used by a lubricant cooler in cooling the excess lubricant. The lubricant cooler size may also be minimized to reduce weight and air drag due to the reduced lubricant flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Paul H. Dolman, David M. Daley, Denman H. James, Richard W. Clark
  • Publication number: 20210207533
    Abstract: A method of controlling lubrication flow to a first engine component, a second engine component and a lubrication tank of a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, determining more than one condition experienced by the gas turbine engine, comparing with a processor on a controller the more than one condition against an engine performance model stored in memory on the controller, wherein the engine performance model includes stored relationship values between the more than one condition and a position of a scheduling valve, the scheduling valve disposed between the lubricant tank and the first engine component and between the lubricant tank and the second engine component, pumping a lubricant from the lubricant tank through a conduit to the scheduling valve using a pump, and controlling the position of the scheduling valve to vary a flow of the lubricant to two or more of the first engine component, the second engine component and the lubrication tank
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz, Francis Parnin, Richard Alan Weiner, Katherine A. Knapp Carney
  • Patent number: 10961868
    Abstract: A method of operating a lubrication system for a gas turbine engine includes pumping a lubricant from a supply conduit to a bearing compartment. A pressure differential in the bearing compartment. The supply conduit is evacuated in response to the pressure differential creating step. The supply conduit is refilled with the lubricant from a reservoir conduit fluidly joined to the supply conduit at a junction by gravitationally draining the reservoir conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20210071677
    Abstract: A diffuser for an oil drainback system drain tube includes a flow chamber configured for attachment to an open end of a drain tube, wherein the flow chamber has a side wall and an end wall, and openings in at least the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew V. Schwendenmann, Francis Parnin, Matthew Gomes
  • Patent number: 10934888
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system for a plurality of bearing dampers in a plurality of engine bearing compartments of a gas turbine engine, including a lubricant supply conduit, a first lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the first delivery conduit including one or more lubricant delivery flow paths and delivering lubrication to engine components, a second lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the second delivery conduit delivering lubricant to one or more of the plurality of bearing dampers, and an active oil flow management valve, selectively restricting lubricant flow in the first delivery conduit, increasing pressure in the second delivery conduit, based on an engine shaft rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin, Michael Dreher, James S. Elder
  • Patent number: 10837318
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a buffer system for a gas turbine engine. An exemplary gas turbine engine includes, among other features, a buffer manifold in an intershaft region. The buffer manifold is configured to direct a flow of air between a first air seal and a first oil seal, and to direct another flow of air between a second air seal and a second oil seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jorn Axel Glahn, Taryn Narrow, Anthony Spagnoletti, Francis Parnin, Justin W. Heiss
  • Patent number: 10830140
    Abstract: A method of controlling lubrication flow to a first engine component, a second engine component and a lubrication tank of a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, determining more than one condition experienced by the gas turbine engine, comparing with a processor on a controller the more than one condition against an engine performance model stored in memory on the controller, wherein the engine performance model includes stored relationship values between the more than one condition and a position of a scheduling valve, the scheduling valve disposed between the lubricant tank and the first engine component and between the lubricant tank and the second engine component, pumping a lubricant from the lubricant tank through a conduit to the scheduling valve using a pump, and controlling the position of the scheduling valve to vary a flow of the lubricant to two or more of the first engine component, the second engine component and the lubrication tank
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz, Francis Parnin, Richard Alan Weiner, Katherine A. Knapp Carney
  • Publication number: 20200277878
    Abstract: A method of operating a lubrication system for a gas turbine engine includes pumping a lubricant from a supply conduit to a bearing compartment. A pressure differential in the bearing compartment. The supply conduit is evacuated in response to the pressure differential creating step. The supply conduit is refilled with the lubricant from a reservoir conduit fluidly joined to the supply conduit at a junction by gravitationally draining the reservoir conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
  • Patent number: 10731559
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pump that moves a lubricant, a lubricant tank that stores the lubricant, a first engine component and a second engine component each requiring lubrication from the lubricant, a conduit between the lubricant tank and the first engine component and between the lubricant tank and the second engine component, a scheduling valve positioned in the conduit between the lubricant tank, and the first engine component and the second engine component, and a controller including a memory and a processor that controls the scheduling valve, wherein the memory includes an engine performance model, wherein the engine performance model includes stored relationship values between more than one condition experienced by the gas turbine engine during operation and a position of the scheduling valve, and wherein the scheduling valve varies a flow of the lubricant to the first engine component, the second e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz, Francis Parnin, Richard Alan Weiner, Katherine A. Knapp Carney
  • Patent number: 10711644
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment that has an inlet. A supply line splits into a supply conduit and a reservoir conduit that are fluidly parallel to one another for a length. The reservoir conduit fluidly rejoins the supply conduit at a junction. The supply conduit is fluidly connected to the inlet, and the reservoir conduit includes a flow restrictor upstream from the junction. A main pump is fluidly connected to the supply line and is configured to supply a lubricant to the bearing compartment through the supply line and supply and reservoir conduits in an operating state. The main pump has a non-operating state in which the reservoir conduit is configured to slowly refill the supply conduit through the flow restrictor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
  • Patent number: 10711642
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The lubrication system includes a supply source of a fluid lubricant, a main supply pump, and a boost pump system. The main supply pump has an MSP fluid flow inlet port and an MSP fluid flow exit port. The main supply pump is configured to receive a source fluid lubricant flow at a first pressure, and configured to produce a supply fluid flow at a second pressure. The second pressure is greater than the first pressure. The boost pump system has a boost pump having a BP fluid flow inlet port, and a BP fluid flow exit port. The boost pump system is configured so that the boost pump selectively receives at least a portion of the supply fluid flow from the main supply pump at the BP fluid flow inlet port, and the boost pump is configured to produce a boost supply fluid flow at a third pressure at the BP fluid flow exit port, wherein the third pressure is greater than the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Alan J. Goetschius, Thomas B. Avis
  • Publication number: 20200217220
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a buffer system for a gas turbine engine. An exemplary gas turbine engine includes, among other features, a buffer manifold in an intershaft region. The buffer manifold is configured to direct a flow of air between a first air seal and a first oil seal, and to direct another flow of air between a second air seal and a second oil seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Jorn Axel Glahn, Taryn Narrow, Anthony Spagnoletti, Francis Parnin, Justin W. Heiss
  • Publication number: 20200200043
    Abstract: A lubrication system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the lubrication system includes a storage tank configured to store a lubricant; a flow management valve configured to direct the lubricant to a starvation tolerant component and to a valve exit conduit; and a main pump configured to receive the lubricant from the storage tank and to pump the lubricant to the flow management valve and to a starvation intolerant component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Anthony Spagnoletti
  • Publication number: 20200191054
    Abstract: A two-tier lubrication system may comprise an oil nozzle located in a bearing compartment. A main oil system may be configured to provide oil to the oil nozzle. A scavenge system may be configured to collect oil from the bearing compartment. A valve may be fluidly coupled between the main oil system and the scavenge system. The valve may be configured to actuate between a main flow position and a scavenge flow position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20200011201
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system for a plurality of bearing dampers in a plurality of engine bearing compartments of a gas turbine engine, including a lubricant supply conduit, a first lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the first delivery conduit including one or more lubricant delivery flow paths and delivering lubrication to engine components, a second lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the second delivery conduit delivering lubricant to one or more of the plurality of bearing dampers, and an active oil flow management valve, selectively restricting lubricant flow in the first delivery conduit, increasing pressure in the second delivery conduit, based on an engine shaft rotational speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin, Michael Dreher, James S. Elder