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).

  • Publication number: 20180128124
    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: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin, Michael Dreher, James S. Elder
  • Patent number: 9964039
    Abstract: A disclosed lubrication pump includes a main pump stage, an auxiliary pump stage, and scavenger pump stages. The lubrication pump therefore may be driven by a common shaft of the accessory gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Denman H. James, Larry W. Spires
  • Publication number: 20180073395
    Abstract: A fluid circulation system may comprise a main pump configured to provide oil to a journal bearing. An auxiliary system including a pump system may be configured to provide oil to the journal bearing. A manifold may be configured to mix the oil from the main pump with oil from the auxiliary system. A journal delivery line may be configured to deliver the oil from the manifold to the journal bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Justin W. Heiss
  • Patent number: 9874145
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine may include a pump for moving a lubricant through a conduit from a lubricant tank to an engine component. Further, a scheduling valve positioned in the conduit between the lubricant tank and the engine component may vary a flow of the lubricant to the engine component based on a condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz, Francis Parnin, Richard Alan Weiner, Katherine A. Knapp Carney
  • Patent number: 9840966
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fluid flow system having a debris filter media therein to remove debris from a fluid flowing therein. A valve is provided to periodically change the flow direction of fluid within the system so that debris trapped on the debris filter media is scrubbed off by the flow of fluid across a face of the debris filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Reade W. James, Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20170350274
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment with a bottom disposed opposite a top. An outlet is formed in the bottom of the bearing compartment. A seal is positioned between the bottom of the bearing compartment and the top of the bearing compartment. A scavenge line is connected to the outlet. The scavenge line forms a fluid trap that extends in a first direction from the outlet and the bottom of the bearing compartment and then extends in a second direction to a position disposed vertically between the bottom of the bearing compartment and the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Ryan K. Snyder, Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
  • Patent number: 9695709
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a gas turbine engine is provided having a bearing chamber leak detection system. The gas turbine engine includes a rotatable shaft, a bearing assembly supporting the rotatable shaft, and a plurality of bearing chamber seals surrounding the rotatable shaft creating an annular bearing chamber enclosing the bearing assembly. One or more walls substantially surrounding the bearing chamber create a plenum between the walls and the bearing chamber, and a pressurized air inlet to the plenum is provided. The pressurized air inlet includes an airflow sensor configured and positioned to sense a flow of pressurized air into the plenum, such that airflow at the sensor is indicative of airflow from the plenum into the bearing chamber via one or more of the plurality of bearing chamber seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Armando Amador
  • Publication number: 20170114784
    Abstract: A method of monitoring performance of an auxiliary pump is provided. A monitoring system measures a first pressure at a location supplied by a main pump and the auxiliary pump while the auxiliary pump is operated at a first speed. The monitoring system measures a second pressure at the location while the auxiliary pump is operated at a second speed. The monitoring system calculates performance of the auxiliary pump based on a difference between the first pressure and the second pressure divided by a difference between the first speed and the second speed. The monitoring system tracks the performance of the auxiliary pump over time by repeating the measuring and calculating over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventor: Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20160376949
    Abstract: An exemplary method of monitoring a position of a lubricant valve in a gas turbine engine includes monitoring a position of a lubricant valve using a first auxiliary pressure reading and a second auxiliary pressure reading. The first auxiliary pressure reading is taken when a primary lubrication circuit is at a first pressure. The second auxiliary pressure reading is taken when the primary lubrication circuit is at a second pressure. An exemplary assembly that detects transitions of a lubricant valve in a gas turbine engine includes a controller that uses readings of the primary pressure and readings of the auxiliary pressure to detect a position of a lubricant valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20160333736
    Abstract: A bearing damping system includes a pump configured to pump a fluid. The system further includes a variable position valve having a plurality of open positions each configured to generate different pressures in the fluid downstream from the variable position valve. The system also includes a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing. The bearing assembly also includes a stationary bearing race positioned within the bearing housing. The bearing assembly also includes a rotating bearing race spaced apart from the stationary bearing race and configured to be attached to a rotating component. A bearing element is disposed between the stationary bearing race and the bearing housing. A fluid compartment is defined by the space between the bearing housing and the stationary race and is configured to receive the fluid from the second conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Francis Parnin
  • Patent number: 9494048
    Abstract: A bearing damping system includes a pump configured to pump a fluid. The system further includes a variable position valve having a plurality of open positions each configured to generate different pressures in the fluid downstream from the variable position valve. The system also includes a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing. The bearing assembly also includes a stationary bearing race positioned within the bearing housing. The bearing assembly also includes a rotating bearing race spaced apart from the stationary bearing race and configured to be attached to a rotating component. A bearing element is disposed between the stationary bearing race and the bearing housing. A fluid compartment is defined by the space between the bearing housing and the stationary race and is configured to receive the fluid from the second conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20160312699
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine may include a pump for moving a lubricant through a conduit from a lubricant tank to an engine component. Further, a scheduling valve positioned in the conduit between the lubricant tank and the engine component may vary a flow of the lubricant to the engine component based on a condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew D. Teicholz, Francis Parnin, Richard Alan Weiner, Katherine A. Knapp Carney
  • Publication number: 20160305284
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an engine including a scavenge pump configured to provide lubricant to the engine during a normal condition, an auxiliary pump configured to provide lubricant to the engine during an abnormal condition, a pressure sensor disposed at an outlet of the auxiliary pump for detecting a pressure created by the auxiliary pump, and a restriction device disposed in a conduit fluidly connecting the scavenge pump to the outlet of the auxiliary pump and configured to increase a first pressure produced by the auxiliary pump at the pressure sensor, wherein the first pressure is greater than a second pressure created by the scavenge pump at the pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Jacob P. Mastro, Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20160245117
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a fan drive gear system of a turbofan engine includes an auxiliary pump for communicating lubricant to bearings of a gear system. A deaerator is disposed between a lubricant source and the auxiliary pump for separating gases is contained within the lubricant. The deaerator includes a vane section for inducing a radial flow in the lubricant for separating gas from the lubricant. A gas turbine engine and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, William G. Sheridan, John S. Groholski
  • Publication number: 20160215652
    Abstract: A disclosed lubrication system for turbofan engine includes a primary lubricant circuit, a primary pump driving lubricant through the primary circuit, an auxiliary lubricant circuit in communication with the primary lubricant circuit and an auxiliary lubricant pump driving lubricant through the auxiliary lubricant circuit. A first valve downstream of an outlet of auxiliary lubricant pump separates the auxiliary lubricant circuit from the primary lubricant circuit. A sensor is disposed within the auxiliary lubricant circuit for sensing pressure within the auxiliary lubricant circuit separate from a pressure within the primary lubricant circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Jacob Peter Mastro, Francis Parnin
  • Publication number: 20160017747
    Abstract: A debris monitor sensor system according to one disclosed non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first passage disposed substantially linearly along a flow path, the first passage includes a sensor passage section. A second passage splits from the first passage and is offset from the flow path. An oil debris monitor is in communication with the sensor passage section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Michael E. McCune
  • Publication number: 20150369128
    Abstract: A disclosed lubrication pump includes a main pump stage, an auxiliary pump stage, and scavenger pump stages. The lubrication pump therefore may be driven by a common shaft of the accessory gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Francis Parnin, Denman H. James, Larry W. Spires
  • Publication number: 20150192068
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fluid flow system having a debris filter media therein to remove debris from a fluid flowing therein. A valve is provided to periodically change the flow direction of fluid within the system so that debris trapped on the debris filter media is scrubbed off by the flow of fluid across a face of the debris filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Reade W. James, Francis Parnin
  • Patent number: 8961100
    Abstract: An exemplary valve device for controlling flow of a turbomachine fluid includes a housing and a flow control assembly within the housing. The housing has a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. Movement of the housing to a first orientation causes the flow control assembly to move to a first position to restrict flow of a turbomachine fluid into the housing through the second inlet. Movement of the housing to a second orientation causes the flow control assembly to move to a second position to restrict flow of the turbomachine fluid into the housing through the first inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Francis Parnin, Robert E. Peters
  • Patent number: 8893469
    Abstract: An assembly includes a gas turbine engine, a compartment wall, and a gutter system. The gas turbine engine has a spool connected to a fan shaft via a gear system. The compartment wall is positioned radially outward from the gear system. The gutter system is positioned radially outward from the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system and positioned radially inward of the compartment wall. The gutter system includes a gutter and a flow passage fluidically connected to the gutter. The flow passage has a plurality of holes that allow the lubricating liquid to pass through the flow passage into a space between the flow passage and the compartment wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Francis Parnin, Denman H. James, Robert E. Peters