Patents by Inventor Frank J. Cunha

Frank J. Cunha 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: 20160238249
    Abstract: A combustor wall is provided for a turbine engine. The combustor wall includes a shell, a heat shield and a cooling element. The shell defined a first set of apertures. The heat shield defines a second set of apertures. The cooling element extends between the shell and the heat shield within a tapered cooling cavity defined between the shell and the heat shield. The tapered cavity is fluidly coupled with the first and the second sets of apertures. The cooling element is thermally coupled to one of the shell and the heat shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160230996
    Abstract: A combustor wall is provided for a turbine engine. The combustor wall includes a combustor shell and a combustor heat shield that is attached to the shell. The heat shield includes a first panel and a second panel that sealingly engages the first panel in an overlap joint. A cooling cavity extends between the shell and the heat shield and fluidly couples a plurality of apertures in the shell with a plurality of apertures in the heat shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stanislav Kostka, Frank J. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20160230662
    Abstract: A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a body portion and a cooling scheme disposed inside the body portion, the cooling scheme including a vascular engineered lattice structure and a heat transfer device adjacent to the vascular engineered lattice structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Stanislav Kostka, JR., Frank J. Cunha
  • Patent number: 9404654
    Abstract: A combustor section for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor vane which extends at least partially into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Nurhak Erbas-Sen
  • Publication number: 20160201908
    Abstract: A liner panel for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a nozzle includes an inner periphery along an axis. The inner periphery includes a flow guide around the axis. A wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a support shell with a first inner periphery along an axis. The wall assembly also includes a liner panel with a second inner periphery along the axis, the second inner periphery including a spiral flow guide around the axis. A method of reducing recirculation into a dilution passage in a combustor liner panel of a gas turbine engine includes contouring a dilution passage to match a natural vena contracta of a fluid flowing therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Drake, Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, JR., Jonathan M. Jause, Russell B. Hanson
  • Publication number: 20160201909
    Abstract: A wall assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine engine is provided. The wall assembly includes a support shell with a contoured region to define at least one convergent passage between the support shell and a multiple of liner panels. A method of cooling a wall assembly for a combustor of a gas turbine engine is also provided. This method includes a step of directing cooling air into at least one convergent passage between the support shell and a multiple of liner panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: James P. Bangerter, Kevin J. Low, Russell B. Hanson, Nurhak Erbas-Sen, Frank J. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20160186998
    Abstract: A wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a support shell with a first inner periphery along an axis and a liner panel with a second inner periphery along the axis. The second inner periphery is smaller than the first inner periphery. Another wall assembly for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes an annular grommet mounted between the support shell and the liner panel. The annular grommet defines a contoured inner wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stanislav Kostka, Jr., Randal G. McKinney, James B. Hoke, Timothy S. Snyder, Frank J. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20160178201
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to gas turbine engine components including cooling cavities. One embodiment is directed to a component including a forward surface, an aft surface, at least one inlet on the forward surface and a cavity between the forward surface and the aft surface. The cavity is configured to receive airflow from at least one inlet to provide cooling flow for the component. The cavity includes a plurality of structures within the cavity. The component also includes at least one exit between the forward surface and the aft surface. The plurality of structures are configured to meter air flow within the cavity and to maintain the cooling effectiveness of air flow within the cavity from the at least one inlet to the at least one exit. The component having a cavity may be employed by a combustor of a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka
  • Publication number: 20160169522
    Abstract: A fuel injector guide is provided for a turbine engine combustor. The fuel injector guide includes a tubular base, an annular flange, a plurality of ribs and a flow turbulator. The base extends along an axis between first and second ends. The flange extends radially out from the base at the second end. The ribs are disposed around the base and extend axially out from the flange towards the first end. The flow turbulator is disposed between an adjacent pair of the ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka
  • Publication number: 20160160685
    Abstract: A panel for use in a gas turbine engine exhaust case is disclosed. The panel has an airfoil section and a flow diverting structure adjacent a leading edge, wherein the flow diverting structure directs fluid flow into an area of the airfoil that lacks sufficient internal pressure for cooling fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Timothy S. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20160146465
    Abstract: A nozzle guide is provided for a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The nozzle guide includes an annular structure including a plurality of cooling holes, a guide plate including a plurality of openings on an outer periphery of the guide plate, and a plurality of cooling passages within the annular structure to provide air flow from the plurality of cooling holes to the plurality of openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka
  • Publication number: 20160131363
    Abstract: An assembly for a turbine engine is provided that includes a combustor wall, which includes an aperture body between a shell and a heat shield. The aperture body at least partially forms a cavity and an aperture that extends through the combustor wall. An inlet passage extends in the combustor wall to the cavity. An outlet passage extends in the combustor wall from the cavity to the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka
  • Patent number: 9335049
    Abstract: A combustor liner is arcuate in shape and defines an axis and a circumferential direction. The combustor liner includes a first row of dilution openings and a second row of dilution openings. The first row runs in the circumferential direction. The second row runs parallel to the first row and is axially spaced from the first row. Each dilution opening of the second row overlaps in an axial direction a portion of each of two adjacent dilution openings of the first row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Nurhak Erbas-Sen
  • Patent number: 9335050
    Abstract: A swirler assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an outer annular injector which at least partially surrounds an inner injector. In sonic embodiments, a combustor section for a gas turbine engine comprises an inner injector which defines an axis, an outer annular injector which surrounds said inner injector, and a combustor vane along said axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Nurhak Erbas-Sen
  • Publication number: 20160123592
    Abstract: A liner panel is provided for a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The liner panel includes a multiple of heat transfer augmentors. At least one of the multiple of heat transfer augmentors includes a depression, where the depression includes an entrance to at least one passage through the liner panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Drake, Frank J Cunha, Stanislav Kostka
  • Publication number: 20160123594
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a combustor wall including a first layer vertically connected with a second layer. A first portion of the first layer overlaps and is vertically spaced from the second layer by a cavity. A second portion of the first layer is substantially vertically inline with an adjacent portion of the second layer. The second portion of the first layer at least partially forms a quench aperture vertically through the combustor wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka
  • Publication number: 20160116166
    Abstract: A liner panel for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a multiple of heat transfer augmentors. At least one of the multiple of heat transfer augmentors includes a hemi-spherical protuberance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher DRAKE, Stanislav KOSTKA, JR., Frank J. CUNHA
  • Patent number: 9322560
    Abstract: A heat shield is disclosed. The heat shield may comprise a body having a back surface and an opposite front surface, wherein an opening in the body communicates through the front and back surfaces. The heat shield may further comprise at least one radial rail disposed on the back surface and extending radially outward from the opening for directing cooling air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nurhak Erbas-Sen, Frank J. Cunha
  • Publication number: 20160102861
    Abstract: A liner panel for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes a multiple of heat transfer augmentors which extend from a cold side thereof. At least one of the multiple of heat transfer augmentors includes a first heat transfer augmentation feature with a second heat transfer augmentation feature stacked thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160084502
    Abstract: A diffuser assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This diffuser assembly includes a. diffuser module with a combustor plenum and a mixing chamber. The diffuser module is configured to receive first and second airflows into the mixing chamber and direct a mixed airflow out of the mixing chamber. The diffuser module includes a mixer configured to mix the first and the second airflows together within the mixing chamber to provide the mixed airflow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Frank J. Cunha, Stanislav Kostka