Patents by Inventor Gary B. Manharth

Gary B. Manharth 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: 6146089
    Abstract: An abradable fan containment structure within a fan section of a turbofan engine is provided. The fan section of the turbofan engine has fan blades and an abradable fan shroud. The abradable fan shroud includes an inner fan casing circumscribing the fan blades such that the inner annular surface of the fan shroud is disposed adjacent the blade tips of the fan blades within the fan section. The inner annular surface is formed from an abradable material. The abradable material contour is substantially triangular along the axial length from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The abradable material has a contoured surface characterized by a trapezoidal shape after being worn when rubbed by the tips of the fan blades during operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Allen, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Gary B. Manharth
  • Patent number: 5443365
    Abstract: In a turbofan engine a fan designed for reduced damage during a blade-out condition wherein the fan blade airfoil is disposed asymmetrically on the platform and includes a forwardly displaced leading edge. The platform is configured to make early contact with a following airfoil upon blade-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Theodore R. Ingling, Gary B. Manharth
  • Patent number: 4483661
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines are used as powerplants for aircraft. When the aircraft are parked on the ground, the wind can blow through the engines and set fans and rotors into motion, i.e., windmill them. Given that the blades of the fans and rotors are loosely fastened to their rotors, the low speed rotation caused by windmilling causes the blades to clatter or clank, thus causing wear. The present invention provides means for clamping blades into position during this low speed rotation for reducing clanking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gary B. Manharth, Jay L. Cornell
  • Patent number: 3936230
    Abstract: A self-supporting, self-locating seal having a central portion and a pair of end segments so designed as to fit within the mid span joint formed between adjacent turbine engine blades. Because of the design of the seal, the seal is held securely in position simply by its geometry and the centrifugal forces applied thereto during turbine engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Augustus M. Helmintoller, Jr., Gary B. Manharth