Patents by Inventor Howard J. Liles
Howard J. Liles 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).
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Publication number: 20240175368Abstract: A method of coating a seal slot includes applying a coating to a slot in a component and machining the coating to provide an open height configured to receive a seal. After the machining a surface roughness of the coating is less than about 100 ra. A scaling assembly is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: May 30, 2024Inventors: Raymond Surace, Robert A. White, III, Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube
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Publication number: 20240175372Abstract: A plurality of static stator vane are circumferentially spaced in a row axially intermediate the rows of turbine blades. Each stator vane has at least an outer platform with mount structure. Each of the stator vanes are formed of composite materials. The mount structure is provided with sacrificial material. At least a first of the stator vanes is circumferentially adjacent to a second of the stator vanes. An orientation of the first of the stator vanes is re-staggered relative to the second of the stator vanes. The sacrificial material of the first of the stator vanes is machined away such that a final trailing edge of the first of the stator vanes mount structure is now better axially aligned with the trailing edge of the second of the stator vanes mount structure trailing edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: May 30, 2024Applicant: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert A. White, III, Raymond Surace, Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube
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Patent number: 11988104Abstract: A plurality of static stator vane are circumferentially spaced in a row axially intermediate the rows of turbine blades. Each stator vane has at least an outer platform with mount structure. Each of the stator vanes are formed of composite materials. The mount structure is provided with sacrificial material. At least a first of the stator vanes is circumferentially adjacent to a second of the stator vanes. An orientation of the first of the stator vanes is re-staggered relative to the second of the stator vanes. The sacrificial material of the first of the stator vanes is machined away such that a final trailing edge of the first of the stator vanes mount structure is now better axially aligned with the trailing edge of the second of the stator vanes mount structure trailing edge.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2022Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Robert A. White, III, Raymond Surace, Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube
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Publication number: 20240068374Abstract: A vane arc segment includes a ceramic matrix composite fairing that has first and second platforms and an airfoil section that extends in a radial direction there between. Each of the first and second platforms includes axially-facing leading and trailing sides, a core gaspath side, and a non-core gaspath side. The non-core gaspath side of the first platform has a flange that projects radially there from and extends adjacent the trailing side. The flange has a radial face that is sloped with respect to the radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Russell Kim, Howard J. Liles
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Publication number: 20240018875Abstract: A vane arc segment includes an airfoil fairing that has first and second fairing platforms and a hollow airfoil section that extends there between. A spar has a spar platform adjacent the first fairing platform and a spar leg that extends from the spar platform and through the hollow airfoil section. The spar leg has an end portion that is distal from the spar platform and that protrudes from the second fairing platform. The end portion has a clevis mount. There is a support platform adjacent the second fairing platform. The support platform has a through-hole through which the end portion of the spar leg extends such that the clevis mount protrudes from the support platform. A pin extends though the clevis mount and locks the support platform to the spar leg such that the airfoil fairing is trapped between the spar platform and the support platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventors: Jon E. Sobanski, Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube, Wojciech Lipka
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Publication number: 20230407753Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes a matrix composite component having a radially outer end and a radially inner end. The ceramic matrix component having an internal chamber defined by an inner surface. A spar is received within the internal cavity, and spaced from an inner surface of the matrix component defining a chamber with the inner surface. Flow guides are formed on one of an outer surface of the spar and the inner surface of the matrix component. The flow guides direct airflow towards a portion of the inner surface. An air inlet chamber is formed at one radial end of the spar and an air outlet chamber formed at an opposed radial end of the spar. The air inlet chamber is defined such that air will flow into the internal chamber, outwardly of the spar, and inwardly of the inner surface of the matrix component. A gas turbine engine is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: Howard J. Liles, Tyler G. Vincent
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Publication number: 20230381887Abstract: A method includes machining a closed-pore surface of a silicon-containing gas turbine engine article to produce a feature. The machining causes removal of the closed-pore surface to produce an open-pore machined surface. The open-pore machined surface is then laser-treated to cause formation of an oxide in the silicon-containing gas turbine engine article that seals the open-pore machined surface to produce a closed-pore treated surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventor: Howard J. Liles
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Publication number: 20230383663Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a circumferential row of vanes arranged about a central engine axis. The vanes include respective internal cavities and vane outlet ports for conveying cooling air. A tangential onboard injector (TOBI) radially supports the vanes at an inner diameter of the circumferential row. The TOBI includes fore and aft annular walls and an outer diameter annular wall. The fore and aft annular walls and the outer diameter annular wall define an annular plenum. The outer diameter annular wall includes TOBI inlet ports that are connected, respectively, with the vane outlet ports to receive the cooling air from each of the vanes into the plenum. The TOBI includes axially-oriented nozzles for discharging the cooling air from the plenum in an aft direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventor: Howard J. Liles
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Publication number: 20230383657Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil section that has an airfoil wall that circumscribes an internal airfoil cavity and defines leading and trailing ends and pressure and suction sides. The airfoil wall is formed of a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) laminate comprised of fiber plies disposed in a ceramic matrix. The fiber plies include a skin fiber ply that defines an exterior of the airfoil section and at least one inner fiber ply that lines the skin fiber ply. At least one inner fiber ply locally terminates at one of the leading end or the trailing end such that the airfoil wall has fewer of the fiber plies in the leading end or the trailing end than in each of the pressure side and the suction side.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Inventors: Russell Kim, Howard J. Liles, Kathryn S. Read
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Patent number: 11732589Abstract: An airfoil vane multiplet includes airfoil tubes that each have airfoil tube fiber plies. A plurality of the airfoil tube fiber plies extend along the airfoil tube and turn to project outwardly from the airfoil tube. Connector fiber plies include airfoil holes through which the airfoil tubes extend. The connector fiber plies are interleaved with the plurality of airfoil tube fiber plies such that the airfoil tubes are secured together.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Christian X. Campbell, Howard J. Liles
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Publication number: 20230243037Abstract: A method of improving surface roughness of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) is provided. The method includes completing a formation of the CMCs and a chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process to initially coat the CMCs, inspecting a CMC surface, identifying, from a result of the inspecting, a defect in the CMC surface that negatively impacts a surface roughness characteristic thereof, locally targeting and ablating the defect and re-inspecting the CMC surface to ensure that the defect is correct.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2022Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Ashley A. Smith, Andrew J. Lazur, Howard J. Liles
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Patent number: 11713679Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section that has a plurality of turbine vanes. Each of the turbine vanes includes inner and outer platforms and an airfoil section that extends there between. The airfoil section is hollow and rib-less and has a first end at the outer platform and a second end at the inner platform. The airfoil section is tangentially bowed from the first end to the second end with a radius of curvature that is from 17 centimeters to 130 centimeters.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2022Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Christian X. Campbell, Howard J. Liles, Russell Kim
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Publication number: 20230235675Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section disposed about an engine axis. The turbine section includes inner and outer diameter ceramic support rings that define a gaspath there between. Each of the inner and outer diameter ceramic support rings is monolithic and continuous. Ceramic vane arc segments are disposed in the gaspath and supported by the inner and outer diameter ceramic support rings. Each of the ceramic vane arc segments includes inner and outer platforms and an airfoil section there between. At least one retainer engages the inner or outer diameter ceramic support ring with the ceramic vane arc segments to retain the ceramic vane arc segments between the inner and outer diameter ceramic support rings.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2022Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube
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Publication number: 20230235673Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section that has a plurality of turbine vanes. Each of the turbine vanes includes inner and outer platforms and an airfoil section that extends there between. The airfoil section is hollow and rib-less and has a first end at the outer platform and a second end at the inner platform. The airfoil section is tangentially bowed from the first end to the second end with a radius of curvature that is from 17 centimeters to 130 centimeters.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2022Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Christian X. Campbell, Howard J. Liles, Russell Kim
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Publication number: 20230193764Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes a supply cavity and a manifold cavity that shares a common divider wall with the supply cavity. The common divider wall includes inlet metering holes that connect the supply cavity and the manifold cavity. An exterior wall has an exterior surface and an opposed interior surface that bounds portions of the supply cavity and of the manifold cavity. Outlet cooling holes extend through the exterior wall and connect the manifold cavity with the exterior surface. The number of the inlet metering holes is equal to or less than the number of the outlet cooling holes, and at least one of the inlet holes is coaxial with at least one of the outlet holes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Howard J. Liles, Tyler G. Vincent, Bryan H. Farrar
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Patent number: 11674404Abstract: A seal assembly includes first, second, and third gas turbine engine components, such as vane assemblies, that are successively arranged around an axis. Each component has first and second mate faces such that the first mate face of the first component and the second mate face of the second component define a first mate face gap, and the first mate face of the second component and the second mate face of the third component to define a second mate face gap. A seal arc segment has first and second seal portions and a connector portion that joins the seal portions. The first seal portion bridges the first mate face gap to seal the first mate face gap, the second seal portion bridges the second mate face gap to seal the second mate face gap, and the connector portion spans circumferentially across the second component.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Raymond Surace, Howard J. Liles
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Patent number: 11668199Abstract: A vane arc segment includes an airfoil fairing that has first and second platforms and an airfoil section. The platforms have first and second openings that open into the airfoil section. The platforms each define first and second circumferential mate faces, forward and aft sides, a gaspath side, a non-gaspath side. The first platform has a first flange that projects radially from the non-gaspath side aft of the first opening and a second flange that projects radially from the non-gaspath side forward of the first opening. The first and second flanges are exclusive flanges on the first platform. The second platform has a third flange that projects radially from the non-gaspath side aft of the second opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Jon E. Sobanski, Howard J. Liles, Chang Gao
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Patent number: 11668200Abstract: A vane arc segment includes an airfoil fairing that has first and second fairing platforms and a hollow airfoil section that extends there between. A spar has a spar platform adjacent the first fairing platform and a spar leg that extends from the spar platform and through the hollow airfoil section. The spar leg has an end portion that is distal from the platform and that protrudes from the second fairing platform. The end portion has a clevis mount. There is a support platform adjacent the second fairing platform. The support platform has a through-hole through which the end portion of the spar leg extends such that the clevis mount protrudes from the support platform. A pin extends though the clevis mount and locks the support platform to the spar leg such that the airfoil fairing is trapped between the spar platform and the support platform.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Jon E. Sobanski, Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube, Wojciech Lipka
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Patent number: 11655758Abstract: A vane arc segment includes a platform and an airfoil section that extends in a radial direction from the platform. The airfoil section has a pressure side and a suction side. The platform defines fore and aft axial sides, a core gaspath side, a non-core gaspath side, and first and second flanges that project from the non-core gaspath side. The first and second flanges define, respectively, first and second circumferential mate faces. The first and second flanges each are formed of upturned fiber plies from the platform such that the fiber plies in the first and second flanges are radially-oriented. The first and second circumferential mate faces have, respectively, first and second seal slots that each extend in a ply through-thickness direction across two or more of the fiber plies.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Jon Erik Sobanski, Howard J. Liles
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Patent number: 11608748Abstract: A method of forming a ceramic matrix composite component having an internal cooling circuit includes wrapping at least a first sheet around a first mandrel, wrapping at least a second sheet around a second mandrel, creating a first plurality of holes in the first sheet corresponding to a plurality of openings in the first mandrel, creating a second plurality of holes in the second sheet corresponding to a plurality of openings in the second mandrel, aligning the first mandrel and the second mandrel such that the first plurality of holes face and are aligned with the second plurality of holes, wrapping at least a third sheet around both the first mandrel and second mandrel to form a preform, the preform comprising each of the first sheet, the second sheet, and the third sheet, and densifying the preform. The first sheet, second sheet, and third sheet are formed from a ceramic fiber material.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Howard J. Liles, Tyler G. Vincent