Patents by Inventor Ian Francis Prentice
Ian Francis Prentice 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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Patent number: 12173658Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2022Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
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Patent number: 12134971Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2021Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
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Publication number: 20230119477Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
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Patent number: 11572838Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
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Publication number: 20220099031Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
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Patent number: 11156119Abstract: A feedback sensor system is provided. The feedback sensor system includes a first ring rotatable about an axial direction and a second ring also rotatable about the axial direction. The first ring includes one or more first ring features and the second ring includes one or more second ring features. The feedback sensor system also includes a sensor directed at the surface of the first ring for sensing a parameter influenced by the one or more first ring features and the one or more second ring features. The sensor may determine a position of the first ring relative to the second ring by sensing the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Ian Francis Prentice
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Publication number: 20210215062Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2021Publication date: July 15, 2021Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
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Patent number: 11053812Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
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Patent number: 10677158Abstract: A gas turbine engine system and method of operating gas turbine engines are provided. The gas turbine engine assembly includes a gas turbine engine includes a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a first fan and a second fan coupled to the power shaft coaxially with the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a first fan duct configured to direct a first stream of air to the first fan. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a second fan duct configured to direct a second stream of air to the second fan. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes an exhaust duct configured to direct a stream of exhaust gases of the gas turbine engine in a direction of the axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2015Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Narendra Digamber Joshi, Ian Francis Prentice, Kurt David Murrow
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Patent number: 10589475Abstract: A gas turbine engine composite article having a composite article airfoil extending outwardly to an article root to an article airfoil tip. Within the article airfoil is a core including a core airfoil attached to a core root including a core dovetail. A continuous outer three-dimensional braided layer including braided composite material tows are braided on the core and the braided layer covers the entire core airfoil and the core root. The core may be an inflatable mandrel or a composite core made of a composite material. The core may include stiffeners such as an I beam or hollow rectangular cross-section box beams. A method for making such an article includes braiding a continuous outer three-dimensional braided layer including braided composite material tows on the core including covering the entire core airfoil and the core root with the continuous outer three-dimensional braided layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Xiaomei Fang, Christopher Madsen, Ian Francis Prentice, Sultan Shair, Dong-Jin Shim, Douglas Duane Ward
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Publication number: 20200003071Abstract: A feedback sensor system is provided. The feedback sensor system includes a first ring rotatable about an axial direction and a second ring also rotatable about the axial direction. The first ring includes one or more first ring features and the second ring includes one or more second ring features. The feedback sensor system also includes a sensor directed at the surface of the first ring for sensing a parameter influenced by the one or more first ring features and the one or more second ring features. The sensor may determine a position of the first ring relative to the second ring by sensing the parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventor: Ian Francis Prentice
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Patent number: 10442541Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes at least two propulsion engines. Each propulsion engine rotates about a longitudinal rotational axis, and a propulsive fan associated with each propulsion engine rotates in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal rotational axis. Each plane is at least one of spaced axially along a fuselage of the aircraft and canted such that each plane does not intersect any other plane associated with another propulsion engine and propulsive fan.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice
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Patent number: 10443625Abstract: Composite airfoil singlet, includes airfoil extending from base to tip of airfoil, integrally formed with no more than one outer platform at tip and/or no more than one inner platform at base. Parallel composite plies or woven fibers extend through airfoil and through outer and/or inner platforms. Outer and/or inner curved sections extend between outer and/or inner platforms and airfoil respectively. Assembly includes circular row of the composite airfoil singlets depending radially inwardly from and mounted to an outer shroud or casing. Outer and/or inner fasteners may secure outer and inner platforms to outer shroud or casing and an inner shroud respectively and include shanks extending substantially perpendicularly from outer and inner fastening plates though platform holes in outer and inner platforms and through outer and inner holes in outer shroud or casing and inner shroud respectively. Nuts are screwed on threaded ends of shanks.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leslie Louis Langenbrunner, Ian Francis Prentice, Rosa Lee Nemec, Adam Max Aresty, Ming Xie, Andrew McGee
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Patent number: 10436056Abstract: A feedback sensor system is provided. The feedback sensor system includes a first ring rotatable about an axial direction and a second ring also rotatable about the axial direction. The first ring includes one or more first ring features and the second ring includes one or more second ring features. The feedback sensor system also includes a sensor directed at the surface of the first ring for sensing a parameter influenced by the one or more first ring features and the one or more second ring features. The sensor may determine a position of the first ring relative to the second ring by sensing the parameter.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Ian Francis Prentice
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Patent number: 10408083Abstract: A method of making a hollow metal component comprising the steps of providing at least one core comprising a first side and a reverse side; utilizing a first metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the first side of the core, resulting in a partially-formed structure comprising a first side and a reverse side; and utilizing a second metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the reverse sides of the partially-formed structure and the core, resulting in a rough structure. A hollow metal component comprising a first side having interior and exterior surfaces, a reverse side having interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surfaces of the first side and the reverse side defining at least one cavity. The component is integrally formed and has regions comprising relatively different material compositions, the regions having gradual transitions of materials therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2014Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ian Francis Prentice, Eric Allen Ott, Andrew Philip Woodfield
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Publication number: 20190093503Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2018Publication date: March 28, 2019Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
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Patent number: 10100653Abstract: A variable pitch fan for a gas turbine engine includes a fan blade defining a pitch axis and attached at a radially inner end to a trunnion mechanism. The variable pitch fan also includes a disk having a disk segment with the trunnion mechanism extending at least partially through the disk segment. A key is positioned at least partially in a key slot defined in a base of the trunnion mechanism, and further positioned adjacent to a support member of the disk segment. The key defines a first contact line between the key and the key slot and a second contact line between the key and the support member. The first and second contact lines respectively define a first contact reference line in a second contact reference line. The first and second contact reference lines define an angle with the pitch axis of the fan blade greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Ian Francis Prentice, Christopher James Kroger
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Patent number: 10077674Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
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Patent number: 10072510Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a core and a variable pitch fan arranged in flow communication with the core. The variable pitch fan has a disk and at least nine fan blades coupled to the disk for rotation together with the disk. The gas turbine engine further includes a rotatable nacelle covering the disk such that the engine has a fan hub radius ratio of between about 0.1 and about 0.4.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
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Publication number: 20180080478Abstract: Composite airfoil singlet, includes airfoil extending from base to tip of airfoil, integrally formed with no more than one outer platform at tip and/or no more than one inner platform at base. Parallel composite plies or woven fibers extend through airfoil and through outer and/or inner platforms. Outer and/or inner curved sections extend between outer and/or inner platforms and airfoil respectively. Assembly includes circular row of the composite airfoil singlets depending radially inwardly from and mounted to an outer shroud or casing. Outer and/or inner fasteners may secure outer and inner platforms to outer shroud or casing and an inner shroud respectively and include shanks extending substantially perpendicularly from outer and inner fastening plates though platform holes in outer and inner platforms and through outer and inner holes in outer shroud or casing and inner shroud respectively. Nuts are screwed on threaded ends of shanks.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Leslie Louis Langenbrunner, Ian Francis Prentice, Rosa Lee Nemec, Adam Max Aresty