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).

  • Publication number: 20130164140
    Abstract: An airfoil, a fan assembly and an engine include at least one airfoil including a root portion, a body portion and a tip portion. The body portion is configured extending radially outward from the root portion and the tip portion is configured extending radially outward from the root portion and the body portion. The airfoil including a suction and a pressure side coupled together at a leading and a trailing edge and extending therebetween. The airfoil including a compliant tip at the tip portion. The compliant tip extending along at least a portion of the tip portion in a chord-wise direction and a span-wise direction. The compliant tip is configured to provide wave propagation along the tip portion such that critical strain proximate the tip portion and the trailing edge is reduced during a foreign object impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Pranav Dhoj Shah, Scott Roger Finn, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Ian Francis Prentice, Dong-Jin Shim, Bo Wang
  • Patent number: 8308435
    Abstract: A balancing system and method for reducing imbalance in a rotatable member of a machine is provided. The system includes a plurality of vibration sensors positioned about a stationary portion of the machine, a controller assembly communitively coupled to the plurality of vibration sensors, and a balancing assembly coupled to the rotatable member, said balancing assembly configured to wirelessly communicate with said controller assembly, said balancing assembly configured to modify the weight distribution of the rotatable member in response to a command wirelessly transmitted from the controller assembly. The controller assembly is configured to receive data from the plurality of vibration sensors and determine an imbalance in the rotatable member using the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Albert Frank Storace, Ian Francis Prentice
  • Patent number: 8226361
    Abstract: A support frame includes a rail engaging a hook of a composite article having plys. The rail included a rail contact surface generally conformal to and contacting a hook contact surface of the hook. The rail and hook contact surfaces being substantially normal to the plys beneath the hook contact surface. One embodiment of the article is a composite nozzle segment including one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having plys curved about a centerline axis and the rail engages a hook of the radially inner band segment. The hook and the rail may be straight or arcuate. The frame includes a central body extending axially aftwardly from the rail to an aft frame flange. A frame pin may be mounted on the frame, engage the inner band segment or one of the airfoils, and may extend into a cavity in the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, Darrell Glenn Senile
  • Patent number: 8221071
    Abstract: An integrated outlet guide vane assembly for turbomachinery typically includes at least one outlet guide vane and at least one bifurcation having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The turbomachinery has a central axis of rotation and a defined direction of rotation about the axis. The guide vane comprises an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The leading edge of the bifurcation has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The trailing edge of the vane is faired into the leading edge of the bifurcation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John P. Wojno, Ian Francis Prentice, Manampathy Giridharan
  • Patent number: 8206096
    Abstract: A composite nozzle segment includes one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having band plies curved about a centerline axis, an outer chordal seal line on an outer aft flange of the outer band segment, and thickened areas in corners of the outer aft flange along pressure and suction side edges of the outer band segment. The thickened areas may be thickest at the pressure and suction side edges and thinnest near a middle of the outer band segment. The thickened areas taper off from an aft end of the thickened area towards a forward flange of the outer band segment. Insert plies may be disposed between some of the band plies within the thickened areas may be grouped together in a discrete group or be interspersed with some of the band plies. The insert plies may have triangular shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, Mark Eugene Noe
  • Publication number: 20110008156
    Abstract: A composite nozzle segment includes one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having band plies curved about a centerline axis, an outer chordal seal line on an outer aft flange of the outer band segment, and thickened areas in corners of the outer aft flange along pressure and suction side edges of the outer band segment. The thickened areas may be thickest at the pressure and suction side edges and thinnest near a middle of the outer band segment. The thickened areas taper off from an aft end of the thickened area towards a forward flange of the outer band segment. Insert plies may be disposed between some of the band plies within the thickened areas may be grouped together in a discrete group or be interspersed with some of the band plies. The insert plies may have triangular shapes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, Mark Eugene Noe
  • Publication number: 20110008163
    Abstract: A support frame includes a rail engaging a hook of a composite article having plys. The rail included a rail contact surface generally conformal to and contacting a hook contact surface of the hook. The rail and hook contact surfaces being substantially normal to the plys beneath the hook contact surface. One embodiment of the article is a composite nozzle segment including one or more airfoils extending radially between arcuate radially outer and inner band segments having plys curved about a centerline axis and the rail engages a hook of the radially inner band segment. The hook and the rail may be straight or arcuate. The frame includes a central body extending axially aftwardly from the rail to an aft frame flange. A frame pin may be mounted on the frame, engage the inner band segment or one of the airfoils, and may extend into a cavity in the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, Darrell Glenn Senile
  • Publication number: 20100080697
    Abstract: An integrated outlet guide vane assembly for turbomachinery typically includes at least one outlet guide vane and at least one bifurcation having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The turbomachinery has a central axis of rotation and a defined direction of rotation about the axis. The guide vane comprises an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The leading edge of the bifurcation has a non-zero angle of lean in the direction of rotation and a non-zero sweep angle relative to a line perpendicular to the central axis. The trailing edge of the vane is faired into the leading edge of the bifurcation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: John P. Wojno, Ian Francis Prentice, Manampathy Giridharan
  • Patent number: 7600970
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly. The ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly may include a ceramic matrix composite vane, a number of metallic components positioned about the ceramic matrix composite vane, and a number of metallic seals positioned between the ceramic matrix composite vane and one or more of the metallic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nitin Bhate, Thomas Allen Wells, Ian Francis Prentice, John Greene
  • Patent number: 7575417
    Abstract: A fan blade including a plurality of fiber composite layers and at least one high elongation fiber composite strip joining one of the fiber composite layers at a joint. A method of making a fan blade includes joining a plurality of fiber composite layers and joining at least one high elongation fiber composite strip to one of the plurality of fiber composite layers. An end of the high elongation fiber composite strip meets an end of the fiber composite layer at a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Roger Finn, Govindarajan Rengarajan, David William Crall, Ian Francis Prentice
  • Publication number: 20090169384
    Abstract: A balancing system and method for reducing imbalance in a rotatable member of a machine is provided. The system includes a plurality of vibration sensors positioned about a stationary portion of the machine, a controller assembly communitively coupled to the plurality of vibration sensors, and a balancing assembly coupled to the rotatable member, said balancing assembly configured to wirelessly communicate with said controller assembly, said balancing assembly configured to modify the weight distribution of the rotatable member in response to a command wirelessly transmitted from the controller assembly. The controller assembly is configured to receive data from the plurality of vibration sensors and determine an imbalance in the rotatable member using the received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Albert Frank Storace, Ian Francis Prentice
  • Publication number: 20080112804
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly. The ceramic matrix composite nozzle assembly may include a ceramic matrix composite vane, a number of metallic components positioned about the ceramic matrix composite vane, and a number of metallic seals positioned between the ceramic matrix composite vane and one or more of the metallic components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nitin Bhate, Thomas Allen Wells, Ian Francis Prentice, John Greene
  • Patent number: 7097720
    Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article including laser shock peening a first area with at least one high fluence laser beam and laser shock peening a border area between the first area and a non-laser shock peened area of the article with at least one first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with a second low fluence laser beam or more low fluence laser beams wherein the second low fluence laser beam and others have a lower fluence than the first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with progressively lower fluence laser beams starting with the one first fluence laser beam wherein the progressively lower fluence laser beams are in order of greatest fluence to least fluence in a direction outwardly from the first area through the border area to the non-laser shock peened area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Seetha Ramaiah Mannava, Todd Jay Rockstroh, William Woodrow Shepherd, Ian Francis Prentice, Thomas Froats Broderick
  • Patent number: 7007488
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor powered by a turbine. The turbine includes a nozzle having vanes extending between outer and inner bands. Each vane includes an internal cooling plenum and a bypass tube extending through the bands. First and second manifolds surround the outer band and are disposed in flow communication with the plenums and bypass tubes, respectively. A bleed circuit joins the compressor to the manifolds for providing pressurized air thereto. A control valve modulates airflow to the first manifold and in turn through the cooling plenums of the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, John Christopher Brauer, Ian Francis Prentice, Erich Alois Krammer, James Patrick Dolan, Robert Alan Frederick
  • Publication number: 20040217094
    Abstract: A method for laser shock peening an article including laser shock peening a first area with at least one high fluence laser beam and laser shock peening a border area between the first area and a non-laser shock peened area of the article with at least one first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with a second low fluence laser beam or more low fluence laser beams wherein the second low fluence laser beam and others have a lower fluence than the first low fluence laser beam. The border area may be laser shock peened with progressively lower fluence laser beams starting with the one first fluence laser beam wherein the progressively lower fluence laser beams are in order of greatest fluence to least fluence in a direction outwardly from the first area through the border area to the non-laser shock peened area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Seetha Ramaiah Mannava, Todd Jay Rockstroh, William Woodrow Shepherd, Ian Francis Prentice, Thomas Froats Broderick
  • Patent number: 6666017
    Abstract: A counterrotatable booster compressor assembly for a gas turbine engine having a counterrotatable fan section with a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft and a second fan blade row axially spaced from the first fan blade row and connected to a second drive shaft. The counterrotatable booster compressor assembly includes a first compressor blade row connected to the first drive shaft, a plurality of fan shaft extensions connected to the second drive shaft for driving the second fan blade row, and at least one compressor blade integral with each fan shaft extension so as to form a second compressor blade row interdigitated with the first compressor blade row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, David William Crall, Bruce Clark Busbey, Christopher Charles Glynn, Donald Ray Bond
  • Publication number: 20030217546
    Abstract: A counterrotatable booster compressor assembly for a gas turbine engine having a counterrotatable fan section with a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft and a second fan blade row axially spaced from the first fan blade row and connected to a second drive shaft. The counterrotatable booster compressor assembly includes a first compressor blade row connected to the first drive shaft, a plurality of fan shaft extensions connected to the second drive shaft for driving the second fan blade row, and at least one compressor blade integral with each fan shaft extension so as to form a second compressor blade row interdigitated with the first compressor blade row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, David William Crall, Bruce Clark Busbey, Christopher Charles Glynn, Donald Ray Bond
  • Patent number: 6478545
    Abstract: A blisk includes a disk having a rim. A row of blades extends outwardly from the rib in a unitary construction. The blades are spaced apart in the disk rim to define fluted inner flowpath channels extending axially between the blades to bound corresponding flow passages therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David William Crall, John Robert Kelley, Ian Francis Prentice, Gregory Scott McNulty, Michael De Wayne Toye
  • Publication number: 20020127108
    Abstract: A blisk includes a disk having a rim. A row of blades extends outwardly from the rib in a unitary construction. The blades are spaced apart in the disk rim to define fluted inner flowpath channels extending axially between the blades to bound corresponding flow passages therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: David William Crall, John Robert Kelley, Ian Francis Prentice, Gregory Scott McNulty, Michael De Wayne Toye