Patents by Inventor James B. Coffin

James B. Coffin 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: 8875378
    Abstract: A tie bolt for joining two parts together has a shaft. The shaft in turn has a primary thread for engaging a first part and a secondary thread for engaging a second part, wherein the primary thread and the secondary thread have different pitches. The tie bolt may be used to join together any two parts which are to be locked together to transmit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20140290268
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan, an engine static structure, a geared architecture to drive the fan and supported relative to the static structure, a fan drive turbine to drive the geared architecture, a first member secured to the geared architecture, and a second member secured to the engine static structure and configured to cooperate with the first member to limit movement of the geared architecture relative to the static structure. A fan drive gear system and method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Alessio Pescosolido
  • Patent number: 8827633
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is coupled to the fan section via a geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a torque frame and a flex support spaced apart from one another at a location. A gear train is supported by the torque frame. A viscous damper is provided between the torque frame and the flex support at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Publication number: 20140219783
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section, a turbine section coupled to the fan section through a geared architecture, a first member supporting the geared architecture, and a second member supporting the first member relative to an engine static structure. The first member and the second members are spaced apart from one another at a location. A damper includes opposing ends and extending between the first member and the second member at the location for limiting relative movement between the first member and the second member. A fan drive gear system and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Patent number: 8790075
    Abstract: A support assembly for a geared architecture includes an engine static structure. A flex support is secured to the engine static structure and includes a bellow. A support structure is operatively secured to the flex support. A geared architecture is mounted to the support structure. First members are removably secured to one of the engine static structure and the flex support and second members are removably secured to the support structure. The first and second members are circumferentially aligned with one another and spaced apart from one another during a normal operating condition. The first and second members are configured to be engageable with one another during an extreme event to limit axial movement of the geared architecture relative to the engine static structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Alessio Pescosolido
  • Publication number: 20140165762
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan and a turbine section including a turbine rotor to drive the fan through a gear reduction module. An input shaft downstream of the turbine rotor includes a flexible mount driving the gear reduction. The input shaft is mounted within a bearing module. The gear reduction module has static structure mounted to an engine housing through a flexible mount. Oil is supplied into the gear reduction. An oil tube supplies oil from the gear reduction to the bearing module, and is received within openings in the static structure, and a housing for the bearing module. The oil tube extends through an assembly guide having a guide opening spaced away from an outer periphery of the oil tube. The guide opening is intermediate the openings. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Coffin
  • Patent number: 8727935
    Abstract: A system and method for fixing a fan drive gear system carrier to a torque frame are disclosed. The carrier and torque frame respectively have a hole and an aperture which are aligned with one another. A retainer pin is inserted in to the aligned hole and aperture in an interference fit relationship with at least one of the hole and aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20140087907
    Abstract: An example epicyclic gear train assembly includes a flexure pin received by a carrier. The flexure pin and the carrier respectively include first and second pin apertures configured to receive a retainer pin. The flexure pin further includes a lubricant conduit separate from the first pin aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Michael E. McCune, William G. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20140064932
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is coupled to the fan section via a geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a torque frame and a flex support spaced apart from one another at a location. A gear train is supported by the torque frame. A viscous damper is provided between the torque frame and the flex support at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Publication number: 20140030088
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a jumper tube that extends through a first passage and a second passge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Todd A. Davis, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20140031163
    Abstract: A system and method for fixing a fan drive gear system carrier to a torque frame are disclosed. The carrier and torque frame respectively have a hole and an aperture which are aligned with one another. A retainer pin is inserted in to the aligned hole and aperture in an interference fit relationship with at least one of the hole and aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventor: James B. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20130320185
    Abstract: An example turbomachine geared architecture support assembly includes a compliant member configured to hold a geared architecture within a turbomachine. The compliant member has a compliant section that permits rotation of the geared architecture relative to a fixed portion of the turbomachine. A stop limits rotation of the geared architecture relative to the fixed portion of the turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Jason Husband, James B. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20130323047
    Abstract: A fan shaft support assembly for a gas turbine engine includes first and second bearing assembles supported by a bearing support structure. The bearing support structure includes a first support including a first support end supporting the first bearing assembly and a second support including a second support end supporting the second bearing assembly. The first support end and the second support end are spaced apart to provide a preload on the first and second bearing assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Keven G. Van Duyn, James B. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20130319011
    Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a carrier supporting circumferentially arranged gears within gear mount sections spaced circumferentially about a periphery. A shelf is disposed between each of the gear mounting sections. A torque frame is attached to the carrier and includes circumferentially arranged finger sections. Each of the finger sections includes first and second ends that are spaced apart to receive the shelf. A pin extends through openings in the shelf and first and second ends to secure the torque frame to the carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Alessio Pescosolido, Marc J. Muldoon, James B. Coffin
  • Publication number: 20130305733
    Abstract: A method for distributing liquid in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The method includes rotating a fan shaft coupled to a spool via a fan drive gear system. The spool drives rotation of the fan shaft through the fan drive gear system during operation of the gas turbine engine. A pump is driven via the fan shaft. Liquid is supplied from a sump to the pump under a first operating condition. Liquid is supplied from an auxiliary reservoir to the pump under a second operating condition. Liquid is pumped to a damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, James B. Coffin, Todd A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8573926
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is coupled to the fan section via a geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a torque frame and a flex support spaced apart from one another at a location. A gear train is supported by the torque frame. A damper is provided between the torque frame and the flex support at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Publication number: 20130287553
    Abstract: A geared architecture for a gas turbine engine includes a lubricant manifold for directing lubricant flow to the geared architecture. The manifold including annular channel and a bowl member received within the annular channel for defining a passage for directing lubricant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Tony Haugh
  • Publication number: 20130259655
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is coupled to the fan section via a geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a torque frame and a flex support spaced apart from one another at a location. A gear train is supported by the torque frame. A damper is provided between the torque frame and the flex support at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Publication number: 20130259649
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is coupled to the fan section via a geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a torque frame and a flex support spaced apart from one another at a location. A gear train is supported by the torque frame. A damper is provided between the torque frame and the flex support at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Publication number: 20130259657
    Abstract: A support assembly for a geared architecture includes an engine static structure. A flex support is secured to the engine static structure and includes a bellow. A support structure is operatively secured to the flex support. A geared architecture is mounted to the support structure. First members are removably secured to one of the engine static structure and the flex support and second members are removably secured to the support structure. The first and second members are circumferentially aligned with one another and spaced apart from one another during a normal operating condition. The first and second members are configured to be engageable with one another during an extreme event to limit axial movement of the geared architecture relative to the engine static structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, Alessio Pescosolido