Patents by Inventor James D. Hill

James D. Hill 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: 20180252162
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods related to thermal management systems for gas turbine engines. For example, a thermal management system comprises a thermally neutral heat transfer fluid circuit, a first heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit, and a second heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Snape, Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20180223736
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section and a turbine section, the compressor section having a last compressor stage. High pressure cooling air is tapped from a location downstream of the last compressor stage and passed through a heat exchanger. Lower pressure air passes across the heat exchanger to cool the high pressure cooling air. A housing surrounds the compressor section and the turbine section and there being a space radially outwardly of the housing, and a mixing chamber received in the space radially outwardly of the housing, the mixing chamber receiving the high pressure cooling air downstream of the heat exchanger, and further receiving air at a temperature higher than a temperature of the high pressure cooling air downstream of the heat exchanger. Mixed air from the mixing chamber is returned into the housing and utilized to cool at least the turbine section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20180216535
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a geared architecture of a gas turbine engine includes an evaporator portion located at the geared architecture and configured to exchange thermal energy with the geared architecture via boiling of a volume of heat transfer fluid flowing therethrough and a condenser portion located at a fan bypass flowpath of the gas turbine engine to reject thermal energy from the volume of heat transfer fluid into the fan bypass flowpath. One or more fluid pathways extend from the evaporator portion to the condenser portion to convey the volume of heat transfer fluid therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Glenn Levasseur
  • Publication number: 20180216473
    Abstract: An airfoil may comprise an airfoil body having a leading edge and a trailing edge. A heat pipe may be disposed within the airfoil. The heat pipe may include a vaporization section and a condensation section. The vaporization section may be disposed within the airfoil body and may be configured to remove heat from the trailing edge. The second cooling apparatus may be disposed within the airfoil body and may be configured to remove heat from the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Ram Ranjan, Glenn Levasseur
  • Publication number: 20180202557
    Abstract: An assembly includes a valve housing and a valve element such as a poppet valve. The valve housing includes a tubular duct and an annular valve seat disposed within the tubular duct. A first flowpath includes an inner bore of the annular valve seat. A second flowpath includes an aperture formed between the annular valve seat and the tubular duct. The poppet valve is configured to engage the annular valve seat and substantially close the first flowpath when the poppet valve is in a first position. The poppet valve is further configured to disengage the annular valve seat and at least partially open the first flowpath when the poppet valve is in a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 10024238
    Abstract: A cooling system for providing a buffer cooled cooling air to a turbine section of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The cooling system may comprise a first conduit configured to transmit a cooling air toward the turbine section, a heat exchanger configured to cool a bleed airflow diverted from the first conduit to provide a buffer air, and a bypass conduit configured to direct at least a portion of the buffer air through at least one passageway that bypasses a bearing compartment of the gas turbine engine. The cooling system may further comprise a manifold configured to allow the cooling air exiting the first conduit and the buffer air exiting the bypass conduit to mix and provide the buffer cooled cooling air, and a nozzle assembly configured to deliver the buffer cooled cooling air to the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Justin J. Phillips, James D. Hill, William K. Ackermann, Chris J. Niggemeier, Gabriel L. Suciu, Anthony R. Bifulco, Julian Partyka
  • Patent number: 10024235
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a propulsion unit and a gas generating core. The propulsion unit includes a fan and a free turbine, wherein the free turbine is connected to drive the fan about a first axis. The gas generating core includes a compressor, a combustion section, and a gas generating core turbine. The compressor and the gas generating core turbine are configured to rotate about a second axis. An inlet duct is configured to deliver air from the fan to the gas generating core. The inlet duct has a crescent shaped cross-section near the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James D. Hill, Jesse M. Chandler
  • Patent number: 10018360
    Abstract: A turbine injection system for a gas turbine engine includes a first end operable to receive air from a heat exchanger, a second end operable to distribute mixed cooling air to a turbine stage, an opening downstream of said first end and a mixing plenum downstream of said first end and said opening. The opening provides a direct fluid pathway into said turbine injection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L Suciu, Brian D Merry, James D Hill
  • Patent number: 10006364
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a cold shell, a hot shell, and a spoke. The spoke is connected to and extends radially outward from the cold shell. The hot shell is connected to the cold shell by the spoke and includes an axially extending outboard segment and an axially extending inboard segment. The outboard segment is connected to the inboard segment and the inboard segment is disposed radially inboard of the outboard segment for sealably engaging a stator blade shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 10001061
    Abstract: A cooling system for gas turbine engines includes a turbine rotor compartment defining a cooling air plenum. A plurality of turbine discs are rotatably housed within the rotor compartment. A cooling air inlet is in fluid communication with the plenum. Each turbine disc includes a cooling outlet in fluid communication with the plenum for cooling the rotor compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L Suciu, Brian D Merry, James D Hill
  • Patent number: 9988986
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods related to thermal management systems for gas turbine engines. For example, a thermal management system comprises a thermally neutral heat transfer fluid circuit, a first heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit, and a second heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Snape, Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill, William Ackermann
  • Patent number: 9963972
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may comprise a first rotor with a primary flowpath along an outer diameter of the first rotor. A secondary flowpath may be radially inward from the primary flowpath. The secondary flowpath may pass through an opening through the first rotor. A blade may be disposed on a distal end of the first rotor. The blade may extend into the primary flowpath. A bleed tube may be in a wall of the primary flowpath and forward of the blade. The bleed tube may extend radially inward from the primary flowpath. The bleed tube may fluidly connect to the opening through the first rotor. A plenum may be aft of the blade and radially inward from the primary flowpath. The plenum may be fluidly connected to the opening through the first rotor. A second rotor may be aft of the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 9963977
    Abstract: Components include a low pressure turbine having a plurality of rotor assemblies including a first gamma TiAl intermetallic blade having a maximum operating temperature over 1180° F. (638° C.). At least two of the rotor assemblies include gamma TiAl intermetallic alloy blades. In an embodiment, a method of making a turbine having a plurality of rotor assemblies includes attaching a first gamma TiAl intermetallic alloy blade to an upstream stage of the plurality of rotor assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James D. Hill, Gopal Das
  • Patent number: 9920652
    Abstract: A section of a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a thermally isolated area, and a first rotor disk and a second rotor disk. Each of the first and second rotor disks are provided within the thermally isolated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, James D. Hill, Brian D. Merry
  • Patent number: 9915204
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for distributing cooling air in gas turbine engines. A tangential on board injector (“TOBI”) may supply cooling air to a turbine section of a gas turbine engine. The cooling air may be split into a first cooling air path and a second cooling air path. The first cooling air path may fluidly connect the TOBI and the interior of a first stage rotor blade. The second cooling air path may fluidly connect the TOBI and a cavity. The cavity may be located between a first disk and a second disk. The cooling air paths from a single cooling air source may thermally isolate portions of the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 9879543
    Abstract: A cooling system for cooling a fluid reaction apparatus of a gas turbine engine includes a vapor cooling subsystem and a film cooling subsystem. The vapor cooling subsystem has a vaporization section and a condenser section for cooling a portion of the fluid reaction apparatus. The condenser section is cooled by a fluid. The film cooling subsystem is configured for cooling a portion of the fluid reaction apparatus by discharging fluid out of openings defined in the fluid reaction apparatus. At least a portion of the fluid used to cool the condenser section of the vapor cooling subsystem is discharged out of the openings of the film cooling subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Norris, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 9869183
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rotor disk rotatable about an axis and a gas path wall coupled to and radially outward of the rotor disk. The gas path wall bounds a radially inward portion of a gas path. A plurality of rotor spokes are radially intermediate the rotor disk and the gas path wall. The plurality of rotor spokes is circumferentially spaced to define a plurality of cooling channels intermediate the rotor disk and the gas path wall. A thermal barrier coating is disposed on a surface of at least one of the plurality of cooling channels. A method of cooling a rotor assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill, Wesley K. Lord
  • Patent number: 9719363
    Abstract: A seal segment for a gas turbine engine includes a first axial span that extends between the first radial span and the second radial span. A second axial span extends between the first radial span and the second radial span, the first radial span, the second radial span, the first axial span and the second axial span forming a torque box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David R Pack, Julian Partyka, James D. Hill, Gabriel L Suciu, Gregory M Dolansky, Brian D Merry
  • Publication number: 20170167385
    Abstract: A thermal energy exchange system for cooling air of a gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger located at a diffuser of the gas turbine engine. The diffuser is positioned axially between a compressor and a combustor of the gas turbine engine. A fuel source is operably connected to the heat exchanger to direct a flow of fuel through the heat exchanger via a fuel pipe and toward a fuel nozzle of the combustor. An airflow inlet directs a cooling airflow through the heat exchanger to reduce an airflow temperature via thermal energy exchange between the cooling airflow and the flow of fuel. An airflow outlet directs the cooling airflow from the heat exchanger toward one or more of components of the turbine to cool the one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Steven J. Laporte, Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Stephen K. Kramer, Simon Pickford
  • Publication number: 20170037782
    Abstract: Air mixing systems for gas turbine engines include a heat exchanger, a first extraction conduit fluidly coupled to an inlet of the heat exchanger, a second extraction conduit fluidly coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger, an injection conduit fluidly coupled to the second extraction conduit, an onboard injector supply chamber fluidly coupled to the injection conduit, and an onboard injector fluidly coupled to the onboard injector supply chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, James D. Hill, William K. Ackermann