Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Donald Clements

Jeffrey Donald Clements 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: 20180362170
    Abstract: A system for mounting an engine to an aircraft includes an engine forward mount angled toward the forward end of the engine at a first angle. At least two thrust links extend between an engine aft mount to a link support connection at a second angle. The engine aft mount is angled toward the forward end of the engine at a third angle. A projection of a load vector of the engine forward mount onto a vertical plane extending through the axis of rotation of the engine and a projection of a load vector of each of the at least two thrust links onto the vertical plane intersect the axis of rotation of the engine within a first vertical plane segment extending between a forward end of a nose of a fan assembly and forward of a forward mount interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Thomas Ory Moniz, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Joseph George Rose
  • Publication number: 20180363554
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section. The turbine section includes a drive turbine and is located downstream of the compressor section. The gas turbine engine also includes a fan mechanically coupled to and rotatable with the drive turbine such that the fan is rotatable by the drive turbine at the same rotational speed as the drive turbine, the fan defining a fan pressure ratio and including a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade defining a fan tip speed. During operation of the gas turbine engine at a rated speed, the fan pressure ratio of the fan is less than 1.5 and the fan tip speed of each of the fan blades is greater than 1,250 feet per second.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher James Kroger, Brandon Wayne Miller, Trevor Wayne Goerig, David William Crall, Tsuguji Nakano, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal
  • Publication number: 20180355804
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section defining a compressor exit temperature, T3. The gas turbine engine also includes a combustion section and a turbine section, with the turbine section defining a turbine inlet temperature, T4. A ratio, T4:T3, of the turbine inlet temperature, T4, to compressor exit temperature, T3, during operation of the gas turbine engine at a rated speed is less than or equal to 1.85.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Kurt David Murrow
  • Publication number: 20180340470
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of turbine section thermal management for a gas turbine engine. The engine includes a first turbine bearing defining an outer air bearing disposed radially adjacent to a low speed turbine rotor hub of a low speed turbine rotor and an inner bearing disposed radially adjacent to a high pressure (HP) shaft coupled to a high speed turbine rotor, wherein a first manifold is in fluid communication from a pressure plenum of a combustion section to the first turbine bearing, and wherein a second manifold is in fluid communication from the first turbine bearing to a pressure regulating valve and an outer diameter secondary flowpath of the turbine section, and wherein a third manifold is in fluid communication from the pressure plenum of the combustion section to the pressure regulating valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Publication number: 20180340423
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction, an upstream end and a downstream end opposite of the upstream end along the longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The gas turbine engine includes a high speed turbine rotor coupled to a high pressure (HP) shaft and HP compressor, a low speed turbine rotor comprising an axially extended hub, and a first turbine bearing disposed radially between the low speed turbine rotor and the high speed turbine rotor. The high speed turbine rotor defines a turbine cooling conduit through the high speed turbine rotor. The low speed turbine rotor includes a rotating nozzle adjacent to the turbine cooling conduit. The first turbine bearing defines an outer air bearing and an inner air bearing. The first turbine bearing defines a stationary nozzle adjacent to the rotating nozzle of the first turbine rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Publication number: 20180340446
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extended from an axial centerline, and a circumferential direction. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a low speed turbine rotor including a hub extended along the longitudinal direction and radially within the combustion section; a high speed turbine rotor including a high pressure (HP) shaft coupling the high speed turbine rotor to a HP compressor in the compressor section; and a first turbine bearing disposed radially between the hub of the low speed turbine rotor and the HP shaft. The HP shaft extends along the longitudinal direction and radially within the hub of the low speed turbine rotor. The high speed turbine rotor defines a turbine cooling conduit extended within the high speed turbine rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Publication number: 20180340469
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction extended from an axial centerline, and a circumferential direction. The gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow arrangement along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a low speed turbine rotor comprising a hub extended along the longitudinal direction and radially within the combustion section; a high speed turbine rotor comprising a high pressure (HP) shaft coupling the high speed turbine rotor to a HP compressor in the compressor section; a first turbine bearing disposed radially between the hub of the low speed turbine rotor and the HP shaft. The HP shaft extends along the longitudinal direction and radially within the hub of the low speed turbine rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Publication number: 20180328287
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of control of a gas turbine engine comprising a fan section coupled to a low turbine together defining a low spool, an intermediate compressor coupled to an intermediate turbine together defining an intermediate spool, and a high compressor coupled to a high turbine together defining a high spool. The method includes providing an intermediate spool speed to low spool speed characteristic curve to a controller; providing a commanded power output to the controller; providing one or more of an environmental condition to the controller; determining, via the controller, a commanded fuel flow rate; determining, via the controller, a commanded intermediate compressor loading; and generating an actual power output of the engine, wherein the actual power output is one or more of an actual low spool speed, an actual intermediate spool speed, an actual high spool speed, and an actual engine pressure ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Alan Roy Stuart, James William Simunek, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller, Sridhar Adibhatla
  • Publication number: 20180320633
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a longitudinal direction, and a circumferential direction, an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction, and an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a fan assembly including a plurality of fan blades rotatably coupled to a fan rotor in which the fan blades define a maximum fan diameter and a fan pressure ratio. The gas turbine engine further includes a low pressure (LP) turbine defining a core flowpath therethrough generally along the longitudinal direction. The core flowpath defines a maximum outer flowpath diameter relative to the axial centerline. The gas turbine engine defines a fan to turbine diameter ratio of the maximum fan diameter to the maximum outer flowpath diameter. The fan to turbine diameter ratio over the fan pressure ratio is approximately 0.90 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20180320632
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section and a gear assembly within or downstream of the turbine section. The turbine section includes a first rotating component and a second rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The first rotating component includes one or more connecting airfoils coupled to a radially extended rotor, and the second rotating component includes an inner shroud defining a plurality of inner shroud airfoils extended outward of the inner shroud along the radial direction. The second rotating component is coupled to a second shaft connected to an input accessory of the gear assembly, and the first rotating component is coupled to an output accessory of the gear assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Publication number: 20180298784
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines a core flowpath extended generally along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine frame defined around the axial centerline, the turbine frame comprising a first bearing surface disposed inward along the radial direction. The gas turbine engine further includes a turbine rotor assembly including a bearing assembly coupled to the first bearing surface of the turbine frame and the turbine rotor assembly. The turbine rotor assembly further includes a first turbine rotor disposed upstream of the turbine frame and a second turbine rotor disposed downstream of the turbine frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Gert Johannes van der Merwe, Joel Francis Kirk, Richard Wesling
  • Publication number: 20180274365
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and wherein the gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section that includes a first rotating component and a second rotating component. The first rotating component includes an inner shroud and an outer shroud outward of the inner shroud in the radial direction. The outer shroud defines a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction. The first rotating component further includes at least one connecting airfoil coupling the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The second rotating component is upstream of the one or more connecting airfoils of the first rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The second rotating component includes a plurality of second airfoils extended outward in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard Schmidt, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Publication number: 20180258858
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine defines an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction and includes a turbine frame defined around the axial centerline. The turbine frame includes a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface, and a third bearing surface. The first bearing surface corresponds to a first turbine rotor, the second bearing surface corresponds to a second turbine rotor, and the third bearing surface corresponds to a third turbine rotor, and each turbine rotor is independently rotatable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Alan Roy Stuart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20180237120
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an aircraft including a fuselage to which a pair or more of wings attaches. The aircraft defines a transverse direction, a longitudinal direction, and a latitudinal direction. The aircraft includes a wing extended from the fuselage along the transverse direction in which the wing defines a leading edge, and a gas turbine engine coupled to the wing. The engine defines an axial centerline therethrough along the longitudinal direction. The engine includes a nacelle including an outer wall extended around the axial centerline. The nacelle defines a radial reference plane extended perpendicular from the axial centerline. The outer wall defines an outer wall point closest to the fuselage. The radial reference plane extends through a reference line defined along the latitudinal direction from the outer wall point to the leading edge of the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Byron Stewart, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Richard David Cedar, David William Crall
  • Publication number: 20180238186
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a longitudinal direction, and a circumferential direction, an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction, and an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a low pressure (LP) turbine defining an outer flowpath. The outer flowpath defines a first outer flowpath radius at an upstream-most end of the LP turbine, a last outer flowpath radius disposed at a downstream-most end of the LP turbine, a middle outer flowpath radius disposed therebetween along the longitudinal direction. The middle outer flowpath radius is greater than the last outer flowpath radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Ory Moniz, Monty Lee Shelton, Joel Francis Kirk, Jeffrey Donald Clements
  • Publication number: 20180230805
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction, an axial centerline along a longitudinal direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine defines a core flowpath extended generally along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a first turbine rotor. The first turbine rotor includes an annular outer band disposed outward of the core flowpath along the radial direction. The first turbine rotor further includes a plurality of airfoils coupled to an inner diameter of the outer band in which the plurality of airfoils are extended generally inward along the radial direction. The outer band defines a plurality of airfoil cooling passages in which the plurality of airfoil cooling passages are extended at least partially in the radial direction in fluid communication with the plurality of airfoils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Daniel Waslo, Joel Francis Kirk
  • Publication number: 20180223732
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section, a gearbox proximate to the turbine section, and a driveshaft. The turbine section includes a first rotating component interdigitated with a second rotating component along the longitudinal direction. The first rotating component includes an outer shroud defining a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward of the outer shroud along the radial direction and one or more connecting airfoils coupling the outer shroud to a radially extended rotor. The second rotating component includes an inner shroud defining a plurality of inner shroud airfoils extended outward of the inner shroud along the radial direction. The second rotating component is coupled to an input shaft connected to an input gear of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Alan Roy Stuart
  • Publication number: 20180216575
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided including a fan having a plurality of rotatable fan blades and defining a fan pressure ratio during operation of the turbofan engine. The turbofan engine also includes a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath. The turbofan also includes an outer nacelle at least partially surrounding the fan and the turbomachine, the outer nacelle defining a bypass passage with the turbomachine. A bypass ratio of an amount of airflow through the bypass passage to an amount of airflow through the core air flowpath during operation of the turbofan is less than or equal to about 11 and wherein the fan pressure ratio is less than or equal to about 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Joel Francis Kirk, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements
  • Publication number: 20180216493
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining an axial centerline, a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The gas turbine engine includes one or more frames in which the frame defines an inner ring and an outer ring generally concentric to the inner ring about the axial centerline. The frame defines a plurality of struts extended outward along the radial direction from the inner ring to the outer ring. One or more struts define one or more service passages extended at least partially along the radial direction within the strut, and wherein the inner ring, the outer ring, and the struts together define an integral structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Jordan Tesorero, Joshua Tyler Mook, Jeffrey Donald Clements
  • Publication number: 20180216576
    Abstract: A supersonic turbofan engine includes a fan section having a single-stage fan defining a fan pressure ratio greater than 1.9. The supersonic turbofan engine also includes a core turbine engine defining a core air flowpath. A nacelle at least partially surrounds the fan of the fan section and the core turbine engine. The supersonic turbofan engine defines a bypass ratio, the bypass ratio being greater than or equal to three.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Mark John Laricchiuta, Daniel Robert Dwyer, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Kenneth Scheffel, Thomas Ory Moniz