Patents by Inventor John E. Wilber
John E. Wilber 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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Publication number: 20210088144Abstract: A seal includes a seal body disposed about a seal axis and configured to be mounted to a first component at a second axial end of the seal body. The seal body includes an interior surface defining a seal gland circumferentially extending about the seal axis. A packing is disposed within the seal gland. A retaining ring is in communication with a second radial side of the packing and is disposed within the seal gland. A plurality of exciter springs are mounted to a second radial side of the retaining ring. The plurality of exciter springs are biased against the interior surface of the seal body and are configured to center the packing within the seal body. The packing is configured to receive a second component and form a seal interface between the packing and the second component. The seal body is configured to form a portion of a passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2019Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: John E. Wilber, Holly Teufel
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Patent number: 10954953Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a rotor hub that extends along a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine and includes a radially outer surface that has a substantially axially extending projection and a substantially radially extending projection. A seal ring includes a body portion and at least one knife edge that extends outward from the body portion. A recess is in the body portion for accepting the axially extending portion of the rotor hub. A lock ring is in abutting contact with the seal ring and the radially extending projection on the rotor hub for securing the seal ring to the rotor hub.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: John E. Wilber
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Patent number: 10669870Abstract: A mid-turbine frame (MTF”) for a jet engine is disclosed and comprises a duct that extends between a high pressure turbine (“HPT”) and a low pressure turbine (“LPT”), the duct comprising a plurality of segments that together form an outer annular structure and an inner annular structure, the inner annular structure situated radially inward of the outer annular structure, and/or a plurality of vanes that extend radially outward from the inner annular structure toward the outer annular structure, each vane comprising a channel. Each segment may be coupled to an adjacent segment by a seal.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventor: John E. Wilber
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Patent number: 10344618Abstract: A mid-turbine frame (“MTF”) for a jet engine is disclosed and comprises a duct that extends between a high pressure turbine (“HPT”) and a low pressure turbine (“LPT”), the duct comprising a plurality of segments that together form an outer annular structure and an inner annular structure, the inner annular structure situated radially inward of the outer annular structure, and/or a plurality of vanes that extend radially outward from the inner annular structure toward the outer annular structure, each vane comprising a channel. Each segment may be coupled to an adjacent segment by a seal.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: John E. Wilber
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Patent number: 10301948Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine and method of manufacture of the airfoil are disclosed. The airfoil may comprise a first side extending axially from a leading edge to a trailing edge and extending radially from a base to a tip, a second side opposite to the first side, a pocket disposed in the first side, a filler disposed in the pocket, and a preloaded spring disposed within the filler.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: John E. Wilber
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Publication number: 20190154050Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a rotor hub that extends along a longitudinal axis of the gas turbine engine and includes a radially outer surface that has a substantially axially extending projection and a substantially radially extending projection. A seal ring includes a body portion and at least one knife edge that extends outward from the body portion. A recess is in the body portion for accepting the axially extending portion of the rotor hub. A lock ring is in abutting contact with the seal ring and the radially extending projection on the rotor hub for securing the seal ring to the rotor hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventor: John E. Wilber
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Patent number: 10260365Abstract: A mid-turbine frame (MTF”) for a jet engine is disclosed and comprises a duct that extends between a high pressure turbine (“HPT”) and a low pressure turbine (“LPT”), the duct comprising a plurality of segments that together form an outer annular structure and an inner annular structure, the inner annular structure situated radially inward of the outer annular structure, and/or a plurality of vanes that extend radially outward from the inner annular structure toward the outer annular structure, each vane comprising a channel. Each segment may be coupled to an adjacent segment by a seal.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: John E. Wilber
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Patent number: 10227991Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a rotor hub which includes a substantially axially extending projection and a substantially radially extending projection. A seal ring includes a body portion and at least one knife edge that extends outward from the body portion. A recess is in the body portion for accepting the axially extending portion of the rotor hub. The seal ring includes at least one cooling passage that extends through the seal ring. A lock ring is in abutting contact with the seal ring and the radially extending projection on the rotor hub for securing the seal ring to the rotor hub.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: John E. Wilber
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Patent number: 10202858Abstract: A turbine engine assembly and methods involving a turbine engine assembly are provided. In one method, the turbine engine assembly is received. The turbine engine assembly includes an annular stator vane structure disposed at a first orientation. The stator vane structure is reconfigured with the turbine engine assembly to be disposed at a second orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2015Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: John E. Wilber, Kirk S. Hunte, Matthew R. King
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Patent number: 10125785Abstract: A bladed rotor and a hub rotor for a gas turbine are provided. A bladed rotor may comprise a rotor interface comprising a radially inward surface, wherein the rotor interface comprises a constant diameter zone; and a reduced stress zone located adjacent to and aft of the constant diameter zone. A hub rotor may comprise a hub interface comprising a radially outward surface, wherein the hub interface comprises, a constant diameter zone, and a reduced stress zone located adjacent to and aft of the constant diameter zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEYInventors: John E. Wilber, Bernard J. Reilly, Jeffrey M. Palitsch, Rimal Patel, Jesse T. Carmichael, Ryan H. Quinn
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Patent number: 10107105Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The airfoil may include a leading edge, a sheath on the leading edge; and a grounding element connected to the sheath. The grounding element may have a radially extending tab, and may be configured for connection to a component of the gas turbine engine to form a ground path from the sheath to the component.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: John E. Wilber
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Patent number: 10018064Abstract: A foil assembly for a gas powered turbine includes a plurality of floating wall sectors arranged circumferentially about an axis defined by a flowpath. Each of the floating wall sectors includes a first flowpath strut component, a second flowpath strut component, a floating wall panel connected to the first flowpath strut component by a first clamp seal at a first axial joint and connected to the second flowpath strut component by a second clamp seal at a second axial joint, and a plurality of leading edge structures fore of the plurality of floating wall sectors. Each of the leading edge structures is configured to define a foil profile in conjunction with a first flowpath strut component of a first floating wall sector and an adjacent flowpath strut component of a second floating wall sector.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: John E. Wilber, Craig Hart
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Patent number: 10006466Abstract: A seal ring for use between an integrally bladed rotor and a hub rotor of a compressor section of a gas turbine engine includes an arm configured to be positioned between the integrally bladed rotor and the hub rotor, such that the seal ring is removably coupled to the integrally bladed rotor and the hub rotor in response to a compressive force applied to the arm by the integrally bladed rotor and the hub rotor. The seal ring also includes a first blade coupled to the arm and configured to form a seal between a first volume and a second volume.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: John E. Wilber, Bernard J. Reilly
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Patent number: 9976431Abstract: A mid-turbine frame for a gas turbine engine ducts gases between a high pressure turbine and a low pressure turbine. The mid-turbine frame may include an outer flowpath ring, an inner flowpath ring, and a plurality of vanes extending therebetween. The outer flowpath ring comprises a unitary structure, while the inner flowpath ring and the plurality of vanes comprises a plurality of segments.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: John E. Wilber
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Publication number: 20170268381Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a toolset comprising: a face locator plate configured to seat a component, and a location transfer assembly configured to obtain and retain at least one parameter associated with a rivet hole of the component to project said at least one parameter from said toolset onto a replacement component.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: John E. Wilber, Walid Alomari
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Publication number: 20170198708Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a rotor hub which includes a substantially axially extending projection and a substantially radially extending projection. A seal ring includes a body portion and at least one knife edge that extends outward from the body portion. A recess is in the body portion for accepting the axially extending portion of the rotor hub. The seal ring includes at least one cooling passage that extends through the seal ring. A lock ring is in abutting contact with the seal ring and the radially extending projection on the rotor hub for securing the seal ring to the rotor hub.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventor: John E. Wilber
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Publication number: 20170167281Abstract: A turbine engine assembly and methods involving a turbine engine assembly are provided. In one method, the turbine engine assembly is received. The turbine engine assembly includes an annular stator vane structure disposed at a first orientation. The stator vane structure is reconfigured with the turbine engine assembly to be disposed at a second orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2015Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: John E. Wilber, Kirk S. Hunte, Matthew R. King
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Publication number: 20170107998Abstract: A bladed rotor and a hub rotor for a gas turbine are provided. A bladed rotor may comprise a rotor interface comprising a radially inward surface, wherein the rotor interface comprises a constant diameter zone; and a reduced stress zone located adjacent to and aft of the constant diameter zone. A hub rotor may comprise a hub interface comprising a radially outward surface, wherein the hub interface comprises, a constant diameter zone, and a reduced stress zone located adjacent to and aft of the constant diameter zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2015Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventors: John E. Wilber, Bernard J. Reilly, Jeffrey M. Palitsch, Rimal Patel, Jesse T. Carmichael, Ryan H. Quinn
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Publication number: 20170089202Abstract: A method of forming a flow path trench in an integrally bladed disk is provided. The method includes tilting a cutting tool relative to a plane defined by the integrally bladed disk, driving the cutting tool at a cutting speed, and moving the cutting tool in a multiple dimensional movement to cut a flow path trench in a surface of the integrally bladed disk.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2015Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: John E. Wilber, Ryan H. Quinn
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Publication number: 20170044932Abstract: A mid-turbine frame (MTF”) for a jet engine is disclosed and comprises a duct that extends between a high pressure turbine (“HPT”) and a low pressure turbine (“LPT”), the duct comprising a plurality of segments that together form an outer annular structure and an inner annular structure, the inner annular structure situated radially inward of the outer annular structure, and/or a plurality of vanes that extend radially outward from the inner annular structure toward the outer annular structure, each vane comprising a channel. Each segment may be coupled to an adjacent segment by a seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: United Technologies CorporationInventor: John E. Wilber