Patents by Inventor John P. Virtue

John P. Virtue 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: 11542872
    Abstract: An aspect includes a hybrid gas turbine engine system of a hybrid electric aircraft. The hybrid gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine having a low speed spool and a high speed spool, a generator operably coupled to the low speed spool, a high spool electric motor operably coupled to the high speed spool, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the hybrid gas turbine engine system in a powered warm-up state to add heat to one or more components of the gas turbine engine by operating the gas turbine engine with a higher engine power setting above idle to drive rotation of the generator, transfer power from the generator to the high spool electric motor, and produce thrust. The gas turbine engine transitions from the powered warm-up state after reaching a target temperature of the one or more components in the powered warm-up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, John P. Virtue
  • Publication number: 20220034262
    Abstract: An aspect includes a hybrid gas turbine engine system of a hybrid electric aircraft. The hybrid gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine having a low speed spool and a high speed spool, a generator operably coupled to the low speed spool, a high spool electric motor operably coupled to the high speed spool, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the hybrid gas turbine engine system in a powered warm-up state to add heat to one or more components of the gas turbine engine by operating the gas turbine engine with a higher engine power setting above idle to drive rotation of the generator, transfer power from the generator to the high spool electric motor, and produce thrust. The gas turbine engine transitions from the powered warm-up state after reaching a target temperature of the one or more components in the powered warm-up state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, John P. Virtue
  • Patent number: 11149649
    Abstract: An aspect includes a hybrid gas turbine engine system of a hybrid electric aircraft. The hybrid gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine, an electric motor operable to perform an electric taxiing of the hybrid electric aircraft, and a controller. The controller is operable to prevent fuel flow to the gas turbine engine during at least a portion of the electric taxiing and monitor for a powered warm-up request during the electric taxiing. A powered warm-up state of the gas turbine engine is initiated based on detecting the powered warm-up request. The powered warm-up state adds heat to one or more components of the gas turbine engine prior to transitioning to a takeoff power state. The gas turbine engine transitions from the powered warm-up state to the takeoff power state after reaching a target temperature of the one or more components in the powered warm-up state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, John P. Virtue
  • Patent number: 10995674
    Abstract: An embodiment of an engine assembly includes a plurality of offtakes powered by a combustion turbine engine having a high spool and at least one lower spool, and a controller configured to operate the combustion turbine engine through a range between a first low-idle mode, a second high idle mode, and a maximum takeoff power rating mode. The controller operates the engine in the low-idle mode by directing at least a first portion of power from the at least one lower spool to the plurality of offtakes, and wherein the controller operates the engine in the high idle mode by increasing a speed of the high spool relative to a speed of the high spool in the low-idle mode, thereby increasing a compressor outlet (T3) temperature in the high idle mode relative to a T3 temperature in the low-idle mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, John P. Virtue
  • Publication number: 20200362714
    Abstract: A hydrostatic seal configured to be disposed between relatively rotatable components includes a seal carrier. The seal also includes a beam extending axially from a forward end to an aft end, the beam cantilevered to the seal carrier at one of the forward end and the aft end, the beam free at the other end. The seal further includes a brush seal operatively coupled to the seal carrier and in contact with the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Brian F. Hilbert, Daniel L. Gysling, John P. Virtue, Eric A. Grover
  • Publication number: 20200056549
    Abstract: An embodiment of an engine assembly includes a plurality of offtakes powered by a combustion turbine engine having a high spool and at least one lower spool, and a controller configured to operate the combustion turbine engine through a range between a first low-idle mode, a second high idle mode, and a maximum takeoff power rating mode. The controller operates the engine in the low-idle mode by directing at least a first portion of power from the at least one lower spool to the plurality of offtakes, and wherein the controller operates the engine in the high idle mode by increasing a speed of the high spool relative to a speed of the high spool in the low-idle mode, thereby increasing a compressor outlet (T3) temperature in the high idle mode relative to a T3 temperature in the low-idle mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, John P. Virtue
  • Publication number: 20200056546
    Abstract: An aspect includes a hybrid gas turbine engine system of a hybrid electric aircraft. The hybrid gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine, an electric motor operable to perform an electric taxiing of the hybrid electric aircraft, and a controller. The controller is operable to prevent fuel flow to the gas turbine engine during at least a portion of the electric taxiing and monitor for a powered warm-up request during the electric taxiing. A powered warm-up state of the gas turbine engine is initiated based on detecting the powered warm-up request. The powered warm-up state adds heat to one or more components of the gas turbine engine prior to transitioning to a takeoff power state. The gas turbine engine transitions from the powered warm-up state to the takeoff power state after reaching a target temperature of the one or more components in the powered warm-up state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Inventors: Neil Terwilliger, John P. Virtue
  • Patent number: 10480533
    Abstract: An example method of cooling a compressor of a gas turbine includes, among other things, diverting a flow from a compressor, and directing the flow at the compressor in a direction, the direction having a circumferential component and an axial component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brad Powell, Anthony R. Bifulco, Paul E. Coderre, John P. Virtue, Brian Lucker
  • Publication number: 20160222982
    Abstract: An example method of cooling a compressor of a gas turbine includes, among other things, diverting a flow from a compressor, and directing the flow at the compressor in a direction, the direction having a circumferential component and an axial component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Brad Powell, Anthony R. Bifulco, Paul E. Coderre, John P. Virtue, Brian Lucker
  • Patent number: 8177494
    Abstract: A multiple of circumferential grooves within said arcuate engine casing and an abradable material located radial inboard of the multiple of circumferential grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Ward, John P. Virtue
  • Publication number: 20100232943
    Abstract: A multiple of circumferential grooves within said arcuate engine casing and an abradable material located radial inboard of the multiple of circumferential grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas W. Ward, John P. Virtue
  • Publication number: 20080095616
    Abstract: A turbine rotor for a turbine engine includes multiple rotor disks having rotor blades mounted about the circumference of each of the rotor disks. A fluid seal extends about the circumference of each rotor disk in close proximity to a stationary component of the rotor to separate the space between the rotor blades and a stationary component into separate cavities. The fluid seal includes a seal land on the rotor disk and a brush seal extending from the stationary component. A plurality of disk land segments and a plurality of blade land segments form the seal land. The disk seal segments are located on the rotor disk between the rotor blades. The blade land segments are located on the rotor blades. After the rotor blades are assembled, the blade land segments and the disk land segments fit together to form a segmented ring-like seal land around the circumference of the rotor disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Ioannis Alvanos, John P. Virtue
  • Publication number: 20080041064
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine rotor and a compressor, which provides discharge air. A nozzle, typically referred to a tangential on-board injector (TOBI), is arranged near the rotor to deliver the discharge air near the turbine rotor for cooling it. The TOBI receives pollution air leaking past seals within the gas turbine engine. The TOBI swirls the discharge air and the pollution air before it reaches the turbine rotor. The TOBI provides multiple passages separated by vanes. At least some of the passages include discharge inlets and outlets for carrying the discharge air from the compressor to the turbine rotor. Typically, several of the passages are unused and blocked. However, the example arrangement provides a pollution inlet and outlet in at least one of the normally unused, blocked passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher Moore, John P. Virtue, James P. Chrisikos