Patents by Inventor John T. Pech

John T. Pech 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: 20220154600
    Abstract: A starter supplemental lubrication system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The starter supplemental lubrication system includes a pneumatic starter operable to drive rotation of a rotor shaft of a gas turbine engine through an accessory gearbox. The pneumatic starter is configured to receive a primary lubricant flow at a first rotational speed range and receive a supplemental lubricant flow at a second rotational speed range that is less than the first rotational speed range. The starter supplemental lubrication system also includes a supplemental lubricant pump operable to supply the supplemental lubricant flow at the second rotational speed range. The supplemental lubricant pump is internal to the pneumatic starter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Benjamin T. Harder
  • Publication number: 20190218975
    Abstract: A system for cooling a gas turbine engine is provided, the system comprising: a gas turbine engine including rotational components comprising an engine compressor, an engine turbine, and a rotor shaft operably connecting the engine turbine to the engine compressor, wherein each rotational component is configured to rotate when any one of the rotational components is rotated; an electro-pneumatic starter operably connected to at least one of the rotational components, the electro-pneumatic starter being configured to rotate the rotational components; an electric drive motor operably connected to the electro-pneumatic starter, the electric drive motor being configured to rotate the rotational components through the electro-pneumatic starter; and a motor controller in electronic communication with the electric drive motor, the motor controller being configured to command the electric drive motor to rotate the rotational components at a selected angular velocity for a selected period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: John T. Pech
  • Publication number: 20190219021
    Abstract: A system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The system comprising: a gas turbine engine including rotational components comprising an engine compressor, an engine turbine, and a rotor shaft operably connecting the engine turbine to the engine compressor, wherein each rotational component is configured to rotate when any one of the rotational components is rotated; a permanent magnet alternator operably connected to at least one of the rotational components, the permanent magnet alternator being configured to rotate the rotational components; and a motor controller in electronic communication with the permanent magnet alternator, the motor controller being configured to command the permanent magnet alternator to rotate the rotational components at a selected angular velocity for a selected period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Todd A. Spierling
  • Patent number: 10309317
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine start system includes monitoring a pressure in a starter air duct in communication with a starter air valve which is in communication with an air turbine starter (ATS); identifying an expected transient pressure response in the starter air duct; and identifying the starter air valve as degraded if the expected transient pressure response does not occur after an open command to the starter air valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pech, W. Dean Kavalkovich
  • Publication number: 20190128141
    Abstract: A starter supplemental lubrication system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The starter supplemental lubrication system includes a pneumatic starter operable to drive rotation of a rotor shaft of a gas turbine engine through an accessory gearbox. The pneumatic starter is configured to receive a primary lubricant flow at a first rotational speed range and receive a supplemental lubricant flow at a second rotational speed range that is less than the first rotational speed range. The starter supplemental lubrication system also includes a supplemental lubricant pump operable to supply the supplemental lubricant flow at the second rotational speed range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Benjamin T. Harder
  • Publication number: 20170234235
    Abstract: An engine starting system for a gas turbine engine is provided, the engine starting system comprising: a gas turbine engine including rotational components comprising an engine compressor, an engine turbine, and a rotor shaft operably connecting the engine turbine to the engine compressor, wherein each rotational component is configured to rotate when any one of the rotational components is rotated; an electro-pneumatic starter operably connected to at least one of the rotational components, the electro-pneumatic starter being configured to rotate the rotational components; an electric drive motor operably connected to the electro-pneumatic starter, the electric drive motor being configured to rotate the rotational components through the electro-pneumatic starter; and a motor controller in electronic communication with the electric drive motor, the motor controller being configured to command the electric drive motor to rotate the rotational components at a selected angular velocity for a selected period of t
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: John T. Pech
  • Publication number: 20170234237
    Abstract: An engine starting system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The engine starting system comprising: a gas turbine engine including rotational components comprising an engine compressor, an engine turbine, and a rotor shaft operably connecting the engine turbine to the engine compressor, wherein each rotational component is configured to rotate when any one of the rotational components is rotated; a variable frequency generator operably connected to at least one of the rotational components, the variable frequency generator being configured to rotate the rotational components; and a motor controller in electronic communication with the variable frequency generator, the motor controller being configured to command the variable frequency generator to rotate the rotational components at a selected angular velocity for a selected period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Todd A. Spierling
  • Publication number: 20170234234
    Abstract: An engine starting system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The engine starting system comprising: a gas turbine engine including rotational components comprising an engine compressor, an engine turbine, and a rotor shaft operably connecting the engine turbine to the engine compressor, wherein each rotational component is configured to rotate when any one of the rotational components is rotated; a permanent magnet alternator operably connected to at least one of the rotational components, the permanent magnet alternator being configured to rotate the rotational components; and a motor controller in electronic communication with the permanent magnet alternator, the motor controller being configured to command the permanent magnet alternator to rotate the rotational components at a selected angular velocity for a selected period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Todd A. Spierling
  • Patent number: 9657586
    Abstract: A starter configured for use with a turbomachine includes a housing defining a cavity, a transmission operative to convert an airflow into rotational motion for starting an engine, wherein the cavity is configured to hold a quantity of starter oil for lubricating at least a portion of the transmission, and an oil filter disposed in fluid communication with the starter oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Jeffrey M. Makulec
  • Publication number: 20150308283
    Abstract: A starter configured for use with a turbomachine includes a housing defining a cavity, a transmission operative to convert an airflow into rotational motion for starting an engine, wherein the cavity is configured to hold a quantity of starter oil for lubricating at least a portion of the transmission, and an oil filter disposed in fluid communication with the starter oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Jeffrey M. Makulec
  • Publication number: 20150308878
    Abstract: A starter can be configured for use with a turbomachine and includes a housing defining a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to hold a quantity of starter oil, and a temperature sensor disposed within the cavity and configured to sense a temperature within the housing. A system includes a starter for a turbomachine as described herein and a computing apparatus configured to receive signals from the temperature sensor and to determine if the temperature within the housing indicates a sufficient quantity of starter oil. A method for determining oil quantity in a starter includes receiving a temperature signal from a temperature sensor disposed within the starter, determining an oil temperature within the starter based on comparing the temperature signal, and determining if a sufficient amount of oil is present in the starter based on comparing predetermined temperature operational values to the oil temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: John T. Pech, Benjamin T. Harder
  • Publication number: 20140373554
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a gas turbine engine start system includes monitoring a pressure in a starter air duct in communication with a starter air valve which is in communication with an air turbine starter (ATS); identifying an expected transient pressure response in the starter air duct; and identifying the starter air valve as degraded if the expected transient pressure response does not occur after an open command to the starter air valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: John T. Pech, W. Dean Kavalkovich