Patents by Inventor John T. Pickens

John T. Pickens 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: 12055066
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil having a plurality of channels with a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The main body forms a portion of one side of the airfoil and the entirety of an opposing side of the airfoil. A cover is secured to the main body about a perimeter by a weld. The cover extends across a majority of the one side of the airfoil. A plurality of ribs extends from the cover in a direction toward the main body to define the channels. The ribs are secured to an inner surface of the main body by an adhesive. A gas turbine engine and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Publication number: 20240200458
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil having a plurality of channels with a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The main body forms a portion of one side of the airfoil and the entirety of an opposing side of the airfoil. A cover is secured to the main body about a perimeter by a weld. The cover extends across a majority of the one side of the airfoil. A plurality of ribs extends from the cover in a direction toward the main body to define the channels. The ribs are secured to an inner surface of the main body by an adhesive. A gas turbine engine and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Patent number: 11867084
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil having a plurality of channels with a main body extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The main body forms a portion of one side of the airfoil and the entirety of an opposing side of the airfoil. A cover is secured to the main body about a perimeter by a weld. The cover extends across a majority of the one side of the airfoil. A plurality of ribs extends from the cover in a direction toward the main body to define the channels. The ribs are secured to an inner surface of the main body by an adhesive. A gas turbine engine and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Patent number: 10935452
    Abstract: A method is provided for inspecting a component. During this method, a theoretical moment weight of the component is determined. The theoretical moment weight of the component is compared to a measured moment weight of the component to determine a difference between the theoretical moment weight of the component and the measured moment weight of the component. A fault notification is provided where the difference between the theoretical moment weight of the component and the measured moment weight of the component is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Patent number: 10816429
    Abstract: A method is provided during which surface data indicative of a measured surface geometry of a component is received. The surface data is processed to provide model data indicative of a solid model of the component. The model data is processed to determine a center of gravity distance of the component. A moment weight of the component is determined based on the center of gravity distance of the component and a measured weight of the component. The moment weight is communicated with the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Publication number: 20200182730
    Abstract: A method is provided for inspecting a component. During this method, a theoretical moment weight of the component is determined. The theoretical moment weight of the component is compared to a measured moment weight of the component to determine a difference between the theoretical moment weight of the component and the measured moment weight of the component. A fault notification is provided where the difference between the theoretical moment weight of the component and the measured moment weight of the component is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Publication number: 20200182731
    Abstract: A method is provided during which surface data indicative of a measured surface geometry of a component is received. The surface data is processed to provide model data indicative of a solid model of the component. The model data is processed to determine a center of gravity distance of the component. A moment weight of the component is determined based on the center of gravity distance of the component and a measured weight of the component. The moment weight is communicated with the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Patent number: 10232474
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine component assembly includes, among other things, a case having a generally cylindrical outer surface. At least one synchronizing ring is received at least partially about the outer surface of the case. A plurality shims situated between an inner surface on the at least one synchronizing ring and the outer surface of the case at a plurality of shim locations are circumferentially spaced about the case outer surface. Each shim location includes at least one of the shims. A radial thickness of the shims at a first one of the shim locations is different than the radial thickness of the shims at a second one of the shim locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Publication number: 20140093362
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine component assembly includes, among other things, a case having a generally cylindrical outer surface. At least one synchronizing ring is received at least partially about the outer surface of the case. A plurality shims situated between an inner surface on the at least one synchronizing ring and the outer surface of the case at a plurality of shim locations are circumferentially spaced about the case outer surface. Each shim location includes at least one of the shims. A radial thickness of the shims at a first one of the shim locations is different than the radial thickness of the shims at a second one of the shim locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Patent number: 8608446
    Abstract: A compressor disk for a turbine engine includes a plurality of blades mounted about the circumference. To assemble the blades onto the disk a lock assembly is inserted within a blade slot on the disk. A blade is assembled into the blade slot and slider seals are inserted between the blade and the disk to limit air from entering the blade slot. Additional blades are assembled until the end of the slider seals are reached. The process is repeated until all the blades have been assembled onto the disk. After the last blade has been assembled a spacer seal is placed at each lock assembly to take up the slack. Once all the blades and spacer seals are assembled the lock assemblies can be moved to a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Stanley J. Szymanski
  • Patent number: 8573940
    Abstract: A compressor for a turbine engine includes multiple compressor disks having rotor blades mounted about the circumference of each of the disks. A plurality of stator blades extend between the rotor blades of axially adjacent disks. A knife edge seal is supported and retained by retaining flanges extending from a rim on each disk, and contacts the stator blades to limit the recirculation of air within the compressor. A plurality of lock assemblies are spaced about the circumference of disk backbones formed in each disk, with a plurality of knife edge seals located between each lock assembly. When in the lock position the lock assemblies reduce the slack used for assembly of the final knife edge seal to prevent shifting and rotating during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Tuy Tran, Allan R. Penda
  • Patent number: 7720649
    Abstract: A method of reverse engineering a component of a gas turbine engine having a root attachment feature includes scanning the root attachment feature a plurality of times to obtain raw scan data, creating a best fit line relative to pressure faces of the root attachment feature as a function of the raw scan data, determining a pressure face angle as a function of the relationship between the best fit lines of the pressure faces, bisecting the pressure face angle to determine a symmetry plane for the root attachment feature, establishing a master attachment data set in relation to the local coordinate system by averaging the best fit lines and the raw scan data for each scan of the root attachment feature, and verifying symmetry of the master attachment data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Patent number: 7470113
    Abstract: A compressor for a turbine engine includes multiple compressor disks having rotor blades mounted about the circumference of each of the disks. A plurality of stator vanes extend between the rotor blades of axially adjacent disks. A knife edge seal segment is supported by each disk backbone extending from the disks and contacts the stator vanes to restrict leakage of compressed air from between the stator vane and the compressor rotor to limit the recirculation of air. Retaining flanges extend from each disk rim to retain the knife edge seal segments to the disk backbone and spacer bridges integral to the knife edge seal segments prevent axial movement of the knife edge seal segments. A plurality of lock assemblies are spaced about the circumference of the disk backbone to prevent circumferential shifting and rotating of the knife edge seal segments during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tuy Tran, John T. Pickens
  • Publication number: 20080229579
    Abstract: A method of reverse engineering a component of a gas turbine engine having a root attachment feature includes scanning the root attachment feature a plurality of times to obtain raw scan data, creating a best fit line relative to pressure faces of the root attachment feature as a function of the raw scan data, determining a pressure face angle as a function of the relationship between the best fit lines of the pressure faces, bisecting the pressure face angle to determine a symmetry plane for the root attachment feature, establishing a master attachment data set in relation to the local coordinate system by averaging the best fit lines and the raw scan data for each scan of the root attachment feature, and verifying symmetry of the master attachment data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Publication number: 20080008582
    Abstract: A compressor for a turbine engine includes multiple compressor disks having rotor blades mounted about the circumference of each of the disks. A plurality of stator blades extend between the rotor blades of axially adjacent disks. A knife edge seal is supported and retained by retaining flanges extending from a rim on each disk, and contacts the stator blades to limit the recirculation of air within the compressor. A plurality of lock assemblies are spaced about the circumference of disk backbones formed in each disk, with a plurality of knife edge seals located between each lock assembly. When in the lock position the lock assemblies reduce the slack used for assembly of the final knife edge seal to prevent shifting and rotating during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Tuy Tran, Allan R. Penda
  • Publication number: 20070297897
    Abstract: A compressor for a turbine engine includes multiple compressor disks having rotor blades mounted about the circumference of each of the disks. A plurality of stator vanes extend between the rotor blades of axially adjacent disks. A knife edge seal segment is supported by each disk backbone extending from the disks and contacts the stator vanes to restrict leakage of compressed air from between the stator vane and the compressor rotor to limit the recirculation of air. Retaining flanges extend from each disk rim to retain the knife edge seal segments to the disk backbone and spacer bridges integral to the knife edge seal segments prevent axial movement of the knife edge seal segments. A plurality of lock assemblies are spaced about the circumference of the disk backbone to prevent circumferential shifting and rotating of the knife edge seal segments during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Tuy Tran, John T. Pickens
  • Publication number: 20070280831
    Abstract: A compressor disk for a turbine engine includes a plurality of blades mounted about the circumference. To assemble the blades onto the disk a lock assembly is inserted within a blade slot on the disk. A blade is assembled into the blade slot and sliders seals are inserted between the blade and the disk to limit air from entering the blade slot. Additional blades are assembled until the end of the slider seals are reached. The process is repeated until all the blades have been assembled onto the disk. After the last blade has been assembled a spacer seal is placed at each lock assembly to take up the slack. Once all the blades and spacer seals are assembled the lock assemblies can be moved to a locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Stanley J. Szymanski
  • Patent number: 6884025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bumper system for use with a compressor variable vane system. The bumper system broadly comprises a synchronizing ring, a bumper, a shim for defining a gap between a bumper pad and the bumper, a pin for preventing rotation of the bumper relative to the synchronizing ring, and a device for fully trapping the shim. In a first embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a sleeve passing through the synchronizing ring. In a second embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a pin which passes through the synchronizing body. In a third embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a fastener with a shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Phillip Alexander, Anthony R. Bifulco, Kevin J. Cummings
  • Publication number: 20040062641
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bumper system for use with a compressor variable vane system. The bumper system broadly comprises a synchronizing ring, a bumper, a shim for defining a gap between a bumper pad and the bumper, a pin for preventing rotation of the bumper relative to the synchronizing ring, and a device for fully trapping the shim. In a first embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a sleeve passing through the synchronizing ring. In a second embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a pin which passes through the synchronizing body. In a third embodiment, the device for fully trapping the shim comprises a fastener with a shoulder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Phillip Alexander, Anthony R. Bifulco, Kevin J. Cummings