Patents by Inventor Joseph A. Orlando

Joseph A. Orlando 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: 20100047056
    Abstract: A duplex turbine nozzle includes a row of different first and second vanes alternating circumferentially between radially outer and inner bands in vane doublets having axial splitlines therebetween. The vanes have opposite pressure and suction sides spaced apart in each doublet to define an inboard flow passage therebetween, and corresponding outboard flow passages between doublets. The vanes have different patterns of film cooling holes with larger cooling flow density along the outboard passages than along the inboard passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7661260
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine assembly includes coupling a fan assembly to a core gas turbine engine such that the fan assembly is upstream from the core gas turbine engine, coupling a low-pressure turbine downstream from the core gas turbine engine such, wherein the low-pressure turbine includes a disk and a plurality of splines formed in the disk, providing a shaft that includes a first end and a second end that includes a plurality of splines, coupling the shaft first end to the fan assembly, and coupling the shaft second end to the low-pressure turbine such that the shaft splines mesh with the disk splines such that torque is transmitted from the low-pressure turbine to the fan assembly via the shaft during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7603844
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes coupling a low-pressure turbine to a core turbine engine, coupling a gearbox to the low-pressure turbine, coupling a first fan assembly to the gearbox such that the first fan assembly rotates in a first direction, and coupling a mechanical fuse between the first fan assembly and the low-pressure turbine such that the mechanical fuse fails at a predetermined moment load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7594388
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan, compressor, combustor, high pressure turbine, and low pressure turbine joined in serial flow communication. The high pressure turbine includes two stages of rotor blades to effect corresponding exit swirl in the combustion gases discharged therefrom. A transition duct includes fairings extending between platforms for channeling the combustion gases to the low pressure turbine with corresponding swirl. First stage rotor blades in the low pressure turbine are oriented oppositely to the rotor blades in the high pressure turbine for counterrotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Glenn Cherry, Robert John Beacock, William Larson Clifford, Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20090155051
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine shroud includes a row of different first and second shroud segments alternating circumferentially therearound. The first segments have a first pattern of first cooling holes extending therethrough. The second segments have a second pattern of second cooling holes extending therethrough. The corresponding patterns have different collective flowrate capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Geoffrey Douglas Robinson, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7526913
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes coupling a low-pressure turbine to a core turbine engine, coupling a gearbox including an input, a first output, and a second output, to the low-pressure turbine, coupling a first fan assembly to the gearbox first output, and coupling a second fan assembly to the gearbox second output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Patent number: 7513103
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine includes coupling a low-pressure turbine to a core turbine engine, coupling a counter-rotating fan assembly including a forward fan assembly and an axially aft fan assembly to the low-pressure turbine such that the forward fan assembly rotates in a first direction and the aft fan assembly rotates in an opposite second direction, and coupling a booster compressor to the low-pressure turbine such that the booster compressor rotates in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz
  • Patent number: 7513102
    Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan, compressor, combustor, single-stage high pressure turbine, and low pressure turbine joined in serial flow communication. First stage rotor blades in the low pressure turbine are oriented oppositely to the rotor blades in the high pressure turbine for counterrotation. First stage stator vanes in the low pressure turbine have camber and twist for carrying swirl directly between the rotor blades of the high and low pressure turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Scott Michael Carson, Robert Joseph Orlando, Ching-Pang Lee, David Glenn Cherry
  • Patent number: 7510371
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes a row of vanes joined to radially outwardly inclined outer and inner bands. Each vane has camber and an acute twist angle for importing swirl in combustion gases discharged at trailing edges thereof. The trailing edges are tilted forwardly from the inner band to the outer band for increasing aerodynamic efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, Ching-Pang Lee, David Glenn Cherry, Robert John Beacock, William Larson Clifford, Scott Michael Carson
  • Publication number: 20090064683
    Abstract: A power take-off system for a gas turbine engine includes a starter coupled to a second spool, and a clutch assembly coupled between the starter and a first spool, the clutch assembly configured to couple the first spool to the starter when starting the gas turbine engine assembly. A method of assembling a gas turbine engine assembly that includes the power take-off system, and a gas turbine engine assembly including the power take-off system are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Jan Christopher Schilling, Robert Joseph Orlando, Raymond Felix Patt
  • Patent number: 7493754
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine including providing a core gas turbine engine at least partially defined by a frame and having a drive shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the core gas turbine engine. A low-pressure turbine is coupled to a core turbine engine. A counter-rotating fan assembly is coupled to the low-pressure turbine. The counter-rotating fan assembly includes a first fan assembly and a second fan assembly. A booster compressor is coupled to the second fan assembly. A gearbox is securely coupled to the frame so that the gearbox is circumferentially positioned about the drive shaft. The first fan assembly is rotatably coupled to an input of the gearbox such that the first fan assembly rotates in a first direction. The second fan assembly is rotatably coupled to an output of the gearbox such that the second fan assembly rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7493753
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine. The method comprises coupling a low-pressure turbine rotatable about a drive shaft to a counter-rotating fan assembly including a first fan assembly and a second fan assembly wherein the first fan assembly rotates in a first direction and the second fan assembly rotates in an opposite second direction. The method also comprises coupling a planetary gearbox substantially circumferentially about the drive shaft such that an input of the gearbox is coupled to the low-pressure turbine and an output of the gearbox is coupled to the counter-rotating fan assembly, and such that the gearbox is positioned within a lubrication fluid sump that substantially circumscribes the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7490460
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a support structure, at least one sun gear coupled within the support structure, and a plurality of planetary gears coupled within the support structure. The support structure includes a first portion, an axially aft second portion, and a thrust spring coupled between the first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Patent number: 7490461
    Abstract: A method for assembling a gas turbine engine including providing a core gas turbine engine at least partially defined by a frame. The gas turbine engine has a drive shaft that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the core gas turbine engine. A counter-rotating fan assembly is coupled to the low-pressure turbine. The counter-rotating fan includes a first fan assembly that rotates in a first direction and a second fan assembly that rotates in an opposite second direction. A booster compressor is coupled to the second fan assembly. A first bearing assembly is mounted between the drive shaft and the frame and operatively coupled to the first fan assembly to transmit thrust force from the first fan assembly to the frame. A second bearing assembly is mounted with respect to the second fan assembly and operatively coupled to the second fan assembly to transfer thrust force from at least one of the second fan assembly and the booster compressor to the second bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080317585
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes first and second vanes joined to outer and inner bands. The vanes include outboard sides defining outboard flow passages containing axial splitlines, and opposite inboard sides defining an inboard flow passage without axial splitline. The two vanes include different cooling circuits for differently cooling the inboard and outboard vane sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Robert Joseph Orlando
  • Publication number: 20080229751
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having a longitudinal centerline axis therethrough, including: a fan section at a forward end of the gas turbine engine including at least a first fan blade row connected to a first drive shaft; a booster compressor positioned downstream of and in at least partial flow communication with the fan section including a plurality of stages, each stage including a stationary compressor blade row and a rotating compressor blade row connected to a drive shaft and interdigitated with the stationary compressor blade row; a core system positioned downstream of the booster compressor, the core system further comprising a combustion system for producing pulses of gas having increased pressure and temperature from a fluid flow provided to an inlet thereof so as to produce a working fluid at an outlet; a low pressure turbine positioned downstream of and in flow communication with the core system, the low pressure turbine being utilized to power the first drive shaft; and, a system for cooling the combus
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Orlando, Kattalaicheri Srinivasan Venkataramani, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Publication number: 20080159851
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an outlet guide vane includes the steps of fabricating a structural spar from a first material, fabricating a fairing from a second material, and installing the fairing onto the spar so as to at least partially surround the spar and form an airfoil. An outlet guide vane includes an airfoil including a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar. A gas turbine engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a fan assembly including a plurality of fan blades coupled to the core gas turbine engine, and a plurality of outlet guide vanes coupled downstream from the fan blades, at least one of the outlet guide vanes including an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando, Noel Istvan Macsotai, Richard D. Cedar
  • Publication number: 20080159856
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an outlet guide vane includes the steps of fabricating a structural spar from a first material, fabricating a fairing from a second material, and installing the fairing onto the spar so as to at least partially surround the spar and form an airfoil. An outlet guide vane includes an airfoil including a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar. A gas turbine engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a fan assembly including a plurality of fan blades coupled to the core gas turbine engine, and a plurality of outlet guide vanes coupled downstream from the fan blades, at least one of the outlet guide vanes including an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a structural spar formed from a first material located within the airfoil, and a fairing formed from a second material at least partially surrounding the spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando, Noel Istvan Macsotai, Richard D. Cedar
  • Publication number: 20080148708
    Abstract: A method for assembling a turbine engine assembly is provided. The turbine engine includes a core engine. The method includes coupling a first rotor spool within the engine assembly wherein the first rotor spool includes a first shaft. The method further includes coupling a second rotor spool within the engine assembly wherein the second rotor spool includes a second shaft. The method also includes coupling a third rotor spool within the engine assembly wherein the third rotor spool includes a third shaft. At least one of the first, second, and third shafts include a first end, an opposing second end, and a tubular portion extending between the first and second ends. A reinforcing layer circumscribes a portion of the tubular portion wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing layer is a metallic matrix composite (MMC) material that includes reinforcing fibers. A turbine engine is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Chen Yu Jack Chou, Robert Joseph Orlando, Thomas Ory Moniz, Paul Herbert Halter
  • Publication number: 20080152477
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The rotor assembly includes a compressor rotor, a compressor stator coupled upstream from the compressor rotor, and a bearing assembly coupled between the compressor rotor and the compressor stator for supporting the compressor rotor. The bearing assembly includes a pair of foil thrust bearings coupled to a portion of the compressor stator and a pair of spring packs coupled substantially co-axially to the pair of foil thrust bearings. A method of assembling the same is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Robert Joseph Orlando