Patents by Inventor Kurt David Murrow

Kurt David Murrow 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: 20210339879
    Abstract: An aircraft defines a vertical direction and includes a fuselage and a propulsion system comprising a power source and a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans driven by the power source. A wing extends from the fuselage. The plurality of vertical thrust electric fans are arranged along a length of the wing along a lengthwise direction of the wing. The wing comprises a diffusion assembly along the lengthwise direction of the wing and includes a first diffusion member positioned downstream of at least one of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans. The first diffusion member defines a curved shape relative to a longitudinal direction of the aircraft. The longitudinal direction is generally perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Dominic Barone
  • Patent number: 11124308
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a propulsion system including a power source and a vertical thrust propulsor driven by the power source; and a wing extending from the fuselage, the vertical thrust propulsor positioned on or at least partially within the wing, the wing including a diffusion assembly, the diffusion assembly including at least one diffusion member fixed in position and located downstream of the vertical thrust propulsor for diffusing an airflow from the vertical thrust propulsor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 11124306
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a propulsion system including a power source and a vertical thrust electric fan driven by the power source; and a wing extending from the fuselage. The vertical thrust electric fan is positioned on or within the wing, the wing including a diffusion assembly movable between a first position and a second position and positioned at least partially downstream of the vertical thrust electric fan when in the second position, the diffusion assembly including a first member and a second member, the second member movable generally along the vertical direction relative to the first member such that the first member and second member together define at least in part an exhaust flowpath for the first vertical thrust electric fan when the diffusion assembly is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 11124307
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a propulsion system including a power source and a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans driven by the power source; and a wing extending from the fuselage. The plurality of vertical thrust electric fans are arranged along the wing, the wing including one or more components being moveable to selectively expose the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans, the wing further including a diffusion assembly positioned downstream of at least one vertical thrust electric fan of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans, the diffusion assembly defining a diffusion area ratio greater than 1:1 and less than about 2:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Dominic Barone
  • Patent number: 11117676
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a propulsion system including a power source and a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans driven by the power source; and a wing extending from the fuselage. The plurality of vertical thrust electric fans are arranged along a length of the wing, the wing including a variable geometry assembly moveable generally along a horizontal direction between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position, the variable geometry assembly at least partially covering at least one vertical thrust electric fan of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans when in the forward thrust position and at least partially exposing the at least one vertical thrust electric fan when in the vertical thrust position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Dominic Barone
  • Patent number: 11117675
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a propulsion system including a power source and a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans driven by the power source; and a wing extending from the fuselage. The plurality of vertical thrust electric fans are arranged along a length of the wing, the wing including a variable geometry assembly extending along the length of the wing and moveable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position, the variable geometry assembly at least partially covering the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans when in the forward thrust position and at least partially exposing the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans when in the vertical thrust position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Dominic Barone
  • Patent number: 11111858
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section defining a compressor exit temperature, T3. The gas turbine engine also includes a combustion section and a turbine section, with the turbine section defining a turbine inlet temperature, T4. A ratio, T4:T3, of the turbine inlet temperature, T4, to compressor exit temperature, T3, during operation of the gas turbine engine at a rated speed is less than or equal to 1.85.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Kurt David Murrow
  • Patent number: 11097849
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric fan of an aircraft propulsion system includes driving a plurality of fan blades of the electric fan with an electric machine to generate thrust for the aircraft; and driving the electric machine with the plurality of fan blades of the electric fan to generate electrical power subsequent to driving the plurality of fan blades of the electric fan with the electric machine to generate thrust for the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nikolai N. Pastouchenko, Randy M. Vondrell, Kurt David Murrow, Jixian Yao, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Narendra Digamber Joshi
  • Publication number: 20210249978
    Abstract: A turbomachine and method for operating a turbomachine comprising a first rotatable component and a second rotatable component each defining a rotatable speed mechanically independent of one another, and an electric machine electrically coupled to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component such that a load level relative to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component is adjustable is generally provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 11084595
    Abstract: An aircraft defining a vertical direction and a transverse direction. The aircraft may include a fuselage, a wing extending from the fuselage, and a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The hybrid-electric propulsion system may include a power source, a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans arranged along the wing and driven by the power source, and a forward thrust propulsor. The power source may include a combustion engine and an electric generator. The combustion engine may also define a flowpath for exhausting combustion gases. The forward thrust propulsor may be selectively or permanently mechanically coupled to the combustion engine. The forward thrust propulsor may include a propulsor fan having a plurality of fan blades arranged outside of the flowpath of the combustion engine for exhausting combustion gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kurt David Murrow
  • Patent number: 11053014
    Abstract: A method for operating a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft includes modifying a first variable component of a wing associated with a first portion of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans relative to a second variable component of the wing associated with a second portion of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans to adjust an exposure ratio of the first portion of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans relative to the second portion of the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Dominic Barone
  • Patent number: 11046428
    Abstract: A method for operating a propulsion system of an aircraft includes moving a plurality of forward and aft propulsors to a vertical thrust position. While in the vertical thrust positions, the method also includes providing a first forward to aft ratio of electric power to the plurality of forward and aft propulsors. The method also includes moving the plurality of forward and aft propulsors to a forward thrust position. While in the forward thrust positions, the method also includes providing a second forward to aft ratio of electric power to the plurality of forward and aft propulsors. The first forward to aft ratio of electric power is different than the second forward to aft ratio of electric power to provide certain efficiencies for the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Kurt David Murrow, Glenn Crabtree, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 11040779
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a propulsion system including a power source and a vertical thrust electric fan oriented to generate thrust along a vertical direction and powered by the power source; and a wing extending from the fuselage and including the vertical thrust electric fan positioned at least partially therein. The wing includes a variable geometry assembly having partial wing assembly, the partial wing assembly including a frame and a first member, the partial wing assembly moveable generally along a longitudinal direction when the variable geometry assembly is moved between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position, the first member moveable relative to the frame to form an exhaust path for the vertical thrust electric fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Dominic Barone
  • Patent number: 10998837
    Abstract: A turbomachine and method for operation turbomachine are provided, the method including adjusting a first load at a first electric machine operably coupled to a first rotatable component, in which the first electric machine is operably coupled to the first rotatable component such that a first speed of the first rotatable component is increased or decreased based on an engine condition and the first load; adjusting a second load at a second electric machine operably coupled to a second rotatable component, in which the second electric machine is operably coupled to the second rotatable component such that a second speed of the second rotatable component is decreased or increased based on the engine condition and the second load; and transferring energy generated from at least one of the first electric machine or the second electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 10822101
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a wing coupled to, and extending from, the fuselage; and a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The hybrid-electric propulsion system includes a power source including a combustion engine and an electric generator; a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans integrated into the wing and oriented to generate thrust along the vertical direction, the plurality of vertical thrust electric fans arranged along a length of the wing and driven by the power source; and a forward thrust propulsor. The forward thrust propulsor it is selectively or permanently mechanically coupled to the combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Randy M. Vondrell, Dominic Barone
  • Patent number: 10737797
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage; a wing coupled to, and extending from, the fuselage; and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a plurality of electric fans integrated into the wing and oriented to generate thrust along a vertical direction, the plurality of electric fans arranged along a length of the wing and including an outer-most electric fan along a transverse direction relative to the fuselage. The outer-most electric fan is at least one of a variable pitch fan or a variable speed fan to provide increased stability to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Dominic Barone
  • Publication number: 20200251970
    Abstract: An electric machine for a drive system having a first DS rotor and a second DS rotor includes a first EM rotor rotatable about an axis in a first circumferential direction and including a plurality of magnets, the first EM rotor configured for mechanical coupling to the first DS rotor; and a second EM rotor rotatable about the axis in a second circumferential direction and including a plurality of windings, the second EM rotor configured for mechanical coupling to the second DS rotor and the plurality of magnets of the first EM rotor operably engaged with the plurality of windings of the second EM rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Jia Xiaochuan, Kurt David Murrow
  • Publication number: 20200244199
    Abstract: A turbomachine and method for operating a turbomachine comprising a first rotatable component and a second rotatable component each defining a rotatable speed mechanically independent of one another, and an electric machine electrically coupled to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component such that a load level relative to the first rotatable component and the second rotatable component is adjustable is generally provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Kurt David Murrow, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 10720804
    Abstract: A permanent magnet machine and a rotor assembly for the permanent magnet machine. The permanent magnet machine includes a stator assembly including a stator core including a stator winding to produce electrical currents. The stator assembly extending along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The rotor assembly including a rotor core and a rotor shaft. The rotor core is disposed inside the stator cavity and rotates about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly including a plurality of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field which interacts with the stator winding to produce the electrical currents in response to rotation of the rotor assembly. within one or more cavities formed in a sleeve component. The sleeve component is configured to include a plurality of cavities or voids into which the permanent magnets are disposed to retain the permanent magnets therein and form an interior permanent magnet generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Narendra Digamber Joshi, Manoj Ramprasad Shah, James William Bray, Randy Marinus Vondrell, Kurt David Murrow, Jeffrey Anthony Hamel, Samuel Jacob Martin
  • Patent number: 10710735
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a propulsion system of a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the propulsion system including a turbomachine, an electric machine, a forward thrust propulsor, and a plurality of vertical thrust electric fans. The method includes driving the forward thrust propulsor with the turbomachine; rotating the electric machine with the turbomachine to generate electrical power; determining a failure condition of the turbomachine; and providing electrical power to the electric machine to drive the forward thrust propulsor with the electric machine in response to determining the failure condition of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kurt David Murrow