Patents by Inventor Mark Gregory Wotzak

Mark Gregory Wotzak 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: 20220106907
    Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a turbine engine with an annular frame about a centerline defining an axial direction, the annular frame formed from an inner frame wall and an outer frame wall disposed around and radially spaced from the inner frame wall to define an annular airflow passage between the inner and outer frame walls. The annular frame further includes at least two struts each extending between a root at the inner frame wall and a tip at the outer frame wall to define a span-wise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: William Joseph Bowden, David Vickery Parker, Mark Gregory Wotzak, Richard David Cedar
  • Publication number: 20210231052
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes, in a serial flow relationship, an axially oriented compressor, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. An air flowpath extends from an inlet duct to the exhaust section such that the compressor, combustion section, turbine, and the exhaust section are in fluid communication. The inlet duct is positioned upstream of the compressor and defines an inlet portion of the air flowpath. The inlet duct is generally radially oriented. A variable inlet guide vane extends at least partially through the inlet duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Miles D'Angelo, Mark Gregory Wotzak, Michael Macrorie
  • Patent number: 10836499
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a turbine engine to an aircraft can include an engine core for the turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section in flow arrangement. At least one strut couples to the engine core about a single mount plane. A structural wall at least partially defining a mainstream flow path couples to the at least one strut and passes through the compressor section and the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Arthur Gould, Martin Miles D'Angelo, Daniel Waslo, Brian Lewis Devendorf, Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 10823080
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including an engine shaft rotatable with at least one of a fan section, a compressor section, or a turbine section, and an accessory gearbox assembly including a towershaft, a first gearbox, a torque transfer assembly, and a second gearbox. The towershaft is rotatable with the engine shaft and extended therefrom and mechanically coupled to the first gearbox. The first gearbox transmits mechanical energy from the engine shaft via a first shaft defining a first end and a second end. The first shaft extends at the first end from the first gearbox and through the torque transfer assembly and coupled thereto. The first shaft extends from the torque transfer assembly to the second gearbox at the second end and is coupled thereto. The first gearbox and the second gearbox each are coupled to one or more gearbox accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 10823061
    Abstract: An annular air inlet duct circumscribing an axis of rotation of a rotatable member of a machine comprising a forward end and an aft end is described. The air inlet duct includes an unheated wall and a heated wall adjacent to a heat source. The heated wall includes a plurality of axially-spaced wall panels forming a cavity between each of a pair of adjacent wall panels of the plurality of axially-spaced wall panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 10563530
    Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly including first and second or forward and aft carbon face seal rings supported on an annular housing and having first and second seal faces facing in opposite directions. Forward and aft springs operably disposed between housing and carbon face seal rings for biasing or urging carbon face seal rings in opposite directions. Annular forward and aft carriers mounted on and supported by annular housing and supporting carbon face seal rings. Forward and aft springs operably disposed between housing and the forward and aft carriers respectively. The springs may be wave springs. Inner and outer secondary seals may include inner and outer O rings disposed in annular inner and outer grooves in annular inner and outer surfaces in housing respectively and in sealing engagement with the forward and aft carriers. Carriers may be integral with carbon face seal rings in monolithic combined seal and carrier elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 10287977
    Abstract: An in-line propeller gearbox of a turboprop gas turbine engine includes an epicyclic gearing arrangement that has a sun gear, a ring gear and at least one planet gear disposed between and meshing with both the sun gear and the ring gear. The propeller gearbox includes a disk brake that can be operated to slow down or stop altogether the rotation of the propeller. The disk brake has an axially extending shaft having at one end a disk and at the opposite end a gear having teeth that engage with one of the gears in the epicyclic gearing arrangement. The disk brake includes a hydraulic caliper or an electric caliper that can be actuated to slow down rotation of the disk to an eventual full stop and to hold the disk at full stop to thereby stop rotation of the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gregory Wotzak, Daniel Waslo
  • Publication number: 20190107046
    Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a turbine engine with an annular frame about a centerline defining an axial direction, the annular frame formed from an inner frame wall and an outer frame wall disposed around and radially spaced from the inner frame wall to define an annular airflow passage between the inner and outer frame walls. The annular frame further includes at least two struts each extending between a root at the inner frame wall and a tip at the outer frame wall to define a span-wise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: William Joseph Bowden, David Vickery Parker, Mark Gregory Wotzak, Richard David Cedar
  • Patent number: 10221766
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a sump housing for a gas turbine engine. The sump housing includes a base portion and a first wall extending outwardly from the base portion. The first wall and the base portion at least partially define an inner chamber. A second wall is positioned outwardly from the first wall and extends outwardly from the base portion. The base portion, the first wall, and the second wall at least partially define an outer chamber positioned outwardly from the inner chamber. A projection extending inwardly from the first wall engages a bearing assembly. The base portion, the first wall, the second wall, and the projection are integrally coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Publication number: 20190061965
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a turbine engine to an aircraft can include an engine core for the turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section in flow arrangement. At least one strut couples to the engine core about a single mount plane. A structural wall at least partially defining a mainstream flow path couples to the at least one strut and passes through the compressor section and the turbine section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth Arthur Gould, Martin Miles D'Angelo, Daniel Waslo, Brian Lewis Devendorf, Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Publication number: 20180347471
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including an engine shaft rotatable with at least one of a fan section, a compressor section, or a turbine section, and an accessory gearbox assembly including a towershaft, a first gearbox, a torque transfer assembly, and a second gearbox. The towershaft is rotatable with the engine shaft and extended therefrom and mechanically coupled to the first gearbox. The first gearbox transmits mechanical energy from the engine shaft via a first shaft defining a first end and a second end. The first shaft extends at the first end from the first gearbox and through the torque transfer assembly and coupled thereto. The first shaft extends from the torque transfer assembly to the second gearbox at the second end and is coupled thereto. The first gearbox and the second gearbox each are coupled to one or more gearbox accessories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 10072582
    Abstract: An in-line propeller gearbox of a turboprop gas turbine engine includes a lubricant reservoir disposed spaced radially offset from the engine's central axis of rotation and asymmetrically with respect to the central axis of rotation such that the central axis of rotation does not extend through the lubricant reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Publication number: 20180216527
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes, in a serial flow relationship, an axially oriented compressor, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. An air flowpath extends from an inlet duct to the exhaust section such that the compressor, combustion section, turbine, and the exhaust section are in fluid communication. The inlet duct is positioned upstream of the compressor and defines an inlet portion of the air flowpath. The inlet duct is generally radially oriented. A variable inlet guide vane extends at least partially through the inlet duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Miles D'Angelo, Mark Gregory Wotzak, Michael Macrorie
  • Patent number: 9890846
    Abstract: A gearbox vent apparatus includes: a gearbox; an accessory contained in a case mounted to the gearbox such than an interior space of the case communicates with an interior space of the gearbox, wherein the case includes a sidewall and an endwall, a hollow drive shaft mounted for rotation inside the case; an annular first seal element mounted to the drive shaft; an annular second seal element mounted to the case and contacting the first seal element so as to define a sealing interface; and a vent tube having a forward end coupled to the endwall in fluid communication with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Gregory Wotzak, Duane Howard Anstead, Bojan Lukovic, James John Luz, Thomas Charles McCarthy, Keith Beatty
  • Publication number: 20180016982
    Abstract: An annular air inlet duct circumscribing an axis of rotation of a rotatable member of a machine comprising a forward end and an aft end is described. The air inlet duct includes an unheated wall and a heated wall adjacent to a heat source. The heated wall includes a plurality of axially-spaced wall panels forming a cavity between each of a pair of adjacent wall panels of the plurality of axially-spaced wall panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 9869198
    Abstract: An intershaft integrated seal and lock-nut assembly includes spaced apart forward and aft shafts, forward lock-nut threaded onto aft end of forward shaft, aft lock-nut threaded onto a forward end of aft shaft, and seal ring sealingly engaging and disposed between forward and aft lock-nuts operable to seal annular gap between forward and aft shafts. Seal ring may be disposed in annular ring groove extending radially inwardly into one of forward and aft lock-nuts and annular cylindrical inner surface on other one of lock-nuts operable to seal against seal ring. Seal ring may be carbon seal ring and split. Aft lock-nut may include forwardly extending annular arm having annular cylindrical inner surface. Retention tabbed rings may engage lock-nuts and shafts and snap rings may engage retention tabbed rings and lock-nuts. Seal ring may be in ring groove in aft lock-nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Publication number: 20170314474
    Abstract: An in-line propeller gearbox of a turboprop gas turbine engine includes a lubricant reservoir disposed spaced radially offset from the engine's central axis of rotation and asymmetrically with respect to the central axis of rotation such that the central axis of rotation does not extend through the lubricant reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Publication number: 20170314468
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a sump housing for a gas turbine engine. The sump housing includes a base portion and a first wall extending outwardly from the base portion. The first wall and the base portion at least partially define an inner chamber. A second wall is positioned outwardly from the first wall and extends outwardly from the base portion. The base portion, the first wall, and the second wall at least partially define an outer chamber positioned outwardly from the inner chamber. A projection extending inwardly from the first wall engages a bearing assembly. The base portion, the first wall, the second wall, and the projection are integrally coupled together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Publication number: 20170234217
    Abstract: An in-line propeller gearbox of a turboprop gas turbine engine includes an epicyclic gearing arrangement that has a sun gear, a ring gear and at least one planet gear disposed between and meshing with both the sun gear and the ring gear. The propeller gearbox includes a disk brake that can be operated to slow down or stop altogether the rotation of the propeller. The disk brake has an axially extending shaft having at one end a disk and at the opposite end a gear having teeth that engage with one of the gears in the epicyclic gearing arrangement. The disk brake includes an hydraulic caliper or an electric caliper that can be actuated to slow down rotation of the disk to an eventual full stop and to hold the disk at full stop to thereby stop rotation of the propeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Mark Gregory Wotzak, Daniel Waslo
  • Patent number: 9657646
    Abstract: A driveshaft vessel assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The driveshaft vessel assembly comprises a driveshaft vessel and an outlet guide vane. The driveshaft vessel includes a forward face, an aft face, and opposing side faces and is configured to house at least a portion of a radial driveshaft. The outlet guide vane includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. The length of the trailing edge is substantially equal to a length of the forward face of the driveshaft vessel such that the trailing edge of the outlet guide vane is faired into the forward face of the driveshaft vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Mark Gregory Wotzak