Patents by Inventor Matthew J. Starr

Matthew J. Starr 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: 11261795
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine. The system may comprise a gearbox, a first starter, and a second starter. The gearbox may have a gearbox input shaft. The gearbox may be coupled to the turbine engine. The gearbox input shaft may be rotatively coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The first starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The second starter may have a second-starter output shaft. The second-starter output shaft may be coaxial with the gearbox input shaft. The second starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft through the first starter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 11015532
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine is provided. The system may comprise a gearbox, an electric starter, and an air turbine starter. The gearbox may have a gearbox input shaft. The gearbox may be coupled to the turbine engine. The gearbox input shaft may be coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The electric starter may have an electric-starter shaft. The electric-starter shaft may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The air turbine starter may have an air-turbine-starter shaft. The air-turbine-starter shaft may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The electric-starter shaft and the air-turbine-starter shaft may be radially displaced, circumferentially displaced, or both radially and circumferentially displaced, with respective to an axis of the turbine engine, from one another. The electric starter may be a starter-generator connected alternatively between an auxiliary power source and an auxiliary load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 11008944
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine is provided. The system may comprise a gearbox, a first starter, and a second starter. The gearbox may have an gearbox input shaft. The gearbox input shaft may be rotationally coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The first starter may have a first-starter shaft. The second starter may have a second-starter shaft. The second-starter shaft may be coaxial with the first-starter shaft. The first starter and the second starter may each be coupled to the gearbox input shaft independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 11008945
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine is provided. The system may comprise an gearbox, and electric starter, and an air turbine starter. The gearbox may have a gearbox input shaft. The gearbox input shaft may be coupled to a turbine engine. The gearbox input shaft may be rotationally coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The electric starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The air turbine starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The electric starter and the air turbine starter may be separated by the gearbox. The electric starter may be a starter-generator connected alternatively between an auxiliary power source and an auxiliary load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 10634000
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an apparatus for controlling a vane comprises an actuator, a vane control rod, a guide pin disposed on the vane control rod, a sleeve disposed about the vane control rod, and at least one sleeve track disposed along an extent of the sleeve. Further in accordance with this aspect, the guide pin couples the vane control rod and the sleeve, and the actuator linearly moves the vane control rod through the sleeve in order to manipulate a position of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Skertic, Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20200123980
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine. The system may comprise a gearbox, a first starter, and a second starter. The gearbox may have a gearbox input shaft. The gearbox may be coupled to the turbine engine. The gearbox input shaft may be rotatively coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The first starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The second starter may have a second-starter output shaft. The second-starter output shaft may be coaxial with the gearbox input shaft. The second starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft through the first starter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20200123981
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine is provided. The system may comprise a gearbox, an electric starter, and an air turbine starter. The gearbox may have a gearbox input shaft. The gearbox may be coupled to the turbine engine. The gearbox input shaft may be coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The electric starter may have an electric-starter shaft. The electric-starter shaft may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The air turbine starter may have an air-turbine-starter shaft. The air-turbine-starter shaft may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The electric-starter shaft and the air-turbine-starter shaft may be radially displaced, circumferentially displaced, or both radially and circumferentially displaced, with respective to an axis of the turbine engine, from one another. The electric starter may be a starter-generator connected alternatively between an auxiliary power source and an auxiliary load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20200123982
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine is provided. The system may comprise an gearbox, and electric starter, and an air turbine starter. The gearbox may have a gearbox input shaft. The gearbox input shaft may be coupled to a turbine engine. The gearbox input shaft may be rotationally coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The electric starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The air turbine starter may be coupled to the gearbox input shaft. The electric starter and the air turbine starter may be separated by the gearbox. The electric starter may be a starter-generator connected alternatively between an auxiliary power source and an auxiliary load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20200123979
    Abstract: A system for starting a turbine engine is provided. The system may comprise a gearbox, a first starter, and a second starter. The gearbox may have an gearbox input shaft. The gearbox input shaft may be rotationally coupled to a spool of the turbine engine. The first starter may have a first-starter shaft. The second starter may have a second-starter shaft. The second-starter shaft may be coaxial with the first-starter shaft. The first starter and the second starter may each be coupled to the gearbox input shaft independently of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John Kusnierek, Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20180371938
    Abstract: According to one aspect, an apparatus for controlling a vane comprises an actuator, a vane control rod, a guide pin disposed on the vane control rod, a sleeve disposed about the vane control rod, and at least one sleeve track disposed along an extent of the sleeve. Further in accordance with this aspect, the guide pin couples the vane control rod and the sleeve, and the actuator linearly moves the vane control rod through the sleeve in order to manipulate a position of the vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Richard J. Skertic, Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 9624870
    Abstract: An adaptive fan system for a variable cycle turbofan engine having at least one turbine, includes a shaft structured to receive mechanical power from a turbine in the variable cycle turbofan engine and a first fan stage that is coupled directly to the shaft and is driven directly by the shaft. A transmission system is coupled to the shaft and a second fan stage is coupled to the shaft via the transmission system and is driven by the shaft via the transmission system. The transmission system is structured to selectively vary a speed between high and low speeds at which power is supplied from the shaft to the second fan stage relative to at least one of the shaft and the first fan stage, wherein the first fan stage and the second fan stage are configured to rotate in the same direction and at the same high speed to increase the mechanical power of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Ress, Jr., Steve Stratton, Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 8863529
    Abstract: A compressor of a gas turbine engine may have a bypass that routes a compressed air flow from within the compressor and directs the compressed air flow to a combustor. The bypass may have an inlet positioned just ahead of a downstream stage of the compressor and an outlet positioned to route the compressed air flow from the bypass to a diffuser or directly to a combustor. A valve may be used within the bypass and may be located near the inlet, near the outlet, or both. The valve may have the form of an annular sleeve in some embodiments and may be actuated with an actuator. The various arrangements allow for a compressor having a variable compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Starr
  • Patent number: 8596076
    Abstract: The present invention provides a variable pressure ratio gas turbine. In an embodiment, the engine is configured to selectively bypass all or a portion of a high pressure compressor and a high pressure turbine. In an embodiment, during bypass operation, all or a portion of the flow that would otherwise pass through the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine may be routed through a respective compressor bypass duct and turbine bypass duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Gritton, Matthew J. Starr, Theodore J. Fritsch
  • Publication number: 20130199156
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique variable cycle gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique adaptive fan system for a variable cycle turbofan engine having at least one turbine. Another embodiment is a unique method for operating a variable cycle gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and related systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventors: Robert A. Ress, JR., Steve Stratton, Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20100223903
    Abstract: A compressor of a gas turbine engine may have a bypass that routes a compressed air flow from within the compressor and directs the compressed air flow to a combustor. The bypass may have an inlet positioned just ahead of a downstream stage of the compressor and an outlet positioned to route the compressed air flow from the bypass to a diffuser or directly to a combustor. A valve may be used within the bypass and may be located near the inlet, near the outlet, or both. The valve may have the form of an annular sleeve in some embodiments and may be actuated with an actuator. The various arrangements allow for a compressor having a variable compression ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Matthew J. Starr
  • Publication number: 20090288628
    Abstract: A thrust-producing engine includes an engine structure, a rotor that is electrically isolated from the engine structure, and an electrical conductor connected to the engine structure. The electrical conductor is in electrical contact with the engine structure and the rotor as the rotor rotates relative to the electrical conductor and the engine structure to reduce electrical arcing between the engine structure and the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Oran A. Watts, III, Matthew J. Starr, Robert A. Ress, JR.