Patents by Inventor Michael C. Firnhaber

Michael C. Firnhaber 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: 11933219
    Abstract: A stator configuration for a gas turbine engine including: a splitter segment, the splitter segment extending from a forward end to a rearward end; a forward most first stator extending radially outwardly from the splitter segment, the forward most first stator being completely located downstream from the forward end of the splitter segment; and a forward most second stator extending radially inwardly from the splitter segment, the splitter segment, the forward most first stator and the forward most second stator being formed as a single, integrally formed structure, the forward most first stator positioned closer to the forward end relative to a distance between the forward most second stator and the forward end and the forward most second stator positioned closer to the rearward end relative to a distance between the forward most first stator and the rearward end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Colin G. Amadon, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Publication number: 20240052779
    Abstract: A stator configuration for a gas turbine engine including: a splitter segment, the splitter segment extending from a forward end to a rearward end, the splitter segment being configured to split an incoming fluid flow into a first, radially outer stream and a second, radially inner stream; a forward most first stator extending radially outwardly from the splitter segment, the forward most first stator being completely located downstream from the forward end of the splitter segment; a forward most second stator extending radially inwardly from the splitter segment, the splitter segment, the forward most first stator and the forward most second stator being formed as a single, integrally formed structure, the forward most first stator positioned closer to the forward end relative to a distance between the forward most second stator and the forward end and the forward most second stator positioned closer to the rearward end relative to a distance between the forward most first stator and the rearward end, wherei
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Colin G. Amadon, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Publication number: 20230123950
    Abstract: A stator configuration for a gas turbine engine including: a splitter segment, the splitter segment extending from a forward end to a rearward end; a forward most first stator extending radially outwardly from the splitter segment, the forward most first stator being completely located downstream from the forward end of the splitter segment; and a forward most second stator extending radially inwardly from the splitter segment, the splitter segment, the forward most first stator and the forward most second stator being formed as a single, integrally formed structure, the forward most first stator positioned closer to the forward end relative to a distance between the forward most second stator and the forward end and the forward most second stator positioned closer to the rearward end relative to a distance between the forward most first stator and the rearward end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Colin G. Amadon, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Patent number: 11401862
    Abstract: A stator configuration for a gas turbine engine including a splitter segment. Also included is a first stator extending radially outwardly from the splitter segment. Further included is a second stator extending radially inwardly from the splitter segment, the splitter segment, the first stator and the second stator being a single, integrally formed structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Colin G. Amadon, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Patent number: 10781707
    Abstract: A vane stage includes a ringcase extending circumferentially about a center axis of the vane stage. The ringcase extends completely about the center axis to form a first ring. An inner shroud extends circumferentially about the center axis of the vane stage. The inner shroud extends completely about the center axis to form a second ring positioned radially within the ringcase relative the center axis. A plurality of stationary half vanes extend radially between the ringcase and the inner shroud, and are circumferentially spaced about the center axis. The plurality of stationary half vanes are integral with the ringcase and the inner shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Dyer, Zachary J. Jeske, Michael Ronan, Matthew E. Bintz, John P. Tirone, Scott Gammons, Michael C. Firnhaber, Mark E. Simonds
  • Publication number: 20200088046
    Abstract: A vane stage includes a ringcase extending circumferentially about a center axis of the vane stage. The ringcase extends completely about the center axis to form a first ring. An inner shroud extends circumferentially about the center axis of the vane stage. The inner shroud extends completely about the center axis to form a second ring positioned radially within the ringcase relative the center axis. A plurality of stationary half vanes extend radially between the ringcase and the inner shroud, and are circumferentially spaced about the center axis. The plurality of stationary half vanes are integral with the ringcase and the inner shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: David M. Dyer, Zachary J. Jeske, Michael Ronan, Matthew E. Bintz, John P. Tirone, Scott Gammons, Michael C. Firnhaber, Mark E. Simonds
  • Publication number: 20200025077
    Abstract: A stator configuration for a gas turbine engine including a splitter segment. Also included is a first stator extending radially outwardly from the splitter segment. Further included is a second stator extending radially inwardly from the splitter segment, the splitter segment, the first stator and the second stator being a single, integrally formed structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Colin G. Amadon, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Patent number: 10436050
    Abstract: An inlet section for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an outer case extending about a rotor that is rotatable about an engine axis. The rotor carries a plurality of airfoils. A plurality of guide vanes are operable to guide flow from an engine inlet toward the plurality of airfoils relative to the engine axis. A plurality of spokes are mechanically attached to the outer case. Each of the plurality of spokes is received in a respective one of the plurality of guide vanes, and at least one of the plurality of spokes define a fluid passage in flow communication with a bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor G. Filipenco, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Publication number: 20180291753
    Abstract: An inlet section for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an outer case extending about a rotor that is rotatable about an engine axis. The rotor carries a plurality of airfoils. A plurality of guide vanes are operable to guide flow from an engine inlet toward the plurality of airfoils relative to the engine axis. A plurality of spokes are mechanically attached to the outer case. Each of the plurality of spokes is received in a respective one of the plurality of guide vanes, and at least one of the plurality of spokes define a fluid passage in flow communication with a bearing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Victor G. Filipenco, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Patent number: 9789636
    Abstract: Airfoils (12) are molded of material (28), such as silicon rubber, which is fluent during molding, becoming solid and compliant at temperatures of use, with rigidly fixed vanes (25) and rotatable vanes (26), as inserts which are co-molded within the airfoil. The inserts are pre-prepared of either stiff or semi-stiff material to suit the intended needs of the airfoil. Then, with inserts in place within a mold, the airfoil is molded of compliant material. At least one of the inserts (26) is rotatable so as to force at least some portion of the compliant airfoil to alter camber, the compliant material between the inserts smoothing out the surface of the airfoil. The airfoils thus molded are then inserted between the inner hub (18) and the outer ring (22) of the rotary machine in which a fan or compressor is being constructed. Rods of the movable vanes extend to a unison ring connected (32) to rotate the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael C Firnhaber
  • Patent number: 9617864
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a guide vane assembly including a first airfoil, including a first airfoil trailing edge, a second airfoil, including a second airfoil leading edge, positioned aft the first airfoil to create a gap therebetween, and a seal assembly disposed within the gap to engage the first airfoil trailing edge and the second airfoil leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael C. Firnhaber, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Publication number: 20160017739
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a guide vane assembly including a first airfoil, including a first airfoil trailing edge, a second airfoil, including a second airfoil leading edge, positioned aft the first airfoil to create a gap therebetween, and a seal assembly disposed within the gap to engage the first airfoil trailing edge and the second airfoil leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Michael C. Firnhaber, Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Patent number: 9181877
    Abstract: A seal is positioned radially outwardly of a compressor blade. The seal has a seal hook facing in a downstream direction. A seal mount has a mount hook for receiving the seal hook in a gap. The hook face in an upstream direction. The seal mount has an upstream portion extending from an upstream end into the gap. The mount hook extends into a web which extends in a downstream direction. A thermal barrier coating on the upstream portion of the seal mount extends to a downstream end. There is a thermal barrier coating on a radially inner surface of the mount hook, and along the web to a downstream coating end. An upstream end of the coating on the inner surface of the hook being formed axially upstream of the downstream end of the coating on the upstream portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brittany Travis, Fadi S. Maalouf, Michael C. Firnhaber
  • Publication number: 20150159501
    Abstract: Airfoils (12) are molded of material (28), such as silicon rubber, which is fluent during molding, becoming solid and compliant at temperatures of use, with rigidly fixed vanes (25) and rotatable vanes (26), as inserts which are co-molded within the airfoil. The inserts are pre-prepared of either stiff or semi-stiff material to suit the intended needs of the airfoil. Then, with inserts in place within a mold, the airfoil is molded of compliant material. At least one of the inserts (26) is rotatable so as to force at least some portion of the compliant airfoil to alter camber, the compliant material between the inserts smoothing out the surface of the airfoil. The airfoils thus molded are then inserted between the inner hub (18) and the outer ring (22) of the rotary machine in which a fan or compressor is being constructed. Rods of the movable vanes extend to a unison ring connected (32) to rotate the vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventor: Michael C. Firnhaber