Patents by Inventor Michael F. Blair

Michael F. Blair 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: 11085325
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a heat source, a heat exchanger, a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The heat source includes a first passage. The heat exchanger includes a second passage and a third passage. The first and the second passages are configured in a closed loop circuit. The third passage is configured between the inlet and the outlet in an open loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Blair, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Patent number: 10480326
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vane stage for a variable area turbine, comprising vane platforms comprising a first vane platform and a second vane platform, one of the vane platforms being a radial inner vane platform and another of the vane platforms being a radial outer vane platform, and a space therebetween defining an air flowpath; a primary vane body secured at opposing radial ends to the first vane platform and the second vane platform, a secondary vane body movably secured at the first vane platform, the secondary vane body being movable between a stowed position, wherein the secondary vane body is outside of the air flow path, and a deployed position, wherein the secondary vane body is extended between the plurality of vane platforms to form a vane trailing edge extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Candelori, Michael F. Blair
  • Publication number: 20190078440
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vane stage for a variable area turbine, comprising vane platforms comprising a first vane platform and a second vane platform, one of the vane platforms being a radial inner vane platform and another of the vane platforms being a radial outer vane platform, and a space therebetween defining an air flowpath; a primary vane body secured at opposing radial ends to the first vane platform and the second vane platform, a secondary vane body movably secured at the first vane platform, the secondary vane body being movable between a stowed position, wherein the secondary vane body is outside of the air flow path, and a deployed position, wherein the secondary vane body is extended between the plurality of vane platforms to form a vane trailing edge extension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: David J. Candelori, Michael F. Blair
  • Patent number: 10156359
    Abstract: A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a wall and a vascular engineered lattice structure formed inside of the wall. The vascular engineered lattice structure includes at least one of a hollow vascular structure and a solid vascular structure configured to communicate fluid through the vascular engineered lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Joel H. Wagner, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Michael F. Blair, Thomas N. Slavens, Dominic J. Mongillo
  • Publication number: 20180320548
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a heat source, a heat exchanger, a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The heat source includes a first passage. The heat exchanger includes a second passage and a third passage. The first and the second passages are configured in a closed loop circuit. The third passage is configured between the inlet and the outlet in an open loop circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael F. Blair, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Patent number: 10047631
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a heat source, a heat exchanger, a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The heat source includes a first passage. The heat exchanger includes a second passage and a third passage. The first and the second passages are configured in a closed loop circuit. The third passage is configured between the inlet and the outlet in an open loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Blair, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Publication number: 20170314415
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a heat source, a heat exchanger, a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The heat source includes a first passage. The heat exchanger includes a second passage and a third passage. The first and the second passages are configured in a closed loop circuit. The third passage is configured between the inlet and the outlet in an open loop circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Michael F. Blair, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Patent number: 9739171
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a heat source, a heat exchanger, a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The heat source includes a first passage. The heat exchanger includes a second passage and a third passage. The first and the second passages are configured in a closed loop circuit. The third passage is configured between the inlet and the outlet in an open loop circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Blair, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Publication number: 20150345396
    Abstract: A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a wall and a vascular engineered lattice structure formed inside of the wall. The vascular engineered lattice structure includes at least one of a hollow vascular structure and a solid vascular structure configured to communicate fluid through the vascular engineered lattice structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Mark F. ZELESKY, Joel H. WAGNER, Tracy A. PROPHETER-HINCKLEY, Michael F. BLAIR, Thomas N. SLAVENS, Dominic J. MONGILLO
  • Publication number: 20150227677
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine design process includes the steps of determining the location of a hot streak downstream of a combustor nozzle, and determining whether it would be most beneficial to have the hot streak initially impact a pressure side of a first static turbine vane or whether it would be more beneficial to have it impact a suction side. A location is designed for the first static turbine vane such that the hot streak will impact the more beneficial side of the first static turbine vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair
  • Patent number: 8973374
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a turbine section operative to impart rotational energy to a compressor section. The turbine section includes at least a low-pressure turbine and a high-pressure turbine, and a number of stages in the low pressure turbine is from three to five.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20140140829
    Abstract: A turbine engine system includes a heat source, a heat exchanger, a cooling medium inlet and a cooling medium outlet. The heat source includes a first passage. The heat exchanger includes a second passage and a third passage. The first and the second passages are configured in a closed loop circuit. The third passage is configured between the inlet and the outlet in an open loop circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Blair, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Mark F. Zelesky
  • Patent number: 8516793
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and related methods involving vane-blade count ratios greater than unity are provided. In this regard, a representative turbine stage for a gas turbine engine includes a first set of rotatable blades operative to be positioned downstream of and adjacent to a first set of vanes, a number of blades of the first set of blades being less than a number of vanes of the first set of vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair
  • Patent number: 8468797
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a turbine section operative to impart rotational energy to a compressor section. The turbine section includes at least a low-pressure turbine and a high-pressure turbine, and a ratio of a number of stages in the low-pressure turbine to a number of stages in the high-pressure turbine is 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair
  • Publication number: 20120174593
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a turbine section operative to impart rotational energy to a compressor section. The turbine section includes at least a low-pressure turbine and a high-pressure turbine, and a number of stages in the low pressure turbine is from three to five.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20120117975
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a turbine section operative to impart rotational energy to a compressor section. The turbine section includes at least a low-pressure turbine and a high-pressure turbine, and a ratio of a number of stages in the low-pressure turbine to a number of stages in the high-pressure turbine is 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair
  • Patent number: 8105030
    Abstract: Cooled airfoils and gas turbine engine systems involving such airfoils are provided. In this regard, a representative cooled airfoil includes: an exterior surface defining a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side and a pressure side; an interior surface defining an interior cavity; trenches in the exterior surface oriented spanwise along the leading edge; and cooling holes communicating between the interior cavity and the trenches such that cooling air provided to the interior cavity flows from the interior cavity though the cooling holes into the trenches, the cooling holes having exterior apertures located in the trenches and interior apertures located at the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William Abdel-Messeh, Michael F. Blair, Atul Kohli, Justin D. Piggush
  • Patent number: 8066052
    Abstract: A casting includes a wall thickness check feature for measuring thickness of a wall second aside an in-wall cooling passageway. The thickness is determined by observing the existence and/or size of an opening formed by the feature. The casting is cast from a pattern including portions forming the feature. To manufacture the pattern, a pattern-forming die is assembled with a ceramic feedcore and a refractory metal core (RMC). The assembling leaves an inlet portion of the RMC engaged to the ceramic feedcore and leaves an outlet portion of the RMC engaged to the die. A pattern-forming material is molded in the die at least partially over the ceramic feedcore and RMC. The die is disengaged from the pattern-forming material. The assembling engages a stepped projection of the RMC with a mating surface of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael F. Blair
  • Publication number: 20110247343
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and related methods involving vane-blade count ratios greater than unity are provided. In this regard, a representative turbine stage for a gas turbine engine includes a first set of rotatable blades operative to be positioned downstream of and adjacent to a first set of vanes, a number of blades of the first set of blades being less than a number of vanes of the first set of vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair
  • Patent number: 7984607
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems and related methods involving vane-blade count ratios greater than unity are provided. In this regard, a representative turbine stage for a gas turbine engine includes a first set of rotatable blades operative to be positioned downstream of and adjacent to a first set of vanes, a number of blades of the first set of blades being less than a number of vanes of the first set of vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Om P. Sharma, Michael F. Blair