Patents by Inventor Nicholas Joseph Kray

Nicholas Joseph Kray 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: 11753942
    Abstract: An airfoil for gas turbine engines is generally provided. The airfoil defines a span extending between a root and a tip, the airfoil further defines a chord at each point along the span extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Further, the airfoil includes at least one frangible airfoil portion, a residual airfoil portion adjacent to the at least one frangible airfoil portion, and one or more zones. The one or more zones may include a plurality of cavities, where at least one or more cavities of the plurality of cavities include inclusions, with the inclusions having one or more materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Kirti Arvind Petkar, Viswanadha Gupta Sakala, Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Patent number: 11719103
    Abstract: Composite components, such as gas turbine engine airfoils, and methods of forming composite components are provided. For example, a composite component of a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of continuous fiber layers, each continuous fiber layer formed from a plurality of continuous fibers disposed in a matrix material, and a chopped fiber layer comprising a plurality of chopped fibers formed as a filmed sheet. The chopped fiber layer is laid up with the plurality of continuous fiber layers to form the composite component. A method for forming a composite component comprises laying up a plurality of continuous fiber layers, each continuous fiber layer comprising continuous fibers disposed in a matrix material; laying up a chopped fiber layer with the plurality of continuous fiber layers, the layup of the plurality of continuous fiber layers and the chopped fiber layer forming a reinforced layup; and curing the reinforced layup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abhijit Roy, Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Publication number: 20230228198
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine. The component includes a continuous fiber blade including an airfoil extending radially between a root and a tip and a blade attachment feature positioned at or adjacent to the root. The component further includes a platform coupled to the root of the continuous fiber blade. The platform includes a plurality of chopped fibers. Additionally, the component includes a thermoplastic polymer contained in both the continuous fiber blade and the platform. Moreover, the continuous fiber blade and platform are coupled together such that the continuous fiber blade and platform form a monolithic composite body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Gregory Carl Gemeinhardt, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Andreas Mastorakis
  • Patent number: 11702940
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture corresponding to a fan blade with intrinsic damping characteristics are disclosed. An example fan blade comprises an exterior body including a first side and a second side; a first hairpin structure in contact with (a) the first side of the exterior body and (b) the second side of the exterior body; and a second hairpin structure in contact with (a) the first side and (b) the second side, wherein the first hairpin structure and the second hairpin structure are made from different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Viswanadha Gupta Sakala, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Ambika Shivamurthy, Kirti Arvind Petkar
  • Patent number: 11697996
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to adjust a pitch axis of a blade of an engine. An example blade apparatus includes: a hub to facilitate movement of blades in an engine, the engine having a radial center line; and a trunnion connected to the hub. The example trunnion includes a slot to accommodate a first blade, and at least one of the trunnion or the first blade is positioned with at least one of a tilt or a lean with respect to the radial center line to form a pitch axis offset from the radial center line such that the pitch axis is not parallel to or co-linear with the radial center line. The example hub is to rotate the first blade about the pitch axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Ian F. Prentice
  • Patent number: 11692444
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil section and a root section extending along a longitudinal direction between an upstream surface and a downstream surface. The root section further extends along a radial direction between an inner surface positioned at an inner end of the root section and an outer end coupled to the airfoil section. Moreover, the root section extends along a circumferential direction between a first side surface and a second side surface. Furthermore, the root section defines a longitudinal centerline extending along the longitudinal direction and positioned equidistant from the inner surface and the outer end in the radial direction. The root section includes a first portion formed from a composite material and a second portion formed from a metallic material, with the longitudinal centerline extending through the second portion of the root section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Nitesh Jain
  • Patent number: 11674397
    Abstract: A variable stiffness damper system including an inner spring positioned between a first wall and a second wall, in which the inner spring includes a first member and a second member each coupled together at a distal end by an inner bumper. The first member and the second member are each contoured toward one another. The first member, the second member, and the inner bumper form a cavity therebetween. An outer spring is positioned between the inner spring and the first wall or the second wall. The outer spring includes a spring arm contoured toward the inner spring. The outer spring includes an outer bumper positioned between the inner bumper and the first wall or the second wall. The inner bumper and the outer bumper are selectively couplable to one another based on a load applied to the damper system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Praveen Sharma, Naleen Kumar Verma, Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Patent number: 11674399
    Abstract: An airfoil arrangement for a gas turbine engine may include a support device using a shape memory alloy to support and control the airfoil. The support device may be formed as part of a fan blade. The arrangement may be configured to reduce overall weight and dimensions of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Praveen Sharma, Abhijeet Jayshingrao Yadav, Nitesh Jain, Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Patent number: 11674395
    Abstract: A rotor disk for a gas turbine engine includes a disk body having a central bore extending therethrough. The disk body includes a bore body that extends around the central bore, a web that extends radially outward from the bore body having decreased thickness relative to the bore body and a peripheral rim that is located at an outer end of the web. The peripheral rim includes blade mounting structures for engaging complementary mounting structures of rotor blades. The bore body has a bore cavity that extends continuously through the bore body and about an entire periphery of the central bore. The bore cavity has a central axis that forms a circle about the central bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Nitesh Jain
  • Publication number: 20230175407
    Abstract: A system for an outlet guide vane assembly and method of assembly thereof are provided herein. The outlet guide vane assembly generally includes a composite outlet guide vane that includes a monolithic body extending in an axial direction from a base to a top, as well as an anchor bracket. At least one of the base and the top includes a bulbous profile having a thickness in a radial direction that is greater than a thickness of the monolithic body in the radial direction, where the radial direction is orthogonal to the axial direction. The anchor bracket generally includes an anchor base, an engagement slot, and at least one side structure defining the engagement slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Changjie Sun
  • Patent number: 11668317
    Abstract: An airfoil arrangement for a gas turbine engine may include a clearance device using a shape memory alloy movable to provide clearance between an airfoil and one or more other components of the gas turbine engine. The clearance device may be formed as part of a fan blade. The arrangement may be configured to reduce overall weight and dimensions of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abhijeet Jayshingrao Yadav, Nitesh Jain, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Praveen Sharma
  • Publication number: 20230160307
    Abstract: Morphable rotor blades for a turbine engine systems include a root portion and an airfoil portion having a morphable portion including a morphable material that changes shape in response to a stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Scott Roger Finn
  • Patent number: 11655828
    Abstract: An airfoil for a fan section of a turbine engine may include a fan blade or an outlet guide vane, and an edge guard attached thereto. The edge guard may include a heating conduit disposed within at least a portion of the edge guard. An anti-icing system for a plurality of fan blades or outlet guide vanes may include a fluid supply pathway configured to supply heating fluid to respective ones of a plurality of heating conduits within the edge guards attached to respective ones of a plurality of fan blades and/or to a plurality of outlet guide vanes. The heating fluid may include bleed air from a core air flowpath. A method of inhibiting icing on an airfoil may include flowing a heating fluid into a heating conduit disposed within an edge guard attached to the airfoil and heating the edge guard with the heating fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Changjie Sun
  • Publication number: 20230128806
    Abstract: An airfoil for a fan section of a turbine engine may include a fan blade or an outlet guide vane formed of a first material, and an edge guard disposed about an edge of the fan blade. The edge guard may include a matrix composite that has a toughness that is greater than a toughness of the first material. The airfoil may include a fan blade or an outlet guide vane. The first material of the airfoil may include a metal alloy and/or a matrix composite. A method of manufacturing an airfoil for a fan section of a turbine engine may include manufacturing an edge guard, attaching the edge guard to the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Changjie Sun
  • Publication number: 20230126549
    Abstract: An airfoil for a fan section of a turbine engine may include a fan blade or an outlet guide vane, and an edge guard attached thereto. The edge guard may include a heating conduit disposed within at least a portion of the edge guard. An anti-icing system for a plurality of fan blades or outlet guide vanes may include a fluid supply pathway configured to supply heating fluid to respective ones of a plurality of heating conduits within the edge guards attached to respective ones of a plurality of fan blades and/or to a plurality of outlet guide vanes. The heating fluid may include bleed air from a core air flowpath. A method of inhibiting icing on an airfoil may include flowing a heating fluid into a heating conduit disposed within an edge guard attached to the airfoil and heating the edge guard with the heating fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Changjie Sun
  • Patent number: 11624320
    Abstract: A booster splitter for a gas turbine engine and a method of additively manufacturing the booster splitter are provided. The booster splitter includes an annular inner wall defining a radially outer boundary of a compressor flow path defined through a compressor section of the gas turbine engine, an annular outer wall spaced apart from the annular inner wall along the radial direction, the annular outer wall adjacent to the annular inner wall at a forward end, the forward end defining an inlet to the compressor flow path, an annular bulkhead spanning between the annular inner wall and the annular outer wall substantially along the radial direction, the bulkhead defining an inlet port, and a passageway defined within the annular outer wall, the passageway extending from the inlet port, into the bulkhead, radially outward to the outer wall, and through the annular outer wall towards the inlet defined by the forward end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Sreekanth Kumar Dorbala, Nitesh Jain, Prashant Sharma
  • Publication number: 20230036022
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a gas turbine engine is provided. The rotor blade includes a blade body formed of a first material; and a spar within a portion of the blade body, the spar formed of a second material that is different than the first material, the spar having an elongate body including a notch. The notch, weakened geometric feature, or other reduction in cross-section defines a frangible portion of the spar that is used to control a fracture of a rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Nitesh Jain
  • Publication number: 20230029918
    Abstract: An airfoil including a plurality of composite plies extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge and between a tip and a root. The airfoil further includes a frangible airfoil portion at the tip extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extending between the tip and a frangible line along a span. The frangible airfoil portion including a plurality of composite plies and one or more shape memory alloy inserts disposed between the plurality of composite plies. A gas turbine engine including a frangible airfoil and methods for forming a frangible airfoil are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Abhijeet Jayshingrao Yadav, Nitesh Jain, Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Publication number: 20230020608
    Abstract: A fan platform for gas turbine engine is provided. The fan platform incudes a body portion and a flow path surface coupled to the body portion. The body portion and the flow path surface define at least a portion of a flow path extending through the engine. The body portion and/or the flow path surface include an impact region including hybrid composite plies including one or more metallic tows. A gas turbine engine including the fan platform and methods for forming the fan platform are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Nitesh Jain, Raghuveer Chinta, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Wendy Wenling Lin
  • Publication number: 20230008935
    Abstract: An airfoil arrangement for a gas turbine engine may include a clearance device using a shape memory alloy movable to provide clearance between an airfoil and one or more other components of the gas turbine engine. The clearance device may be formed as part of a fan blade. The arrangement may be configured to reduce overall weight and dimensions of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Abhijeet Jayshingrao Yadav, Nitesh Jain, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Praveen Sharma