Patents by Inventor Okey Kwon

Okey Kwon 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: 10196904
    Abstract: An airfoil may include a spar comprising a passageway inside of the spar for a cooling fluid, a pedestal on an outer surface of the spar, and an inlet configured to direct the cooling fluid from the passageway to the outer surface of the spar. The airfoil may further include a coversheet, wherein an inner surface of the coversheet is positioned on the pedestal of the spar and an edge of the coversheet is positioned along an end of the spar. The inner surface of the coversheet, the pedestal, and the outer surface of the spar may define a cooling path from the inlet to an outlet at the edge of the coversheet. The outlet at the edge of the coversheet may be configured to direct cooling fluid onto the end of the spar, onto a footing, and/or onto a fillet positioned along an intersection of the footing and the spar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tab M. Heffernan, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Okey Kwon
  • Patent number: 10190418
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique turbine blade for a gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and turbine blades for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Okey Kwon
  • Patent number: 9982541
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine flow path member is disclosed which includes an extending end portion capable of contacting a surface of the turbine engine. The flow path member includes openings to pass a cooling fluid to cool the extending end portion. The flow path member, furthermore, can be made using a variety of approaches. To set forth just two non-limiting examples, the flow path member can be cast and it can be a laminated construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 9915151
    Abstract: An airfoil may be provided that includes a CMC body and a support piece. The CMC body has an inner surface that defines a chamber within the CMC body. The support piece may be positioned within the chamber of the CMC body. The support piece comprises a channel in a surface of the support piece, the surface being in contact with the inner surface of the CMC body. The channel and the inner surface of the CMC body define a passageway for a cooling fluid. The passageway may wind about the circumference of the CMC body and extend along the span of the airfoil. Outlets may be positioned through the CMC body allowing fluid communication between the passageway and the outer surface of the CMC body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: John Alan Weaver, Okey Kwon
  • Patent number: 9879601
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component is provided that can be cooled with a cooling media such as air using a variety of passages. In one form, cooling fluid is routed through a hole that exits at least partially through a pedestal formed between walls. A plurality of cooling holes can be provided through a trench face and in some forms can include a diffusion through a divergence in the hole exit. J-Hook passages can be provided through a trench face, and, in some forms, multiple trenches can be provided. A cooling hole having a neck portion can be provided, as can a cooling hole with one or more turns to reduce a total pressure. In one form, a corrugated cooling passage can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan, Brett J. Barker
  • Patent number: 9874110
    Abstract: A gas turbine component having a cooling passage is disclosed. In one form, the passage is oriented as a turned passage capable of reversing direction of flow, such as a turned cooling hole. The gas turbine engine component can include a layered structure having cooling flow throughout a region of the component. The cooling hole can be in communication with a space in the layered structure. The gas turbine engine component can be a cast article where a mold can be constructed to produce the cooling hole having a turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20170211395
    Abstract: An airfoil may include a spar comprising a passageway inside of the spar for a cooling fluid, a pedestal on an outer surface of the spar, and an inlet configured to direct the cooling fluid from the passageway to the outer surface of the spar. The airfoil may further include a coversheet, wherein an inner surface of the coversheet is positioned on the pedestal of the spar and an edge of the coversheet is positioned along an end of the spar. The inner surface of the coversheet, the pedestal, and the outer surface of the spar may define a cooling path from the inlet to an outlet at the edge of the coversheet. The outlet at the edge of the coversheet may be configured to direct cooling fluid onto the end of the spar, onto a footing, and/or onto a fillet positioned along an intersection of the footing and the spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: TAB M. HEFFERNAN, JEFFREY F. RHODES, DOUGLAS D. DIERKSMEIER, OKEY KWON
  • Patent number: 9638057
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a dual, walled component is disclosed herein. An augmented cooling system according to the present disclosure includes transporting a cooling fluid through one wall of a cooling pathway formed between two opposing spaced apart walls of the dual walled component. The cooling fluid can be deflected away from one wall of the cooling pathway with a first trip strip as the cooling fluid traverses along the cooling pathway. The cooling fluid can be deflected away from the opposing wall of the cooling pathway with a second trip strip as the cooling fluid continues traversing along the cooling pathway. The cooling fluid can then be discharged from the cooling pathway through the opposing wall of the dual walled component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Okey Kwon
  • Publication number: 20160348513
    Abstract: An airfoil may be provided that includes a CMC body and a support piece. The CMC body has an inner surface that defines a chamber within the CMC body. The support piece may be positioned within the chamber of the CMC body. The support piece comprises a channel in a surface of the support piece, the surface being in contact with the inner surface of the CMC body. The channel and the inner surface of the CMC body define a passageway for a cooling fluid. The passageway may wind about the circumference of the CMC body and extend along the span of the airfoil. Outlets may be positioned through the CMC body allowing fluid communication between the passageway and the outer surface of the CMC body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: John Alan Weaver, Okey Kwon
  • Publication number: 20160153284
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine flow path member is disclosed which includes an extending end portion capable of contacting a surface of the turbine engine. The flow path member includes openings to pass a cooling fluid to cool the extending end portion. The flow path member, furthermore, can be made using a variety of approaches. To set forth just two non-limiting examples, the flow path member can be cast and it can be a laminated construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20150300257
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component is provided that can be cooled with a cooling media such as air using a variety of passages. In one form, cooling fluid is routed through a hole that exits at least partially through a pedestal formed between walls. A plurality of cooling holes can be provided through a trench face and in some forms can include a diffusion through a divergence in the hole exit. J-Hook passages can be provided through a trench face, and, in some forms, multiple trenches can be provided. A cooling hole having a neck portion can be provided, as can a cooling hole with one or more turns to reduce a total pressure. In one form, a corrugated cooling passage can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Peter L. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan, Brett J. Barker
  • Patent number: 9085988
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine flow path member is disclosed which includes an extending end portion capable of contacting a surface of the turbine engine. The flow path member includes openings to pass a cooling fluid to cool the extending end portion. The flow path member, furthermore, can be made using a variety of approaches. To set forth just two non-limiting examples, the flow path member can be cast and it can be a laminated construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8961133
    Abstract: An cooled airfoil for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The airfoil includes an outer wall having a plurality cooling air exit openings and an inner wall having plurality of cooling air inlet openings. A plurality of flow migration dams extend between the inner wall and the outer wall to form a plurality of cooling passages and prevent cooling air from moving radially outward past the migration dams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Okey Kwon
  • Publication number: 20150016944
    Abstract: A gas turbine component having a cooling passage is disclosed. In one form, the passage is oriented as a turned passage capable of reversing direction of flow, such as a turned cooling hole. The gas turbine engine component can include a layered structure having cooling flow throughout a region of the component. The cooling hole can be in communication with a space in the layered structure. The gas turbine engine component can be a cast article where a mold can be constructed to produce the cooling hole having a turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Peter L. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20150016947
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a dual, walled component is disclosed herein. An augmented cooling system according to the present disclosure includes transporting a cooling fluid through one wall of a cooling pathway formed between two opposing spaced apart walls of the dual walled component. The cooling fluid can be deflected away from one wall of the cooling pathway with a first trip strip as the cooling fluid traverses along the cooling pathway. The cooling fluid can be deflected away from the opposing wall of the cooling pathway with a second trip strip as the cooling fluid continues traversing along the cooling pathway. The cooling fluid can then be discharged from the cooling pathway through the opposing wall of the dual walled component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Okey Kwon
  • Publication number: 20140311164
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique turbine blade for a gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and turbine blades for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Okey Kwon
  • Patent number: 8342797
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine turbine flow member is described that contains a passageway having a flow obstruction that forms a tortuous passageway for the passage of a cooling fluid. The flow obstruction can include flow structures disposed toward either side of the passageway. In one non-limiting embodiment a flow structure can have a V-shape, and in another non-limiting embodiment the flow structure can have an elongate shape. As cooling fluid flows through the passageway it is encouraged to flow up, down, and/or along portions of the flow obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Ted Freeman
  • Publication number: 20120189427
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine flow path member is disclosed which includes an extending end portion capable of contacting a surface of the turbine engine. The flow path member includes openings to pass a cooling fluid to cool the extending end portion. The flow path member, furthermore, can be made using a variety of approaches. To set forth just two non-limiting examples, the flow path member can be cast and it can be a laminated construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20120163994
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique turbine engine airfoil. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and airfoils. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventor: Okey Kwon
  • Publication number: 20110052413
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine turbine flow member is described that contains a passageway having a flow obstruction that forms a tortuous passageway for the passage of a cooling fluid. The flow obstruction can include flow structures disposed toward either side of the passageway. In one non-limiting embodiment a flow structure can have a V-shape, and in another non-limiting embodiment the flow structure can have an elongate shape. As cooling fluid flows through the passageway it is encouraged to flow up, down, and/or along portions of the flow obstruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Ted Freeman