Patents by Inventor Paul Aitchison

Paul Aitchison 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).

  • Publication number: 20230392503
    Abstract: A rotor of an aircraft engine has a plurality of blades extending radially from a disc. At least one of the blades has an airfoil, a root and a tip. The airfoil has a crack-mitigating rib extending chordwise along the airfoil. The crack-mitigating rib is disposed radially closer to the root than to the tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Paul Aitchison, Paul Stone, Dikran Mangardich
  • Patent number: 11454127
    Abstract: A vane configured to be disposed in a gas path defined in part by an inner surface of a case of a gas turbine engine is provided. The vane comprises a vane body configured to extend through an aperture in the case and a vane head disposed at an end of the vane body. The vane head has an abutting surface configured to contact an outer surface of the case when the vane body extends through the aperture, and a groove configured to receive a sealing member. The groove opens to the abutting surface and is outwardly open relative to an inner region surrounded by the groove. The groove has an inner seating surface that hinders movement of the sealing member toward the abutting surface and can facilitate installation of the vane in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Tammy Yam, Tibor Urac, Paul Aitchison
  • Publication number: 20210156272
    Abstract: A vane configured to be disposed in a gas path defined in part by an inner surface of a case of a gas turbine engine is provided. The vane comprises a vane body configured to extend through an aperture in the case and a vane head disposed at an end of the vane body. The vane head has an abutting surface configured to contact an outer surface of the case when the vane body extends through the aperture, and a groove configured to receive a sealing member. The groove opens to the abutting surface and is outwardly open relative to an inner region surrounded by the groove. The groove has an inner seating surface that hinders movement of the sealing member toward the abutting surface and can facilitate installation of the vane in the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Tammy YAM, Tibor URAC, Paul AITCHISON
  • Patent number: 11002293
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a hub disposed about an axis of rotation and an outer surface forming a radially inner gaspath boundary, the outer surface defining a nominal hub diameter. A circumferential array of blades extends radially outwardly from the hub. A first inter-blade passage is defined between a first set of adjacent blades and has a first throat area. A second inter-blade passage is defined between a second set of adjacent blades and has a second throat area that is smaller than the first throat area. At least one scoop is disposed in the second inter-blade passage, the scoop defining a cavity extending radially into the outer surface of the hub relative to the nominal hub diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Karan Anand, Farid Abrari, Ernest Adique, Paul Aitchison, Daniel Fudge, Kari Heikurinen, Paul Stone, Tibor Urac, Thomas Veitch
  • Patent number: 10689987
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine has blades circumferentially distributed around and extending a span length from a central hub. The blades include alternating first and second blades having airfoils with corresponding geometric profiles. The airfoil of the first blade has a coating varying in thickness relative to the second blade to provide natural vibration frequencies different between the first and the second blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Thomas Veitch, Farid Abrari, Ernest Adique, Paul Aitchison, Daniel Fudge, Kari Heikurinen, Paul Stone, Tibor Urac
  • Publication number: 20200018176
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine has blades circumferentially distributed around and extending a span length from a central hub. The blades include alternating first and second blades having airfoils with corresponding geometric profiles. The airfoil of the first blade has a coating varying in thickness relative to the second blade to provide natural vibration frequencies different between the first and the second blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas VEITCH, Farid ABRARI, Ernest ADIQUE, Paul AITCHISON, Daniel FUDGE, Kari HEIKURINEN, Paul STONE, Tibor URAC
  • Patent number: 10443411
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine has blades circumferentially distributed around and extending a span length from a central hub. The blades include alternating first and second blades having airfoils with corresponding geometric profiles. The airfoil of the first blade has a coating varying in thickness relative to the second blade to provide natural vibration frequencies different between the first and the second blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Thomas Veitch, Farid Abrari, Ernest Adique, Paul Aitchison, Daniel Fudge, Kari Heikurinen, Paul Stone, Tibor Urac
  • Publication number: 20190085868
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a hub disposed about an axis of rotation and an outer surface forming a radially inner gaspath boundary, the outer surface defining a nominal hub diameter. A circumferential array of blades extends radially outwardly from the hub. A first inter-blade passage is defined between a first set of adjacent blades and has a first throat area. A second inter-blade passage is defined between a second set of adjacent blades and has a second throat area that is smaller than the first throat area. At least one scoop is disposed in the second inter-blade passage, the scoop defining a cavity extending radially into the outer surface of the hub relative to the nominal hub diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Karan ANAND, Farid ABRARI, Ernest ADIQUE, Paul AITCHISON, Daniel FUDGE, Kari HEIKURINEN, Paul STONE, Tibor URAC, Thomas VEITCH
  • Publication number: 20190085708
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine has blades circumferentially distributed around and extending a span length from a central hub. The blades include alternating first and second blades having airfoils with corresponding geometric profiles. The airfoil of the first blade has a coating varying in thickness relative to the second blade to provide natural vibration frequencies different between the first and the second blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas VEITCH, Farid ABRARI, Ernest ADIQUE, Paul AITCHISON, Daniel FUDGE, Kari HEIKURINEN, Paul STONE, Tibor URAC
  • Patent number: 9376935
    Abstract: A casing for an aircraft engine includes an outer ring and an inner hub defining an airflow passage therebetween, the outer ring having an axis defining an axial direction; a plurality of struts arranged in a circumferential array and extending radially from the inner hub to the outer ring to mount the inner hub to the outer ring; wherein the outer ring is defined by a double skin including an axially-extending annular outer skin of sheet metal concentrically surrounding and radially-spaced from an annular inner skin of sheet metal, the outer and inner skins generally parallel to one another, an annular front end ring and an annular rear end ring welded or brazed to the outer and inner skins adjacent respective front and rear edges of the skins to define an annular cavity between them, and the outer ring further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially-extending ribs interconnecting the outer and inner skins to reinforce the double skins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas Eleftheriou, Denis Leclair, David Denis, David Menheere, Paul Aitchison
  • Publication number: 20140165533
    Abstract: A casing for an aircraft engine includes an outer ring and an inner hub defining an airflow passage therebetween, the outer ring having an axis defining an axial direction; a plurality of struts arranged in a circumferential array and extending radially from the inner hub to the outer ring to mount the inner hub to the outer ring; wherein the outer ring is defined by a double skin including an axially-extending annular outer skin of sheet metal concentrically surrounding and radially-spaced from an annular inner skin of sheet metal, the outer and inner skins generally parallel to one another, an annular front end ring and an annular rear end ring welded or brazed to the outer and inner skins adjacent respective front and rear edges of the skins to define an annular cavity between them, and the outer ring further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially-extending ribs interconnecting the outer and inner skins to reinforce the double skins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas ELEFTHERIOU, Denis LECLAIR, David DENIS, David MENHEERE, Paul AITCHISON
  • Patent number: 8490409
    Abstract: A fluid-conveying device including an inner tubular member with a circumferential end portion, a non-elastomeric ring received in a depression of the end portion, and an outer tubular member. The ring has a peripheral surface with a rounded contour defined along a longitudinal direction configured to remain out of the depression to engage the outer tubular member and facilitate sealing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Tania Pucovsky, Paul Aitchison, Brian Healey
  • Publication number: 20110079018
    Abstract: A fluid-conveying device including an inner tubular member with a circumferential end portion, a non-elastomeric ring received in a depression of the end portion, and an outer tubular member. The ring has a peripheral surface with a rounded contour defined along a longitudinal direction configured to remain out of the depression to engage the outer tubular member and facilitate sealing thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: TANIA PUCOVSKY, Paul Aitchison, Brian Healey
  • Publication number: 20050116114
    Abstract: A fluid flow actuated valve for controlling the fluid flow in a conduit comprises a support structure adapted to be mounted within the conduit and at least one flap member pivotally mounted to the support structure. The at least one flap member is pivotable between an first position for a minimum fluid flow and a second position for a maximum fluid flow. A torsion spring is attached to the at least one flap member to urge the same to pivot against a fluid pressure differential, from the first position to the second position when the fluid pressure differential is smaller than a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Paul Aitchison, Patrick Germain, Henry Smith