Patents by Inventor Peter Schenk
Peter Schenk 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).
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Publication number: 20260139627Abstract: A starting apparatus for a first gas turbine engine of a plurality of gas turbine engines of an aircraft. The apparatus includes an air turbine starter, an electric machine, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an emergency restart command for the first gas turbine engine while the aircraft is in-flight, determine whether the first gas turbine engine is in operation, determine whether at least a second gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines is in operation, and, responsive to receiving the emergency restart command and determining that at least the second gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines is in operation and that the first gas turbine engine is not in operation, perform an emergency restart of the first gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2026Publication date: May 21, 2026Inventors: Jeffrey Lawrence, Peter Schenk, Douglas Keith Schetzel, II, Jacob Ward Harral, Brian Joseph Huber
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Patent number: 12571350Abstract: An example system includes a first gas-turbine engine (GTE) of a plurality of GTEs that are configured to propel an aircraft, the first GTE comprising: a first air-turbine starter (ATS) of a plurality of ATSs, the first ATS configured to rotate a spool of the first GTE; and a first electric starter of a plurality of electric starters, the first electric starter configured to rotate the spool of the first GTE; a second GTE of the plurality of GTEs, the second gas-turbine engine comprising: a second ATS of the plurality of ATSs, the second ATS configured to rotate a spool of the GTE; and a second electric starter of the plurality of electric starters, the second electric starter configured to rotate the spool of the GTE; and one or more controllers configured to control the plurality of GTEs.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2023Date of Patent: March 10, 2026Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Peter Schenk, Erik A. Munevar, Philip J. Steffen, Brian Joseph Huber
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Patent number: 12529340Abstract: A starting apparatus for a first gas turbine engine of a plurality of gas turbine engines of an aircraft. The apparatus includes an air turbine starter, an electric machine, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an emergency restart command for the first gas turbine engine while the aircraft is in-flight, determine whether the first gas turbine engine is in operation, determine whether at least a second gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines is in operation, and, responsive to receiving the emergency restart command and determining that at least the second gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines is in operation and that the first gas turbine engine is not in operation, perform an emergency restart of the first gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2023Date of Patent: January 20, 2026Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Lawrence, Peter Schenk, Douglas Keith Schetzel, II, Jacob Ward Harral, Brian Joseph Huber
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Patent number: 12500461Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric machine includes a rotor segment configured to rotate about an axis and having a rotor body, a side wall and an outer band that cooperate to form a cavity, a plurality of magnets located in the cavity, and an end plate configured to block the plurality of magnets within the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2023Date of Patent: December 16, 2025Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Mathew Hill, Peter Schenk, Jeffrey Coffee
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Patent number: 12421905Abstract: An example system includes a thermal energy system configured to transport thermal energy harvested from a first portion of a gas turbine engine to a second portion of the gas turbine engine after the gas turbine engine was in operation, wherein the transported thermal energy minimizes or prevents undesired contact or seizing of a rotor with another component of the gas turbine engine due to warping of the rotor due to uneven cooling of the gas turbine engine after the operation. The thermal energy system includes a cavity configured to flow a fluid, wherein the fluid is configured to transport thermal energy from the first portion to the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2023Date of Patent: September 23, 2025Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Govindaraj Kalyanasamy, Peter Schenk
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Patent number: 12398678Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine configured to provide propulsion to an aircraft and a starter system configured to start the gas turbine engine. The starter system comprises a motor controller and a closed-loop cooling system configured to cool the motor controller during an emergency in-flight restart operation of the gas turbine engine. The closed-loop cooling system includes a cooling fluid reservoir containing cooling fluid. The cooling fluid is configured to receive thermal energy from the motor controller during the emergency in-flight restart operation of the gas turbine engine.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2023Date of Patent: August 26, 2025Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter Schenk, Mathew Hill, Jacob Ward Harral, Michael Joseph Kabbes
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Patent number: 12334859Abstract: An example system includes a power electronics system; a starter electrically connected to the power electronics system and configured to start a gas-turbine engine of an aircraft; and an energy storage system electrically connected to the power electronics system and configured to provide direct current (DC) electrical energy to the power electronics system, wherein the power electronics system is configured to deliver alternating current (AC) electrical energy to the starter to start the gas-turbine engine using the DC electrical energy from the energy storage system and AC electrical energy sourced from an AC electrical bus of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2022Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Peter Schenk, Erik A. Munevar, Rigoberto J. Rodriguez
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Publication number: 20250153855Abstract: An example system includes an electrical machine electrically configured to generate electrical energy used by one or more components of a gas-turbine engine; an energy storage system; and a controller electrically connected to the energy storage system and configured to receive electrical energy from the energy storage system, wherein, in response to the gas-turbine engine being shut off, the controller is configured to cause the electrical machine to rotate a rotor of the gas-turbine engine using the energy received from the energy storage system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2025Publication date: May 15, 2025Inventors: Peter Schenk, Mark Angelo Tanner
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Patent number: 12234022Abstract: An example system includes an electrical machine electrically configured to generate electrical energy used by one or more components of a gas-turbine engine; an energy storage system; and a controller electrically connected to the energy storage system and configured to receive electrical energy from the energy storage system, wherein, in response to the gas-turbine engine being shut off, the controller is configured to cause the electrical machine to rotate a rotor of the gas-turbine engine using the energy received from the energy storage system.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2022Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce picInventors: Peter Schenk, Mark Angelo Tanner
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Patent number: 12234777Abstract: In examples, a clutch assembly includes a first clutch member disposed near a first end of a first shaft. The first clutch member defines a first surface. The first shaft includes a starter motor coupled to a second end of the first shaft. The clutch assembly includes a second clutch member disposed near a first end of a second shaft. The second clutch member defines a second surface opposing the first surface, and the second shaft includes an accessory gearbox of a gas turbine engine coupled to a second end of the second shaft. The surfaces of the first and second clutch member engage such that rotational motion is transferred between the first clutch member and the second clutch member. The first clutch member and the second clutch member are configured to passively disengage from each other and actively reengage with each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mathew Hill, Michael Joseph Kabbes, Erik A. Munevar, Peter Schenk, Jacob Ward Harral
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Patent number: 12234741Abstract: An example system includes one or more heaters configured and positioned to add thermal energy to one or more portions of a gas turbine engine after the gas turbine engine was in operation, wherein the thermal energy minimizes or prevents undesired contact or seizing of a rotor of the gas turbine engine with another component of the gas turbine engine due to warping of the rotor due to uneven cooling of the gas turbine engine after the operation. The system further includes a controller configured to control operation of the one or more heaters.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Govindaraj Kalyanasamy, Peter Schenk
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Publication number: 20250035044Abstract: A starting apparatus for a first gas turbine engine of a plurality of gas turbine engines of an aircraft. The apparatus includes an air turbine starter, an electric machine, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an emergency restart command for the first gas turbine engine while the aircraft is in-flight, determine whether the first gas turbine engine is in operation, determine whether at least a second gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines is in operation, and, responsive to receiving the emergency restart command and determining that at least the second gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines is in operation and that the first gas turbine engine is not in operation, perform an emergency restart of the first gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Jeffrey Lawrence, Peter Schenk, Douglas Keith Schetzel, II, Jacob Ward Harral, Brian Joseph Huber
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Publication number: 20250035045Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine engine configured to provide propulsion to an aircraft and a starter system configured to start the gas turbine engine. The starter system comprises a motor controller and a closed-loop cooling system configured to cool the motor controller during an emergency in-flight restart operation of the gas turbine engine. The closed-loop cooling system includes a cooling fluid reservoir containing cooling fluid. The cooling fluid is configured to receive thermal energy from the motor controller during the emergency in-flight restart operation of the gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Peter Schenk, Mathew Hill, Jacob Ward Harral, Michael Joseph Kabbes
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Publication number: 20250035049Abstract: An example system includes a first gas-turbine engine (GTE) of a plurality of GTEs that are configured to propel an aircraft, the first GTE comprising: a first air-turbine starter (ATS) of a plurality of ATSs, the first ATS configured to rotate a spool of the first GTE; and a first electric starter of a plurality of electric starters, the first electric starter configured to rotate the spool of the first GTE; a second GTE of the plurality of GTEs, the second gas-turbine engine comprising: a second ATS of the plurality of ATSs, the second ATS configured to rotate a spool of the GTE; and a second electric starter of the plurality of electric starters, the second electric starter configured to rotate the spool of the GTE; and one or more controllers configured to control the plurality of GTEs.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Peter Schenk, Erik A. Munevar, Philip J. Steffen, Brian Joseph Huber
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Publication number: 20250035046Abstract: An example system includes a first gas-turbine engine configured to propel an aircraft, the first gas-turbine engine comprising: a first air-turbine starter, the first air-turbine starter configured to rotate a spool of the first gas-turbine engine; and a first electric starter, the first electric starter configured to rotate the spool of the first gas-turbine engine; and one or more controllers collectively configured to: cause, during a time period, the first-air turbine starter and the first electric starter to start the first gas-turbine engine while the aircraft is on the ground; measure, during the time period, values of one or more parameters of the first gas-turbine engine; and determine, based on the values of the one or more parameters, whether the first electric starter is available for use in performing mid-air restart of the first gas-turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Jeffrey Lawrence, Peter Schenk, Jacob Ward Harral, Brian Joseph Huber
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Publication number: 20250035043Abstract: A starting apparatus for a gas turbine engine of a plurality of gas turbine engines of an aircraft. The apparatus includes a fuel supply system, a combustor, and a controller. The controller is configured to cause fuel to be introduced to the combustor of the gas turbine engine at a first threshold rotational speed of the gas-turbine engine during a normal starting operation in which the aircraft is on the ground. The controller is configured to cause fuel to be introduced to the combustor at a second threshold rotational speed of the gas-turbine engine during an emergency in-flight restarting operation in which the aircraft is in-flight. The second threshold rotational speed is lower than the first threshold rotational speed. Introducing fuel at the second threshold rotational speed results in a higher temperature in a turbine of the gas turbine engine than introducing fuel at the first threshold rotational speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Bradon Badger, Philip J. Steffen, Peter Schenk
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Patent number: 12166222Abstract: A battery pack core may include a cold plate comprising a plurality of apertures defined between a first major surface and a second major surface of the cold plate; a plurality of battery cells, a single battery cell positioned in each aperture of the plurality of apertures such that a first end of the battery cell projects beyond the first major surface and a second end of the battery cell projects beyond the second major surface; and a plurality of silicone bushings, a silicone bushing surrounding each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells and contacting a wall of the aperture in which the battery cell is positioned.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2021Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce plc, Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Michael Adam Zagrodnik, Stephen Mountain, Peter Schenk, Mathivanan Anand Prabhu, Krishnamoorthi Sivalingam, Teh Yee Siang, Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Melvin Yang Yueng Yap
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Publication number: 20240380258Abstract: A rotor assembly for an electric machine includes a rotor segment configured to rotate about an axis and having a rotor body, a side wall and an outer band that cooperate to form a cavity, a plurality of magnets located in the cavity, and an end plate configured to block the plurality of magnets within the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2023Publication date: November 14, 2024Inventors: Mathew Hill, Peter Schenk, Jeffrey Coffee
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Publication number: 20240352872Abstract: An example system includes one or more heaters configured and positioned to add thermal energy to one or more portions of a gas turbine engine after the gas turbine engine was in operation, wherein the thermal energy minimizes or prevents undesired contact or seizing of a rotor of the gas turbine engine with another component of the gas turbine engine due to warping of the rotor due to uneven cooling of the gas turbine engine after the operation. The system further includes a controller configured to control operation of the one or more heaters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2023Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Govindaraj Kalyanasamy, Peter Schenk
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Publication number: 20240352895Abstract: An example system includes a thermal energy system configured to transport thermal energy harvested from a first portion of a gas turbine engine to a second portion of the gas turbine engine after the gas turbine engine was in operation, wherein the transported thermal energy minimizes or prevents undesired contact or seizing of a rotor with another component of the gas turbine engine due to warping of the rotor due to uneven cooling of the gas turbine engine after the operation. The thermal energy system includes a cavity configured to flow a fluid, wherein the fluid is configured to transport thermal energy from the first portion to the second portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2023Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Govindaraj Kalyanasamy, Peter Schenk