Patents by Inventor Philip A. Varney

Philip A. Varney 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: 20240352966
    Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided that includes a frame, a magnetic bearing stator and a foil bearing. The frame extends axially along and circumferentially about an axis. The frame includes an inner bore and a plurality of channels arranged circumferentially about the axis. The magnetic bearing stator includes a stator body and a plurality of windings. The stator body circumscribes the frame. The stator body includes a plurality of stator protrusions arranged circumferentially about the axis. Each of the stator protrusions projects radially inward into a respective one of the channels. Each of the windings is wrapped around a respective one of the stator protrusions. The foil bearing is disposed within the inner bore and retained to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
  • Publication number: 20240352969
    Abstract: An assembly is provided that includes a rotating structure, a bearing, a sensor system, a power system and a controller. The rotating structure is rotatable about an axis. The bearing rotatably supports the rotating structure. The bearing includes a magnetic bearing stator and a magnetic bearing rotor mounted with the rotating structure. The sensor system is configured to provide bearing sensor data indicative of a position of the magnetic bearing rotor relative to the magnetic bearing stator. The power system is electrically coupled to the magnetic bearing stator. The controller is configured to signal the power system to power the magnetic bearing stator based on the bearing sensor data. The controller is configured to monitor health of the rotating structure based on the bearing sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
  • Publication number: 20240352967
    Abstract: A bearing system is provided that includes a stationary structure, a rotating structure, a magnetic-foil bearing and a cooling jacket. The rotating structure is rotatable about an axis. The magnetic-foil bearing radially supports the rotating structure within the stationary structure. The magnetic-foil bearing includes a magnetic bearing stator, a magnetic bearing rotor and a foil bearing. The foil bearing is disposed radially between the magnetic bearing stator and the magnetic bearing rotor. The cooling jacket circumscribes and radially engages the magnetic bearing stator. A cooling circuit is configured to flow cooling fluid within the cooling jacket to cool the magnetic bearing stator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
  • Publication number: 20240352968
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This assembly includes a stationary structure, a rotating structure, a magnetic-foil bearing and a cooling system. The rotating structure is rotatable about an axis. The magnetic-foil bearing radially supports the rotating structure within the stationary structure. The magnetic-foil bearing includes a magnetic bearing stator, a magnetic bearing rotor and a foil bearing. The foil bearing is disposed radially between the magnetic bearing stator and the magnetic bearing rotor. The cooling system includes a cooling circuit configured to deliver cooling air to at least a first bearing component. The first bearing component is configured as or otherwise includes one of the magnetic bearing stator, the magnetic bearing rotor and the foil bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
  • Publication number: 20240352889
    Abstract: A turbine engine is provided that includes a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, a flowpath, a first rotating structure, a second rotating structure and a bearing system. The flowpath extends through the compressor section, the combustor section and the turbine section from an inlet to an exhaust. The combustor section includes a combustor. The first rotating structure includes a first compressor rotor within the compressor section and a first turbine rotor within the turbine section. The second rotating structure includes a second turbine rotor within the turbine section. The first turbine rotor is between the combustor and the second turbine rotor along the flowpath. The bearing system rotatably supports the first rotating structure. The bearing system includes an active magnetic bearing and a foil bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Inventors: Alexander R. Nelson, Benstone I. Schwartz, Philip A. Varney, Andrew V. Schwendenmann
  • Patent number: 11441605
    Abstract: A dual-film damper has a housing defining an annular damper fluidly connected to a source of pressurized oil. First and second damper rings are coaxially nested within the damper cavity. A first set of spacers allows for the formation of a first oil film annulus between the first and second damper rings. A second set of spacers allows for the formation of a second oil film annulus between the second damper ring and the housing. The first and second oil film annuli have a thickness-to-length ratio (T/L) selected to provide a desired damping capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Mert Cevik, Philip A. Varney, Robert J. Morris, David Beamish
  • Patent number: 10495143
    Abstract: A fluid damping structure is provided that includes an inner annular element, an outer annular element, a first outer seal, a second outer seal, an inner seal, a damping chamber, a supply plenum, a fill port, and a plurality of fluid passages. The plurality of fluid passages is disposed in at least one of the inner annular element or the inner seal. The fluid damping structure is configured such that one or more of the fluid passages is disposed in an open configuration when a local damping fluid pressure within the damping chamber is less than a local damping fluid pressure in an adjacent region of the supply plenum, and the one or more of the fluid passages is disposed in a closed configuration when the local damping fluid pressure within the damping chamber is greater than the local damping fluid pressure in the adjacent region of the supply plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Philip A. Varney, Ulf J. Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20190071998
    Abstract: A fluid damping structure is provided that includes an inner annular element, an outer annular element, a first outer seal, a second outer seal, an inner seal, a damping chamber, a supply plenum, a fill port, and a plurality of fluid passages. The plurality of fluid passages is disposed in at least one of the inner annular element or the inner seal. The fluid damping structure is configured such that one or more of the fluid passages is disposed in an open configuration when a local damping fluid pressure within the damping chamber is less than a local damping fluid pressure in an adjacent region of the supply plenum, and the one or more of the fluid passages is disposed in a closed configuration when the local damping fluid pressure within the damping chamber is greater than the local damping fluid pressure in the adjacent region of the supply plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel L. Gysling, Philip A. Varney, Ulf J. Jonsson