Patents by Inventor Phillip J. Steffen

Phillip J. Steffen 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).

  • Variable geometry hysteresis control for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 8079221
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present application is a gas turbine engine with a compressor that includes a variable geometry mechanism to vary working fluid flow area. A desired state of this mechanism is selected different than a current state to change the amount of flow area. The mechanism has a hysteresis band corresponding to a difference between increasing the flow area to reach the desired state and decreasing the flow area to reach the desired state. To control operation of the mechanism within this hysteresis band, a determination is made whether the desired state corresponds to a greater flow area or a lesser flow area relative to the current state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ray F. Bowman, Joseph A. Jaeger, Phillip J. Steffen, Robert G. Kiser
  • VARIABLE GEOMETRY HYSTERESIS CONTROL FOR A GAS TURBINE ENGINE
    Publication number: 20110167780
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present application is a gas turbine engine with a compressor that includes a variable geometry mechanism to vary working fluid flow area. A desired state of this mechanism is selected different than a current state to change the amount of flow area. The mechanism has a hysteresis band corresponding to a difference between increasing the flow area to reach the desired state and decreasing the flow area to reach the desired state. To control operation of the mechanism within this hysteresis band, a determination is made whether the desired state corresponds to a greater flow area or a lesser flow area relative to the current state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Ray F. Bowman, Joseph A. Jaeger, Phillip J. Steffen, Robert G. Kiser
  • Variable geometry hysteresis control for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 7866159
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present application is a gas turbine engine with a compressor that includes a variable geometry mechanism to vary working fluid flow area. A desired state of this mechanism is selected different than a current state to change the amount of flow area. The mechanism has a hysteresis band corresponding to a difference between increasing the flow area to reach the desired state and decreasing the flow area to reach the desired state. To control operation of the mechanism within this hysteresis band, a determination is made whether the desired state corresponds to a greater flow area or a lesser flow area relative to the current state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ray F. Bowman, Joseph A. Jaeger, Phillip J. Steffen, Robert G. Kiser