Patents by Inventor Randy M. Vondrell

Randy M. Vondrell 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: 10071811
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section together defining a core air flowpath. Additionally, a rotary component is rotatable with at least a portion of the compressor section and at least a portion of the turbine section. An electric machine is mounted coaxially with the rotary component and positioned at least partially inward of the core air flowpath along a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. An electric communication bus is electrically connected to the electric machine and extends through the core air flowpath to, e.g., electrically connect the electric machine to one or more systems of the gas turbine engine or a propulsion system including the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Paul Robert Gemin
  • Publication number: 20180230844
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a turbomachine having a first turbine, a primary fan mechanically driven by the first turbine of the turbomachine, and an electric generator mechanically driven by the first turbine of the turbomachine. The propulsion system also includes an electric fan assembly, the electric generator electrically connected to the electric fan assembly for powering the electric fan assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Glenn David Crabtree
  • Publication number: 20180229606
    Abstract: An aircraft includes an electric power source having a combustion engine and an electric generator. The electric generator is powered by the combustion engine. The aircraft also includes a propulsion assembly including a propulsor and an electric motor, the electric motor configured for rotating the propulsor. The aircraft also includes an electrical outlet configured for connection with an outside power sink. The electrical outlet and the propulsion assembly are selectively in electrical communication with the electric power source such that the electric power source selectively provides electrical power to one of the electrical outlet or the propulsion assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Glenn David Crabtree, Dominic Barone
  • Publication number: 20180216575
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided including a fan having a plurality of rotatable fan blades and defining a fan pressure ratio during operation of the turbofan engine. The turbofan engine also includes a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine including a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath. The turbofan also includes an outer nacelle at least partially surrounding the fan and the turbomachine, the outer nacelle defining a bypass passage with the turbomachine. A bypass ratio of an amount of airflow through the bypass passage to an amount of airflow through the core air flowpath during operation of the turbofan is less than or equal to about 11 and wherein the fan pressure ratio is less than or equal to about 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Joel Francis Kirk, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements
  • Publication number: 20180163558
    Abstract: A propulsion system includes a propulsor having a driveshaft, an electric machine coupled to the driveshaft of the propulsor, and a combustion engine having an output shaft. The propulsion system additionally includes a one-way clutch operable with at least one of the driveshaft of the propulsor and the output shaft of the combustion engine. The one-way clutch allows for a differential angular velocity of the driveshaft relative to the output shaft in a first circumferential direction and prevents a differential angular velocity of the driveshaft relative to the output shaft in a second circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Glenn Crabtree
  • Publication number: 20180065741
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a forward wing assembly, and aft wing assembly, and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a first primary thrust propulsor and a first secondary thrust propulsor, the first primary thrust propulsor being different than the first secondary thrust propulsor. Both the first primary thrust propulsor and the first secondary thrust propulsor are mounted to the same one of: a starboard side of the aft wing assembly, a port side of the aft wing assembly, a starboard side of the forward wing assembly, or a port side of the forward wing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Kurt David Murrow, Glenn Crabtree, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20180065740
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a forward wing assembly, and aft wing assembly, and a propulsion system. The propulsion system includes a port forward propulsor and a starboard forward propulsor, each of which rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position and together defining a maximum forward thrust capability. The propulsion system also includes a port aft propulsor and a starboard aft propulsor, each of which also rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position, and together defining a maximum aft thrust capability. The maximum forward thrust capability is different than the maximum aft thrust capability to achieve certain efficiencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Kurt David Murrow, Glenn Crabtree, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20180065743
    Abstract: A method for operating a propulsion system of an aircraft includes moving a plurality of forward and aft propulsors to a vertical thrust position. While in the vertical thrust positions, the method also includes providing a first forward to aft ratio of electric power to the plurality of forward and aft propulsors. The method also includes moving the plurality of forward and aft propulsors to a forward thrust position. While in the forward thrust positions, the method also includes providing a second forward to aft ratio of electric power to the plurality of forward and aft propulsors. The first forward to aft ratio of electric power is different than the second forward to aft ratio of electric power to provide certain efficiencies for the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Kurt David Murrow, Glenn Crabtree, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20180065739
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and a wing assembly attached to or formed integrally with the fuselage. The aircraft also includes a hybrid electric propulsion system having a port propulsor and a starboard propulsor, with the port and starboard propulsors attached to the wing assembly on opposing sides of the fuselage and rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position. The hybrid electric propulsion system additionally includes an electric power source including a combustion engine and an electric generator, with the electric generator being driven by the combustion engine. The electric generator is in electrical communication with each of the port and starboard propulsors for powering the port and starboard propulsors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Kurt David Murrow, Glenn Crabtree, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20180065742
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and a wing assembly attached to or formed integrally with the fuselage. The aircraft also includes a propulsion system having a port propulsor and a starboard propulsor. The port and starboard propulsors are each attached to the wing assembly on opposing sides of the fuselage and are rotatable between a forward thrust position and a vertical thrust position. The propulsion system also includes a supplemental propulsor mounted to the fuselage to provide certain efficiencies for the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Randy M. Vondrell, Matthew Ryan Polakowski, Kurt David Murrow, Glenn Crabtree, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Publication number: 20180050807
    Abstract: A propulsion system includes an electric propulsor and a gas turbine engine. The propulsion system also includes an electric machine coupled to a rotary component of the gas turbine engine generating a voltage at a baseline voltage magnitude during operation of the gas turbine engine. An electric communication bus is provided electrically connecting the electric machine to the electric propulsor. The propulsion system additionally includes a means for providing a differential voltage to the electric propulsor equal to about twice the baseline voltage magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell
  • Publication number: 20180050810
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric propulsion engine. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about a central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor. The electric propulsion engine also includes a bearing supporting rotation of the fan and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a lubrication oil circulation assembly and a heat exchanger thermally connected to the lubrication oil circulation assembly. The lubrication oil circulation assembly is configured for providing the bearing with lubrication oil. Such an electric propulsion engine may be a relatively self-sufficient engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko
  • Publication number: 20180051702
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section together defining a core air flowpath. Additionally, a rotary component is rotatable with at least a portion of the compressor section and at least a portion of the turbine section. An electric machine is mounted coaxially with the rotary component and positioned at least partially inward of the core air flowpath along a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. An electric communication bus is electrically connected to the electric machine and extends through the core air flowpath to, e.g., electrically connect the electric machine to one or more systems of the gas turbine engine or a propulsion system including the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Paul Robert Gemin
  • Publication number: 20180050806
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section together defining a core air flowpath. Additionally, a rotary component is rotatable with at least a portion of the compressor section and at least a portion of the turbine section. An electric machine is mounted coaxially with the rotary component and positioned at least partially inward of the core air flowpath along a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. A cavity wall defines at least in part a buffer cavity surrounding at least a portion of the electric machine to thermally insulate the electric machine, e.g., from the relatively high temperatures within the core air flowpath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell
  • Publication number: 20180051701
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section together defining a core air flowpath. The rotary component is rotatable with the compressor section and the turbine section. The gas turbine engine additionally includes an electric machine rotatable with the rotary component and positioned coaxially with the rotary component at least partially inward of the core air flowpath. The electric machine is flexibly mounted to a static frame member, or flexibly coupled to the rotary component, or both, such that the electric machine is mechanically isolated or insulated from various internal and external forces on the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Paul Robert Gemin
  • Publication number: 20180050811
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a gas turbine engine and an electric propulsion engine defining a central axis. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about the central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor. The electric propulsion engine additionally includes a bearing supporting rotation of the fan and a thermal management system including a thermal fluid circulation assembly. The thermal fluid circulation assembly is in thermal communication with at least one of the electric motor or the bearing and is further in thermal communication with a heat exchanger of a thermal management system of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko
  • Patent number: 9878501
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a frangible laminate is provided. The method comprises constructing a reinforced polymer matrix, cutting the reinforced polymer matrix into a plurality of laminae, forming a laminate via stacking the plurality of laminae and at least one energy dissipating member, and consolidating the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Ian Francis Prentice, Randy M. Vondrell, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 9828862
    Abstract: A frangible airfoil that mitigates adverse conditions associated with release of material resulting from impact damage to the composite blade is provided, the airfoil having provisions for dissipating energy, self-shredding, and predetermined release trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Ian Francis Prentice, Randy M. Vondrell, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Raymond Anthony Humble
  • Publication number: 20170297728
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft is provided having a propulsion engine configured to be mounted to the aircraft. The propulsion engine includes an electric machine defining an electric machine tip speed during operation. The propulsion system additionally includes a fan rotatable about a central axis of the electric propulsion engine with the electric machine. The fan defines a fan pressure ratio, RFP, and includes a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade defining a fan blade tip speed. The electric propulsion engine defines a ratio of the fan blade tip speed to electric machine tip speed that is within twenty percent of the equation, 1.01×RFP?0.311, such that the propulsion engine may operate at a desired efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Publication number: 20170297727
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft is provided having a propulsion engine configured to be mounted to the aircraft. The propulsion engine includes an electric machine defining an electric machine tip speed during operation. The propulsion system additionally includes a fan rotatable about a central axis of the electric propulsion engine with the electric machine. The fan defines a fan pressure ratio, RFP, and includes a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade defining a fan blade tip speed. The electric propulsion engine defines a ratio of the fan blade tip speed to electric machine tip speed that is within twenty percent of the equation, 1.68×RFP?0.518, such that the propulsion engine may operate at a desired efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan