Patents by Inventor Richard Alan Wesling
Richard Alan Wesling 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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Patent number: 11851204Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine includes a fuel tank; a draw pump downstream of the fuel tank for generating a liquid fuel flow from the fuel tank; a main fuel pump downstream of the draw pump; and a fuel oxygen conversion unit downstream of the draw pump and upstream of the main fuel pump. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas line; a contactor in fluid communication with the stripping gas line and the draw pump for forming a fuel/gas mixture; and a dual separator pump in fluid communication with the contactor for receiving the fuel/gas mixture and separating the fuel/gas mixture into a stripping gas flow and the liquid fuel flow at a location upstream of the main fuel pump.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, David Justin Brady
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Patent number: 11702983Abstract: A power transmission system includes a shaft, a stator disposed within the shaft and substantially concentric with the shaft; and at least one supporting element positioned between the stator and the shaft and configured to support the shaft on the stator to reduce a vibration of the shaft and allow the shaft to rotate relative to the stator. A gas turbine engine including the power transmission system is also described.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Weize Kang, Richard Alan Wesling, Tod Robert Steen, Richard Schmidt
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Patent number: 11577852Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle includes a contactor; a mechanically-driven, first fuel gas separator defining a liquid fuel outlet and a stripping gas outlet, the fuel oxygen conversion unit defining a liquid fuel outlet path in fluid communication with the liquid fuel outlet of the first fuel gas separator; and a second fuel gas separator positioned in fluid communication with the liquid fuel outlet path at a location downstream of the first fuel gas separator.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
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Patent number: 11542826Abstract: A labyrinth seal including: an annular seal body having an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart from one another by an annulus; a nested dampener system disposed along the outer wall, the nested dampener system including: a first dampening element; and a second dampening element, wherein opposite axial ends of the nested dampener system are defined by the first dampening element, and wherein the second dampening element is disposed outside of at least a portion of the first dampening element in a radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Richard Alan Wesling
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Publication number: 20220298922Abstract: A labyrinth seal including: an annular seal body having an inner wall and an outer wall spaced apart from one another by an annulus; a nested dampener system disposed along the outer wall, the nested dampener system including: a first dampening element; and a second dampening element, wherein opposite axial ends of the nested dampener system are defined by the first dampening element, and wherein the second dampening element is disposed outside of at least a portion of the first dampening element in a radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Richard Alan Wesling
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Patent number: 11319085Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor; a fuel gas separator, the fuel oxygen conversion unit defining a circulation gas flowpath from the fuel gas separator to the contactor; and an isolation valve in airflow communication with the circulation gas flowpath for modulating a gas flow through the circulation gas flowpath to the contactor.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Peter Allen Andrews, Jr.
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Publication number: 20210381435Abstract: A power transmission system includes a shaft, a stator disposed within the shaft and substantially concentric with the shaft; and at least one supporting element positioned between the stator and the shaft and configured to support the shaft on the stator to reduce a vibration of the shaft and allow the shaft to rotate relative to the stator. A gas turbine engine including the power transmission system is also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Weize KANG, Richard Alan WESLING, Tod Robert STEEN, Richard SCHMIDT
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Patent number: 11193671Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet, a stripping gas inlet and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; and a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in flow communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor and an axis. The fuel gas separator further includes a stationary casing; and a separator assembly including a core and a plurality of paddles extending from the core, the separator assembly rotatable about the axis within the stationary casing to separate a fuel/gas mixture received through the fuel/gas mixture inlet into a liquid fuel flow and stripping gas flow.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
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Publication number: 20210340913Abstract: A fuel delivery system for a gas turbine engine including a fuel oxygen reduction unit is provided. The fuel oxygen reduction unit defines a liquid fuel flowpath and a stripping gas flowpath and is configured to transfer an oxygen content of a fuel flow through the liquid fuel flowpath to a stripping gas flow through the stripping gas flowpath. The fuel oxygen reduction unit includes an impeller in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath for circulating the stripping gas flow through the stripping gas flowpath; and a turbine coupled to the impeller.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Peter Allen Andrews, JR., Ethan Patrick O'Connor, David Vickery Parker, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Christian Xavier Stevenson
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Patent number: 11131244Abstract: A power transmission system includes a shaft, a stator disposed within the shaft and substantially concentric with the shaft; and at least one supporting element positioned between the stator and the shaft and configured to support the shaft on the stator to reduce a vibration of the shaft and allow the shaft to rotate relative to the stator. A gas turbine engine including the power transmission system is also described.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2017Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Weize Kang, Richard Alan Wesling, Tod Robert Steen, Richard Schmidt
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Patent number: 11131256Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet, a stripping gas inlet and a fuel/gas mixture outlet. The fuel oxygen conversion unit also includes a fuel/gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in flow communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, an axial direction, and a radial direction. The fuel/gas separator includes a separator assembly including a core including a gas-permeable section extending along the axial direction and defining a maximum diameter, the maximum diameter of the gas-permeable section being substantially constant along the axial direction; and a stationary casing, the fuel/gas separator defining a fuel/gas chamber in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture inlet at a location inward of the stationary casing and outward of the gas-permeable section of the separator assembly along the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
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Patent number: 11085636Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas flowpath for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas boost pump positioned in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath for increasing a pressure of a flow of stripping gas through the stripping gas flowpath; a contactor defining a stripping gas inlet in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath, a liquid fuel inlet, and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, a stripping gas outlet, and a liquid fuel outlet; and a connection assembly mechanically coupling the stripping gas boost pump to the fuel gas separator, the connection assembly having a speed change mechanism such that the stripping gas boost pump rotates at a different rotational speed than the fuel gas separator.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Peter Allen Andrews, Jr.
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Patent number: 10961850Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a torque frame is provided. The torque frame includes an inner shroud defined circumferentially around the axial centerline, an outer shroud surrounding the inner shroud and defined circumferentially around the axial centerline, and a structural member extended along the radial direction and coupled to the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The torque frame is configured to rotate around the axial centerline.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2017Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gert Johannes van der Merwe, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Richard Alan Wesling, Jeffrey Donald Clements
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Patent number: 10774668Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a turbine rotor assembly that includes a first turbine rotor and a second turbine rotor. The first turbine rotor includes an outer rotor and a plurality of outer rotors extended inwardly along a radial direction from the outer rotor. The second turbine rotor includes an inner rotor and a plurality of inner rotor airfoils extended outwardly along the radial direction from the inner rotor. The plurality of outer rotor airfoils and inner rotor airfoils are disposed in alternating arrangement along a longitudinal direction. One or more rotating seal interfaces are defined between the first turbine rotor and the second turbine rotor.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Alan Wesling, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
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Patent number: 10746047Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a first rotor assembly is generally provided. The first rotor assembly includes outer drum and an outer drum airfoil. The outer drum airfoil is coupled to the outer drum and extended inward along a radial direction. A damper structure is coupled to one or more of the outer drum or the outer drum airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Alan Wesling, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Gert Johannes van der Merwe
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Patent number: 10724375Abstract: A damper seat for a ring damper that redirects axial loads and is disposed within a gas turbine engine with at least one disk rotatable about a rotational axis and having a disk neutral axis extending radially from the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Miles McMillen Prescott, Richard Alan Wesling, Peter Andrew Simeone
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Patent number: 10677312Abstract: Friction shaft damper includes springy projections pressing against inside surface of a portion of rotor such as drive shaft with spring force. Central mass may be positioned inside surface of drive shaft by projections extending outwardly from central mass and slideably engaging inside surface of drive shaft. Enlarged section or chamber of shaft may surround and axially trap damper. Axially spaced apart sets of springy fingers may position mass inside shaft and radially inner ends of fingers may be secured to mass and radially outer ends of fingers may be positioned and free to slide along inside surface of shaft. Two axially spaced apart annular deflection limiters may be placed around mass with small clearances C between deflection limiters and inside surface of shaft. Damper may be a multi-lobed wave spring having multi-lobed rim attached to mass by struts. Damper may be multi-lobed wave spring with crests.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Alan Wesling, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
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Publication number: 20200141337Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet, a stripping gas inlet and a fuel/gas mixture outlet. The fuel oxygen conversion unit also includes a fuel/gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in flow communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, an axial direction, and a radial direction. The fuel/gas separator includes a separator assembly including a core including a gas-permeable section extending along the axial direction and defining a maximum diameter, the maximum diameter of the gas-permeable section being substantially constant along the axial direction; and a stationary casing, the fuel/gas separator defining a fuel/gas chamber in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture inlet at a location inward of the stationary casing and outward of the gas-permeable section of the separator assembly along the radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
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Publication number: 20200141575Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor defining a liquid fuel inlet, a stripping gas inlet and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; and a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in flow communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor and an axis. The fuel gas separator further includes a stationary casing; and a separator assembly including a core and a plurality of paddles extending from the core, the separator assembly rotatable about the axis within the stationary casing to separate a fuel/gas mixture received through the fuel/gas mixture inlet into a liquid fuel flow and stripping gas flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
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Publication number: 20200140109Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a contactor; a fuel gas separator, the fuel oxygen conversion unit defining a circulation gas flowpath from the fuel gas separator to the contactor; and an isolation valve in airflow communication with the circulation gas flowpath for modulating a gas flow through the circulation gas flowpath to the contactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Peter Allen Andrews, JR.