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).

  • Patent number: 11851204
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, David Justin Brady
  • Patent number: 11702983
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Weize Kang, Richard Alan Wesling, Tod Robert Steen, Richard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11577852
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Patent number: 11542826
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20220298922
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Patent number: 11319085
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Peter Allen Andrews, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210381435
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Weize KANG, Richard Alan WESLING, Tod Robert STEEN, Richard SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 11193671
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20210340913
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Peter Allen Andrews, JR., Ethan Patrick O'Connor, David Vickery Parker, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Christian Xavier Stevenson
  • Patent number: 11131244
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Weize Kang, Richard Alan Wesling, Tod Robert Steen, Richard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11131256
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Patent number: 11085636
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Peter Allen Andrews, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10961850
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gert Johannes van der Merwe, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Richard Alan Wesling, Jeffrey Donald Clements
  • Patent number: 10774668
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Alan Wesling, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 10746047
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Alan Wesling, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Gert Johannes van der Merwe
  • Patent number: 10724375
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Miles McMillen Prescott, Richard Alan Wesling, Peter Andrew Simeone
  • Patent number: 10677312
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Alan Wesling, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
  • Publication number: 20200141337
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20200141575
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Publication number: 20200140109
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Christian Xavier Stevenson, Peter Allen Andrews, JR.