Patents by Inventor Richard Freer

Richard Freer 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: 11268447
    Abstract: There is disclosed an igniter for a gas turbine engine including: a base including a securing assembly configured to be matingly connected to a casing of the gas turbine engine, a glow plug heater rod extending from the base along an axis and terminating in a rod end, a combustor liner plug extending circumferentially around the heater rod, the combustor liner plug being sized and configured to extend inside an aperture in a combustor liner of the gas turbine engine when the base is connected to the casing between the heater rod and a periphery of the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Freer, Kian McCaldon, Tin-Cheung John Hu, Michel Bousquet, André Fortin
  • Patent number: 11255271
    Abstract: There is disclosed an igniter for a gas turbine engine including: a base; a glow plug heater rod extending from the base along an axis and terminating in a rod end; and a structure having open porosity disposed adjacent the glow plug heater rod. A method of operating the igniter and a gas turbine engine having such an igniter are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Freer, Kian McCaldon, Tin-Cheung John Hu, Michel Bousquet, André Fortin
  • Publication number: 20220052591
    Abstract: An electric machine system described herein comprises a first electric machine rotor, a first gear and a second gear. The first gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a first input/output shaft. The second gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a second input/output shaft. The first electric machine rotor is disposed between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard FREER
  • Publication number: 20220052592
    Abstract: An electric machine system described herein comprises a first electric machine rotor, a first gear and a second gear. The first gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a first input/output shaft. The second gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a second input/output shaft. The first electric machine rotor is disposed between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard FREER
  • Patent number: 11233470
    Abstract: There is described a method and system for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The method comprises modulating AC electric power applied to a first electric propulsor or a second electric propulsor from at least one motor inverter to synchronize the frequency of the first electric propulsor or the second electric propulsor with the frequency of a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer
  • Publication number: 20210388733
    Abstract: An hybrid aircraft power plant, has: a gas turbine engine having a high-pressure spool including a high-pressure compressor, a high-pressure turbine, and a high-pressure shaft drivingly engaging the high-pressure turbine to the high-pressure compressor, a low-pressure spool including a low-pressure compressor, a low-pressure turbine, and a low-pressure shaft drivingly engaging the low-pressure turbine to the low-pressure compressor; an electric motor drivingly engaged to the low-pressure shaft; and a torque-transmitting device operatively connected to the HP-shaft and having an engaged configuration in which the torque-transmitting device drivingly engages the electric motor to the high-pressure shaft and a disengaged configuration in which the torque-transmitting device disconnects the electric motor from the high-pressure shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick VALOIS, Hervé TURCOTTE, Richard FREER, Jonatan TREMBLAY, Eric LATULIPE
  • Patent number: 11190093
    Abstract: An electric machine system described herein comprises a first electric machine rotor, a first gear and a second gear. The first gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a first input/output shaft. The second gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a second input/output shaft. The first electric machine rotor is disposed between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer
  • Publication number: 20210234449
    Abstract: An electric machine system disclosed herein comprises first and second electric machines configured to drive a load. The first electric machine has a plurality of first rotors. The second electric machine has a plurality of second rotors. At least one of the second rotors is indexed relative to a respective one of the first rotors to, in use, provide a torque phase offset between the first and second electric machines. A shaft is coupled to the load and connects the respective one of the first rotors with the at least one of the second rotors. The respective one of the first rotors is coaxial with and axially spaced apart from the at least one of the second rotors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard FREER
  • Publication number: 20210226519
    Abstract: An electric machine system described herein comprises a first and second electric machines configured to drive a load. The first electric machine has a plurality of first rotors driven using electric power having a first phase. The second electric machine has a plurality of second rotors driven using electric power having a second phase. The second phase differs from the first phase. Each of one or more shafts connects a first rotor with a second rotor. The first rotor is coaxial with and axially spaced apart from the second rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard FREER
  • Patent number: 11025181
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system mounted to an aircraft. The method comprises driving a first rotating propulsor from a first electric motor operatively connected to a generator, driving a second rotating propulsor from a second electric motor operatively connected to the generator, and driving a third rotating propulsor from a thermal engine, the thermal engine operatively connected to the generator and configured to drive the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer
  • Patent number: 11011966
    Abstract: An electric machine system disclosed herein comprises first and second electric machines configured to drive a load. The first electric machine has a plurality of first rotors. The second electric machine has a plurality of second rotors. At least one of the second rotors is indexed relative to a respective one of the first rotors to, in use, provide a torque phase offset between the first and second electric machines. A shaft is coupled to the load and connects the respective one of the first rotors with the at least one of the second rotors. The respective one of the first rotors is coaxial with and axially spaced apart from the at least one of the second rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer
  • Patent number: 10998806
    Abstract: An electric machine system described herein comprises a first and second electric machines configured to drive a load. The first electric machine has a plurality of first rotors driven using electric power having a first phase. The second electric machine has a plurality of second rotors driven using electric power having a second phase. The second phase differs from the first phase. Each of one or more shafts connects a first rotor with a second rotor. The first rotor is coaxial with and axially spaced apart from the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer
  • Patent number: 10865761
    Abstract: There is disclosed an igniter for a gas turbine engine including: a base; a glow plug heater rod extending from the base along an axis and terminating in a rod end; and a fuel receiver adjacent the heater rod, the fuel receiver including a portion located closest to the heater rod, the rod end protruding axially relative to the axis from the fuel receiver portion located closest to the heater rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP
    Inventors: Richard Freer, Kian McCaldon, Tin-Cheung John Hu, Michel Bousquet, André Fortin
  • Patent number: 10826415
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The method comprises providing alternating current (AC) electric power to a first electric motor to drive a first rotating propulsor, providing the first electric motor with AC electric power from at least one motor inverter operatively coupled to a direct current (DC) power source, detecting a failure in a path to the first electric motor, and selectively rearranging a first switching arrangement between the generator, the at least one motor inverter, and the first electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer
  • Publication number: 20200186018
    Abstract: An electric machine system described herein comprises a first electric machine rotor, a first gear and a second gear. The first gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a first input/output shaft. The second gear is connected to the first electric machine rotor and to a second input/output shaft. The first electric machine rotor is disposed between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard FREER
  • Publication number: 20200186016
    Abstract: An electric machine system disclosed herein comprises first and second electric machines configured to drive a load. The first electric machine has a plurality of first rotors. The second electric machine has a plurality of second rotors. At least one of the second rotors is indexed relative to a respective one of the first rotors to, in use, provide a torque phase offset between the first and second electric machines. A shaft is coupled to the load and connects the respective one of the first rotors with the at least one of the second rotors. The respective one of the first rotors is coaxial with and axially spaced apart from the at least one of the second rotors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard FREER
  • Publication number: 20200186017
    Abstract: An electric machine system described herein comprises a first and second electric machines configured to drive a load. The first electric machine has a plurality of first rotors driven using electric power having a first phase. The second electric machine has a plurality of second rotors driven using electric power having a second phase. The second phase differs from the first phase. Each of one or more shafts connects a first rotor with a second rotor. The first rotor is coaxial with and axially spaced apart from the second rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard FREER
  • Publication number: 20200080491
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of servicing a gas turbine engine having a spark plug igniter connected to a spark plug igniter socket of the engine, the method including: removing the spark plug from the spark plug igniter socket of the gas turbine engine; inserting a glow plug igniter having a base configured for matingly engaging the spark plug igniter socket; and securing the glow plug igniter to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Richard FREER, Kian MCCALDON, Tin-Cheung John HU, Michel BOUSQUET, André FORTIN
  • Publication number: 20200079514
    Abstract: There is provided a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system and method for operating same. The method comprises providing, to a first electric motor and a second electric motor, alternating current (AC) electric power from a generator, the generator receiving rotational power from a thermal engine, providing, to the first electric motor and the second electric motor, AC electric power from at least one motor inverter, the at least one motor inverter configured to convert DC electric power from a DC power source into AC electric power, and selectively driving the first and second electric motors from the generator, the at least one motor inverter, or a combination thereof, wherein the first electric motor drives a first rotating propulsor and the second electric motor drives a second rotating propulsor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Eric LATULIPE, Richard Freer
  • Publication number: 20200079515
    Abstract: An aircraft comprising a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The system comprises a first sub-assembly having a first electric propulsor assembly and a first thermal propulsor assembly, the first thermal propulsor assembly having a first thermal engine, a first generator and a first rotating propulsor, the first electric propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a first location and the first thermal propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a second location. The system also comprises a second sub-assembly having a second electric propulsor assembly and a second thermal propulsor assembly, the second thermal propulsor assembly having a second thermal engine, a second generator and a second rotating propulsor, the second electric propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a third location and the second thermal propulsor assembly attached to the aircraft at a fourth location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer