Patents by Inventor Richard K. Hayford

Richard K. Hayford 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).

  • Publication number: 20170159445
    Abstract: An example method of reducing a vibratory response of airfoils that support a shroud includes circumferentially misaligning some of the airfoils in a radially inner array of airfoils with all airfoils of a radially outer array of airfoils, and circumferentially aligning at least one of the airfoils in the radially inner array of airfoils with all airfoils of the radially outer array of airfoils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Steven J. Ford
  • Patent number: 9650898
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil body having a first section and a second section that differ by coefficient of thermal expansion. The second section is arranged in thermomechanical juxtaposition with the first section such that the first section and the second section cooperatively thermomechanically control a profile of the airfoil body responsive to varying thermal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Publication number: 20170002677
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal for use in a gas turbine engine having an axis of rotation includes a main body having a mating face configured to face, be positioned radially outward from, and be positioned adjacent to a rotor blade of the gas turbine engine. The blade outer air seal also includes an axial member extending aft from the main body, having a first radial face configured to face a second radial face of an outer diameter platform of a stator of the gas turbine engine, and having a first abradable material coupled to the first radial face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: PAUL M. LUTJEN, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20170002666
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil body having a first section and a second section that differ in coefficient of thermal expansion by at least 10% and that each have a through-thickness that is 20% or greater than a through-thickness of the airfoil body. The second section is arranged in thermomechanical juxtaposition with the first section such that the first section and the second section cooperatively thermomechanically control a profile of the airfoil body responsive to varying thermal conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Publication number: 20160333890
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a circumferential array of vanes slidably supported in an inner case shroud segment. Multiple segments are secured to one another to provide an annular engine static structure section. The inner case shroud segment and the vanes have different material properties than one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Mark J. Rogers, Carl S. Richardson, Jonathan J. Earl
  • Publication number: 20160312644
    Abstract: An example active clearance control system for a gas turbine engine includes an actuator, and a case wall portion defining an aperture configured to receive the actuator. The actuator is configured to move an air seal segment, and the actuator is insertable to an installed position within the aperture through a radially outer side of the case wall portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Richard K. Hayford, Christopher M. Jarochym
  • Patent number: 9447693
    Abstract: A compliant assembly includes an airfoil and a platform section from which the airfoil extends. The platform section includes a compliant attachment that is configured to secure the platform section to another structure different than the airfoil. The compliant attachment includes a compliant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Edwards, David P. Dube, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20160237839
    Abstract: A vane seal system includes a first non-rotatable vane segment that has a first airfoil with a first pocket at one end thereof. A second non-rotatable vane segment includes a second airfoil with a second pocket at one end thereof spaced by a gap from the first pocket. A seal member spans across the gap and extends in the first pocket and the second pocket. The seal member includes a seal element and at least one spring portion configured to positively locate the seal member in a sealing direction. Also disclosed is a seal for a vane seal system and a method related thereto for damping relative movement between a first pocket and a second pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Mark J. Rogers, Carl S. Richardson, Richard K. Hayford, Kenneth E. Carman, Jonathan J. Earl
  • Patent number: 9410443
    Abstract: A variable vane damping assembly includes an inner bushing and an outer bushing. The inner bushing comprises an elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Dube, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20160215637
    Abstract: A vane seal system includes a non-rotatable vane segment that has an airfoil with a pocket at one end thereof. The pocket spans in an axial direction between forward and trailing sides, with respect to the airfoil, and in a lateral direction between open lateral sides. A seal member extends in the pocket. The seal member includes a seal element and at least one spring portion that is configured to positively locate the seal member in the axial direction in the pocket. A method for positioning the seal member in a vane seal system includes positively locating the seal member in the axial direction in the pocket using the spring portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark J. Rogers, Carl S. Richardson, Richard K. Hayford, Kenneth E. Carman, Jonathan J. Earl
  • Publication number: 20160175996
    Abstract: A structural element for repairing a damaged component comprising a shaped cavity configured to receive the damaged component and a repair material, the shaped cavity comprising a material having a first melting point and the repair material comprising a material having a second melting point that is lower than the first melting point. The shaped cavity may comprise a preform for the damaged component. The preform may comprise a mold configured to reconstruct the shape of the damaged component. The repair material may comprise a first material and a second material, the second material having a melting point that is lower than the first material. The repair material may comprise a Nickel-Boron composition. The repair material may have a melting point that is approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the melting point of the damaged component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: PHILIP R. BELANGER, PAUL M. LUTJEN, RICHARD K. HAYFORD
  • Publication number: 20160177841
    Abstract: A planetary gear system for a turbomachine includes a forward planetary gear assembly including a plurality of forward planet gears meshed to a forward sun gear disposed on a power shaft and a forward ring gear meshed to the forward planet gears and an aft planetary gear assembly aft of the forward planetary assembly including a plurality of aft planet gears meshed to an aft sun gear disposed on the power shaft and an aft ring gear meshed to the aft planet gears. The system also includes a gear housing disposed between the forward planetary gear assembly and the aft planetary gear assembly. The gear housing includes a stationary carrier, wherein the forward and aft planet gears are rotatably mounted to the stationary carrier, and a mount extending radially from the stationary carrier that is connectable to a stationary portion of the turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Todd M. LaPierre, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20160169039
    Abstract: A component for a turbomachine includes an annular body defining an inner diameter portion and an outer diameter portion, and a crack guiding slot defined in a surface of the annular body extending from the inner diameter portion radially outward toward the outer diameter portion or extending from the outer diameter portion radially inward toward the inner diameter portion. The outer diameter portion can be mountable to a stationary structure of a turbomachine. The inner diameter portion can be mountable to a turbine vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Michael J. Bruskotter, Ross A. Vandenbosch
  • Patent number: 9334751
    Abstract: A variable vane assembly includes a damper positioned between a platform and a trunnion. The damper is comprised of a resilient material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Dube, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20160097291
    Abstract: A stator assembly includes a platform located on a radially inner end of a plurality of vanes that connects a first vane to a second vane. There is a platform groove on a radially inner side of the platform between the first vane and the second vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Philip Robert Rioux
  • Publication number: 20160084089
    Abstract: An airfoiled component comprises: a root section, an airfoil section, a damper pocket enclosed within a portion of the airfoil section, and a damper. The airfoil section includes a suction sidewall and a pressure sidewall each extending chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and extending spanwise between the root section and an airfoil tip. The damper includes a fixed end unified with a damper mounting surface, and a free end extending into the damper pocket from the damper mounting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20160040555
    Abstract: A turbine engine case spacer includes an air seal and a flange. The air seal is snap fit to the flange, and each flange includes at least two distinct material layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Patent number: 9228438
    Abstract: A variable vane includes a variable vane body that has an airfoil portion. The variable vane body is formed of a first material. A trunnion is attached at one end of the variable vane body. The trunnion includes a pivot formed of a second, different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Dube, Steven J. Feigleson, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20150361801
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil structure defining a damping network that includes a first cavity, a second cavity, a flow passage connecting the first and second cavities. The airfoil further includes a damping material configured to flow through the damping network. A method of forming an airfoil includes forming an airfoil body having a damping network that includes a first cavity, a second cavity, and a flow passage connecting the first and second cavities. The method further includes adding a damping material configured to flow through the damping network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Richard K. Hayford
  • Publication number: 20150321297
    Abstract: A structural element and method for repairing a damaged portion of the metal component comprising a repair material and a layer of diffusive metal material, the metal component comprising a material having a first melting point and the repair material comprising a material having a second melting point that is lower than the first melting point. The repair material also includes an additive material, which diffuses at least partially into the layer of diffusive metal material. The repair material may comprise a cobalt or nickel-boron composition. The repair material may also have a melting point that is approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit lower than the melting point of the metal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip R. Belanger, Richard K. Hayford, Paul M. Lutjen