Patents by Inventor Robert Bruce Dickman

Robert Bruce Dickman 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: 12669060
    Abstract: An airfoil rotor hub system including a rotor hub, the rotor hub having a variable radius around a circumference of the rotor hub, and a plurality of airfoils connected to the rotor hub, a first airfoil in the plurality of airfoils having a first span connected to a surface of the rotor hub at a first radius, and a second airfoil in the plurality of airfoils having a second span connected to the surface of the rotor hub at a second radius. The first radius is different from the second radius, and the first span of the first airfoil is different from the second span of the second airfoil so as to mistune a frequency of the first airfoil and the second airfoil to reduce or substantially to eliminate flutter in the plurality of airfoils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin E. Turner, Yoon Seok Choi, Cem Tutcu, Keegan Nathaniel Mehrtens, Ramakrishna Mallina, Robert Bruce Dickman
  • Publication number: 20250283410
    Abstract: An airfoil rotor hub system including a rotor hub, the rotor hub having a variable radius around a circumference of the rotor hub, and a plurality of airfoils connected to the rotor hub, a first airfoil in the plurality of airfoils having a first span connected to a surface of the rotor hub at a first radius, and a second airfoil in the plurality of airfoils having a second span connected to the surface of the rotor hub at a second radius. The first radius is different from the second radius, and the first span of the first airfoil is different from the second span of the second airfoil so as to mistune a frequency of the first airfoil and the second airfoil to reduce or substantially to eliminate flutter in the plurality of airfoils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2024
    Publication date: September 11, 2025
    Inventors: Kevin E. Turner, Yoon Seok Choi, Cem Tutcu, Keegan Nathaniel Mehrtens, Ramakrishna Mallina, Robert Bruce Dickman
  • Patent number: 12410715
    Abstract: A rotor blade system for a turbine engine having a longitudinal centerline axis. The rotor blade system includes a rotor configured to rotate about the longitudinal centerline axis and a plurality of rotor blades coupled circumferentially around the rotor, each rotor blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side, and a pressure side. At least one rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades has an axial sweep of both the leading edge and the trailing edge as compared to a base blade of the plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Keegan Nathaniel Mehrtens, Yoon Seok Choi, Ramakrishna Mallina, Robert Bruce Dickman
  • Publication number: 20250052160
    Abstract: A rotor blade system for a turbine engine having a longitudinal centerline axis. The rotor blade system includes a rotor configured to rotate about the longitudinal centerline axis and a plurality of rotor blades coupled circumferentially around the rotor, each rotor blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side, and a pressure side. At least one rotor blade of the plurality of rotor blades has an axial sweep of both the leading edge and the trailing edge as compared to a base blade of the plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Keegan Nathaniel Mehrtens, Yoon Seok Choi, Ramakrishna Mallina, Robert Bruce Dickman
  • Patent number: 7270519
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip, a first side wall that extends in radial span between an airfoil root and the tip, wherein the first side wall defines a first side of said airfoil, and a second side wall connected to the first side wall at the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the second side wall extends in radial span between the airfoil root and the tip, such that the second side wall defines a second side of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a rib extending outwardly from at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the rib is configured to reduce airflow spillage past the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aspi R. Wadia, Rolf Hetico, Robert Bruce Dickman, Hsin-Yi Yen, Peter Wood
  • Patent number: 6779979
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip, a first side wall that extends in radial span between an airfoil root and the tip, wherein the first side wall defines a first side of said airfoil, and a second side wall connected to the first side wall at the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the second side wall extends in radial span between the airfoil root and the tip, such that the second side wall defines a second side of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a rib that extends outwardly from at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall, such that a natural frequency of chordwise vibration of the airfoil is increased to a frequency that is not present within the gas turbine engine during engine operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aspi R. Wadia, Rolf Hetico, Robert Bruce Dickman, Hsin-Yi Yen, Peter Wood
  • Publication number: 20040091361
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a tip, a first side wall that extends in radial span between an airfoil root and the tip, wherein the first side wall defines a first side of said airfoil, and a second side wall connected to the first side wall at the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the second side wall extends in radial span between the airfoil root and the tip, such that the second side wall defines a second side of the airfoil. The airfoil also includes a rib extending outwardly from at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the rib is configured to reduce airflow spillage past the tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Aspi R. Wadia, Rolf Hetico, Robert Bruce Dickman, Hsin-Yi Yen, Peter Wood
  • Publication number: 20020150471
    Abstract: A variable inlet guide vane includes opposite pressure and suction sides extending along a chord between leading and trailing edges and in span from root to tip. The vane has a maximum thickness greater than about eight percent chord length and located less than about thirty-five percent chord length from the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, Brent Franklin Beacher, Robert Bruce Dickman
  • Patent number: 6457938
    Abstract: A variable inlet guide vane includes opposite pressure and suction sides extending along a chord between leading and trailing edges and in span from root to tip. The vane has a maximum thickness greater than about eight percent chord length and located less than about thirty-five percent chord length from the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, Brent Franklin Beacher, Robert Bruce Dickman