Patents by Inventor Rollin George Giffin
Rollin George Giffin 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: 8708643Abstract: A counter-rotatable fan turbine engine includes a counter-rotatable fan section, a worm gas generator, and a low pressure turbine to power the counter-rotatable fan section. The low pressure turbine maybe counter-rotatable or have a single direction of rotation in which case it powers the counter-rotatable fan section through a gearbox. The gas generator has inner and outer bodies having offset inner and outer axes extending through first, second, and third sections of a core assembly. At least one of the bodies is rotatable about its axis. The inner and outer bodies have intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes and extending radially outwardly and inwardly respectively. The helical blades have first, second, and third twist slopes in the first, second, and third sections respectively. A combustor section extends through at least a portion of the second section.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2007Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rollin George Giffin, Kurt David Murrow, Oladapo Fakunle
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Patent number: 8695324Abstract: A fan assembly having an outer fan system is disclosed, the fan assembly comprising an outer fan first stage and an outer fan second stage both extending radially outward from an arcuate platform.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Rollin George Giffin, James Edward Johnson
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Patent number: 8622687Abstract: A method of operating a compressor in an adaptive core engine is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of operating a front block compressor to increase pressure of a fluid to a first pressure ratio in a high-power mode operation; operating a rear block compressor coupled to the front block compressor such that the front block compressor and the rear block compressor operate at the same physical speed; closing a rear block stator vane located axially forward from the rear block compressor such that the flow of the fluid into the rear block compressor is substantially cut off; and keeping a blocker door opened such that substantially all of the fluid pressurized by the front block compressor flows through a bypass passage during the high-power mode operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rollin George Giffin, Brandon Flowers Powell, Mark Harrington, James Edward Johnson
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Publication number: 20130081374Abstract: A counter-rotatable fan turbine engine includes a counter-rotatable fan section, a worm gas generator, and a low pressure turbine to power the counter-rotatable fan section. The low pressure turbine maybe counter-rotatable or have a single direction of rotation in which case it powers the counter-rotatable fan section through a gearbox. The gas generator has inner and outer bodies having offset inner and outer axes extending through first, second, and third sections of a core assembly. At least one of the bodies is rotatable about its axis. The inner and outer bodies have intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes and extending radially outwardly and inwardly respectively. The helical blades have first, second, and third twist slopes in the first, second, and third sections respectively. A combustor section extends through at least a portion of the second section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2007Publication date: April 4, 2013Inventors: Rollin George Giffin, Kurt David Murrow, Oladapo Fakunle
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Patent number: 8328542Abstract: An axial flow positive displacement gas turbine engine component such as a compressor or a turbine or an expander includes a rotor assembly extending from a fully axial flow inlet to a downstream axially spaced apart axial flow outlet. The rotor assembly includes a main rotor and one or more gate rotors rotatable about parallel main and gate axes of the main and gate rotors respectively. The main and gate rotors having intermeshed main and gate helical blades extending radially outwardly from annular main and gate hubs, circumscribed about, and wound about the main and gate axes respectively. Intersecting main and gate annular openings in the axial flow inlet extend radially between a casing surrounding the rotor assembly and the main and gate hubs. The main helical blades transition from 0 to a full radial height in a downstream direction in an inlet transition section.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin
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Patent number: 8127527Abstract: A method and system for operating a gas turbine engine is provided. The system includes in serial flow arrangement, at least one compressor, a combustor, and at least one turbine. The method includes compressing atmospheric air in the gas turbine engine, channeling at least a portion of the compressed air from the turbine engine flowpath to an oxidizer supply system, and channeling an oxygen-depleted flow of the compressed air from the oxidizer supply system to the gas turbine engine flowpath.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2004Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Rollin George Giffin
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Publication number: 20110120082Abstract: A fan assembly having an outer fan system is disclosed, the fan assembly comprising an outer fan first stage and an outer fan second stage both extending radially outward from an arcuate platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventors: Rollin George Giffin, James Edward Johnson
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Publication number: 20110120083Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising an outer fan system is disclosed, having an outer fan first stage having a circumferential row of outer fan first blades, an outer fan second stage having a circumferential row of outer fan second blades located axially aft from the outer fan first stage wherein the outer fan first stage and the outer fan second stage are adapted to rotate with the fan rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Inventors: ROLLIN GEORGE GIFFIN, James Edward Johnson
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Publication number: 20110076158Abstract: A method of operating a compressor in an adaptive core engine is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of operating a front block compressor to increase pressure of a fluid to a first pressure ratio in a high-power mode operation; operating a rear block compressor coupled to the front block compressor such that the front block compressor and the rear block compressor operate at the same physical speed; closing a rear block stator vane located axially forward from the rear block compressor such that the flow of the fluid into the rear block compressor is substantially cut off; and keeping a blocker door opened such that substantially all of the fluid pressurized by the front block compressor flows through a bypass passage during the high-power mode operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: ROLLIN GEORGE GIFFIN, BRANDON FLOWERS POWELL, MARK HARRINGTON, JAMES EDWARD JOHNSON
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Patent number: 7905084Abstract: A gas generator for providing continuous pressure rise combustion, including: a rotatable member including a forward end, an aft end, a circumferential wall and a longitudinal centerline axis extending therethrough; an outer circumferential wall, wherein the rotatable member is positioned therein so that the circumferential wall of the rotatable member is spaced radially inwardly from the outer circumferential wall; at least one helical channel formed by a plurality of helical sidewalls extending between the circumferential wall of the rotatable member and the outer circumferential wall, each helical channel being open at the forward end and the aft end of the rotatable member so as to provide flow communication therethrough; an air supply for providing air to each helical channel; and, a fuel supply for providing fuel to each helical channel.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: General Electronic CompanyInventors: Kurt David Murrow, Matthew Timothy Franer, Rollin George Giffin, III
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Patent number: 7854111Abstract: An axial flow positive displacement turbine includes inner and outer bodies having offset inner and outer axes respectively extending between a relatively high pressure inlet and a relatively low pressure outlet. At least one of the bodies is rotatable about its axis. The inner and outer bodies have intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes respectively. The inner and outer helical blades extend radially outwardly and inwardly respectively. Each of the bodies has at least two blades. There is one more or one less outer helical blades than inner helical blades. The inner and outer bodies may both be rotatable about inner and outer axes and geared together in a fixed gear ratio. The turbine may have first and second sections with a first twist slope greater than a second twist slope respectively of the inner and outer helical blades.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin
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Patent number: 7784266Abstract: A method of supplying air to a vehicle is provided, wherein the method includes modulating a flow of air from between a fan assembly of a turbofan engine and a high pressure compressor of the turbofan engine with a core driven fan stage coupled in parallel to the high pressure compressor. The method also includes channeling the air from the core driven fan stage to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Lewis Baughman, Rollin George Giffin, Ronald Burton Steinmetz
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Publication number: 20100166591Abstract: An axial flow positive displacement gas turbine engine component such as a compressor or a turbine or an expander includes a rotor assembly extending from a fully axial flow inlet to a downstream axially spaced apart axial flow outlet. The rotor assembly includes a main rotor and one or more gate rotors rotatable about parallel main and gate axes of the main and gate rotors respectively. The main and gate rotors having intermeshed main and gate helical blades extending radially outwardly from annular main and gate hubs, circumscribed about, and wound about the main and gate axes respectively. Intersecting main and gate annular openings in the axial flow inlet extend radially between a casing surrounding the rotor assembly and the main and gate hubs. The main helical blades transition from 0 to a full radial height in a downstream direction in an inlet transition section.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin
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Patent number: 7726115Abstract: An axial flow positive displacement compressor has an inlet axially spaced apart and upstream from an outlet. Inner and outer bodies have offset inner and outer axes extend from the inlet to the outlet through first and second sections of a compressor assembly in serial downstream flow relationship. At least one of the bodies is rotatable about its axis. The inner and outer bodies have intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes respectively. The inner and outer helical blades extend radially outwardly and inwardly respectively. The helical blades have first and second twist slopes in the first and second sections respectively. The first twist slopes are less than the second twist slopes. An engine including the compressor has in downstream serial flow relationship from the compressor a combustor and a high pressure turbine drivingly connected to the compressor by a high pressure shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin, Oladapo Fakunle
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Patent number: 7707815Abstract: An axial flow positive displacement engine has an inlet axially spaced apart and upstream from an outlet. Inner and outer bodies have offset inner and outer axes extend from the inlet to the outlet through first, second, and third sections of a core assembly in serial downstream flow relationship. At least one of the bodies is rotatable about its axis. The inner and outer bodies have intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes respectively. The inner and outer helical blades extend radially outwardly and inwardly respectively. The helical blades have first, second, and third twist slopes in the first, second, and third sections respectively. The first twist slopes are less than the second twist slopes and the third twist slopes are less than the second twist slopes. A combustor section extends axially downstream through at least a portion of the second section.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2005Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin, Oladapo Fakunle
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Patent number: 7631484Abstract: A fan assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a turbine rotor adapted to be disposed aft of a core of the gas turbine engine; a row of turbine blades carried by the rotor, each turbine blade extending from the rotor to a tip, the turbine blades adapted to extract energy from a stream of pressurized combustion gases generated by the core; and at least two rows of axially-spaced apart, radially-extending fan blades carried by the row of turbine blades for rotation therewith.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2006Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Inventors: Rollin George Giffin, James Edward Johnson
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Patent number: 7624565Abstract: A gas turbine engine has components including a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. At least one component is radially bladed having at least one row of radially extending rotatable blades and at least another is a worm component having an inner body disposed within an outer body. The inner and outer bodies have offset inner and outer axes, intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes respectively, and at least one of the inner and outer bodies being rotatable about a corresponding one of the inner and outer axes. An aircraft gas turbine engine has components in serial downstream flow relationship including a fan, a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, a high pressure turbine, and a low pressure turbine. At least one of the components is radially bladed and at least one of the components is a worm component.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2007Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin, Oladapo Fakunle
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Publication number: 20090226336Abstract: An axial flow positive displacement turbine includes inner and outer bodies having offset inner and outer axes respectively extending between a relatively high pressure inlet and a relatively low pressure outlet. At least one of the bodies is rotatable about its axis. The inner and outer bodies have intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes respectively. The inner and outer helical blades extend radially outwardly and inwardly respectively. Each of the bodies has at least two blades. There is one more or one less outer helical blades than inner helical blades. The inner and outer bodies may both be rotatable about inner and outer axes and geared together in a fixed gear ratio. The turbine may have first and second sections with a first twist slope greater than a second twist slope respectively of the inner and outer helical blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin
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Publication number: 20090196733Abstract: A gas generator for providing continuous pressure rise combustion, including: a rotatable member including a forward end, an aft end, a circumferential wall and a longitudinal centerline axis extending therethrough; an outer circumferential wall, wherein the rotatable member is positioned therein so that the circumferential wall of the rotatable member is spaced radially inwardly from the outer circumferential wall; at least one helical channel formed by a plurality of helical sidewalls extending between the circumferential wall of the rotatable member and the outer circumferential wall, each helical channel being open at the forward end and the aft end of the rotatable member so as to provide flow communication therethrough; an air supply for providing air to each helical channel; and, a fuel supply for providing fuel to each helical channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2008Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kurt David Murrow, Matthew Timothy Franer, Rollin George Giffin, III
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Publication number: 20080273969Abstract: A gas turbine engine has components including a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. At least one component is radially bladed having at least one row of radially extending rotatable blades and at least another is a worm component having an inner body disposed within an outer body. The inner and outer bodies have offset inner and outer axes, intermeshed inner and outer helical blades wound about the inner and outer axes respectively, and at least one of the inner and outer bodies being rotatable about a corresponding one of the inner and outer axes. An aircraft gas turbine engine has components in serial downstream flow relationship including a fan, a low pressure compressor, a high pressure compressor, a combustor, a high pressure turbine, and a low pressure turbine. At least one of the components is radially bladed and at least one of the components is a worm component.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2007Publication date: November 6, 2008Inventors: Kurt David Murrow, Rollin George Giffin, Oladapo Fakunle