Patents by Inventor Ruurd VanderLeest

Ruurd VanderLeest 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: 12071904
    Abstract: A controller for a gas turbine engine comprises a fuel flow sensor interface for receiving input signals indicative of a fuel flow into a combustor, a power output sensor interface for receiving input signals indicative of power output of an electrical generator driven via the gas turbine engine, a bleed valve interface for providing an output signal to a bleed valve that controls bleed air to vent a compressor of the gas turbine engine, and memory having stored therein instructions for determining functionality of the bleed valve based on evaluating efficiency of the gas turbine engine when the output signal is issued. A method comprises sensing efficiency of a gas turbine engine in response to actuation of a compressor bleed valve, comparing the efficiency to baseline efficiency, and outputting indicia of a differential between the efficiency and the baseline efficiency as an indication of operability of the first bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Power Aero LLC
    Inventor: Ruurd Vanderleest
  • Publication number: 20240229725
    Abstract: A controller for a gas turbine engine comprises a fuel flow sensor interface for receiving input signals indicative of a fuel flow into a combustor, a power output sensor interface for receiving input signals indicative of power output of an electrical generator driven via the gas turbine engine, a bleed valve interface for providing an output signal to a bleed valve that controls bleed air to vent a compressor of the gas turbine engine, and memory having stored therein instructions for determining functionality of the bleed valve based on evaluating efficiency of the gas turbine engine when the output signal is issued. A method comprises sensing efficiency of a gas turbine engine in response to actuation of a compressor bleed valve, comparing the efficiency to baseline efficiency, and outputting indicia of a differential between the efficiency and the baseline efficiency as an indication of operability of the first bleed valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventor: Ruurd Vanderleest
  • Publication number: 20240133348
    Abstract: A controller for a gas turbine engine comprises a fuel flow sensor interface for receiving input signals indicative of a fuel flow into a combustor, a power output sensor interface for receiving input signals indicative of power output of an electrical generator driven via the gas turbine engine, a bleed valve interface for providing an output signal to a bleed valve that controls bleed air to vent a compressor of the gas turbine engine, and memory having stored therein instructions for determining functionality of the bleed valve based on evaluating efficiency of the gas turbine engine when the output signal is issued. A method comprises sensing efficiency of a gas turbine engine in response to actuation of a compressor bleed valve, comparing the efficiency to baseline efficiency, and outputting indicia of a differential between the efficiency and the baseline efficiency as an indication of operability of the first bleed valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventor: Ruurd Vanderleest
  • Patent number: 7328098
    Abstract: The invention detects gas turbine bleed valve position discordances. The invention derives a modified exhaust gas temperature derivative as the predictive criteria in conjunction with a control logic to determine bleed valve position discordances that may indicate a mechanical failure in a valve, or in the control means for a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ruurd VanderLeest, David R. Walton