Patents by Inventor Sean A. Whitehurst

Sean A. Whitehurst 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: 11118463
    Abstract: A fan platform for electrically grounding an airfoil of a gas turbine engine includes a flow path surface extending between a first and second side. An inner surface radially opposing the flow path surface also extends between the first and second side, and includes a body portion extending radially inwardly therefrom. At least a first conductive path for grounding travels from the first side via the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb
  • Patent number: 10954804
    Abstract: A hybrid rotor may comprise a rotor disk having a peripheral rim, a plurality of solid rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk, and a plurality of hollow rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk in a blade array with the plurality of solid rotor blades. In various embodiments, the plurality of solid rotor blades may be integrally coupled to the rotor disk. In various embodiments, the plurality of hollow rotor blades may be mechanically retained in the rotor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick James McComb, Sean A. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 10408068
    Abstract: A blade according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a radially inner dovetail supporting a radially outer airfoil; and the dovetail having a radial thickness which is less in a circumferentially center portion of the dovetail than circumferentially opposing outer edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb, Christopher S. McKaveney
  • Patent number: 10294797
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fan blade assembly. In an embodiment, the fan blade assembly includes an airfoil having a forward edge covered by a sheath. The airfoil and the sheath are made from dissimilar conductive materials. A nonconductive coating is applied the an airfoil contact surface of the sheath before it is bonded to the leading edge of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sean A. Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20190010812
    Abstract: A hybrid rotor may comprise a rotor disk having a peripheral rim, a plurality of solid rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk, and a plurality of hollow rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk in a blade array with the plurality of solid rotor blades. In various embodiments, the plurality of solid rotor blades may be integrally coupled to the rotor disk. In various embodiments, the plurality of hollow rotor blades may be mechanically retained in the rotor disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick James McComb, Sean A. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 10036261
    Abstract: A blade has an airfoil extending radially outwardly of a dovetail. The dovetail has edges that will be at circumferential sides of the blade when the blade is mounted within a rotor. A bottom surface of the dovetail will be radially inward when the rotor blade is mounted in a rotor, and is formed such that a circumferentially central portion of the bottom surface is radially thicker than are circumferential edges. A fan and a gas turbine engine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Christopher S. McKaveney, Patrick James McComb
  • Patent number: 9896936
    Abstract: A fan assembly for gas assembly engine is disclosed. The fan assembly includes a rotor that is coupled to at least one fan blade. The fan assembly also includes a spinner that extends towards the rotor and the fan blades so that an edge of the spinner engages the fan blades. The edge of the spinner thereby serves as a grounding element for the fan blade. If the spinner is fabricated from a composite or a plastic material that is not sufficiently conductive for grounding purposes, the edge may be coated with a conductive material. Alternatively, the spinner may be fabricated from a metallic material, which would eliminate the need for a conductive coating on the edge that engages the fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb
  • Patent number: 9840922
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fan blade spacer including a conduit disposed within a fan blade spacer composed of an elastically deformable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sean A. Whitehurst
  • Patent number: 9828864
    Abstract: A blade has an airfoil extending radially outwardly of a dovetail. The dovetail has edges that will be at circumferential sides of the blade when the blade is mounted within a rotor. A bottom surface of the dovetail will be radially inward when the rotor blade is mounted in a rotor, and is formed such that a circumferentially central portion of the bottom surface is radially thicker than are circumferential edges. A fan and a gas turbine engine are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb, Lee Drozdenko
  • Patent number: 9810078
    Abstract: Rotary machines including a hybrid rotor with an integrally bladed rotor portion are provided. The integrally bladed rotor portion for the hybrid rotor comprises a rotor disk portion and a blade portion. The rotor disk portion has a peripheral rim configured to mechanically retain an individual rotor blade. The blade portion comprises an integral rotor blade extending outwardly and integrally from the rotor disk portion. The individual rotor blade is configured to extend outwardly from the rotor disk portion in a blade array with the integral rotor blade. The hybrid rotor is also provided and comprises the integrally bladed rotor portion and a plurality of individual rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk portion in a blade array with a plurality of integral rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb
  • Publication number: 20170058916
    Abstract: A gas turbine fan fairing platform includes at least one body defining a surface and having an opening receptive to a blade, a protrusion extending outwardly from the surface in a direction that will position the protrusion along a leading edge near a root of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Michael A. Weisse, Jordan J. Franklin, Patrick James McComb
  • Publication number: 20160369638
    Abstract: Rotary machines including a hybrid rotor with an integrally bladed rotor portion are provided. The integrally bladed rotor portion for the hybrid rotor comprises a rotor disk portion and a blade portion. The rotor disk portion has a peripheral rim configured to mechanically retain an individual rotor blade. The blade portion comprises an integral rotor blade extending outwardly and integrally from the rotor disk portion. The individual rotor blade is configured to extend outwardly from the rotor disk portion in a blade array with the integral rotor blade. The hybrid rotor is also provided and comprises the integrally bladed rotor portion and a plurality of individual rotor blades extending outwardly from the rotor disk portion in a blade array with a plurality of integral rotor blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: SEAN A. WHITEHURST, PATRICK JAMES MCCOMB
  • Publication number: 20160230774
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fan blade assembly. In an embodiment, the fan blade assembly includes an airfoil having a forward edge covered by a sheath. The airfoil and the sheath are made from dissimilar conductive materials. A nonconductive ceramic coating is applied to a sheath receiving surface of the airfoil before it is bonded to the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventor: Sean A. Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20160201471
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fan blade assembly. In an embodiment, the fan blade assembly includes an airfoil having a forward edge covered by a sheath. The airfoil and the sheath are made from dissimilar conductive materials. A nonconductive coating is applied the an airfoil contact surface of the sheath before it is bonded to the leading edge of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Sean A. Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20160177732
    Abstract: A blade includes a hollow metal airfoil having an opening to an internal cavity in a first major surface. A metal cover is adhesively bonded to the airfoil around the opening. The cover encloses the cavity and provides a continuous first major surface. The cavity is divided into at least first and second subcavities. A different filler material is disposed within the first and second subcavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick J. McComb
  • Publication number: 20160017727
    Abstract: A blade according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a radially inner dovetail supporting a radially outer airfoil; and the dovetail having a radial thickness which is less in a circumferentially center portion of the dovetail than circumferentially opposing outer edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb, Christopher S. McKaveney
  • Publication number: 20150300176
    Abstract: A fan assembly for gas assembly engine is disclosed. The fan assembly includes a rotor that is coupled to at least one fan blade. The fan assembly also includes a spinner that extends towards the rotor and the fan blades so that an edge of the spinner engages the fan blades. The edge of the spinner thereby serves as a grounding element for the fan blade. If the spinner is fabricated from a composite or a plastic material that is not sufficiently conductive for grounding purposes, the edge may be coated with a conductive material. Alternatively, the spinner may be fabricated from a metallic material, which would eliminate the need for a conductive coating on the edge that engages the fan blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb
  • Publication number: 20150292338
    Abstract: A fan platform for electrically grounding an airfoil of a gas turbine engine includes a flow path surface extending between a first and second side. An inner surface radially opposing the flow path surface also extends between the first and second side, and includes a body portion extending radially inwardly therefrom. At least a first conductive path for grounding travels from the first side via the body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb
  • Publication number: 20150252678
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a fan blade spacer including a conduit disposed within a fan blade spacer composed of an elastically deformable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventor: Sean A Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20150233259
    Abstract: A blade has an airfoil extending radially outwardly of a dovetail. The dovetail has edges that will be at circumferential sides of the blade when the blade is mounted within a rotor. A bottom surface of the dovetail will be radially inward when the rotor blade is mounted in a rotor, and is formed such that a circumferentially central portion of the bottom surface is radially thicker than are circumferential edges. A fan and a gas turbine engine are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Sean A. Whitehurst, Patrick James McComb, Lee Drozdenko