Patents by Inventor Sean Christopher Binion

Sean Christopher Binion 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: 20240110524
    Abstract: A system includes a hydrogen sensor configured to generate data indicative of a level of hydrogen present within the compartment and a computing system. The computing system configured to determine at least one of the level of hydrogen present within the compartment or a rate of change of the level of hydrogen present within the compartment and compare the determined at least one of the level of hydrogen present within the compartment or the rate of change of the level of hydrogen present within the compartment to an associated threshold value. Furthermore, when the determined at least one of the level of hydrogen present within the compartment or the rate of change of the level of hydrogen present within the compartment exceeds the associated threshold value, the computing system is configured to initiate a control action associated with reducing the level of hydrogen present within the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Constantinos Minas, Sean Christopher Binion
  • Publication number: 20240003294
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; a nacelle surrounding and at least partially enclosing the fan; an inlet pre-swirl feature located upstream of the plurality of fan blades, the inlet pre-swirl feature attached to or integrated into the nacelle; and a means for reducing ice buildup or ice formation on the inlet pre-swirl feature, the means in communication with the inlet pre-swirl feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Allan George van de Wall, Sean Christopher Binion, Brian Lewis Devendorf, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11739689
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; a nacelle surrounding and at least partially enclosing the fan; an inlet pre-swirl feature located upstream of the plurality of fan blades, the inlet pre-swirl feature attached to or integrated into the nacelle; and a means for reducing ice buildup or ice formation on the inlet pre-swirl feature, the means in communication with the inlet pre-swirl feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Allan George van de Wall, Sean Christopher Binion, Brian Lewis Devendorf, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20230258134
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of rotatable fan blades, each fan blade defining a fan tip speed; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; and a gear box, wherein the turbomachine is operably coupled to the fan through the gear box, wherein a gear ratio of the gear box is greater than or equal to 1.2 and less than or equal to 3.0; wherein during operation of the turbofan engine at a rated speed the fan tip speed is greater than or equal to 1000 feet per second. In exemplary embodiments, during operation of the turbofan engine at the rated speed the fan pressure ratio is less than or equal to about 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christopher James Kroger, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Sean Christopher Binion, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Patent number: 11655768
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of rotatable fan blades, each fan blade defining a fan tip speed; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; and a gear box, wherein the turbomachine is operably coupled to the fan through the gear box, wherein a gear ratio of the gear box is greater than or equal to 1.2 and less than or equal to 3.0; wherein during operation of the turbofan engine at a rated speed the fan tip speed is greater than or equal to 1000 feet per second. In exemplary embodiments, during operation of the turbofan engine at the rated speed the fan pressure ratio is less than or equal to about 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christopher James Kroger, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Sean Christopher Binion, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Publication number: 20230053554
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; a nacelle surrounding and at least partially enclosing the fan; an inlet pre-swirl feature located upstream of the plurality of fan blades, the inlet pre-swirl feature attached to or integrated into the nacelle; and a means for reducing ice buildup or ice formation on the inlet pre-swirl feature, the means in communication with the inlet pre-swirl feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Allan George van de Wall, Sean Christopher Binion, Brian Lewis Devendorf, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20230028503
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of rotatable fan blades, each fan blade defining a fan tip speed; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; and a gear box, wherein the turbomachine is operably coupled to the fan through the gear box, wherein a gear ratio of the gear box is greater than or equal to 1.2 and less than or equal to 3.0; wherein during operation of the turbofan engine at a rated speed the fan tip speed is greater than or equal to 1000 feet per second. In exemplary embodiments, during operation of the turbofan engine at the rated speed the fan pressure ratio is less than or equal to about 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christopher James Kroger, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Sean Christopher Binion, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Patent number: 11067003
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a housing circumferentially surrounding an electric machine. The electric machine is supported within the housing. The housing defines a cooling passage proximate to the electric machine. The cooling passage circumferentially surrounds the electric machine and is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction of the electric machine. The cooling passage provides a flow of fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Sean Christopher Binion, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 10823078
    Abstract: Systems and methods for starting a powerplant are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a starting system of a powerplant includes one or more features that allow for the powerplant to be started electrically with a burst of electrical power and without deriving electrical power from an offboard power source or a relatively heavy onboard energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Christopher James Kroger, Sean Christopher Binion, Scott Douglas Waun
  • Patent number: 10774874
    Abstract: A bearing assembly including a body defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an aft surface is generally provided. A first inlet opening is defined through the outer surface in fluid communication with a first internal passage defined by a first internal wall. The first internal passage is in fluid communication with a first outlet opening defined through the inner surface. A second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface in fluid communication with a second internal passage defined by a second internal wall. The second internal passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet opening defined through the aft surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sean Christopher Binion, Steven Douglas Johnson, David Vickery Parker, Stephen Joseph Waymeyer, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
  • Publication number: 20200040940
    Abstract: A bearing assembly including a body defining an outer surface, an inner surface, and an aft surface is generally provided. A first inlet opening is defined through the outer surface in fluid communication with a first internal passage defined by a first internal wall. The first internal passage is in fluid communication with a first outlet opening defined through the inner surface. A second inlet opening is defined through the inner surface in fluid communication with a second internal passage defined by a second internal wall. The second internal passage is in fluid communication with a second outlet opening defined through the aft surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Sean Christopher Binion, Steven Douglas Johnson, David Vickery Parker, Stephen Joseph Waymeyer, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
  • Publication number: 20190101057
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a housing circumferentially surrounding an electric machine. The electric machine is supported within the housing. The housing defines a cooling passage proximate to the electric machine. The cooling passage circumferentially surrounds the electric machine and is extended at least partially along a lengthwise direction of the electric machine. The cooling passage provides a flow of fluid therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Sean Christopher Binion, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Publication number: 20190003398
    Abstract: Systems and methods for starting a powerplant are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a starting system of a powerplant includes one or more features that allow for the powerplant to be started electrically with a burst of electrical power and without deriving electrical power from an offboard power source or a relatively heavy onboard energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Christopher James Kroger, Sean Christopher Binion, Scott Douglas Waun