Patents by Inventor Stephen K. Kramer

Stephen K. Kramer 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: 20210025591
    Abstract: Combustor panels of gas turbine engines and gas turbine engines are described. The combustor panels include a hot side configured to be exposed to combustion within a gas turbine engine, a cold side opposite the hot side of the combustor panel, the cold side configured to receive cooling flow thereon, and a peak-valley gridded pattern formed on the cold side, the peak-valley gridded pattern comprising a plurality of recessed cells arranged in a grid pattern, with each recessed cell having a peak, angled sidewalls, and an effusion hole located at a bottom of the angled sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Pritchard, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10859267
    Abstract: An oxidation resistant coating system for a turbine engine component includes a cathodic arc coating applied to a surface of the engine component, a thin APS metallic coating applied to a surface of the cathodic arc coating, and a ceramic top coating applied to a surface of the thin APS metallic coating to improve lifetime of the engine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian S. Tryon, Alexander W. Williams, Stephen K. Kramer, Kevin W. Schlichting, Jessica L. Serra
  • Patent number: 10801730
    Abstract: Combustors of gas turbine engines having a combustor shell having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first securing element positioned at the first end of the combustor shell, a second securing element positioned at the second end of the combustor shell, a plurality of high temperature material panels fixedly secured by the first securing element at the first end and the second securing element at the second, wherein a panel gap is formed between edges of adjacent high temperature material panels of the plurality of high temperature material panels, and a seal divider extending from the first end to the second end and positioned on the combustor shell and arranged to seal the panel gap between adjacent first and second high temperature material panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20200300468
    Abstract: A sensor system for use in a gas turbine engine. The sensor system includes a reflective surface configured to reflect optical features corresponding to combustion in a combustion chamber that exit the combustion chamber via at least one opening therein. The sensor system further includes an optical sensor configured to receive the reflected optical features from the reflective surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10690346
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell having a shell opening therethrough, a combustor panel having a stud attached thereto, the stud extending through the shell opening. The stud includes a standoff to define an intermediate passage between the combustor shell and the combustor panel. A retainer is attached to the stud. A washer surrounds the stud and is positioned between the retainer and the combustor shell. The washer at least partially defines a cooling flow passage configured to direct a cooling airflow through the shell opening to impinge the cooling flow on at least one of the stud or the standoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Mark F. Zelesky, Atul Kohli, Dustin W. Davis, Ricardo Trindade, Steven Bruce Gautschi, Brandon W. Spangler, Trevor Rudy, Benjamin Bellows, Dave J. Hyland, James B. Hoke, Stephen K. Kramer, Dennis M. Moura
  • Publication number: 20200182470
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component assembly including: a first component having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; and a second component having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface of the second component, and a plurality of pin fins extending away from the second surface of the second component, the first surface of the first component and the second surface of the second component defining a cooling channel therebetween, wherein the plurality of pin fins extend into the cooling channel, wherein each of the plurality of pin fins have a pointed ellipse shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen K. Kramer, Ryan Lundgreen, Robin Prenter
  • Patent number: 10670275
    Abstract: A combustor panel may include an attachment feature. Because conventional attachment features of conventional combustor panels may be insufficiently cooled, the present disclosure provides various combustor configurations for reducing hotspots in the vicinity of attachment features and/or for providing cooling airflow to and in the vicinity of attachment features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy A Propheter-Hinckley, Atul Kohli, Benjamin D Bellows, Dustin W Davis, James B Hoke, Stephen K Kramer, Trevor Rudy
  • Patent number: 10626798
    Abstract: A thermal energy exchange system for cooling air of a gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger located at a diffuser of the gas turbine engine. The diffuser is positioned axially between a compressor and a combustor of the gas turbine engine. A fuel source is operably connected to the heat exchanger to direct a flow of fuel through the heat exchanger via a fuel pipe and toward a fuel nozzle of the combustor. An airflow inlet directs a cooling airflow through the heat exchanger to reduce an airflow temperature via thermal energy exchange between the cooling airflow and the flow of fuel. An airflow outlet directs the cooling airflow from the heat exchanger toward one or more of components of the turbine to cool the one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Steven J. Laporte, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Stephen K. Kramer, Simon Pickford
  • Publication number: 20200116360
    Abstract: A combustor liner panel attachment assembly includes a liner extending from a first end to a second end, and circumferentially to partially define a combustion zone. The assembly also includes a spring element located adjacent to a portion of the liner and operatively coupled to a stationary structure, the spring element having a recessed segment. The assembly further includes a protrusion feature extending radially outwardly from the liner, the protrusion feature disposed within the recessed segment of the spring element to axially retain the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin W. White, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20200003422
    Abstract: A self-pumping fuel injector includes a pump and a motor for, in-part, delivering fuel to a combustor at higher fuel pressures during start-up and ramping-up conditions. Each pump may include a stationary flow interuptor that intermittently and variably supplies fuel to a rotating spindle that, in-turn, expels the fuel into a nozzle of the injector for improve fuel spray distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20190353046
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a vane assembly having an inner platform and an airfoil section extending from the inner platform. A first combustor panel extends at least partially along the vane from upstream of the vane, and a blade outer air seal extends at least partially along the vane from downstream of the vane. The first combustor panel and the blade outer air seal define a platform gap located between a leading edge of the airfoil section of the vane and a trailing edge of the airfoil section of the vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10443851
    Abstract: A self-pumping fuel injector includes a pump and a motor for, in-part, delivering fuel to a combustor at higher fuel pressures during start-up and ramping-up conditions. Each pump may include a stationary flow interuptor that intermittently and variably supplies fuel to a rotating spindle that, in-turn, expels the fuel into a nozzle of the injector for improve fuel spray distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ken F. Blaney, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20190211751
    Abstract: A combustor section of a gas turbine engine includes a combustor having a combustor inlet, and a combustor bypass passage having a passage inlet located upstream of the combustor inlet, the combustor bypass passage configured to divert a selected bypass airflow around the combustor. A combustor bypass valve is located at the combustor bypass passage to control the selected bypass airflow along the combustor bypass passage. The combustor bypass valve including a valve element configured to rotate about an engine central longitudinal axis A to move one or more valve openings relative to one or more bypass passage openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Anton G. Banks, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10316686
    Abstract: An actuation system according to various embodiments can include an actuation ring having a first end and a second end separated by a gap, the actuation ring being configured to be coupled to a blade outer air seal (BOAS). The actuation system can also include an actuator coupled to at least one of the first end or the second end and configured to adjust a size of the gap such that a tip clearance between the BOAS and a blade tip is reduced in response to the size of the gap being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Hudson, Stephen K. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20190078785
    Abstract: A combustor panel may include an attachment feature. Because conventional attachment features of conventional combustor panels may be insufficiently cooled, the present disclosure provides various combustor configurations for reducing hotspots in the vicinity of attachment features and/or for providing cooling airflow to and in the vicinity of attachment features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Atul Kohli, Benjamin D. Bellows, Brandon W. Spangler, David J. Hyland, Dennis M. Moura, Dustin W. Davis, Mark F. Zelesky, Ricardo Trindade, Stephen K. Kramer, Steven Bruce Gautschi, Trevor Rudy
  • Publication number: 20190078787
    Abstract: A combustor panel may include an attachment feature. Because conventional attachment features of conventional combustor panels may be insufficiently cooled, the present disclosure provides various combustor configurations for reducing hotspots in the vicinity of attachment features and/or for providing cooling airflow to and in the vicinity of attachment features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin D Bellows, Brandon W Spangler, David J Hyland, Dennis M Moura, James B Hoke, Ricardo Trindade, Stephen K Kramer, Steven Bruce Gautschi
  • Publication number: 20190078786
    Abstract: A combustor panel may include an attachment feature. Because conventional attachment features of conventional combustor panels may be insufficiently cooled, the present disclosure provides various combustor configurations for reducing hotspots in the vicinity of attachment features and/or for providing cooling airflow to and in the vicinity of attachment features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Atul Kohli, Brandon W. Spangler, David J. Hyland, Dustin W. Davis, Ricardo Trindade, Stephen K. Kramer, Steven Bruce Gautschi
  • Publication number: 20190078788
    Abstract: A combustor panel may include an attachment feature. Because conventional attachment features of conventional combustor panels may be insufficiently cooled, the present disclosure provides various combustor configurations for reducing hotspots in the vicinity of attachment features and/or for providing cooling airflow to and in the vicinity of attachment features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy A Propheter-Hinckley, Atul Kohli, Benjamin D Bellows, Dustin W Davis, James B Hoke, Stephen K Kramer, Steven Bruce Gautschi, Trevor Rudy
  • Patent number: 10202856
    Abstract: A decoupled gas turbine engine includes a high spool assembly and a low spool assembly each having a rotational axis that are spaced from one-another. The engine further includes a combustor that may have a centerline spaced from the rotational axes of each spool assembly. Turning ducts of the engine are configured to re-direct airflow from one spool assembly to the next and/or between one spool assembly and the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Stephen K. Kramer, Jesse M. Chandler
  • Patent number: 10168052
    Abstract: A heat shield for a combustor includes a ring shaped body including a central opening defining a radially inner edge of the ring shaped body. The ring shaped body is at least partially made of a ceramic material. The heat shield includes a shaped portion designed to enhance an interference fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hoyt Y. Chang, Stephen K. Kramer