Patents by Inventor Steven J. Laporte

Steven J. Laporte 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).

  • Diffuser mounted fuel-air heat exchanger
    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
  • DIFFUSER MOUNTED FUEL-AIR HEAT EXCHANGER
    Publication number: 20170167385
    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: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Steven J. Laporte, Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Stephen K. Kramer, Simon Pickford