Patents by Inventor Thomas Bruce Avis
Thomas Bruce Avis 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).
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Patent number: 10961868Abstract: A method of operating a lubrication system for a gas turbine engine includes pumping a lubricant from a supply conduit to a bearing compartment. A pressure differential in the bearing compartment. The supply conduit is evacuated in response to the pressure differential creating step. The supply conduit is refilled with the lubricant from a reservoir conduit fluidly joined to the supply conduit at a junction by gravitationally draining the reservoir conduit.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
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Patent number: 10934888Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system for a plurality of bearing dampers in a plurality of engine bearing compartments of a gas turbine engine, including a lubricant supply conduit, a first lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the first delivery conduit including one or more lubricant delivery flow paths and delivering lubrication to engine components, a second lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the second delivery conduit delivering lubricant to one or more of the plurality of bearing dampers, and an active oil flow management valve, selectively restricting lubricant flow in the first delivery conduit, increasing pressure in the second delivery conduit, based on an engine shaft rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin, Michael Dreher, James S. Elder
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Publication number: 20200277878Abstract: A method of operating a lubrication system for a gas turbine engine includes pumping a lubricant from a supply conduit to a bearing compartment. A pressure differential in the bearing compartment. The supply conduit is evacuated in response to the pressure differential creating step. The supply conduit is refilled with the lubricant from a reservoir conduit fluidly joined to the supply conduit at a junction by gravitationally draining the reservoir conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
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Patent number: 10711644Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment that has an inlet. A supply line splits into a supply conduit and a reservoir conduit that are fluidly parallel to one another for a length. The reservoir conduit fluidly rejoins the supply conduit at a junction. The supply conduit is fluidly connected to the inlet, and the reservoir conduit includes a flow restrictor upstream from the junction. A main pump is fluidly connected to the supply line and is configured to supply a lubricant to the bearing compartment through the supply line and supply and reservoir conduits in an operating state. The main pump has a non-operating state in which the reservoir conduit is configured to slowly refill the supply conduit through the flow restrictor.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
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Patent number: 10662810Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system, for a bearing damper in a bearing housing, the bearing housing in an engine bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine, the bearing compartment rotatably supporting an engine component, including a first interface, a second interface, a bearing supply conduit fluidly coupled to the second interface and extending from the first interface to the second interface, the bearing supply conduit supplying lubricant to the bearing housing, a damper supply conduit located within the bearing supply conduit, extending between the interfaces, the damper supply conduit supplying lubricant to the bearing damper, and fluid in the bearing supply conduit is capable of insulting fluid in the damper supply conduit 108 from heat transferred through the interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Michael Dreher, Erik R. Granstrand
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Publication number: 20200011201Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system for a plurality of bearing dampers in a plurality of engine bearing compartments of a gas turbine engine, including a lubricant supply conduit, a first lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the first delivery conduit including one or more lubricant delivery flow paths and delivering lubrication to engine components, a second lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the second delivery conduit delivering lubricant to one or more of the plurality of bearing dampers, and an active oil flow management valve, selectively restricting lubricant flow in the first delivery conduit, increasing pressure in the second delivery conduit, based on an engine shaft rotational speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin, Michael Dreher, James S. Elder
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Patent number: 10458278Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system for a plurality of bearing dampers in a plurality of engine bearing compartments of a gas turbine engine, including a lubricant supply conduit, a first lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the first delivery conduit including one or more lubricant delivery flow paths and delivering lubrication to engine components, a second lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the second delivery conduit delivering lubricant to one or more of the plurality of bearing dampers, and an active oil flow management valve, selectively restricting lubricant flow in the first delivery conduit, increasing pressure in the second delivery conduit, based on an engine shaft rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2016Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin, Michael Dreher, James S. Elder
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Patent number: 10287916Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment with a bottom disposed opposite a top. An outlet is formed in the bottom of the bearing compartment. A seal is positioned between the bottom of the bearing compartment and the top of the bearing compartment. A scavenge line is connected to the outlet. The scavenge line forms a fluid trap that extends in a first direction from the outlet and the bottom of the bearing compartment and then extends in a second direction to a position disposed vertically between the bottom of the bearing compartment and the seal.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Ryan K. Snyder, Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
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Patent number: 10240534Abstract: A fuel supply manifold of a gas turbine engine, a method for assembling a fuel supply manifold for a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The fuel supply manifold for the gas turbine engine man include a plurality of fuel supply tubes, a fitting connecting at least two members of the plurality of fuel supply tubes, a bracket attached to the fitting, a bearing housing having a ball bearing, a bushing attached to a diffuser case of the gas turbine engine, wherein the bushing is surrounded by the ball bearing, and a removable fastener to connect the bearing housing to the bracket.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Robert F. Sheil, Thomas Bruce Avis, Peter Tu
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Publication number: 20180306062Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment that has an inlet. A supply line splits into a supply conduit and a reservoir conduit that are fluidly parallel to one another for a length. The reservoir conduit fluidly rejoins the supply conduit at a junction. The supply conduit is fluidly connected to the inlet, and the reservoir conduit includes a flow restrictor upstream from the junction. A main pump is fluidly connected to the supply line and is configured to supply a lubricant to the bearing compartment through the supply line and supply and reservoir conduits in an operating state. The main pump has a non-operating state in which the reservoir conduit is configured to slowly refill the supply conduit through the flow restrictor.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
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Patent number: 9976811Abstract: A cylindrical shift converter (4) is disposed within an annular heat exchanger (28, 24) which has an outer wall (5). A plurality of spiral rods (90) create a plurality of spiral gas passages (26a) between the outer wall and a thin shell (92). The outer diameter of the thin shell is at least about 3/16 inch (about 4 mm) less than the inner diameter of an inner wall (20) of an annular hydrodesulfurizer (10), to facilitate inserting the shift converter and heat exchanger into the hydrodesulfurizer to form a unitized assembly (2). The spiral passages open into the hydrodesulfurizer.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: DOOSAN FUEL CELL AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Gregory C. Yust
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Publication number: 20180128122Abstract: A lubricant supply system for a bearing damper in an engine bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine, the bearing compartment rotatably supporting an engine component and including a drain system for purging excess lubricant, including a first interface, a second interface, a drain conduit fluidly coupled to the first interface and extending from the first interface to the second interface, the drain conduit receiving fluid, including excess lubricant and lubricant purging air, from the first interface, a supply conduit located within the drain conduit, extending between the interfaces the supply conduit providing lubricant to the bearing damper and fluid in the drain conduit is capable of insulting fluid in the supply conduit from heat transferred through the interfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Michael Dreher, Erik R. Granstrand
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Publication number: 20180128124Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system for a plurality of bearing dampers in a plurality of engine bearing compartments of a gas turbine engine, including a lubricant supply conduit, a first lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the first delivery conduit including one or more lubricant delivery flow paths and delivering lubrication to engine components, a second lubricant delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the supply conduit, the second delivery conduit delivering lubricant to one or more of the plurality of bearing dampers, and an active oil flow management valve, selectively restricting lubricant flow in the first delivery conduit, increasing pressure in the second delivery conduit, based on an engine shaft rotational speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin, Michael Dreher, James S. Elder
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Publication number: 20180128121Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system for a bearing damper in an engine bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine, the bearing compartment rotatably supporting an engine component, including a first interface, a second interface, a supply conduit fluidly coupled to the second interface and extending from the first interface to the second interface, the conduit supplying lubricant to the bearing damper and including a first discrete cavity, extending proximate to the first interface, a second discrete cavity, extending proximate to the second interface, the discrete cavities, mutually spaced to be substantially outside a core gas path C of engine, the discrete cavities being air sealed against the supply conduit, insulating fluid in the supply conduit from heat transferred from the interfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Michael Dreher, Erik R. Granstrand
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Publication number: 20180128123Abstract: Disclosed is a lubricant supply system, for a bearing damper in a bearing housing, the bearing housing in an engine bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine, the bearing compartment rotatably supporting an engine component, including a first interface, a second interface, a bearing supply conduit fluidly coupled to the second interface and extending from the first interface to the second interface, the bearing supply conduit supplying lubricant to the bearing housing, a damper supply conduit located within the bearing supply conduit, extending between the interfaces, the damper supply conduit supplying lubricant to the bearing damper, and fluid in the bearing supply conduit is capable of insulting fluid in the damper supply conduit 108 from heat transferred through the interfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Michael Dreher, Erik R. Granstrand
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Publication number: 20170350274Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment with a bottom disposed opposite a top. An outlet is formed in the bottom of the bearing compartment. A seal is positioned between the bottom of the bearing compartment and the top of the bearing compartment. A scavenge line is connected to the outlet. The scavenge line forms a fluid trap that extends in a first direction from the outlet and the bottom of the bearing compartment and then extends in a second direction to a position disposed vertically between the bottom of the bearing compartment and the seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2016Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Ryan K. Snyder, Thomas Bruce Avis, Francis Parnin
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Publication number: 20160258360Abstract: A fuel supply manifold of a gas turbine engine, a method for assembling a fuel supply manifold for a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The fuel supply manifold for the gas turbine engine man include a plurality of fuel supply tubes, a fitting connecting at least two members of the plurality of fuel supply tubes, a bracket attached to the fitting, a bearing housing having a ball bearing, a bushing attached to a diffuser case of the gas turbine engine, wherein the bushing is surrounded by the ball bearing, and a removable fastener to connect the bearing housing to the bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2014Publication date: September 8, 2016Inventors: Robert F. Sheil, Thomas Bruce Avis, Peter Tu
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Publication number: 20160010773Abstract: A component mount is disclosed which may comprise a tube fitting having first and second ends, a bracket extending from the tube fitting, and a mount extending from the tube fitting. The component mount may be used to mount a line replaceable unit to a casing of a gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2014Publication date: January 14, 2016Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Michael Dreher
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Patent number: 8623561Abstract: The condenser heat exchanger includes a housing that provides a gaseous stream flowpath and a bottom wall. A gaseous stream contains acid. The housing has a fluid inlet configured to introduce a liquid, such as water. A coolant tube is disposed within the housing in the gaseous stream flowpath and provides a coolant path. Acid condenses on and falls from the coolant tube into a collection area that is provided at the bottom wall near the coolant tube. The collection area is configured to maintain storage of a predetermined amount of fluid that includes the liquid, which dilutes the condensed acid.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2009Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Clearedge Power CorporationInventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Kazuo Saito, Michael T. Lines, Ricardo O. Brown
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Publication number: 20110272123Abstract: A cylindrical shift converter (4) is disposed within an annular heat exchanger (28, 24) which has an outer wall (5). A plurality of spiral rods (90) create a plurality of spiral gas passages (26a) between the outer wall and a thin shell (92). The outer diameter of the thin shell is at least about 3/16 inch (about 4 mm) less than the inner diameter of an inner wall (20) of an annular hydrodesulfurizer (10), to facilitate inserting the shift converter and heat exchanger into the hydrodesulfurizer to form a unitized assembly (2). The spiral passages open into the hydrodesulfurizer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2009Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Thomas Bruce Avis, Gregory C. Yust