Patents by Inventor Thomas Lee BECKER, JR.

Thomas Lee BECKER, JR. 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: 11585354
    Abstract: An un-ducted turbofan engine defining a radial direction and an axial direction that includes a core engine, a fan, a plurality of variable outlet guide vanes, and a pitch change mechanism. Each of the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes are attached in a rotatable manner to the core engine of the un-ducted turbofan engine. The pitch change mechanism is positioned radially between the engine air flowpath and the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes and coupled to at least one variable outlet guide vane of the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes for changing a pitch of the at least one variable outlet guide vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Lee Becker, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220325723
    Abstract: An un-ducted turbofan engine defining a radial direction and an axial direction that includes a core engine, a fan, a plurality of variable outlet guide vanes, and a pitch change mechanism. Each of the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes are attached in a rotatable manner to the core engine of the un-ducted turbofan engine. The pitch change mechanism is positioned radially between the engine air flowpath and the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes and coupled to at least one variable outlet guide vane of the plurality of variable outlet guide vanes for changing a pitch of the at least one variable outlet guide vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Lee Becker, JR.
  • Patent number: 11391298
    Abstract: An aeronautical propulsion device including a fan and a plurality of variable guide vanes is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades for providing a flow of air and the plurality of variable guide vanes are configured for directing air to or from the fan in a desired direction. Each of the plurality of guide vanes defines an inner end along the radial direction and is attached to a housing of the portion device at the inner end in a rotatable manner. The propulsion device further includes a pitch change mechanism positioned in the housing and mechanically coupled to at least one of the plurality of guide vanes for changing a pitch of the at least one of the plurality of guide vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Lee Becker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10711702
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a compressor section, a combustion section located downstream of the compressor section, and a turbine section located downstream of the combustion section. A structural member extends from the compressor section to the turbine section for strengthening one or more components of the gas turbine engine. The structural member also defines a flowpath extending between an inlet in airflow communication with the compressor section and an outlet in airflow communication with the turbine section. The flowpath is configured to provide bleed air from the compressor section to the turbine section to capture at least a portion of the energy in such bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Lee Becker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10578028
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. The compressor section includes one or more compressors and the turbine section includes one or more turbines. The one or more compressors and the one or more turbines are each rotatable about a longitudinal centerline of the gas turbine engine. Additionally, a bleed air flowpath is provided extending between an inlet in airflow communication with the compressor section and an outlet. An auxiliary turbine is positioned in airflow communication with the bleed air flowpath for extracting energy from a flow of bleed air through the bleed air flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Lee Becker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10060290
    Abstract: The pump includes a first rotatable member including a radially inward facing groove having an edge. The first rotatable member configured to receive a plurality of flows of fluid over the edge. The first rotatable member configured to rotate at a first angular velocity. The pump also includes a second rotatable member including a collector configured to rotate at a second angular velocity. The second rotatable member also includes a plurality of scoop tubes extending radially outwardly from the collector. Each scoop tube of the plurality of scoop tubes includes a first end coupled in flow communication to the collector and a second end including an inlet opening extending into the groove. The second end curved such that the inlet opening is open in a direction of rotation of the second rotatable member. The inlet opening configured to scoop a fluid collected in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Thomas Lee Becker, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170191378
    Abstract: The pump includes a first rotatable member including a radially inward facing groove having an edge. The first rotatable member configured to receive a plurality of flows of fluid over the edge. The first rotatable member configured to rotate at a first angular velocity. The pump also includes a second rotatable member including a collector configured to rotate at a second angular velocity. The second rotatable member also includes a plurality of scoop tubes extending radially outwardly from the collector. Each scoop tube of the plurality of scoop tubes includes a first end coupled in flow communication to the collector and a second end including an inlet opening extending into the groove. The second end curved such that the inlet opening is open in a direction of rotation of the second rotatable member. The inlet opening configured to scoop a fluid collected in the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Thomas Lee Becker, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170102006
    Abstract: An aeronautical propulsion device including a fan and a plurality of variable guide vanes is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades for providing a flow of air and the plurality of variable guide vanes are configured for directing air to or from the fan in a desired direction. Each of the plurality of guide vanes defines an inner end along the radial direction and is attached to a housing of the portion device at the inner end in a rotatable manner. The propulsion device further includes a pitch change mechanism positioned in the housing and mechanically coupled to at least one of the plurality of guide vanes for changing a pitch of the at least one of the plurality of guide vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Thomas Lee Becker, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170051678
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a compressor section, a combustion section located downstream of the compressor section, and a turbine section located downstream of the combustion section. A structural member extends from the compressor section to the turbine section for strengthening one or more components of the gas turbine engine. The structural member also defines a flowpath extending between an inlet in airflow communication with the compressor section and an outlet in airflow communication with the turbine section. The flowpath is configured to provide bleed air from the compressor section to the turbine section to capture at least a portion of the energy in such bleed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Lee BECKER, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170051680
    Abstract: An airflow injection nozzle for a stage of airflow injection nozzles located in a turbine section of the gas turbine engine is provided. The airflow injection nozzle includes a leading end positioned opposite of a trailing end, as well as a pressure side positioned opposite of a suction side. The airflow injection nozzle includes an opening positioned on the pressure side oriented generally in a flow direction of the gas turbine engine for injecting a flow of bleed air from a compressor section of the gas turbine engine into the turbine section of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Lee BECKER, JR., Craig Miller KUHNE
  • Publication number: 20170051679
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. The compressor section includes one or more compressors and the turbine section includes one or more turbines. The one or more compressors and the one or more turbines are each rotatable about a longitudinal centerline of the gas turbine engine. Additionally, a bleed air flowpath is provided extending between an inlet in airflow communication with the compressor section and an outlet. An auxiliary turbine is positioned in airflow communication with the bleed air flowpath for extracting energy from a flow of bleed air through the bleed air flowpath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Lee Becker, JR.