Patents by Inventor Thomas Malkus

Thomas Malkus 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: 12655804
    Abstract: Aero-acoustically damped bleed valves are disclosed. An example variable bleed valve apparatus comprises a variable bleed valve door to actuate the variable bleed valve apparatus, and a variable bleed valve port including an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the VBV port to define a secondary flowpath, the VBV door to cover the VBV port in a closed position, and a vortex device at the upstream edge of the variable bleed valve port, the vortex device including a vorticity generating feature along the upstream edge of the variable bleed valve port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Malkus, Trevor H. Wood, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Nageswar Ganji, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Ambika Shivamurthy
  • Publication number: 20260022666
    Abstract: A rotary component for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotor blades operably coupled to a rotating shaft extending along the central axis and an outer casing arranged exterior to the plurality of rotor blades in a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. The outer casing defines a gap between a blade tip of each of the plurality of rotor blades and the outer casing. The outer casing includes a plurality of features formed into an interior surface thereof. Each of the plurality of features includes one or more design parameters that are perturbed about a mean design parameter for stall performance so as to provide a circumferential variation in wake strengths associated with the plurality of rotor blades, thereby reducing operational noise of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2025
    Publication date: January 22, 2026
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Ramakrishna Venkata Mallina, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Thomas Malkus
  • Publication number: 20260009355
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a variable bleed valve assembly. An example variable bleed valve assembly a variable bleed valve (VBV) door corresponding to a bleed port and a first unison ring, the VBV door coupled to the first unison ring, the first unison ring to move in a circumferential direction between a first position and a second position causing the VBV door to move between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas J. Kray, Changjie Sun, Thomas Malkus, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Mitchell J. Headley
  • Patent number: 12435671
    Abstract: A rotary component for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotor blades operably coupled to a rotating shaft extending along the central axis and an outer casing arranged exterior to the plurality of rotor blades in a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. The outer casing defines a gap between a blade tip of each of the plurality of rotor blades and the outer casing. The outer casing includes a plurality of features formed into an interior surface thereof. Each of the plurality of features includes one or more design parameters that are perturbed about a mean design parameter for stall performance so as to provide a circumferential variation in wake strengths associated with the plurality of rotor blades, thereby reducing operational noise of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Ramakrishna Venkata Mallina, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Thomas Malkus
  • Publication number: 20250257699
    Abstract: A turbofan engine may include a variable pitch fan rotatable about an axis and operable in a forward thrust mode by generating flow opposite a direction of travel and in a reverse thrust mode by generating flow in the direction of travel. In reverse thrust mode, a nacelle assembly defines an intermediate opening disposed aft of the variable pitch fan. A flow guide assembly is configured to guide a first fluid flow opposite the direction of travel within a bypass passage from a forward opening to an aft opening of the nacelle assembly in forward thrust mode, and to redirect a second fluid flow from outside the bypass passage opposite the direction of travel to inside the bypass passage in the direction of travel through the intermediate opening in reverse thrust mode. One or more flow channels are defined for generating at least one fluidic injection pressurized by a core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Thomas Malkus, Kishore Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20250243825
    Abstract: A propulsor is provided having a power source; a fan section coupled to the power source and configured to provide thrust opposite a downstream direction; and a cowl assembly at least partially enclosing the power source and the fan section, the cowl assembly including: a forward cowl component; a first aft cowl component disposed in the downstream direction relative to the forward cowl component and movable to vary a first aft cowl displacement from the forward cowl component in the downstream direction; and a second aft cowl component disposed in the downstream direction relative to the first aft cowl component and movable to vary a second aft cowl intermediate displacement from the first aft cowl component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas Malkus, Trevor Howard Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12366202
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a variable bleed valve assembly. An example variable bleed valve assembly a variable bleed valve (VBV) door corresponding to a bleed port and a first unison ring, the VBV door coupled to the first unison ring, the first unison ring to move in a circumferential direction between a first position and a second position causing the VBV door to move between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Li Zheng, Nicholas J. Kray, Changjie Sun, Thomas Malkus, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Mitchell J. Headley
  • Patent number: 12320259
    Abstract: Compact bleed valve assemblies are disclosed. An example turbine engine comprises a rotor blade having an axial chord (C) measured at a tip of the rotor blade, and a variable bleed valve (VBV) including a VBV port defining a bleed flowpath and an exit angle (?exit) for bleed air exiting the VBV port, the VBV port including a forward entrance edge and an aft exit edge and a first length (LA) therebetween, and a VBV door corresponding to the VBV port, the VBV door to generate a bleed cavity having a bleed cavity area (BA) in the VBV port when the VBV is in a closed position, the VBV door to move between an open position and the closed position at a rotation angle (??), the VBV door to extend a distance (LAact) beyond the first length (LA), wherein L ? A + L ? A a ? c ? t C - 2 * ( B ? V ? I ? P + 0 . 1 ? 5 ) - 1 . 3 ? 5 ? - 0.8 , and wherein B ? V ? I ? P = 0 . 1 ? 5 * B ? A C 2 + 0 . 8 ? 5 * ? ? ? + ? e ? x ? i ? t 2 ? ? .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Giridhar Jothiprasad, Christopher E. LaMaster, Jeffrey D. Carnes, Thomas Malkus
  • Patent number: 12286941
    Abstract: A turbofan engine may include a variable pitch fan rotatable about an axis and operable in a forward thrust mode by generating flow opposite a direction of travel and in a reverse thrust mode by generating flow in the direction of travel. In reverse thrust mode, a nacelle assembly defines an intermediate opening disposed aft of the variable pitch fan. A flow guide assembly is configured to guide a first fluid flow opposite the direction of travel within a bypass passage from a forward opening to an aft opening of the nacelle assembly in forward thrust mode, and to redirect a second fluid flow from outside the bypass passage opposite the direction of travel to inside the bypass passage in the direction of travel through the intermediate opening in reverse thrust mode. One or more flow channels are defined for generating at least one fluidic injection pressurized by a core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Thomas Malkus, Kishore Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12258923
    Abstract: A propulsor is provided having a power source; a fan section coupled to the power source and configured to provide thrust opposite a downstream direction; and a cowl assembly at least partially enclosing the power source and the fan section, the cowl assembly including: a forward cowl component; a first aft cowl component disposed in the downstream direction relative to the forward cowl component and movable to vary a first aft cowl displacement from the forward cowl component in the downstream direction; and a second aft cowl component disposed in the downstream direction relative to the first aft cowl component and movable to vary a second aft cowl intermediate displacement from the first aft cowl component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Malkus, Trevor Howard Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan
  • Publication number: 20250075664
    Abstract: Aero-acoustically damped bleed valves are disclosed. An example variable bleed valve apparatus comprises a variable bleed valve door to actuate the variable bleed valve apparatus, and a variable bleed valve port including an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the VBV port to define a secondary flowpath, the VBV door to cover the VBV port in a closed position, and a vortex device at the upstream edge of the variable bleed valve port, the vortex device including a vorticity generating feature along the upstream edge of the variable bleed valve port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas Malkus, Trevor H. Wood, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Nageswar Ganji, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Ambika Shivamurthy
  • Patent number: 12180897
    Abstract: Aero-acoustically damped bleed valves are disclosed. An example variable bleed valve apparatus comprises a variable bleed valve door to actuate the variable bleed valve apparatus, and a variable bleed valve port including an upstream edge and a downstream edge, the VBV port to define a secondary flowpath, the VBV door to cover the VBV port in a closed position, and a vortex device at the upstream edge of the variable bleed valve port, the vortex device including a vorticity generating feature along the upstream edge of the variable bleed valve port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Malkus, Trevor H. Wood, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Nageswar Ganji, Hiranya Kumar Nath, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Ambika Shivamurthy
  • Publication number: 20240426247
    Abstract: A rotary component for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotor blades operably coupled to a rotating shaft extending along the central axis and an outer casing arranged exterior to the plurality of rotor blades in a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. The outer casing defines a gap between a blade tip of each of the plurality of rotor blades and the outer casing. The outer casing includes a plurality of features formed into an interior surface thereof. Each of the plurality of features includes one or more design parameters that are perturbed about a mean design parameter for stall performance so as to provide a circumferential variation in wake strengths associated with the plurality of rotor blades, thereby reducing operational noise of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Ramakrishna Venkata Mallina, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Thomas Malkus
  • Patent number: 12104535
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section arranged in serial flow order and together defining at least in part a core air flowpath; and a thermal management system comprising a supercritical carbon dioxide line thermally coupled to, or integrated into, a portion of the compressor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alexander Natsui, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Lana Maria Osusky, Thomas Malkus
  • Publication number: 20240309828
    Abstract: A propulsor is provided having a power source; a fan section coupled to the power source and configured to provide thrust opposite a downstream direction; and a cowl assembly at least partially enclosing the power source and the fan section, the cowl assembly including: a forward cowl component; a first aft cowl component disposed in the downstream direction relative to the forward cowl component and movable to vary a first aft cowl displacement from the forward cowl component in the downstream direction; and a second aft cowl component disposed in the downstream direction relative to the first aft cowl component and movable to vary a second aft cowl intermediate displacement from the first aft cowl component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Malkus, Trevor Howard Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan
  • Patent number: 12092034
    Abstract: A rotary component for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotor blades operably coupled to a rotating shaft extending along the central axis and an outer casing arranged exterior to the plurality of rotor blades in a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. The outer casing defines a gap between a blade tip of each of the plurality of rotor blades and the outer casing. The outer casing includes a plurality of features formed into an interior surface thereof. Each of the plurality of features includes one or more design parameters that are perturbed about a mean design parameter for stall performance so as to provide a circumferential variation in wake strengths associated with the plurality of rotor blades, thereby reducing operational noise of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Ramakrishna Venkata Mallina, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Thomas Malkus
  • Publication number: 20240117768
    Abstract: A rotary component for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotor blades operably coupled to a rotating shaft extending along the central axis and an outer casing arranged exterior to the plurality of rotor blades in a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. The outer casing defines a gap between a blade tip of each of the plurality of rotor blades and the outer casing. The outer casing includes a plurality of features formed into an interior surface thereof. Each of the plurality of features includes one or more design parameters that are perturbed about a mean design parameter for stall performance so as to provide a circumferential variation in wake strengths associated with the plurality of rotor blades, thereby reducing operational noise of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Trevor Howard Wood, Ramakrishna Venkata Mallina, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Thomas Malkus
  • Publication number: 20240060510
    Abstract: A turbomachine for an aircraft is provided. The turbomachine includes a plurality of radially-extending blades and an annular endwall opposite the radially-extending blades. The endwall includes an endwall treatment recessed into the endwall. The endwall treatment is characterized by a casing treatment volume compressibility factor (CTVCF), and a casing treatment normalized volume (CTNV), and a blade tip Mach number (Mtip).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Stephan Priebe, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Joseph Capozzi, Thomas Malkus, Michael Macrorie, Trevor H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20240060429
    Abstract: A turbomachine for an aircraft is provided. The turbomachine includes a plurality of radially-extending blades and an annular endwall opposite the radially-extending blades. The endwall includes an endwall treatment recessed into the endwall. The endwall treatment is characterized by a casing treatment volume compressibility factor (CTVCF), and a casing treatment normalized volume (CTNV), and a blade tip Mach number (Mtip).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Stephan Priebe, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Joseph Capozzi, Thomas Malkus, Michael Macrorie, Trevor H. Wood
  • Publication number: 20230417155
    Abstract: Compact bleed valve assemblies are disclosed. An example turbine engine comprises a rotor blade having an axial chord (C) measured at a tip of the rotor blade, and a variable bleed valve (VBV) including a VBV port defining a bleed flowpath and an exit angle (?exit) for bleed air exiting the VBV port, the VBV port including a forward entrance edge and an aft exit edge and a first length (LA) therebetween, and a VBV door corresponding to the VBV port, the VBV door to generate a bleed cavity having a bleed cavity area (BA) in the VBV port when the VBV is in a closed position, the VBV door to move between an open position and the closed position at a rotation angle (??), the VBV door to extend a distance (LAact) beyond the first length (LA), wherein L ? A + L ? A a ? c ? t C - 2 * ( B ? V ? I ? P + 0 . 1 ? 5 ) - 1 . 3 ? 5 ? - 0.8 , and wherein B ? V ? I ? P = 0 . 1 ? 5 * B ? A C 2 + 0 . 8 ? 5 * ? ? ? + ? e ? x ? i ? t 2 ? ? .
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Malkus, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Christopher E. LaMaster, Jeffrey D. Carnes