Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Crowley

Timothy J. Crowley 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: 20230160347
    Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine having at least one compressor section and at least one turbine section operably coupled to a shaft. The hybrid electric propulsion system includes an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the shaft of the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine hybrid electric propulsion system parameters based on a composite system model and sensor data, determine a prediction based on the hybrid electric propulsion system parameters and the composite system model, determine a model predictive control optimization for a plurality of hybrid electric system control effectors based on the prediction using a plurality of reduced-order partitions of the composite system model, and actuate the hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crowley, Sorin Bengea, Manuj Dhingra, David Gelwan, Kevin Hendricks, Joshua Adams, Martin Richard Amari, Richard P. Meisner, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 11555455
    Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine having at least one compressor section and at least one turbine section operably coupled to a shaft. The hybrid electric propulsion system includes an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the shaft of the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine an estimate of hybrid electric propulsion system parameters based on a composite system model and sensor data, determine a model predictive control state and a prediction based on the hybrid electric propulsion system parameters and the composite system model, determine a model predictive control optimization for a plurality of hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control state and the prediction using a plurality of reduced-order partitions of the composite system model, and actuate the hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crowley, Sorin Bengea, Manuj Dhingra, David Gelwan, Kevin Hendricks, Joshua Adams, Martin Richard Amari, Richard P. Meisner, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 11346290
    Abstract: A control system for limiting a power turbine torque of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the control system includes an engine control module configured to output an effector command signal to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine; a power turbine governor module configured to output to the engine control module a power turbine torque request signal; and a power turbine torque limiter module configured to output to the power turbine governor module a power turbine speed rate signal to limit a power turbine speed overshoot of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Richard P. Meisner, Timothy J. Crowley, David Lei Ma
  • Publication number: 20210340956
    Abstract: A control system for limiting power turbine torque (QPT) of a gas turbine engine includes a controller including a processor and memory configured to control the gas turbine engine, the controller including an engine control module that provides an effector command signal to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine; a power turbine governor module that outputs a preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre); and a power turbine torque (QPT) optimal limiter module that outputs a maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to limit a power turbine speed overshoot of the gas turbine engine; wherein the controller outputs a minimum value between the preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre) and the maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to the engine control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, David Lei Ma, Richard P. Meisner
  • Publication number: 20210262400
    Abstract: A control system for limiting a power turbine torque of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the control system includes an engine control module configured to output an effector command signal to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine; a power turbine governor module configured to output to the engine control module a power turbine torque request signal; and a power turbine torque limiter module configured to output to the power turbine governor module a power turbine speed rate signal to limit a power turbine speed overshoot of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Richard P. Meisner, Timothy J. Crowley, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 11092136
    Abstract: A control system for limiting power turbine torque (QPT) of a gas turbine engine includes a controller including a processor and memory configured to control the gas turbine engine, the controller including an engine control module that provides an effector command signal to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine; a power turbine governor module that outputs a preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre); and a power turbine torque (QPT) optimal limiter module that outputs a maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to limit a power turbine speed overshoot of the gas turbine engine; wherein the controller outputs a minimum value between the preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre) and the maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to the engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J Crowley, David Lei Ma, Richard P Meisner
  • Patent number: 10961922
    Abstract: A power turbine control system for a gas turbine engine may comprise a controller comprising one or more processors in communication with the gas turbine engine. The processors may comprise an engine control module configured to receive a torque request signal and generate a torque achieved signal. A rate of change of power turbine speed estimation module may generate an estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal. A dynamic inversion power turbine governor module may generate the torque request signal based on the torque achieved signal and estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Meisner, Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley
  • Publication number: 20200347787
    Abstract: A hybrid electric propulsion system includes a gas turbine engine having at least one compressor section and at least one turbine section operably coupled to a shaft. The hybrid electric propulsion system includes an electric motor configured to augment rotational power of the shaft of the gas turbine engine. A controller is operable to determine an estimate of hybrid electric propulsion system parameters based on a composite system model and sensor data, determine a model predictive control state and a prediction based on the hybrid electric propulsion system parameters and the composite system model, determine a model predictive control optimization for a plurality of hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control state and the prediction using a plurality of reduced-order partitions of the composite system model, and actuate the hybrid electric system control effectors based on the model predictive control optimization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crowley, Sorin Bengea, Manuj Dhingra, David Gelwan, Kevin Hendricks, Joshua Adams, Martin Richard Amari, Richard P. Meisner, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 10767506
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of hydraulic effectors operably connected to an engine to control engine parameters. The system also includes a plurality of sensors operably connected to measure a state or parameter of each effector, a pump configured to supply fluid to the plurality of effectors, and a controller operably connected to the plurality of sensors, the plurality of effectors, and the pump. The controller executes a method for an adaptive model-based control for controlling each effector, The method includes receiving a request indicative of a desired state for each effector, receiving a weighting associated each request, obtaining information about a current state of each effector, and updating an adaptive model based control (MBC) based upon the information. The method also includes generating a control command for an effector based upon the adaptive MBC and commanding the effector based upon the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Richard Amari, Joshua Adams, Manuj Dhingra, Timothy J. Crowley, Andrew B. Thompson, Timothy J. Gaudet, Richard P. Meisner
  • Publication number: 20200248622
    Abstract: A system for neural network compensated aero-thermodynamic gas turbine engine parameter/inlet condition synthesis. The system includes an aero-thermodynamic engine model configured to produce a real-time model-based estimate of engine parameters, a machine learning model configured to generate model correction errors indicating the difference between the real-time model-based estimate of engine parameters and sensed values of the engine parameters, and a comparator configured to produce residuals indicating a difference between the real-time model-based estimate of engine parameters and the sensed values of the engine parameters. The system also includes an inlet condition estimator configured to iteratively adjust an estimate of inlet conditions based on the residuals and adaptive control laws configured to produce engine control parameters for control of gas turbine engine actuators based on the inlet conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crowley, Ramesh Rajagopalan, Sorin Bengea
  • Patent number: 10711734
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine engine, a method for controlling a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The control system may include a nozzle scheduler for determining an exhaust nozzle position goal based on a nozzle schedule of exhaust nozzle positions related to flight conditions. The control system may further include a control module for determining a control command for the gas turbine engine. The control command may include, at least, a fuel flow command and an exhaust nozzle position command and the control command may be based on, at least, the exhaust nozzle position goal and an estimated thrust value. The control system may further include an actuator for controlling the gas turbine engine based on the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, Mark E. Lacour, David Lei Ma
  • Patent number: 10655494
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of electromechanical effectors operably connected to an engine to control engine parameters. The system also includes a plurality of sensors operably connected to measure a state or parameter of each effector, a power supply configured to supply power to the plurality of effectors, and a controller operably connected to the plurality of sensors, the plurality of effectors, and the power supply. The controller executes a method for an adaptive model-based control for controlling each effector, The method includes receiving a request indicative of a desired state for each effector, receiving a weighting associated each request, obtaining information about a current state of each effector, and updating an adaptive model based control (MBC) based upon the information. The method also includes generating a control command for an effector based upon the adaptive MBC and commanding the effector based upon the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Richard Amari, Joshua Adams, Manuj Dhingra, Timothy J. Crowley, Coy Bruce Wood
  • Publication number: 20200123926
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of electromechanical effectors operably connected to an engine to control engine parameters. The system also includes a plurality of sensors operably connected to measure a state or parameter of each effector, a power supply configured to supply power to the plurality of effectors, and a controller operably connected to the plurality of sensors, the plurality of effectors, and the power supply. The controller executes a method for an adaptive model-based control for controlling each effector, The method includes receiving a request indicative of a desired state for each effector, receiving a weighting associated each request, obtaining information about a current state of each effector, and updating an adaptive model based control (MBC) based upon the information. The method also includes generating a control command for an effector based upon the adaptive MBC and commanding the effector based upon the control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Richard Amari, Joshua Adams, Manuj Dhingra, Timothy J. Crowley, Coy Bruce Wood
  • Publication number: 20200123927
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of hydraulic effectors operably connected to an engine to control engine parameters. The system also includes a plurality of sensors operably connected to measure a state or parameter of each effector, a pump configured to supply fluid to the plurality of effectors, and a controller operably connected to the plurality of sensors, the plurality of effectors, and the pump. The controller executes a method for an adaptive model-based control for controlling each effector, The method includes receiving a request indicative of a desired state for each effector, receiving a weighting associated each request, obtaining information about a current state of each effector, and updating an adaptive model based control (MBC) based upon the information. The method also includes generating a control command for an effector based upon the adaptive MBC and commanding the effector based upon the control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Richard Amari, Joshua Adams, Manuj Dhingra, Timothy J. Crowley, Andrew B. Thompson, Timothy J. Gaudet, Richard P. Meisner
  • Publication number: 20200025130
    Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine engine, a method for controlling a gas turbine engine, and a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The control system may include a nozzle scheduler for determining an exhaust nozzle position goal based on a nozzle schedule of exhaust nozzle positions related to flight conditions. The control system may further include a control module for determining a control command for the gas turbine engine. The control command may include, at least, a fuel flow command and an exhaust nozzle position command and the control command may be based on, at least, the exhaust nozzle position goal and an estimated thrust value. The control system may further include an actuator for controlling the gas turbine engine based on the control command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, Mark E. Lacour, David Lei Ma
  • Publication number: 20190338754
    Abstract: A control system for limiting power turbine torque (QPT) of a gas turbine engine includes a controller including a processor and memory configured to control the gas turbine engine, the controller including an engine control module that provides an effector command signal to a gas generator of the gas turbine engine; a power turbine governor module that outputs a preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre); and a power turbine torque (QPT) optimal limiter module that outputs a maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to limit a power turbine speed overshoot of the gas turbine engine; wherein the controller outputs a minimum value between the preliminary torque request (QPT_req_pre) and the maximum torque topper (QPT_max) to the engine control module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley, David Lei Ma, Richard P. Meisner
  • Publication number: 20190309689
    Abstract: A power turbine control system for a gas turbine engine may comprise a controller comprising one or more processors in communication with the gas turbine engine. The processors may comprise an engine control module configured to receive a torque request signal and generate a torque achieved signal. A rate of change of power turbine speed estimation module may generate an estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal. A dynamic inversion power turbine governor module may generate the torque request signal based on the torque achieved signal and estimated rate of change of power turbine speed signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard P. Meisner, Chaohong Cai, Timothy J. Crowley
  • Patent number: 10423473
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas turbine engine having a constrained model based control (CMBC) system. The method including obtaining information about a current and previous states of the engine, updating model data information in the CMBC and a parameter estimation system based on the obtained information, and identifying trends in the data based on the information. The method also includes diagnosing the engine, based on the identified trends, determining at least one of a new constraint, objective, initial condition, model characteristic, prediction horizon, and control horizon for the control system based on the diagnosing step if the diagnosing step identified a fault condition, and adapting the CMBC system based on the at least one new constraint, objective, initial condition, model characteristic, prediction and control horizon. The method further includes generating at least on control command based on the adapting and commanding an actuator based on the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sorin C. Bengea, Tyler J. Selstad, Timothy J. Crowley
  • Patent number: 10345830
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a method includes generating, by a computer processor, thermo-fluid parameter estimates of a thermal management system (TMS) of an engine based on sensed parameters and monitoring for TMS component failures based on the thermo-fluid parameter estimates and the sensed parameters. Thermo-mechanical parameter estimates are generated based on selected thermo-fluid parameters. Life usage estimates and life usage rate estimates are generated based on the selected thermo-fluid parameters and the thermo-mechanical parameter estimates. Life usage rate targets are generated based on external commands and the life usage estimates. Limits and goals are modified based on the life usage rate estimates, failure flags, and the life usage rate targets. A model predictive control is applied to command one or more TMS control components based on thermo-mechanical model parameters, the failure flags, and the limits and goals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crowley, Tyler J. Selstad, Ding Xibei
  • Patent number: 10316760
    Abstract: A system and methods are provided for controlling turboshaft engines. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving input signals for a collective lever angle (CLA) command and real-time power turbine speed (NP) of an engine, determining system data for engine effectors by the control unit based on the input signals for the collective lever angle (CLA) command and the real-time power turbine speed (NP) based on an integrated model for the turboshaft engine including a model of a gas generator section of the turboshaft engine and a model of a power turbine and rotor load section of the turboshaft engine. The method may also include determining control output based on model-based multi-variable control including optimization formulation and a constrained optimization solver. The method may also include outputting one or more control signals for control of the turboshaft engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard P. Meisner, Chaohong Cai, James W. Fuller, Timothy J. Crowley