Patents by Inventor Todd A. Davis
Todd A. Davis 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: 12385419Abstract: A seal system has: a first member; a seal carried by the first member and having a seal face; and a second member rotatable relative to the first member about an axis. The second member has: a seat on a first piece of the second member, the seat having a seat face in sliding sealing engagement with the seal face; and a radially outwardly closed collection channel for collecting centrifuged oil; a second piece encircling and attached to the first piece and having a circumferential array of apertures; and cooperating with the first piece to define a plenum; and a flowpath from the collection channel passing radially outward axially spaced from the seat face to cool the seat face and passing axially away from the seat face in the plenum.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2023Date of Patent: August 12, 2025Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott, Armando Amador, Todd A. Davis
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Patent number: 12385436Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan that has fan blades wherein the fan delivers airflow to a bypass duct. A gearbox is defined along an engine axis. A low spool is arranged aft of the gearbox and coupled to drive the gearbox. A front center body assembly is defined around the engine axis. A flexible support supports the gearbox relative to the front center body assembly. A bearing package is mounted to the front center body assembly and the low spool. A front wall is mounted to the front center body assembly. The front wall is removable from the front center body assembly to access at least one of the gearbox or the bearing package. The low spool includes a low pressure compressor hub that provides an engagement feature for engaging the bearing package.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2023Date of Patent: August 12, 2025Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
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Patent number: 12359617Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a turbine engine includes a carrier that supports rotation of a plurality of planet gears and is rotatable about an engine longitudinal axis. The carrier includes an axially facing seal plate that defines a lubricant passage to the carrier. A transfer bearing assembly has a seal member that defines a lubricant supply path to the seal plate and at least one biasing member that biases the seal member against the seal plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2023Date of Patent: July 15, 2025Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher M. Valva, Todd A. Davis
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Publication number: 20250154897Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a propulsor, a geared architecture including a gearbox, a gas generator section including a compressor section having a first rotor rotationally mounted to a first spool. A front center body assembly defines a portion of a core flow path that is forward of the first rotor relative to an engine longitudinal axis. A front wall is mounted to the front center body assembly, which supports an output shaft of the gearbox that drives the propulsor. A bearing package is mounted to the front center body assembly to rotationally support the first spool. The bearing package is removable from the first spool without disassembly of the first rotor. The bearing package supports the first spool during at least one of a first period prior to installation of the geared architecture into the engine and a second period after removal of the geared architecture from the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2025Publication date: May 15, 2025Applicant: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
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Patent number: 12292004Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a turbine engine includes a sun gear that is configured to be driven by an engine shaft that is rotatable about an axis. The sun gear includes a first gear portion and a second gear portion. A plurality of intermediate gears are coupled to the first gear portion of the sun gear, a ring gear is coupled to the plurality of intermediate gears, a carrier supports rotation of the plurality of intermediate gears, and an accessory component is coupled to the second gear portion of the sun gear.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2024Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, David Allen Stachowiak
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Patent number: 12292110Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a turbine engine includes a sun gear that is configured to be driven by an engine shaft rotatable about an axis. A plurality of intermediate gears are coupled to the sun gear, a ring gear is coupled to the plurality of intermediate gears, and a carrier supports rotation of the plurality of intermediate gears. The carrier includes a gear portion and an accessory component that is coupled to and driven by the gear portion of the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2024Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, David Allen Stachowiak
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Publication number: 20250122909Abstract: A shaft bearing retainer assembly is provided that includes an axially extending shaft, a bearing, and a bearing retainer subassembly. The shaft has first and second radial surfaces, a distal end, a bearing seat, and a retainer cavity. The bearing seat is engaged with the first radial surface and extends axially inward from the distal end. The retainer cavity is disposed in the second radial surface of the shaft and extends axially inward from the distal end. The shaft includes a first threaded surface portion disposed in the retainer cavity and a second threaded surface portion in the second radial surface. The bearing has a race mounted in the bearing seat. The bearing retainer subassembly includes first and second retainer rings. The first retainer ring is in threaded engagement with the first threaded surface portion. The second retainer ring is in threaded engagement with the second threaded surface portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2023Publication date: April 17, 2025Inventors: Eric Stehlik, James B. Coffin, Todd A. Davis
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Publication number: 20250043722Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a turbine engine includes a carrier that supports rotation of a plurality of planet gears and is rotatable about an engine longitudinal axis. The carrier includes an axially facing seal plate that defines a lubricant passage to the carrier. A transfer bearing assembly has a seal member that defines a lubricant supply path to the seal plate and at least one biasing member that biases the seal member against the seal plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2023Publication date: February 6, 2025Inventors: Christopher M. Valva, Todd A. Davis
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Patent number: 12203412Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a shaft having an inner diameter surface. A plug is mounted in the shaft. An oil nozzle is positioned to direct a flow of oil to an interior of the shaft. The plug has: a first section; a second section having an outer diameter periphery; and an axial gap between the first section and the second section.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Russell B. Witlicki, Todd A. Davis, Ryan William Lureau, Shadd Andrew Bradshaw, Christopher M. Valva
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Patent number: 11970972Abstract: A scupper suitable for a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a windage blocker in a gutter section upstream of a drain hole, the windage blocker extends from a wall of the gutter section. A method for capturing wept oil in a bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes positioning a windage blocker adjacent to a drain hole forming a passage space and increasing a pressure upstream of the windage blocker to generate a vortex downstream of the windage blocker creating an oil re-circulation zone promoting oil drainage into the drain hole.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Andrew V. Schwendenmann, Todd A. Davis, Ryan Lureau, Reade W. James
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Patent number: 11946383Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first bearing compartment and a seal assembly within the first bearing compartment that includes a rotatable seal seat, a gutter radially outward of the seal seat and fixed against rotation. The gutter includes a channel on its radially inner face. A second bearing compartment is also included. A scavenge pump is in communication with a first supply line configured to supply the first bearing compartment and a second supply line configured to supply the second bearing compartment. The gutter is in communication with the scavenge pump through a gutter scavenge line.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Todd A. Davis, Christopher M. Valva
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Publication number: 20240003266Abstract: A seal system has: a first member; a seal carried by the first member and having a seal face; and a second member rotatable relative to the first member about an axis. The second member has: a seat on a first piece of the second member, the seat having a seat face in sliding sealing engagement with the seal face; and a radially outwardly closed collection channel for collecting centrifuged oil; a second piece encircling and attached to the first piece and having a circumferential array of apertures; and cooperating with the first piece to define a plenum; and a flowpath from the collection channel passing radially outward axially spaced from the seat face to cool the seat face and passing axially away from the seat face in the plenum.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: RTX CorporationInventors: Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott, Armando Amador, Todd A. Davis
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Publication number: 20230399978Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a shaft having an inner diameter surface. A plug is mounted in the shaft. An oil nozzle is positioned to direct a flow of oil to an interior of the shaft. The plug has: a first section; a second section having an outer diameter periphery; and an axial gap between the first section and the second section.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2022Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Russell B. Witlicki, Todd A. Davis, Ryan William Lureau, Shadd Andrew Bradshaw, Christopher M. Valva
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Patent number: 11753964Abstract: A seal system has: a first member; a seal carried by the first member and having a seal face; and a second member rotatable relative to the first member about an axis. The second member has: a seat on a first piece of the second member, the seat having a seat face in sliding sealing engagement with the seal face; and a radially outwardly closed collection channel for collecting centrifuged oil; a second piece encircling and attached to the first piece and having a circumferential array of apertures; and cooperating with the first piece to define a plenum; and a flowpath from the collection channel passing radially outward axially spaced from the seat face to cool the seat face and passing axially away from the seat face in the plenum.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2021Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: RTX CorporationInventors: Nigel David Sawyers-Abbott, Armando Amador, Todd A. Davis
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Publication number: 20230272745Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan that has fan blades wherein the fan delivers airflow to a bypass duct. A gearbox is defined along an engine axis. A low spool is arranged aft of the gearbox and coupled to drive the gearbox. A front center body assembly is defined around the engine axis. A flexible support supports the gearbox relative to the front center body assembly. A bearing package is mounted to the front center body assembly and the low spool. A front wall is mounted to the front center body assembly. The front wall is removable from the front center body assembly to access at least one of the gearbox or the bearing package. The low spool includes a low pressure compressor hub that provides an engagement feature for engaging the bearing package.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2023Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
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Patent number: 11725694Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a bearing compartment, a seal runner, a seal configured to cooperate with the seal runner to seal the bearing compartment, and a catcher in contact with the seal runner to minimize deflection of the seal runner. A method is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, Dale C. Humphries
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Patent number: 11719127Abstract: A bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a rotationally fixed structure defined about an engine longitudinal axis; a gutter section formed in the front support; an oil drainback assembly mountable to the gutter section to direct oil into a drain passage to communicate oil from the gutter.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Todd A. Davis, Joseph D. Walker
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Patent number: 11713713Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan that has fan blades wherein the fan delivers airflow to a bypass duct. A gearbox is defined along an engine axis. A low spool is arranged aft of the gearbox and coupled to drive the gearbox. A front center body assembly is defined around the engine axis. A flexible support supports the gearbox relative to the front center body assembly. A bearing package is mounted to the front center body assembly and the low spool. A front wall is mounted to the front center body assembly. The front wall is removable from the front center body assembly to access at least one of the gearbox or the bearing package. The low spool includes a low pressure compressor hub that provides a spline for engaging the bearing package.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal
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Patent number: 11674548Abstract: A bearing assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a bearing inner race, a bearing outer race located radially outboard of the bearing inner race and a plurality of bearing elements located between the bearing inner race and the bearing outer race. A centering spring is operably connected to and supports the bearing outer race. The centering spring is an annular structure including a base portion, a tip portion, and a plurality of beams extending axially between the base portion and the tip portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, Paul R. Hanrahan
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Patent number: 11629649Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a fan, a fan drive gear system that is coupled with the fan and a fan drive input shaft, a compressor section that includes a first compressor and a second compressor, and a turbine section. The turbine section includes a first turbine coupled with a first shaft and a second turbine coupled through a second shaft to the second compressor. A bearing supports the fan drive input shaft. The bearing is located proximal to, and radially spaced from, a forward end of the first shaft. The bearing includes a speed sensor target that is rotatable with the forward end and that defines a rotation path. A speed sensor probe is situated proximal to the rotation path and is operable to read the speed sensor target.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Todd A. Davis, Brian P. Cigal