Patents by Inventor Wayne Miller

Wayne Miller 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: 20230060010
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; a nacelle surrounding and at least partially enclosing the fan; an inlet pre-swirl feature located upstream of the plurality of fan blades, the inlet pre-swirl feature attached to or integrated into the nacelle; and a means for directing incoming objects towards an outer portion of the turbofan engine in communication with the inlet pre-swirl feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • 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.
  • Patent number: 11577852
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle includes a contactor; a mechanically-driven, first fuel gas separator defining a liquid fuel outlet and a stripping gas outlet, the fuel oxygen conversion unit defining a liquid fuel outlet path in fluid communication with the liquid fuel outlet of the first fuel gas separator; and a second fuel gas separator positioned in fluid communication with the liquid fuel outlet path at a location downstream of the first fuel gas separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling
  • Patent number: 11572838
    Abstract: A turbine engine that includes an engine core, an inner cowl, an outer cowl and an accessory gearbox. The engine core includes at least a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in axial flow arrangement. The accessory gearbox is operably coupled to the engine core and includes a first portion and a second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, John Carl Glessner, Lawrence William Nurre, Ian Francis Prentice, Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Arthur William Sibbach
  • Publication number: 20230028503
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan comprising a plurality of rotatable fan blades, each fan blade defining a fan tip speed; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, the turbomachine comprising a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in serial flow order and together defining a core air flowpath; and a gear box, wherein the turbomachine is operably coupled to the fan through the gear box, wherein a gear ratio of the gear box is greater than or equal to 1.2 and less than or equal to 3.0; wherein during operation of the turbofan engine at a rated speed the fan tip speed is greater than or equal to 1000 feet per second. In exemplary embodiments, during operation of the turbofan engine at the rated speed the fan pressure ratio is less than or equal to about 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Arthur William Sibbach, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christopher James Kroger, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Sean Christopher Binion, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Patent number: 11560239
    Abstract: Systems and methods of operating systems are provided. For example, a system comprises a fuel cooling loop including a cold fuel flowpath having a fuel flowing therethrough, a fuel cooler heat exchanger for cooling the fuel in fluid communication with the cold fuel flowpath, and a cold fuel tank disposed along the cold fuel flowpath for accumulating at least a portion of the cooled fuel. The system further comprises a fuel heating loop including a hot fuel flowpath for a flow of the fuel, a fuel heater heat exchanger for heating the fuel in fluid communication with the hot fuel flowpath, and a hot fuel tank disposed along the hot fuel flowpath for accumulating at least a portion of the heated fuel. The fuel cooling loop is coupled to the fuel heating loop such that the fuel circulates through both the fuel cooling loop and the fuel heating loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20230011409
    Abstract: A method of managing thermal energy in a propulsion system includes diverting a flow of bleed air from a compressor section of the propulsion system. An amount of the flow of bleed air diverted from the compressor section is at least 5% of an inlet flow at an inlet of a high pressure compressor of the compressor section. The flow of bleed air is provided to a thermal management system. The flow of bleed air is passed through an expansion turbine of the thermal management system. The flow of bleed air is provided to a thermal load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Brandon Wayne Miller, Scott Gregory Edens
  • Publication number: 20220402625
    Abstract: A fuel system is provided for an aircraft having a fuel source. The fuel system includes a fuel oxygen reduction unit defining a liquid fuel supply path, a stripping gas supply path, a liquid fuel outlet path, and a stripping gas return path, wherein the stripping gas return path is in airflow communication with the fuel source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20220403799
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine defining a radial direction, a longitudinal direction, and a circumferential direction, an upstream end and a downstream end along the longitudinal direction, and an axial centerline extended along the longitudinal direction. The gas turbine engine includes a fan assembly including a plurality of fan blades rotatably coupled to a fan rotor in which the fan blades define a maximum fan diameter and a fan pressure ratio. The gas turbine engine further includes a low pressure (LP) turbine defining a core flowpath therethrough generally along the longitudinal direction. The core flowpath defines a maximum outer flowpath diameter relative to the axial centerline. The gas turbine engine defines a fan to turbine diameter ratio of the maximum fan diameter to the maximum outer flowpath diameter. The fan to turbine diameter ratio over the fan pressure ratio is approximately 0.90 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11506125
    Abstract: A structure for damping at a fluid manifold assembly for an engine is generally provided. The fluid manifold assembly includes a first walled conduit defining a first fluid passage therewithin. A flow of fluid defining a first frequency is permitted through the first fluid passage. A second walled conduit includes a pair of first portions each coupled to the first walled conduit. A second portion is coupled to the pair of first portions. A second fluid passage is defined through the first portion and the second portion in fluid communication with the first fluid passage. The flow of fluid is permitted through the second fluid passage at a second frequency approximately 180 degrees out of phase from the first frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald Scott Yeager, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11506131
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes a first heat source assembly including a first heat source exchanger, a first thermal fluid inlet line extending to the first heat source exchanger, and a first thermal fluid outlet line extending from the first heat source exchanger; a second heat source assembly including a second heat source exchanger, a second thermal fluid inlet line extending to the second heat source exchanger, and second a thermal fluid outlet line extending from the second heat source exchanger; a shared assembly including a thermal fluid line and a heat sink exchanger, the shared assembly defining an upstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid outlet line and second thermal fluid outlet line and a downstream junction in fluid communication with the first thermal fluid inlet line and second thermal fluid inlet line; and a controller configured to selectively fluidly connect the first heat source assembly or the second heat source assembly to the shared assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11480063
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may include a fan, a plurality of inlet pre-swirl features disposed upstream of a fan, and an outlet guide vane assembly disposed downstream of the fan. The outlet guide vane assembly includes a plurality of outlet guide vanes that may define an outlet guide vane solidity profile, wherein the outlet guide vane solidity profile is achieves a minimum solidity at a radial position between an inner boundary and seventy percent of an outlet guide vane span. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades that may define a fan solidity profile, wherein the fan solidity profile maintains a solidity of greater than 1.1 between a radial position at seventy percent of the fan blade span and an outer boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Tsuguji Nakano
  • Publication number: 20220332431
    Abstract: A system and method for using a fuel with an engine, an airframe having an aircraft heat load, a fuel tank, and a fuel oxygen reduction unit are provided. The method includes receiving an inlet fuel flow in the fuel oxygen reduction unit for reducing an amount of oxygen in the inlet fuel flow; separating a fuel/gas mixture within the fuel oxygen reduction unit into an outlet gas flow and an outlet fuel flow exiting the fuel oxygen reduction unit; controlling a first portion of the outlet fuel flow to the engine; and controlling a second portion of the outlet fuel flow to the airframe to transfer heat between the second portion of the outlet fuel flow and the aircraft heat load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Michael Robert Bonacum, John Michael Pyles
  • 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: 11458063
    Abstract: A posture improvement device having a material layer with a substantially central bore. A first rod is retained in the substantially central bore of the material layer. The first rod has a substantially central bore configured to receive a second rod. The first rod is configured to be oriented perpendicular to a user's spine during use to improve posture. The second rod is made of a substantially rigid material. The second rod is retained in the substantially central bore of the first rod. The first rod and the second rod are oriented in a nested configuration configured to increase rigidity. A removable barrier element is configured to retain the material layer and is configured to close and open with a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: Bruce Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20220307419
    Abstract: A thermal management system for transferring heat between fluids includes a thermal transport bus through which a heat exchange fluid flows. Additionally, the system includes a heat source heat exchanger arranged along the bus such that heat is added to the fluid flowing through the heat source heat exchanger. Moreover, the system includes a plurality of heat sink heat exchangers arranged along the bus such that heat is removed from the fluid flowing through the plurality of heat sink heat exchangers. Furthermore, the system includes a bypass conduit fluidly coupled to the bus such that the bypass conduit allows the fluid to bypass one of the heat source heat exchanger or one of the heat sink heat exchangers. In addition, the system includes a valve configured to control a flow of the fluid through the bypass conduit based on a pressure of the fluid within the bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Wolfe, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock, William Dwight Gerstler, Brian Gene Brzek, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Kevin Edward Hinderliter
  • Patent number: 11447263
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel oxygen reduction unit for a vehicle or a gas turbine engine of the vehicle is provided. The fuel oxygen reduction unit including a contactor and a fuel gas separator, and further defining a stripping gas flowpath in flow communication with a stripping gas inlet of the contactor and a stripping gas outlet of the fuel gas separator. The method includes receiving data indicative of a parameter of a stripping gas flow through the stripping gas flowpath or of a component in flow communication with the stripping gas flow through the stripping gas flowpath; and determining an operability condition of the fuel oxygen reduction unit, or a component operable with the fuel oxygen reduction unit, based on the data received indicative of the parameter of the stripping gas flow or of the component in flow communication with the stripping gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Sridhar Adibhatla
  • Patent number: 11448127
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a translating inlet assembly are provided. In one embodiment, a core engine of a gas turbine engine can include a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section in series flow and defining at least in part an engine airflow path. The compressor section can include an inner flowpath surface. A core casing can enclose the core engine. A forward end of the core casing can include a translating inlet assembly moveable between a first position and a second position. The translating inlet assembly and the inner flowpath surface can together define an inlet to an engine airflow path. A translating inlet assembly can define a first inlet area in the first position and a second inlet area in the second position, the first inlet area being greater than the second inlet area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20220289394
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section together defining a core air flowpath. Additionally, a rotary component is rotatable with at least a portion of the compressor section and at least a portion of the turbine section. An electric machine is mounted coaxially with the rotary component and positioned at least partially inward of the core air flowpath along a radial direction of the gas turbine engine. A cavity wall defines at least in part a buffer cavity surrounding at least a portion of the electric machine to thermally insulate the electric machine, e.g., from the relatively high temperatures within the core air flowpath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Kupiszewski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell
  • Publication number: 20220275757
    Abstract: A method is provided of controlling a cooled cooling air system for an aeronautical gas turbine engine. The method includes: receiving data indicative of an ambient condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of a deterioration parameter of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of an operating condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, or a combination thereof; and modifying a cooling capacity of the cooled cooling air system in response to the received data indicative of the ambient condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of the deterioration parameter of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, data indicative of an operating condition of the aeronautical gas turbine engine, or the combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Brandon Wayne Miller, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Robert Jon McQuiston