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).

  • Patent number: 11125165
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbomachine and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a heat source heat exchanger configured to collect heat from the turbomachine during operation; a heat sink heat exchanger; and a thermal transport bus having a heat exchange fluid configured to flow therethrough at a pressure within an operational pressure range. The thermal management system defines an operational temperature range for the heat exchange fluid, the operational temperature range having a lower temperature limit less than about zero degrees Fahrenheit at a pressure within the operational pressure range and an upper temperature limit of at least about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit at a pressure within the operational pressure range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Adon Delgado, Jr., Brandon Wayne Miller, Hendrik Pieter Jacobus de Bock
  • Patent number: 11111858
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section defining a compressor exit temperature, T3. The gas turbine engine also includes a combustion section and a turbine section, with the turbine section defining a turbine inlet temperature, T4. A ratio, T4:T3, of the turbine inlet temperature, T4, to compressor exit temperature, T3, during operation of the gas turbine engine at a rated speed is less than or equal to 1.85.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Randy M. Vondrell, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Kurt David Murrow
  • Patent number: 11105340
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric propulsion engine configured to be mounted at an aft end of the aircraft. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about a central axis, the fan driven by the electric motor. The electric propulsion system additionally includes a cooling system operable with an airflow over the aft end the aircraft when the electric propulsion system is mounted to the aircraft. The cooling system is configured to cool the electric motor during operation of the electric propulsion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko, Kishore Ramakrishnan, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11105200
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The turbine engine includes a power turbine including a first turbine rotor assembly interdigitated with a second turbine rotor assembly along the longitudinal direction; a gear assembly coupled to the first turbine rotor assembly and the second turbine rotor assembly, wherein the gear assembly includes a first input interface coupled to the first turbine rotor assembly, a second input interface coupled to the second turbine rotor assembly, and one or more third gears coupled to the first input interface and the second input interface therebetween; and a first output shaft and a second output shaft, wherein each of the first output shaft and the second output shaft are configured to couple to an electrical load device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Brandon Wayne Miller, Joseph Robert Dickman
  • Patent number: 11105269
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of control of a gas turbine engine comprising a fan section coupled to a low turbine together defining a low spool, an intermediate compressor coupled to an intermediate turbine together defining an intermediate spool, and a high compressor coupled to a high turbine together defining a high spool. The method includes providing an intermediate spool speed to low spool speed characteristic curve to a controller; providing a commanded power output to the controller; providing one or more of an environmental condition to the controller; determining, via the controller, a commanded fuel flow rate; determining, via the controller, a commanded intermediate compressor loading; and generating an actual power output of the engine, wherein the actual power output is one or more of an actual low spool speed, an actual intermediate spool speed, an actual high spool speed, and an actual engine pressure ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Alan Roy Stuart, James William Simunek, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller, Sridhar Adibhatla
  • Patent number: 11097849
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric fan of an aircraft propulsion system includes driving a plurality of fan blades of the electric fan with an electric machine to generate thrust for the aircraft; and driving the electric machine with the plurality of fan blades of the electric fan to generate electrical power subsequent to driving the plurality of fan blades of the electric fan with the electric machine to generate thrust for the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nikolai N. Pastouchenko, Randy M. Vondrell, Kurt David Murrow, Jixian Yao, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Narendra Digamber Joshi
  • Patent number: 11097850
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric propulsion engine configured to be mounted to the aircraft at an aft end of the aircraft. The electric propulsion engine includes a power gearbox mechanically coupled to an electric motor. The electric propulsion engine further includes a fan rotatable about a central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor through the power gearbox. Moreover, the electric propulsion engine includes an attachment assembly for mounting at least one of the electric motor or the power gearbox. The attachment assembly includes a torsional damper for accommodating a torsional vibration of the electric motor or the power gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 11098647
    Abstract: A system for managing thermal transfer in at least one of an aircraft or a gas turbine engine includes a first engine system utilizing an oil for heat transfer. The oil of the first system has a temperature limit of at least about 500° F. The system additionally includes a fuel system having a deoxygenation unit for deoxygenating fuel in the fuel system, as well as a fuel-oil heat exchanger located downstream of the deoxygenation unit. The fuel-oil heat exchanger is in thermal communication with the oil in the first engine system and the fuel in the fuel system for transferring heat from the oil in the first engine system to the fuel in the fuel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Duane Howard Anstead, Mohammed El Hacin Sennoun, Ning Fang, Kyle Robert Snow
  • Publication number: 20210246836
    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: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Justin Paul Smith, Brandon Wayne Miller, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11085310
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a core having in serial flow order a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine—the compressor, combustor, and turbine together defining a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine additionally includes a fan section mechanically coupled to the core, the fan section including a plurality of fan blades, and each of the plurality fan blades defining a pitch axis. An actuation device is operable with the plurality fan blades for rotating the plurality fan blades about their respective pitch axes, the actuation device including an actuator located outward of the core air flowpath to, e.g., simplify the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 11085636
    Abstract: A fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas flowpath for a vehicle or an engine of the vehicle. The fuel oxygen conversion unit includes a stripping gas boost pump positioned in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath for increasing a pressure of a flow of stripping gas through the stripping gas flowpath; a contactor defining a stripping gas inlet in airflow communication with the stripping gas flowpath, a liquid fuel inlet, and a fuel/gas mixture outlet; a fuel gas separator defining a fuel/gas mixture inlet in fluid communication with the fuel/gas mixture outlet of the contactor, a stripping gas outlet, and a liquid fuel outlet; and a connection assembly mechanically coupling the stripping gas boost pump to the fuel gas separator, the connection assembly having a speed change mechanism such that the stripping gas boost pump rotates at a different rotational speed than the fuel gas separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ethan Patrick O'Connor, Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Richard Alan Wesling, Peter Allen Andrews, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11073090
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting airflow distortion in a gas turbine engine using a valved airflow passage assembly are provided. 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 a compressor. The gas turbine engine can further include a valved airflow passage assembly comprising a valve and a duct, the duct defining an inlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path at a location downstream of the compressor and an outlet in airflow communication with the engine airflow path at a location upstream of the compressor, the duct comprising an airflow passage extending between the inlet and outlet. The valve can be operable with the airflow passage for controlling an airflow through the airflow passage to adjust airflow distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Francis Nestico, Brian K. Kestner, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20210221491
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present disclosure, an aircraft defining a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction is provided. The aircraft includes: a fuselage; a single unducted rotor engine mounted at a location spaced from the fuselage of the aircraft, the single unducted rotor engine comprising an unducted rotor assembly having a single stage of rotor blades; and a fuselage shield attached to or formed integrally with the fuselage at a location in alignment with the single stage of rotor blades of the unducted rotor assembly along the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: David William Crall, Nicholas Joseph Kray, Douglas Duane Ward, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Publication number: 20210215062
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Publication number: 20210204797
    Abstract: A cleaning adapter for an endoscope is provided. The cleaning adapter comprises a main stem comprising a first through hole extending transversely through the main stem, a second through hole extending transversely through the main stem, and a channel within the main stem fluidly coupling the first through hole to the second through hole. In some embodiments, a tag for an endoscope valve is provided. Methods and kits are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Cesar E. Hernandez, John Wayne Miller, Travis Bendele, Joshua Lee Ronan, Heba Hijazi, Roger Garrett, Robert Lagow
  • Patent number: 11053812
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine is provided. The fan includes a plurality of fan blades, a disk, and a trunnion mechanism for attaching the fan blades to the disk. The disk can be formed of a plurality of individual disk segments, with the trunnion mechanism attaching one of the plurality of fan blades to a respective disk segment. A retention member is also provided. The retention member includes a means for catching a portion of the trunnion mechanism should a primary attachment system of the trunnion mechanism fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Publication number: 20210186750
    Abstract: A therapeutic device combines both hot and cold therapy to work simultaneously together. The therapeutic device has a first portion being made of a material capable of being heated to a first temperature and a second portion having a fastener capable of connecting to a cold pack having a second temperature. The application of both hot and cold to the site of an injury of a user stimulates blood circulation to an injured muscle with heat and reduces inflammation with cold to facilitate a faster and more efficient recovery process of the afflicted area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Bruce Wayne Miller, Wayne Allan Miller
  • Patent number: 11027719
    Abstract: A method and system for distributed power generation is provided. The method includes determining an operational cycle for the system; determining an average energy requirement of the system based on the operational cycle; configuring a plurality of energy sources each corresponding to the load device to produce a peak efficiency corresponding to the average energy requirement of the system; and coupling the energy source to provide energy to the load device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian Xavier Stevenson, Brandon Wayne Miller, Christopher James Kroger, Patrick Michael Marrinan
  • Patent number: 11022037
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbomachine including 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. The gas turbine engine also includes a thermal management system including a flowpath heat exchanger coupled to, or integrated into, one or more components of the compressor section, the combustion section, the turbine section, or the exhaust section such that the flowpath heat exchanger is directly thermally coupled to an airflow through the core air flowpath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Brandon Wayne Miller, Raymond Floyd Martell, Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Ryan James Matthys, Joel Francis Kirk
  • Patent number: 11021961
    Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a rotor assembly for a turbine engine. The rotor assembly includes an airfoil assembly and a hub to which the airfoil assembly is attached. A wall assembly defines a first cavity and a second cavity between the airfoil assembly and the hub. The first cavity and the second cavity are at least partially fluidly separated by the wall assembly. The first cavity is in fluid communication with a flow of first cooling fluid and the second cavity is in fluid communication with a flow of second cooling fluid different from the first cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo, Kirk Douglas Gallier, Brandon Wayne Miller, Craig Alan Gonyou, Kevin Robert Feldmann, Justin Paul Smith