Patents by Inventor Wendell V. Twelves

Wendell V. Twelves 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: 11951586
    Abstract: A method for abrasive flow machining includes moving an abrasive media through a high-aspect passage of a workpiece. Local pressure of the abrasive media is increased at target abrasion surfaces of the high-aspect passage using a passage geometry that is configured to direct flow of the abrasive media into the target abrasion surfaces such that the target abrasion surfaces are preferentially polished by the abrasive media over other, non-targeted surfaces of the high-aspect passage at which the flow of the abrasive media is not directed into.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Joe Ott, Evan Butcher, John P. Rizzo, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230264318
    Abstract: A method for smoothing surface roughness within an internal passageway is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises developing a first sphere progression through a length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the first sphere progression having a first sphere diameter greater than or equal to a diameter of the internal passageway; and developing a second sphere progression through the length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the second sphere progression having a second sphere diameter greater than the first sphere diameter, whereby the inner surface of the internal passageway is smoothed, first by the first sphere progression and then by the second sphere progression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Patent number: 11648642
    Abstract: A method for smoothing surface roughness within an internal passageway is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises developing a first sphere progression through a length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the first sphere progression having a first sphere diameter greater than or equal to a diameter of the internal passageway; and developing a second sphere progression through the length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the second sphere progression having a second sphere diameter greater than the first sphere diameter, whereby the inner surface of the internal passageway is smoothed, first by the first sphere progression and then by the second sphere progression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Patent number: 11597014
    Abstract: A component includes an additively manufactured component with an internal passage; and an additively manufactured elongated member within the internal passage. A method of additively manufacturing a component including additively manufacturing a component with an internal passage; and additively manufacturing an elongated member within the internal passage concurrent with additively manufacturing the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Caitlin Oswald, Jesse R. Boyer, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Monica C. Smith, Krzysztof Barnat
  • Publication number: 20220281050
    Abstract: An insert apparatus for protecting a curved inner surface within a passageway from abrasion during an abrasive machining operation is disclosed. In various embodiments, the insert apparatus includes a shield having a shell shaped to match a curved portion of the curved inner surface of the passageway and a shaft having a first end connected to the shell and a second end connected to a member configured to maintain the shaft within the passageway and the shell positioned against the curved inner surface during the abrasive machining operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Patent number: 11364587
    Abstract: An insert apparatus for protecting a curved inner surface within a passageway from abrasion during an abrasive machining operation is disclosed. In various embodiments, the insert apparatus includes a shield having a shell shaped to match a curved portion of the curved inner surface of the passageway and a shaft having a first end connected to the shell and a second end connected to a member configured to maintain the shaft within the passageway and the shell positioned against the curved inner surface during the abrasive machining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Patent number: 11267100
    Abstract: An apparatus for finishing a component includes at least one articulating arm, at least one plasma gun disposed at an end of a first articulating arm of the at least one articulating arm, at least one shot peen nozzle maintained in a fixed positioned relative to the plasma gun, and a controller controllably coupled to the articulating arm such that output signals from the controller control motions of the articulating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves, Anthony Patrick Ventura, Michael Walter Bennett
  • Patent number: 11268526
    Abstract: Plated polymeric gas turbine engine parts and methods for fabricating lightweight plated polymeric gas turbine engine parts are disclosed. The parts include a polymeric substrate plated with one or more metal layers. The polymeric material of the polymeric substrate may be structurally reinforced with materials that may include carbon, metal, or glass. The polymeric substrate may also include a plurality of layers to form a composite layup structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James T. Roach, Barry Barnett, Grant O. Cook, III, Charles R. Watson, Shari L. Bugaj, Glenn LeVasseur, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Christopher J. Hertel, Colin J. Kling, Matthew A. Turner, JinQuan Xu, Steven Clarkson, Michael Caulfield
  • Patent number: 11247250
    Abstract: A tool includes a head that extends form the flexible section, an emitter within the head; and a nozzle to eject a cooling fluid therefrom. A method of additively manufacturing a component including delivering series of thermal shocks to a conglomerated powder within an internal passage of an additively manufactured component to facilitate removal of the conglomerated powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Ott, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Lexia Kironn, Evan Butcher
  • Publication number: 20220001508
    Abstract: A method for smoothing surface roughness within an internal passageway is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises developing a first sphere progression through a length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the first sphere progression having a first sphere diameter greater than or equal to a diameter of the internal passageway; and developing a second sphere progression through the length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the second sphere progression having a second sphere diameter greater than the first sphere diameter, whereby the inner surface of the internal passageway is smoothed, first by the first sphere progression and then by the second sphere progression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Patent number: 11148248
    Abstract: A method for smoothing surface roughness within an internal passageway is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method comprises developing a first sphere progression through a length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the first sphere progression having a first sphere diameter greater than or equal to a diameter of the internal passageway; and developing a second sphere progression through the length of the internal passageway, each sphere within the second sphere progression having a second sphere diameter greater than the first sphere diameter, whereby the inner surface of the internal passageway is smoothed, first by the first sphere progression and then by the second sphere progression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Patent number: 11097350
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus for forming a metal component from alloy powder includes a powder-based layer-by-layer directed energy beam additive manufacturing system, a primary directed high energy beam, configured to raise a temperature of the alloy powder to or above the melting point of the alloy powder. A secondary directed low energy beam configured to raise the temperature of the alloy powder to or above a sintering point of the alloy powder without reaching the melting point of the alloy powder. The apparatus further includes a sintered region on the surface of an alloy powder layer previously produced by the secondary directed low energy beam and a solid region forming a portion of the metal component that was solidified from a molten pool on the surface of the alloy powder layer adjacent to the first sintered region having been produced by the primary directed high energy beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., David Ulrich Furrer
  • Patent number: 10933493
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a build plate; a deposition system operable to dispense material as a melt pool to grow a workpiece on the build plate; a sensor system operable to determine a temperature of the workpiece being grown on the build plate adjacent to the melt pool; and a heater system operable to selectively heat the workpiece between the melt pool and the build plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Wendell V. Twelves
  • Publication number: 20210039227
    Abstract: An apparatus for finishing a component includes at least one articulating arm, at least one plasma gun disposed at an end of a first articulating arm of the at least one articulating arm, at least one shot peen nozzle maintained in a fixed positioned relative to the plasma gun, and a controller controllably coupled to the articulating arm such that output signals from the controller control motions of the articulating arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves, Anthony Patrick Ventura, Michael Walter Bennett
  • Patent number: 10914320
    Abstract: A blade is provided for a gas turbine engine. The blade includes an airfoil portion with at least one internal cavity and a damper located within the internal cavity. The damper includes a cantilever spring arm. A fan blade is provided for a gas turbine engine. The fan blade includes an airfoil portion with at least one internal cavity; and a damper located within the internal cavity. The damper includes a cantilever spring arm that terminates with a rub surface pad adjacent to a friction bridge between a concave pressure side and a convex suction side of the airfoil portion. A method is also provided for damping a blade of a gas turbine engine. The method includes deflecting a cantilever spring arm to contact a rub surface pad with a friction bridge between a concave pressure side and a convex suction side of an airfoil portion of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Pauline Cabrila
  • Patent number: 10883369
    Abstract: A ceramic component retention system includes a metallic component, a ceramic component, and at least one spring element arranged between the metallic component and the ceramic component. The metallic component has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and the ceramic component has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The at least one spring element is configured to mechanically couple the ceramic component to the metallic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Kathleen E. Sinnamon, Lexia Kironn, Evan Butcher, Joe Ott, Matthew E. Lynch
  • Patent number: 10850366
    Abstract: An apparatus for finishing a component includes at least one articulating arm, at least one plasma gun disposed at an end of a first articulating arm of the at least one articulating arm, at least one shot peen nozzle maintained in a fixed positioned relative to the plasma gun, and a controller controllably coupled to the articulating arm such that output signals from the controller control motions of the articulating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves, Anthony Patrick Ventura, Michael Walter Bennett
  • Patent number: 10809016
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of fins; and an additively manufactured heat transfer tube that extends through the plurality of fins, the additively manufactured heat transfer tube follows a non-linear path though said plurality of fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lexia Kironn, Wendell V Twelves, Jr., Evan Butcher, Joe Ott
  • Patent number: 10807214
    Abstract: An apparatus for finishing a component includes at least one articulating arm having a shot peening apparatus and at least one laser source. A plurality of laser redirectors are configured to redirect a laser originating from the laser source. Each laser redirector in the plurality of laser redirectors is mounted to a first rail and a second rail. A controller is controllably coupled to the articulating arm and each of the rails such that output signals from the controller control a position of the articulating arm, and a position of each laser redirector in the plurality of laser redirectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Anthony Patrick Ventura, Wendell V. Twelves, Michael Walter Bennett
  • Patent number: 10737363
    Abstract: A tool includes a flexible section; a head that extends form the flexible section; and an exciter within the head. A method of additively manufacturing a component including burrowing a tool into a conglomerated powder within an internal passage of an additively manufactured component, the tool vibrating in a manner to facilitate removal of the conglomerated powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Ott, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Evan Butcher, Lexia Kironn