Patents by Inventor Wendell V. Twelves, Jr.

Wendell V. Twelves, Jr. 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20200223128
    Abstract: An additively manufactured component includes a planar sheet and a coating applied to the planar sheet to form the component. The component is configured for attachment to a non-planar surface of a workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, JR., David Ulrich Furrer
  • Patent number: 10688588
    Abstract: A rotating tool system attachment on the spindle of a computer numerical control (“CNC”) machine includes a rotating assembly mounted on a static assembly. The rotating assembly provides a continuous supply of a wire material for deposition on a substrate during an additive manufacturing process. The rotating assembly includes a material supply housing a feedstock of wire mounted on a rotating spindle and a wire feeder configured to draw the wire from the wire supply and provide the wire for application during the additive manufacturing process. The tool system can be attached to the spindle of CNC machine to provide additive manufacturing capabilities to the CNC machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, Sergey Mironets, Ranadip Acharya, William K. Tredway, John M. Milton-Benoit
  • Patent number: 10639864
    Abstract: A method of joining polymer components includes additively manufacturing first and second mating features on first and second polymer components such that a mechanical lock is created through undercut geometric features of an adhesive material when the polymer components are joined. Adhesive is added between the mating components to strengthen the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Evan Butcher
  • Patent number: 10626798
    Abstract: A thermal energy exchange system for cooling air of a gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger located at a diffuser of the gas turbine engine. The diffuser is positioned axially between a compressor and a combustor of the gas turbine engine. A fuel source is operably connected to the heat exchanger to direct a flow of fuel through the heat exchanger via a fuel pipe and toward a fuel nozzle of the combustor. An airflow inlet directs a cooling airflow through the heat exchanger to reduce an airflow temperature via thermal energy exchange between the cooling airflow and the flow of fuel. An airflow outlet directs the cooling airflow from the heat exchanger toward one or more of components of the turbine to cool the one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Steven J. Laporte, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Stephen K. Kramer, Simon Pickford
  • Publication number: 20200094326
    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: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Caitlin Oswald, Jesse R. Boyer, Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Monica C. Smith, Krzysztof Barnat
  • Patent number: 10598556
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the residual stress in surface and near surface regions of a component includes identifying predetermined locations on the surface of a component that are expected to experience high stress during normal operating conditions of the component. Marker particles are introduced into the component during additive manufacture of the component at the predetermined locations. Then, the residual stress of the component is measured at a location corresponding with the marker material using x-ray techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lyutsia Dautova, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Joe Ott, Evan Butcher, Gary A. Schirtzinger, Rainer J. Herbert
  • Patent number: 10563537
    Abstract: An apparatus includes first, second, and third layers. The first layer includes a plurality of flanges. The second layer includes a deformable membrane. The second layer is connected to the first layer along a first major surface of the deformable membrane. The third layer is connected to the second layer along a second major surface of the deformable membrane opposite the first major surface. The third layer includes a first series of internal structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Evan Butcher, Lexia Kironn, Joe Ott, Gary D. Roberge
  • Publication number: 20200003639
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the residual stress in surface and near surface regions of a component includes identifying predetermined locations on the surface of a component that are expected to experience high stress during normal operating conditions of the component. Marker particles are introduced into the component during additive manufacture of the component at the predetermined locations. Then, the residual stress of the component is measured at a location corresponding with the marker material using x-ray techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Lyutsia Dautova, Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Joe Ott, Evan J. Butcher, Gary A. Schirtzinger, Rainer J. Hebert
  • Patent number: 10502500
    Abstract: A method includes building a tubular object by a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process. A structure integrally connected to the tubular object for supporting a portion of the tubular object is formed during building of the tubular object. The structure provides vibration dampening, heat shielding, heat transfer, stiffening, energy absorption, or mounting after the tubular object is built.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Evan Butcher, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Gary A. Schirtzinger, Joseph Ott, Lexia Kironn
  • Publication number: 20190210113
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for fabricating a hybrid component includes a build platform having a platform surface at a first elevation and at least one preform structure secured proximate to the build platform. The preform structure includes a first preform surface located at a second elevation. The system further includes a powder deposition device disposed above the build platform at a third elevation, the third elevation being greater than the first and second elevations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Henry H. Thayer, Wendell V. Twelves, JR.
  • Patent number: 10330167
    Abstract: A damper includes a damper body that is configured to be attached to a workpiece during a machining process. A first side of the damper body is configured to abut a first side of the workpiece. The damper body includes a frame forming an outer periphery of the damper body, a plurality of damper nodes with a cavity in each damper node positioned in the frame, and a plurality of ribs extending between the frame and the damper nodes. A damping material is positioned in the cavity of each damper node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Krzysztof Barnat