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: 9435292
    Abstract: A turbine engine exhaust nozzle includes a core gas duct, a nozzle duct, and a thrust vectoring duct system having a duct valve, a first vectoring duct and a second vectoring duct. The nozzle duct directs a first portion of core gas from the core gas duct through a nozzle duct outlet along a centerline. The duct valve connects the core gas duct to the first vectoring duct during a first mode of operation, and connects the core gas duct to the second vectoring duct during a second mode of operation. The first vectoring duct directs a second portion of core gas from the core gas duct through a first vectoring duct outlet along a first trajectory. The second vectoring duct directs a third portion of core gas from the core gas duct through a second vectoring duct outlet along a second trajectory that is angularly offset to the first trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160253586
    Abstract: Plated polymeric articles having anti-counterfeiting tags therein and method of making the same are disclosed. A plated polymeric article comprises a polymer shaped formed into a desired shape with an anti-counterfeiting tag incorporated therein. The plated polymeric article comprises a first metal plated onto the polymer and a second metal deposited onto the first metal. Alternatively, a plated polymeric article comprises a composite layup having first and second polymer layers with an anti-counterfeiting tag disposed between the layers. The plated polymeric article further comprises a first metal plated onto the polymer. Lastly, a method for fabricating a plated polymeric article is disclosed. A polymer is formed into a desired shape, the polymer having an anti-counterfeiting tag incorporated therein. The outer surface of the article is prepared to receive a catalyst and then is activated with the catalyst. A first metallic layer is then plated onto the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Grant O. Cook, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Publication number: 20160245181
    Abstract: A system for dispersing a catalyst in a fuel includes a first reservoir containing the fuel, and a second reservoir including an agitator and containing a quantity of the catalyst suspended in the fuel. The system also includes a first conduit extending from the first reservoir, a second conduit extending from the second reservoir, and a mixing nozzle connected to the first conduit and the second conduit. The mixing nozzle includes a first meter positioned within the first conduit, a second meter positioned within the second conduit, a valve positioned upstream from the second meter within the second conduit, a junction in flow communication with the first conduit and the second conduit, a mixer downstream from the junction, a sensor positioned between the mixer and an outlet; and a controller connected to the valve and the first and second meters, the controller receiving feedback from the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Evan Butcher, Zissis A. Dardas, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Lexia Kironn
  • Publication number: 20160245710
    Abstract: A method includes designing a part. The part includes at least one internal structure. The internal structure is designed to provide strain mitigation, energy dissipation, or impact resistance for the part during an emergency condition. The part is built by a layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process. While building the part, the internal structure is connected to the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Evan Butcher, Lexia Kironn, Gary A. Schirtzinger, Joe Ott
  • Publication number: 20160238324
    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: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Evan Butcher, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Gary A. Schirtzinger, Joe Ott, Lexia Kironn
  • Publication number: 20160231064
    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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: LEXIA KIRONN, WENDELL V. TWELVES, JR., Evan Butcher, Joe Ott
  • Publication number: 20160231065
    Abstract: A heat exchanger article includes a hollow tube that has a tube wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface defines a flow passage through the hollow tube. The hollow tube also includes a vane cluster in the flow passage. The vane cluster includes a plurality of vanes and each of the vanes extends inwardly from the tube wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Lexia Kironn, Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Joe Ott, Evan Butcher
  • Publication number: 20160222798
    Abstract: A damper-seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an additively manufactured seal and an additively manufactured damper inseparably assembled with the additively manufactured seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel A. Snyder, Edwin Otero, Lexia Kironn, Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Evan Butcher
  • Publication number: 20160215811
    Abstract: A multi-component fastener is provided having a body and a sleeve. The body has a shank that extends lengthwise between a head and a distal end. The shank includes a first outer surface. The body includes a first material. The sleeve has a wall defined by an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface defines an interior cavity. The wall extends lengthwise between a first end and a second end. At least a portion of the sleeve outer surface contiguous with the first end is threaded. The sleeve includes a second material that is dissimilar to the first material. A portion of the shank including the distal end is disposed within the interior cavity of the sleeve. The sleeve and the shank are fixed to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Donald W. Peters, Evan Butcher, Lexia Kironn, Joe Ott, Kathleen E. Sinnamon
  • Publication number: 20160209041
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. The assembly includes a fuel injector and a fuel vaporizer. A nozzle of the fuel injector is adapted to direct fuel to impinge against the fuel vaporizer. The fuel vaporizer is adapted to substantially vaporize the impinging fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Alexander W. Williams, Lexia Kironn, Evan Butcher, Gary A. Schirtzinger, Joseph Ott
  • Publication number: 20160208708
    Abstract: A fuel/oil manifold includes first and second manifold flanges and a manifold tube. The first and second manifold flanges are located in non-parallel planes with respect to one another. The manifold tube is connected at a first end to the first manifold flange and at a second end to the second manifold flange and includes at least one turn between the first and the second end that includes a non-zero tube bend radius defined as the ratio of a turn radius to a diameter of the manifold tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Evan Butcher, Benjamin T. Fisk, Wendell V. Twelves, Caitlin Oswald, Andre Herman Troughton, Bryan P. Conway
  • Publication number: 20160201917
    Abstract: A fuel injector is provided for a gas turbine engine. The fuel injector includes a fuel conduit and a cooling fluid circuit through a strut. A gas turbine engine is provided that includes a multiple of fuel injectors in communication with a combustor and a cooling system in communication with each of the multiple of fuel injectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Lyutsia Dautova, Roger O Coffey, Wendell V Twelves, Gary A Schirtzinger, Joe Ott, Evan Butcher, John D Frish
  • Publication number: 20160193688
    Abstract: A method of forming an object includes installing multiple foil drums within a processing chamber of an ultrasonic consolidation system. The multiple foil drums each include different materials than the other foil drums. The multiple foil drums are positioned so that one of the foils is selected to be placed on top of the build platform. The selected foil is welded onto the build platform or onto a previously processed layer. A portion of the welded foil is then cut. The multiple foil drums are retracted away from the build platform. The portion of the welded foil that was just cut is then consolidated to the object. The build platform is incrementally lowered before the process is repeated to form the next layer of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lexia Kironn, Sergey Mironets, Wendell V. Twelves, JR., Agnes Klucha
  • Publication number: 20160169012
    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: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Nelson DaCunha, Barry Barnett, Gary M. Lomasney, Joseph Parkos, James T. Roach, Glenn Levasseur, Charles R. Watson, Jinquan Xu, Grant O. Cook, Raymond K. Kersey, Wendell V. Twelves, Shari L. Bugaj
  • Publication number: 20160169256
    Abstract: An exemplary method of adjustably mounting a first component to a second component includes, among other things, securing the first component to the second component with a linking member, and selectively adjusting the temperature of a variable portion of the linking member to change a size of the linking member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Wendell V. Twelves, Kathleen E. Sinnamon
  • Publication number: 20160160863
    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: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: James T. Roach, Barry Barnett, Grant O. Cook, Charles R. Watson, Shari L. Bugaj, Glenn LeVasseur, Wendell V. Twelves, Christopher J. Hertel, Colin J. Kling, Matthew A. Turner, JinQuan Xu, Steven Clarkson, Michael Caulfield
  • Publication number: 20160161242
    Abstract: Non-contact strain measurement systems and their method of use to detect strain on rotating components are disclosed. A non-contact strain measurement system comprises magnetic materials plated onto a rotatable component in addition to appropriate encoders and controller. The magnetic materials are spaced apart a first distance D1 when the component is not rotating, and a second distance D2 when the component is rotating. The encoders and controller are utilized to detect strain on the rotating component. A method of using the system to detect strain on a rotating component includes detecting the first distance D1 then detecting the second distance D2, and calculating the strain imparted onto the component from a difference between D1 and D2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Grant O. Cook, Wendell V. Twelves
  • Publication number: 20160145747
    Abstract: Methods for repairing plated metallic layers on plated polymeric parts are disclosed. First, a polymer is formed into an article of a desired shape or geometry. The outer surface of the article is prepared to receive a catalyst and then the outer surface is activated with the catalyst. A first metallic layer is then plated onto the outer surface to form a structure. Optional additional metallic layers may be applied. Then, a defect in a damaged metal layer is repaired by brush plating or brush electroplating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Charles R. Watson, Wendell V. Twelves, Gary M. Lomasney, Joseh Parkos
  • Publication number: 20160145447
    Abstract: A plated polymer component is disclosed. The plated polymer component may comprise a polymer support, a metal plating deposited on a surface of the polymer support, and at least one flame-retardant additive included in the polymer support. In another aspect, the plated polymer component may comprise a polymer substrate, a metal plating deposited on a surface of the polymer substrate, and a temperature-indicating coating applied to at least one of of the polymer substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Michael S. Miarecki, Grant O. Cook, Wendell V. Twelves, Glenn Levasseur, Charles R. Watson
  • Publication number: 20160144428
    Abstract: A powder bed deposition apparatus comprises a movable build plate, a powder delivery system, an energy beam apparatus capable of selectively steering at least one focused energy beam over successive quantities of metal powder, a non-metallic barrier layer, and an anchor removably secured to the build plate. The non-metallic barrier layer is disposed over a metal upper surface of the build plate. The anchor has a metal bonding surface flush with the non-metallic barrier layer, the non-metallic barrier layer and the anchor defining a removable build assembly with a powder bed working surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Sergey Mironets, Agnes Pu Hang Chau Klucha, Wendell V. Twelves