Patents by Inventor William K. Ackermann
William K. Ackermann 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).
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Patent number: 11913349Abstract: A turbofan engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan, a compressor section, a turbine section including a fan drive turbine and a second turbine, an epicyclic gear system with a gear reduction, first and second bearings, and a fan drive shaft interconnecting the gear system and the fan. The fan drive turbine has a first exit area at a first exit point and is rotatable at a first speed. The second turbine has a second exit area at a second exit point and is rotatable at a second speed. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of the first speed squared and the first area. A second performance quantity is defined as the product of the second speed squared and the second area.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: RTX CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Michael E. McCune
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Patent number: 11739697Abstract: A bleed air cooling system for a gas turbine engine includes one or more bleed ports located at one or more axial locations of the gas turbine engine to divert a bleed airflow from a gas turbine engine flowpath, a bleed outlet located at a cooling location of the gas turbine engine and a bleed duct in fluid communication with the bleed port and the configured to convey the bleed airflow from the bleed port to the bleed outlet. One or more safety sensors are configured to sense operational characteristics of the gas turbine engine, and a controller is operably connected to the one or more safety sensors and configured to evaluate the sensed operational characteristics for anomalies in operation of the bleed air cooling system.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Jonathan Ortiz, Matthew P. Forcier, William K. Ackermann
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Publication number: 20230235715Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a propulsor section that has a propulsor shaft in driving engagement with a propulsor. An epicyclic gear system has a gear mesh lateral stiffness and a gear mesh transverse stiffness. A gear system input defines a gear system input lateral stiffness and a gear system input transverse stiffness. The gear system input lateral stiffness is less than 5% of the gear mesh lateral stiffness. A first turbine section rotates at a first speed, and a second turbine rotates at a second speed that is faster than the first speed. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of the first speed squared and the first area of the first turbine, a second performance quantity is defined as the product of the second speed squared and the second area of the second turbine, and a performance quantity ratio is between 0.5 and 1.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
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Publication number: 20230193830Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section including a first compressor, a turbine section including a first turbine and a second turbine, a first shaft and a second shaft, the first shaft interconnecting the first turbine and the second compressor, and a geared architecture. The first shaft is supported on a first bearing in an overhung manner. A performance ratio is between 0.5 and 1.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
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Publication number: 20230167752Abstract: A turbofan engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan, a compressor section, a turbine section including a fan drive turbine and a second turbine, an epicyclic gear system with a gear reduction, first and second bearings, and a fan drive shaft interconnecting the gear system and the fan. The fan drive turbine has a first exit area at a first exit point and is rotatable at a first speed. The second turbine has a second exit area at a second exit point and is rotatable at a second speed. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of the first speed squared and the first area. A second performance quantity is defined as the product of the second speed squared and the second area.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Michael E. McCune
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Patent number: 11635043Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan section that drives air along a bypass flow path in a bypass duct. An epicyclic gear system in driving engagement with the fan shaft and has a gear mesh lateral stiffness and a gear mesh transverse stiffness. A gear system input to the gear system defines a gear system input lateral stiffness and a gear system input transverse stiffness. The gear system input lateral stiffness is less than 5% of the gear mesh lateral stiffness. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of a first speed squared and a first area and a second performance quantity is defined as the product of a second speed squared and a second area. A performance quantity ratio of a first performance quantity to a second performance quantity is between 0.5 and 1.5.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
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Patent number: 11598223Abstract: A turbofan engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan, and an outer housing surrounding the fan to define a bypass flow path, a compressor, a turbine section including a fan drive turbine and a second turbine, an epicyclic gear system with a gear reduction, the fan drive turbine driving the fan through the gear system, and the gear system straddle-mounted by first and second bearings. The fan drive turbine has a first exit area at a first exit point and is rotatable at a first speed. The second turbine has a second exit area at a second exit point and is rotatable at a second speed. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of the first speed squared and the first area. A second performance quantity is defined as the product of the second speed squared and the second area.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Michael E. McCune
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Patent number: 11585276Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a very high speed low pressure turbine such that a quantity defined by the exit area of the low pressure turbine multiplied by the square of the low pressure turbine rotational speed compared to the same parameters for the high pressure turbine is at a ratio between about 0.5 and about 1.5. The high pressure turbine is supported by a bearing positioned at a point where the first shaft connects to a hub carrying turbine rotors associated with the second turbine section.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
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Publication number: 20230021948Abstract: An environmental control system for an aircraft includes a higher pressure tap associated with a higher compression location in a main compressor section. The higher pressure tap leads into a turbine section of a turbocompressor such that air in the higher pressure tap drives the turbine section to in turn drive a compressor section of the turbocompressor. A combined outlet receives airflow from a turbine outlet and a compressor outlet intermixing airflow and passing the mixed airflow downstream to be delivered to an aircraft system. A buffer air outlet communicates airflow to an engine buffer air system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Harold W. Hipsky
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Patent number: 11560839Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a compressor section including a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor, a turbine section including a low pressure turbine and a high pressure turbine, an inner shaft that interconnects the low pressure compressor and the low pressure turbine, an outer shaft that interconnects the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine, a bearing structure that supports at least one of the inner and outer shafts, and a buffer system. The buffer system prepares buffer air, communicates the buffer air to the bearing structure to pressurize a bearing compartment, and then from the bearing structure along at least one of the shafts.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: William K. Ackermann, Peter M. Munsell
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Patent number: 11486314Abstract: An environmental control system for an aircraft includes a higher pressure tap associated with a higher compression location in a main compressor section. The higher pressure tap leads into a turbine section of a turbocompressor such that air in the higher pressure tap drives the turbine section to in turn drive a compressor section of the turbocompressor. A combined outlet receives airflow from a turbine outlet and a compressor outlet intermixing airflow and passing the mixed airflow downstream to be delivered to an aircraft system. A buffer air outlet communicates airflow to an engine buffer air system.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 1, 2022Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Harold W. Hipsky
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Patent number: 11459906Abstract: A bleed air cooling system for a gas turbine engine includes one or more bleed flowpaths operably connected to a bleed outlet to divert a bleed airflow from a gas turbine engine flowpath. Each bleed flowpath includes two or more bleed ports to divert a bleed airflow from a gas turbine engine flowpath, and a bleed duct in fluid communication with the bleed ports and configured to convey the bleed airflow from the two or more bleed ports to the bleed outlet. A valve is located at each bleed port of and is configured to move between an opened position and a closed position, and one or more sensors are located along the bleed flowpath to sense one or more conditions of the bleed air cooling system. The valve at a particular bleed port is moved to the opened position based on the sensed one or more conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2017Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Jonathan Ortiz, William K. Ackermann, Matthew P. Forcier
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Patent number: 11286852Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a buffer system that communicates a buffer cooling air to at least one bearing structure and at least one shaft of the gas turbine engine. The buffer system includes a first bleed air supply and a conditioning device that conditions the first bleed air supply to render the first buffer supply air at an acceptable temperature to pressurize the at least one bearing structure and cool the at least one shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2019Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: William K. Ackermann, Peter M. Munsell
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Publication number: 20210396177Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a compressor section including a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor, a turbine section including a low pressure turbine and a high pressure turbine, an inner shaft that interconnects the low pressure compressor and the low pressure turbine, an outer shaft that interconnects the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine, a bearing structure that supports at least one of the inner and outer shafts, and a buffer system. The buffer system prepares buffer air, communicates the buffer air to the bearing structure to pressurize a bearing compartment, and then from the bearing structure along at least one of the shafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: William K. Ackermann, Peter M. Munsell
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Patent number: 11168574Abstract: An assembly is provided for rotational equipment. The assembly includes a circumferentially segmented stator and a rotor radially within the stator. The assembly also includes a seal assembly configured for substantially sealing a gap radially between the stator and the rotor. The seal assembly includes a carrier and a non-contact seal seated with the carrier. The carrier includes a plurality of discrete carrier segments circumferentially arranged around the non-contact seal.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, William K. Ackermann
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Publication number: 20210317785Abstract: A cooling system includes an inlet, a passageway, and a feed passage. The inlet is defined by a strut of a diffuser case that extends between a first case portion and a second case portion. The inlet extends from a leading surface towards a trailing surface along a first axis. The passageway is defined by the strut and extends from the inlet towards the second case portion along a second axis that is disposed transverse to the first axis. The feed passage is defined between a body of a tangential onboard injection system that extends between and is connected to an inner vane platform of a guide vane and the second case portion. The feed passage extends along an axis that is disposed parallel to the first axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Anthony R. Bifulco, William K. Ackermann, Paul E. Coderre, John H. Mosley, Stephen K. Kramer
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Publication number: 20210301765Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a fan section that drives air along a bypass flow path in a bypass duct. An epicyclic gear system in driving engagement with the fan shaft and has a gear mesh lateral stiffness and a gear mesh transverse stiffness. A gear system input to the gear system defines a gear system input lateral stiffness and a gear system input transverse stiffness. The gear system input lateral stiffness is less than 5% of the gear mesh lateral stiffness. A first performance quantity is defined as the product of a first speed squared and a first area and a second performance quantity is defined as the product of a second speed squared and a second area. A performance quantity ratio of a first performance quantity to a second performance quantity is between 0.5 and 1.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2021Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
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Patent number: 11073106Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gear system that provides a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan rotor. Aspects of the gear system are provided with some flexibility. The fan drive turbine has a first exit area and rotates at a first speed. A second turbine section has a second exit area and rotates at a second speed, which is faster than said first speed. A performance quantity can be defined for both turbine sections as the products of the respective areas and respective speeds squared. A performance quantity ratio of the performance quantity for the fan drive turbine to the performance quantity for the second turbine section is relatively high.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
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Patent number: 11047337Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gear system that provides a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan rotor. Aspects of the gear system are provided with defined flexibility. The fan drive turbine has a first exit area and rotates at a first speed. A second turbine section has a second exit area and rotates at a second speed, which is faster than said first speed. A performance quantity can be defined for both turbine sections as the products of the respective areas and respective speeds squared. A performance quantity ratio of the performance quantity for the fan drive turbine to the performance quantity for the second turbine section is between 0.5 and 1.5.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2017Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
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Patent number: 10975715Abstract: Assemblies are provided for rotational equipment. One of these assemblies includes a first bladed rotor assembly, a second bladed rotor assembly, a stator vane assembly, a stator structure and a seal assembly. The second bladed rotor assembly includes a rotor disk structure. The stator vane assembly is axially between the first and the second bladed rotor assemblies. The stator structure is mated with and radially within the stator vane assembly. The seal assembly is configured for sealing a gap between the stator structure and the rotor disk structure, wherein the seal assembly includes a non-contact seal.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2018Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: Raytheon Technologies CorporationInventors: William K. Ackermann, Clifton J. Crawley, Jr., Frederick M. Schwarz