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).

  • Publication number: 20180334965
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Jonathan Ortiz, Matthew P. Forcier, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20180306043
    Abstract: An example turbomachine assembly includes, among other things, a nose cone of a turbomachine, and a pump at least partially within an interior of the nose cone. The pump is selectively rotated by a motor to communicate air to the interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Simon Pickford, William K. Ackermann, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 10107126
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Ackermann, Clifton J. Crawley, Jr., Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10100738
    Abstract: A cooling system is provided. The cooling system may comprise a heat exchanger and a first conduit fluidly coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger. An annular passage may be fluidly coupled to the first conduit. A tangential onboard injector (TOBI) may be fluidly coupled to the annular passage. A gas turbine engine is also provided and may comprise a compressor, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor, and a diffuser around the combustor and a turbine. A heat exchanger may have an inlet fluidly coupled to the diffuser. A second conduit may be fluidly coupled to an outlet of the heat exchanger. An annular passage may be fluidly coupled to the second conduit. A tangential onboard injector (TOBI) may be fluidly coupled to the annular passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Hill, William K. Ackermann
  • Patent number: 10094241
    Abstract: Assemblies are provided for rotational equipment. One of these assemblies includes a bladed rotor assembly, a stator vane assembly, a fixed stator structure and a seal assembly. The bladed rotor assembly includes a rotor disk structure. The stator vane assembly is disposed adjacent the bladed rotor assembly. The fixed stator structure is connected to 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Ackermann, Clifton J. Crawley, Jr., Frederick M. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20180252162
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods related to thermal management systems for gas turbine engines. For example, a thermal management system comprises a thermally neutral heat transfer fluid circuit, a first heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit, and a second heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Snape, Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill, William K. Ackermann
  • Patent number: 10047677
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section and a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor. A buffer system includes a first circuit that supplies a first buffer supply air and a second circuit that supplies a second buffer supply air. The first circuit includes a first bleed air supply and a second bleed air supply. The second circuit includes a third bleed air supply and a fourth bleed air supply and at least one of the first circuit and the second circuit includes a variable area ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jorn A. Glahn, Clifton J. Crawley, Jr., Philip S. Stripinis, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20180209343
    Abstract: An intercooled cooling system for a gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger in fluid communication with a cooling airflow source directed through the heat exchanger and an auxiliary compressor fluidly coupled to the heat exchanger via a discharge duct to compress the cooling airflow exiting the heat exchanger. A compressor discharge pathway directs a first portion of the cooling airflow from the auxiliary compressor to a first cooling location of the gas turbine engine, and a bypass pathway is fluidly coupled to the discharge duct between the heat exchanger and the auxiliary compressor to direct a second portion of the cooling airflow to a second cooling location of the gas turbine without passing through the auxiliary compressor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, Brian Merry, Neil Terwilliger
  • Patent number: 10024238
    Abstract: A cooling system for providing a buffer cooled cooling air to a turbine section of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The cooling system may comprise a first conduit configured to transmit a cooling air toward the turbine section, a heat exchanger configured to cool a bleed airflow diverted from the first conduit to provide a buffer air, and a bypass conduit configured to direct at least a portion of the buffer air through at least one passageway that bypasses a bearing compartment of the gas turbine engine. The cooling system may further comprise a manifold configured to allow the cooling air exiting the first conduit and the buffer air exiting the bypass conduit to mix and provide the buffer cooled cooling air, and a nozzle assembly configured to deliver the buffer cooled cooling air to the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Justin J. Phillips, James D. Hill, William K. Ackermann, Chris J. Niggemeier, Gabriel L. Suciu, Anthony R. Bifulco, Julian Partyka
  • Patent number: 10018116
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a first zone and a second zone downstream from the first zone. A buffer system can communicate a buffer cooling air to at least the first zone. A bleed source can communicate a bleed air to the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William K. Ackermann, Philip S. Stripinis
  • Patent number: 10006302
    Abstract: An example turbomachine assembly includes, among other things, a nose cone of a turbomachine, and a pump at least partially within an interior of the nose cone. The pump is selectively rotated by a motor to communicate air to the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Simon Pickford, William K. Ackermann, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 9988943
    Abstract: A fitting according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a main body portion having a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end, an inlet provided at the first axial end, and an outlet adjacent the second axial end. The outlet includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart slots formed through the main body portion, and each slot has an area within a range of 0.52 and 0.59 square inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James P. Chasse, Jr., Ryan K. Snyder, William K. Ackermann, Pellegrino J. Pisacreta, Judith F. Brooks, Stephanie Ernst
  • Publication number: 20180149036
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20180135454
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan shaft drivingly connected to a fan with the fan having fan blades. A fan shaft support that supports the fan shaft and a gear system connected to the fan shaft. The gear system includes a ring gear defining a ring gear lateral stiffness and a ring gear transverse stiffness, a gear mesh defining a gear mesh lateral stiffness and a gear mesh transverse stiffness, and a reduction ratio greater than 2.3. At least one of the ring gear lateral stiffness and the ring gear transverse stiffness is less than 12% of a respective one of the gear mesh lateral stiffness the ring gear transverse stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20180119563
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan shaft drivingly connected to a fan with the fan having fan blades. A fan shaft support that supports the fan shaft and a gear system drivingly connected to the fan shaft. The gear system includes a ring gear defining a ring gear lateral stiffness and a ring gear transverse stiffness, a gear mesh defining a gear mesh lateral stiffness and a gear mesh transverse stiffness, and a reduction ratio greater than 2.3. At least one of the ring gear lateral stiffness and said ring gear transverse stiffness is less than 12% of a respective one of the gear mesh lateral stiffness and the gear mesh transverse stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20180119564
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan shaft drivingly connected to a fan with the fan having fan blades. A fan shaft support that supports the fan shaft and a gear system connected to the fan shaft. The gear system includes a gear mesh defining a gear mesh lateral stiffness and a gear mesh transverse stiffness, and a reduction ratio greater than 2.3. A gear system input connected to the gear system defines a gear system input lateral stiffness and a gear system input transverse stiffness At least one of the gear system input lateral stiffness and said gear system input transverse stiffness is less than 5% of a respective one of the gear mesh lateral stiffness and the gear mesh transverse stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
  • Patent number: 9957895
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided that includes a compressor section, a combustor section with a multiple of pre-swirlers, a diffuser case module, and a manifold. The diffuser case module includes a multiple of struts within an annular flow path from said compressor section to said combustor section, wherein at least one of said multiple of struts defines a mid-span pre-diffuser inlet in communication with said annular flow path. The manifold is in communication with said mid-span pre-diffuser inlet and said multiple of pre-swirlers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20180094532
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan shaft that has fan blades. A fan shaft is drivingly connected to the fan. A fan shaft support supports the fan shaft and defines a fan shaft support lateral stiffness. A gear system is connected to the fan shaft and driven through an input. A gear system flex mount arrangement accommodates misalignment of the fan shaft and the input during operation and includes a flexible support that defines a flexible support lateral stiffness that is less than 11% of the shaft support lateral stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband, Frederick M. Schwarz, Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann
  • Patent number: 9920652
    Abstract: A section of a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a thermally isolated area, and a first rotor disk and a second rotor disk. Each of the first and second rotor disks are provided within the thermally isolated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, William K. Ackermann, James D. Hill, Brian D. Merry
  • Patent number: 9920708
    Abstract: A nose cone assembly for a gas turbine engine and method of circulating air in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The nose cone assembly includes a nose cone having an aperture communicating air to an interior space of the nose cone and a discharge member communicating the air out of the nose cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Nathan Snape, Anthony R. Bifulco, William K. Ackermann, Becky E. Rose, Jesse M. Chandler