Patents by Inventor William R. Graves

William R. Graves 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: 11002285
    Abstract: A fan blade is provided and comprises a leading edge, an attachment root extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the attachment root. An attachment root is also provided. The attachment root comprises a leading edge, a dovetail extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the dovetail. A gas turbine engine is also provided. The gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section configured to rotate about an axis, a combustor aft of the compressor section, and a turbine section aft of the compressor section and configured to rotate about the axis. A fan may be disposed forward of the turbine section and include a blade. The blade may have a trench formed in an attachment root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, Michael Li, Maria C. Kirejczyk
  • Publication number: 20200400159
    Abstract: A fan blade is provided and comprises a leading edge, an attachment root extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the attachment root. An attachment root is also provided. The attachment root comprises a leading edge, a dovetail extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the dovetail. A gas turbine engine is also provided. The gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section configured to rotate about an axis, a combustor aft of the compressor section, and a turbine section aft of the compressor section and configured to rotate about the axis. A fan may be disposed forward of the turbine section and include a blade. The blade may have a trench formed in an attachment root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, Michael LI, Maria C. Kirejczyk
  • Patent number: 10801515
    Abstract: A fan blade is provided and comprises a leading edge, an attachment root extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the attachment root. An attachment root is also provided. The attachment root comprises a leading edge, a dovetail extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the dovetail. A gas turbine engine is also provided. The gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section configured to rotate about an axis, a combustor aft of the compressor section, and a turbine section aft of the compressor section and configured to rotate about the axis. A fan may be disposed forward of the turbine section and include a blade. The blade may have a trench formed in an attachment root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, Michael Li, Maria C. Kirejczyk
  • Patent number: 10781827
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element includes an airfoil that has pressure and suction sides spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction and joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil extends in a radial direction a span that is in a range of 27.5-28.5 inches (699-724 mm). A chord length extends in a chordwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge at 50% span and is in a range of 13.0-14.0 inches (330-356 mm). The airfoil element includes at least two of a first mode with a frequency of 34±10% Hz, a second mode with a frequency of 90±10% Hz, a third mode with a frequency of 178±10% Hz, a fourth mode with a frequency of 222±10% Hz, a fifth mode with a frequency of 307±10% Hz and a sixth mode with a frequency of 389±10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Elliott, Daniel C. Falk, Myron L. Klein, Ethan C. Drew, James H. Moffitt, Darryl Whitlow, Byron R. Monzon, Jay Thomas Abraham, William R. Graves
  • Patent number: 10677068
    Abstract: A fan of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of fan blades secured to a rotor, each of the plurality of fan blades having an airfoil secured to the rotor at one end, wherein the airfoil comprises pockets filled with an elastomeric composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James O. Hansen, William R. Graves, Michael A. Weisse, Christopher J. Hertel, Daniel A. Bales
  • Patent number: 10570755
    Abstract: A dovetail root of a fan blade configured for operation within the fan assembly of a gas turbine engine. The dovetail root is imparted with a compressive residual stress layer along the outer faces of the dovetail root preventing crack formation within the dovetail root when the gas turbine engine is in operation. To further protect and structurally enhance the dovetail root, a wear covering is disposed on the dovetail root. The wear covering may consist of a composite laminate layer that is bonded to the metallic core of the dovetail root providing additional cracking protection of the dovetail root when the gas turbine engine is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott C. Billings, William R. Graves, Jason Elliott, David P. Houston, Ethan C. Drew
  • Publication number: 20200025211
    Abstract: A fan blade is provided and comprises a leading edge, an attachment root extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the attachment root. An attachment root is also provided. The attachment root comprises a leading edge, a dovetail extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the dovetail. A gas turbine engine is also provided. The gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section configured to rotate about an axis, a combustor aft of the compressor section, and a turbine section aft of the compressor section and configured to rotate about the axis. A fan may be disposed forward of the turbine section and include a blade. The blade may have a trench formed in an attachment root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, Michael Li, Maria C. Kirejczyk
  • Patent number: 10502064
    Abstract: An airfoil including an airfoil body, a recessed portion of a first depth in a first side of the airfoil body, the recessed portion including a plurality of pockets of a second depth located within the recessed portion and ribs of the first depth located between the pockets, a cover configured to fit into the recessed portion such that an interior surface of the cover engages the ribs and an exterior surface of the cover is about flush with an exterior surface of the first side of the airfoil body, and a high energy beam weld configuration extending through the cover and into the ribs and positioned to attach the cover to the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Dmitri Novikov, Robert C. Dolan, Kenneth A. Frisk, Steven T. Gordon, William R. Graves, Eric W. Malmborg, Francis B. Parisi, Randy P. Salva, Michael A. Weisse, Russell A. Beers, Xuedong Zhou, Christopher Treese, Tri Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10400784
    Abstract: A fan blade is provided and comprises a leading edge, an attachment root extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the attachment root. An attachment root is also provided. The attachment root comprises a leading edge, a dovetail extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the dovetail. A gas turbine engine is also provided. The gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section configured to rotate about an axis, a combustor aft of the compressor section, and a turbine section aft of the compressor section and configured to rotate about the axis. A fan may be disposed forward of the turbine section and include a blade. The blade may have a trench formed in an attachment root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, Michael Li, Maria C. Kirejczyk
  • Publication number: 20190218914
    Abstract: A fan of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of fan blades secured to a rotor, each of the plurality of fan blades having an airfoil secured to the rotor at one end, wherein the airfoil comprises pockets filled with an elastomeric composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: James O. Hansen, William R. Graves, Michael A. Weisse, Christopher J. Hertel, Daniel A. Bales
  • Patent number: 10280771
    Abstract: A spacer for use in a hub and blade assembly of a gas turbine engine including a first layer of a first material forming the spacer body having an elongate shape. The first material has a first stiffness. A second layer of a second material is mechanically attached to the first layer. The second material has a second stiffness different from the first stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves
  • Patent number: 10260350
    Abstract: An airfoil structure includes an airfoil that has a leading edge and a platform that includes a first side that is attached to the airfoil and a second side opposite the airfoil. The platform includes a relief cut on the second side of the platform axially aligned with the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carney R. Anderson, William R. Graves
  • Publication number: 20190040744
    Abstract: An airfoil including an airfoil body, a recessed portion of a first depth in a first side of the airfoil body, the recessed portion including a plurality of pockets of a second depth located within the recessed portion and ribs of the first depth located between the pockets, a cover configured to fit into the recessed portion such that an interior surface of the cover engages the ribs and an exterior surface of the cover is about flush with an exterior surface of the first side of the airfoil body, and a high energy beam weld configuration extending through the cover and into the ribs and positioned to attach the cover to the ribs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Dmitri Novikov, Robert C. Dolan, Kenneth A. Frisk, Steven T. Gordon, William R. Graves, Eric W. Malmborg, Francis B. Parisi, Randy P. Salva, Michael A. Weisse, Russell A. Beers, Xuedong Zhou, Christopher Treese, Tri Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9650897
    Abstract: A fan blade comprises an airfoil portion and a sheath portion. The sheath portion has a sheath head section, a first sheath flank, and a second sheath flank, both flanks extending chordwise from the forward sheath section. The sheath portion is bonded to the airfoil portion such that the sheath head section covers the forward airfoil edge, defining a blade leading edge. The first sheath flank covers a portion of the first airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade suction surface. The second sheath flank covers a portion of the second airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade pressure surface. The first metallic material is an aluminum alloy containing between about 0.5 wt % and about 3.0 wt % of lithium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Deal, John J. Schirra, Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, James O. Hansen, Michael A. Weisse, Thomas J. Watson
  • Publication number: 20160348689
    Abstract: A fan blade is provided and comprises a leading edge, an attachment root extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the attachment root. An attachment root is also provided. The attachment root comprises a leading edge, a dovetail extending aft of the leading edge, and a trench formed in a surface of the dovetail. A gas turbine engine is also provided. The gas turbine engine comprises a compressor section configured to rotate about an axis, a combustor aft of the compressor section, and a turbine section aft of the compressor section and configured to rotate about the axis. A fan may be disposed forward of the turbine section and include a blade. The blade may have a trench formed in an attachment root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, Michael Ll, Maria C. Kirejczyk
  • Patent number: 9422819
    Abstract: A rotor assembly is provided that includes a rotor blade, a root spacer, and a rotor disk with a slot. The rotor blade includes a blade root arranged within the slot. The blade root includes a root base segment and a pair of root side segments. The root base segment is laterally separated from the rotor disk by the root side segments. The root spacer is arranged within the slot, and includes a side surface that extends radially between an inner surface and an outer surface. The side surface is approximately laterally aligned with an intersection between the root base segment and a first of the root side segments. The outer surface engages the root base segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves
  • Publication number: 20160237835
    Abstract: A spacer for use in a hub and blade assembly of a gas turbine engine including a first layer of a first material forming the spacer body having an elongate shape. The first material has a first stiffness. A second layer of a second material is mechanically attached to the first layer. The second material has a second stiffness different from the first stiffness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves
  • Publication number: 20160230572
    Abstract: A dovetail root of a fan blade configured for operation within the fan assembly of a gas turbine engine. The dovetail root is imparted with a compressive residual stress layer along the outer faces of the dovetail root preventing crack formation within the dovetail root when the gas turbine engine is in operation. To further protect and structurally enhance the dovetail root, a wear covering is disposed on the dovetail root. The wear covering may consist of a composite laminate layer that is bonded to the metallic core of the dovetail root providing additional cracking protection of the dovetail root when the gas turbine engine is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Inventors: Scott C. Billings, William R. Graves, Jason Elliott, David P. Houston, Ethan C. Drew
  • Patent number: 9359906
    Abstract: A rotor assembly is provided that includes a rotor disk, a rotor blade and a root spacer. The rotor disk includes a slot. The rotor blade includes a blade root that is arranged within the slot. The root spacer is arranged within the slot between the rotor disk and the blade root. The root spacer includes a base segment, a side segment and a fracture feature. The base segment radially engages the rotor disk. The side segment is radially separated from the rotor disk by a gap. The fracture feature may radially fracture the root spacer at an intersection between the base segment and the side segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves
  • Publication number: 20160069188
    Abstract: An airfoil structure includes an airfoil that has a leading edge and a platform that includes a first side that is attached to the airfoil and a second side opposite the airfoil. The platform includes a relief cut on the second side of the platform axially aligned with the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Carney R. Anderson, William R. Graves