Mounting Patents (Class 244/54)
  • Patent number: 12246845
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for mounting a gas turbine engine are described. An apparatus for mounting a gas turbine engine to a pylon, the gas turbine including an upstream section and a downstream section, the gas turbine defining a roll axis, a yaw axis, and a pitch axis, the apparatus including: a first mount to couple the upstream section of the gas turbine engine to the pylon; a second mount to couple the upstream section of the gas turbine engine to the pylon, the second mount downstream of the first mount; a thrust linkage to couple the upstream section to the pylon, wherein the downstream section is decouplable from the upstream section without decoupling the first mount, the second mount, and the thrust linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: General Electric Company, Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Michael Cline, Jonathan E. Coleman, Craig W. Higgins, Daniel E. Mollmann, Mark E. Linz, Guillaume Glemarec, Valerio Capasso, Jean-Baptiste Manuel Nicolas Vignes, Nicolas Maurice Hervé Aussedat, Francois Gallet
  • Patent number: 12221218
    Abstract: An engine vibration isolation subframe for aircraft includes a forward frame and a forward beam connected to the forward frame. The forward beam includes a first end configured to connect to a first engine and a second end configured to connect to a second engine. An aft frame is disposed aft of the forward frame and includes a first aft beam connected to the aft frame and the first engine and a second aft beam connected to the aft frame and the second engine, where the second aft beam is disposed substantially opposite the first aft beam. At least one forward isolator assembly is connected to the forward frame and at least one aft isolator assembly is connected to the aft frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Rory Derik Cooper, Travis Elliot Smith
  • Patent number: 12214891
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An apparatus for mounting a gas turbine engine to a pylon includes: a thrust link coupled to the gas turbine engine and an aft mount, the gas turbine engine coupled to the pylon via a forward mount and the aft mount, a bending restraint having a first end and a second end, the bending restraint including an actuator positioned at the first end to apply a force to a fan section of the gas turbine engine, a first joint positioned at the first end of the bending restraint, the first joint coupled to the first end of the bending restraint and the fan section, and a second joint positioned at the second end of the bending restraint, the second joint coupled to the second end of the bending restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jonathan E. Coleman, Timothy L. Schelfaut, Anthony M. Metz, Thomas P. Joseph, Mahesh Khandeparker, Kudum Shinde, Donald L. Gardner
  • Patent number: 12215591
    Abstract: An inlet for a nacelle housing a gas turbine engine generating thrust and having an engine centerline, the inlet including a highlight comprising a leading edge of the inlet, wherein the highlight has an outboard side and an inboard side; and the outboard side is forward of the inboard side of the highlight so as to increase an airflow into the inlet and allow increased alignment of a thrust vector of the thrust with the engine centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Chen Chuck, Brian Scott Kornegay
  • Patent number: 12195191
    Abstract: A propulsor includes a propulsor body and a prop assembly in rotational communication with the propulsor body. The prop assembly includes a plurality of prop blades configured for rotation about an axial centerline of the propulsor. The plurality of prop blades are rotatable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The propulsor further includes at least one linkage having a first linkage end and a second linkage end. The first linkage end of the at least one linkage is rotatably mounted to the propulsor body and the second linkage end is configured to be rotatably mounted to an aircraft body. The propulsor further includes a first motor coupled to the at least one linkage and configured to rotate the at least one linkage relative to the propulsor body between a first rotational position and a second rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon E. Sobanski, Paul R. Hanrahan, Joseph B. Staubach, Jill Klinowski
  • Patent number: 12187465
    Abstract: A module separation mechanism, in particular for rockets, includes a cylindrical first body, a cylindrical second body, and a ring connecting the two bodies, The ring comprises at least one tension lock together with a cover. The first body comprises at least one radially mounted actuator that is adapted to eject the tension lock together with the cover from the ring in a manner to disengage the ring. The first body further comprises at least one ejecting member adapted to eject the second body from the first body. The outer surface of the ring together with the cover is faced with the outer surface of the first body and the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Siec Badawcza Lukasiewicz—Instytut Lotnictwa
    Inventors: Blazej Marciniak, Hanna Tuchowska
  • Patent number: 12172764
    Abstract: A structure for an aircraft is disclosed including comprising at least one node which having first and second plates which are pressed against two opposite faces of a first reinforcement, and to which upstream and downstream reinforcements positioned on either side of the first reinforcement are connected. A connection system connecting the first and second plates is disclosed including at least one boss projecting from a surface of one of the plates pressed against the first reinforcement, for each boss, a housing recessed relative to a surface of the other plate pressed against the first reinforcement, configured to house the boss, and at least one fastening element, passing through the first reinforcement, connecting the first and second plates and spaced apart from the boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Lionel Czapla, Kotaro Fukasaku, Emmanuel Vardelle, Rémi Amargier
  • Patent number: 12172524
    Abstract: A motor mount system includes a motor unit and a frame that supports the motor unit via four bush mounts. The four bush mounts have configurations that are identical to each other. Among the four bush mounts, a bush mount is closest to a center of gravity of driving reaction force input to two bush mounts disposed in front of the motor unit, or a center of gravity of driving reaction force input to two bush mounts disposed behind the motor unit, and the bush mount is disposed in a state where the bush mount is rotated in a direction in which rigidity to a load in a vertical direction is higher than rigidity of other bush mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Tanimura, Seiji Ishizu, Yusuke Harukawa, Kazuki Kubota
  • Patent number: 12176697
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide an aircraft assembly. The aircraft assembly includes an aircraft structure comprising a component with a plurality of wire openings. A plurality of high voltage wires are disposed in the wire openings in the component such that each wire opening receives one high voltage wire, and the each wire opening has an opening size larger than a size of the one high voltage wire, the opening size being smaller than a size of a connector attached to an end of the one high voltage wire. The high voltage wires are installed in the wire openings before curing the aircraft structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Archer Aviation Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Mauger, Simon Saenz Llano, Naishadh Vasjaliya, Sonny Pilger, Adam Ziemba, Pedro Carleial, Andrija Bajovic
  • Patent number: 12162601
    Abstract: A fitting for connecting a first aircraft structure to a second aircraft structure is disclosed including a first substantially planar surface, a second substantially planar surface, a body, and a cavity in the body configured to retain a captive nut. The body connects the first surface to the second surface such that the first surface is at an angle of less than or equal to 90° to the second surface. The cavity is configured such that a captive nut retained therein is adjacent the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: William Tulloch, Pat Broomfield
  • Patent number: 12157553
    Abstract: The technology described herein relates to autonomous aerial vehicle rotor configurations. In some embodiments, the aerial vehicle includes a central body that extends along a longitudinal axis from a forward end to an aft end including a port side opposite a starboard side. Multiple rotor arms each have a proximal end coupled to the central body and a rotor assembly arranged at a distal end to provide propulsion for the aerial vehicle. The rotor assemblies include a first set of rotor assemblies and a second set of rotor assemblies. The first set of rotor assemblies are arranged in a non-inverted configuration on a top side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes an upward-facing rotor. The second set of rotor assemblies are arranged in an inverted configuration on a bottom side of the aerial vehicle such that each rotor assembly includes a downward-facing rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Scott Thompson, Adam Parker Bry, Asher Mendel Robbins-Rothman, Abraham Galton Bachrach, Yevgeniy Kozlenko, Kevin Patrick Smith O'Leary, Patrick Allen Lowe, Daniel Thomas Adams, Justin Michael Sadowski, Zachary Albert West, Josiah Timothy VanderMey
  • Patent number: 12129767
    Abstract: Gas turbine mounting configurations for backbone bending mitigations are described herein. An example gas turbine engine disclosed herein includes a pylon, an inlet to be subjected to an inlet load along an inlet load axis, a case assembly including a first case portion and a second case portion, a forward mount coupling the first case portion to the pylon, the coupling of the forward mount to the pylon defining a first line of action, an aft mount, and a thrust link coupling the second case portion to the pylon, the thrust link defining a second line of action, an intersection of the first line of action and the second line of action disposed at least one of: (1) on the inlet load axis and the centerline, (2) downstream of the inlet load axis and beneath the centerline, and (3) upstream of the inlet load axis and above the centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick S. Sage, Steven M. McDonough, Mahesh Khandeparker, Stephen G. Matava, Shashi Alok
  • Patent number: 12129021
    Abstract: A tail-rotor vibration dampener system for an aircraft is provided. The system includes a fuselage and an open rotor assembly including a powerplant and a set of rotor blades. The system further includes at least one actuator unit connecting the open rotor assembly to the fuselage. The actuator unit includes a hydraulic actuator controlling a position of the open rotor assembly in relation to the fuselage and a dampening device operable to cancel a vibration emanating from the open rotor assembly. The system further includes a computerized vibration dampening controller, including programming to determine a frequency of the vibration emanating from the open rotor assembly and control the dampening device to cancel the vibration emanating from the open rotor assembly based upon the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Eric B. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 12129041
    Abstract: An engine pylon for an aircraft and comprising an inverted U-shaped upper spar with two lateral walls, a U-shaped lower spar with two lateral walls, where the free ends of the lateral walls of the spars are adjacent, an arrangement to the free end of a lateral wall of one spar to the free end of the lateral wall of the other spar, and ribs between the spars where each has a top end fixed to the lateral walls of the upper spar and a bottom end fixed to the lower spar. Such an engine pylon thus offers a reduced number of component parts and a single row of fixings per side, enabling a saving in weight and in assembly time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Pautis, Jonathan Blanc
  • Patent number: 12110828
    Abstract: A core engine including a core casing covering a low-pressure rotary structure and a high-pressure rotary structure and includes a passage of air flowing through the low-pressure and the high-pressure rotary structures; a fan located in front of the core engine; an inner cowl serving as an inner peripheral surface of a bypass passage that extends through the fan and bypasses the core engine; an accessory gear box that extracts power from the low-pressure or the high-pressure rotary structure and supplies the power to accessories; an auxiliary compressor attached to the accessory gear box, is driven by power of the accessory gear box, and increases pressure of compressed air extracted from the core engine; and a compressed air pipe that extends through an inside of a strut connecting the core engine and an airframe and supplies the compressed air having an increased pressure by the auxiliary compressor to the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takami, Naoya Sekoguchi, Katsuhiko Ishida, Kenta Umezaki, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Tatsuhiko Goi
  • Patent number: 12103692
    Abstract: An engine support truss assembly for aircraft includes a mounting plate having a front side and a back side opposite the front side, a truss structure mechanically coupled to the front side of the mounting plate, and a backup structure mechanically coupled to the back side of the mounting plate. The truss structure includes a plurality of structural members each including precipitation-hardened stainless steel. The backup structure is configured to provide mechanical support to the truss structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Richard Matson, Clark Ray Miller, Shawn Durwin Doggett, Jennifer Lynn Graham-Rateliff, Craig James Brownell
  • Patent number: 12095125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, detachably mountable to the external surface of an aircraft. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fully self-contained apparatus comprising an electrical device, such as a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW), and a corresponding thermal management system and power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventor: Graham Andrew Holland
  • Patent number: 12091183
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes a propulsor section that includes a fan with a plurality of fan blades that are rotatable about a fan axis, a core engine that is configured to generate a gas flow, a power turbine where the gas flow from the core engine is expanded to generate shaft power, and a power turbine shaft that is coupled between the power turbine and the propulsor section. The power turbine shaft is of an axial length between a first end portion and a second end portion along the fan axis that is greater than half a distance between a leading edge of the fan blades and a mechanical coupling of the power turbine shaft to the power turbine, and includes an outer diameter that increases in a direction away from each of the first end portion and the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jon Erik Sobanski
  • Patent number: 12079735
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing clearances within an engine include an adjustable coupling configured to couple a thrust link to the aircraft engine, an actuator coupled to the adjustable coupling, where motion produced by the actuator adjusts a hinge point of the adjustable coupling, sensors configured to capture real time flight data, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit receives flight data from the sensors, implements a machine learning model trained to predict clearance values within the engine based on the received flight data, predicts, with the machine learning model, the clearance values within the engine based on the received flight data, determines an actuator position based on the clearance values, and causes the actuator to adjust to the determined actuator position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kudum Shinde, Mahesh Khandeparker
  • Patent number: 12030614
    Abstract: A coupling system and method are configured to secure one or more spars of a wing of an aircraft to one or more struts. The coupling system and method include a plurality of interface joints that secure the one or more spars to the one or more struts. At least a portion of a front surface of the one or more spars is linearly aligned with at least a portion of a rear surface of the one more struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Druh Palma, Donald T. Powell
  • Patent number: 12012216
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a support structure for attaching the engine to an aircraft pylon. The support structure includes: an engine-side interface member, a pylon-side interface member interfacing to the engine-side interface member, and a top V-shaped connection formation above the engine core and pair of side V-shaped connection formations on opposite lateral sides of the engine core, each V-shaped connection formation being formed by a pair of connection members meeting at a vertex, the vertex of the top V-shaped connection formation joining to the top of the engine-side interface member, the vertices of the side V-shaped connection formations respectively joining to the bottom ends of the engine-side interface member, and the connection members extending forwardly from their respective vertices to join to front fixation points at the core casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Richard G Stretton
  • Patent number: 12000451
    Abstract: A device for compensating for vibration and/or material stress of a component of a high-voltage system filled with a viscous medium includes a piston and a housing. A first end piece of the piston may be coupled to the component of the system. A second end piece of the piston may be at least partly within the housing and enclosed thereby, enabling movement of the piston and the housing in opposite directions along an axis. The second end piece may be coupled to an inner wall of the housing by at least one spring. The piston and the housing are surrounded by the medium filling the system. A method and computer program product for computer-aided design of a device for compensating for vibration and/or material stress of a component of the system filled with a viscous medium are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Boschert, Thomas Hammer, Christoph Heinrich, Vincent Malik, Jochen Meth
  • Patent number: 11999502
    Abstract: An airframe assembly for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is provided where the airframe assembly includes a top airframe assembly, a bottom airframe assembly, and a planar support frame disposed between the top and bottom airframe assemblies. The top and bottom airframe assemblies may form one or more rotor ducts disposed about one or more UAV propulsion motor mounts, respectively, where the rotor ducts are configured to protect rotating rotors disposed therein from physical damage caused by impact with environmental flight hazards. The airframe assembly may further include a heat sink thermally coupled to electronics of the UAV and disposed within the airframe assembly such that rotating blades in the rotor ducts cause air to be drawn from outside of inlet orifices of the top airframe assembly, through an airflow channel in which dissipation surfaces of the heat sink are disposed, and into a rotor duct via an airflow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems ULC
    Inventors: Glen Johannesson, Albert Pegg, Dmytro Silin
  • Patent number: 11987370
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion assembly including a front engine mount including a transverse beam which is connected to the engine via first and second convergent connection rods. This transverse beam includes an upper extension which is at least partially positioned opposite a front transverse reinforcement of the primary structure and which is connected thereto via at least one first connection element and right and left lateral extensions which are positioned at one side and another of the upper extension, each of them being connected via a least one second fixing element to a first wing of a right or left bracket, a second wing of the right or left bracket being connected via at least one third connection element to the primary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Jean Geliot
  • Patent number: 11981453
    Abstract: A system for aerial vehicle landing is provided. The system includes a displacement compensation unit and a traction control module. The displacement compensation unit includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least one actuators connected to the top portion and the bottom portion, configured to provide a displacement compensated top portion to engage with an aerial vehicle. The traction control module includes a traction generator connected to a tether. Through the tether the aerial vehicle is tractioning toward the top portion of the displacement compensation unit. A method for controlling a system for aerial vehicle landing is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: FAIRTECH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jui-Pao Pan
  • Patent number: 11975856
    Abstract: A front engine attachment system for an engine of an aircraft. An engine pylon has a frontal rib with a front engine attachment with a first link rod which is fixed directly to the frontal rib by two connecting points. A second link rod is provided which has a first end fixed to the first link rod by a connecting point. The first link rod is fixed directly to an engine casing by at least two connecting points and a second end of the second link rod is fixed to the engine casing by a third connecting point. The first link rod may be made up of two adjoining plates that are fixed together. Also, an aircraft with such a front engine attachment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Michael Berjot, Jacky Puech, Rémi Lansiaux
  • Patent number: 11975857
    Abstract: A front engine attachment system having an engine pylon having a frontal rib fastened against a front face, a front engine attachment having a beam fastened to the frontal rib, two rods articulated to the beam respectively via two connection points and one connection point, and a front casing of an engine, wherein the first rod is articulated to the front casing via a connection point and wherein the second rod is articulated to the front casing via a connection point, wherein each point of connection of a rod to the beam is positioned inside a volume that extends the front face of the engine pylon towards the front. Such a front engine attachment system has reduced bulk and therefore less drag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Michael Berjot, Thomas Robiglio
  • Patent number: 11970974
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and engine mount structure includes a core engine including a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section mounted within a core engine housing. The fan, the compressor section and the turbine section rotate about an axis of rotation. An outer nacelle surrounds the fan, and is spaced from the core engine housing to define a bypass duct. The fan delivers air into the bypass duct and into the core engine housing. The nacelle is formed with camber so as to be curved in a first plane away from the axis of rotation in a first lateral direction. An engine mount structure extends from the nacelle at an angle that is non-parallel and non-perpendicular to the first plane, and has a component in a lateral direction that is opposed to the first lateral direction. An aircraft is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Malecki, Andrew Hahn, Marc J. Muldoon, Jesse M. Chandler, Joseph B. Staubach
  • Patent number: 11970278
    Abstract: A thrust mount assembly includes a thrust link-lever that has a first end region, a second end region, and a fulcrum region disposed between the first end region and the second end region. A thrust link-lever may be coupled or couplable to a fulcrum body of an aft engine-mount at a fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever. When coupled to a turbomachine, the fulcrum position of the thrust link-lever may be laterally offset and/or laterally adjustable relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine. A load translated from an engine frame of a turbomachine to an engine-mounting linkage system may be determined and a fulcrum position for the thrust mount assembly may be adjusted laterally relative to an axis of rotation of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kudum Shinde, Mahesh Shenvi Khandeparker
  • Patent number: 11958641
    Abstract: A gimbal configured to be implemented in an unmanned aerial system. The gimbal includes a payload interface; an end effector; a structure that includes composite skins, an internal structure, and integrated seals; integrated drive components; and at least one computer, where excess heat generated by the at least one computer is disposed of through a heat transfer surface integrated into the composite skin of the gimbal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Flightwave Aerospace Systems
    Inventors: Trent Lukaczyk, Daniel Levy, Michael Colonno
  • Patent number: 11946416
    Abstract: A front centre body (FCB) structure for a geared turbofan engine comprises a plurality of vanes extending across the inlet duct to a low pressure compressor and integrates a heat exchanging arrangement to control the temperature of the gearbox of the turbofan engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Sweden AB
    Inventors: Lars Ellbrant, Hans Mårtensson, Carlos Arroyo, Fredrik Wallin, Mattias Billson
  • Patent number: 11939070
    Abstract: Engine-mounting linkage systems may include a plurality of engine mounting links configured to couple an engine frame to an engine support structure of an aircraft. The plurality of engine-mounting links may include a forward link that is connectable to a forward frame portion of the engine frame and the engine support structure, and an aft link that is connectable to an aft frame portion of the engine frame and the engine support structure. The engine mounting linkage system may include an actuator that is connectable to the engine support structure and one of the plurality of engine-mounting links, or to the engine support structure and the engine frame. The actuator, when actuated, changes an inclination angle ? of at least one of the plurality of engine-mounting links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy Leo Schelfaut, Anthony Michael Metz, Jonathan Edward Coleman, Thomas P. Joseph, Michael C. Borner, Mahesh Khandeparker, Kudum Shinde
  • Patent number: 11939886
    Abstract: An aircraft engine, has: an upstream stator having upstream stator vanes circumferentially distributed about a central axis; and a downstream stator having downstream stator vanes circumferentially distributed about the central axis, the downstream stator located downstream of the upstream stator relative to an airflow flowing within a core gaspath of the aircraft engine, a number of the upstream stator vanes being different than a number of the downstream stator vanes, the downstream stator vanes including: a first vane made of a first material, a major portion of a leading edge of the first vane circumferentially overlapped by one of the upstream stator vanes, and a second vane made of a second material having a greater stiffness, strength, and/or ductility than that of the first material, a major portion of a leading edge of the second vane exposed via a spacing defined between two of the upstream stator vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ali Azmi, Karan Anand, Alexandre Capron, Tammy Yam, Sylvain Claude, Krishna Prasad Balike, Anthony Robert Bruni, Juan Ignacio Ruiz-Gopegui Gonzalez, César Carlos Valbuena Merino, Ignacio Javier Ucin Jarne
  • Patent number: 11927215
    Abstract: A clevis, particularly for a turbomachine includes a body that is attachable to a casing and at least one aperture for fitting a hinge pin. The body is formed in one piece and includes, about the at least one aperture, a honeycomb-type annular portion. The annular portion acts as a vibration filter and has a compressive and/or flexural strain capacity greater than that of the rest of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Simon Pierre Mathieu Mabire
  • Patent number: 11919652
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using a set of wing mounted thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to vertical takeoff with the rotors in a rotated, take-off attitude then transitions to a horizontal flight path, with the rotors rotated to a typical horizontal configuration. The aerial vehicle may have deployment mechanisms which deploy electric motor driven propellers from a forward facing to a vertical orientation. The deployment mechanisms deploy the rotor forward and up as they deploy from a forward flight configuration to a vertical thrust configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Alex Stoll
  • Patent number: 11905002
    Abstract: An aerial vehicle adapted for vertical takeoff and landing using a set of wing mounted thrust producing elements for takeoff and landing. An aerial vehicle which is adapted to vertical takeoff with the rotors in a rotated, take-off attitude then transitions to a horizontal flight path, with the rotors rotated to a typical horizontal configuration. The aerial vehicle uses different configurations of its wing mounted rotors and propellers to reduce drag in all flight modes. The aerial vehicle uses deployment mechanisms to deploy rotor assemblies up and away from their stowed configuration locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Joby Aero, Inc.
    Inventors: JoeBen Bevirt, Alex Stoll
  • Patent number: 11891165
    Abstract: An aircraft is described that comprises: a fuselage with a first axis of longitudinal extension; and a tail portion arranged at a tail end of the fuselage; the tail portion comprises two surfaces arranged in a V-shape, inclined to each other and symmetrical with respect to the first axis; each surface comprises an associated winglet arranged transversely with respect to the surface and fixed with respect to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: LEONARDO S.P.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Abdel Nour, Matteo Pecoraro
  • Patent number: 11859506
    Abstract: A structure is provided for a gas turbine engine. This gas turbine engine structure includes an engine case, an engine pylon and an engine line. The engine case includes a base, a mounting boss and a first support element. The base extends axially along and circumferentially about an axial centerline of the engine case. The mounting boss projects radially out from the base. The first support element projects radially out from the base and laterally out from the mounting boss. The first support element is configured as or otherwise includes a peripheral boss. The engine pylon is mounted to the mounting boss. The engine line is coupled to the peripheral boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Nicholas Guglielmin
  • Patent number: 11851201
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbomachine (1) extending along an axis (X), comprising a high-pressure body with a high-pressure compressor (4) coupled in rotation to a high-pressure turbine (6), and a low-pressure body including a low-pressure compressor (3) coupled in rotation to a low-pressure turbine (7), an upstream casing (14) located upstream of the high-pressure compressor (4), and means of suspension (12, 13) for the turbomachine (1), intended for attaching the turbomachine (1) to an aircraft pylon (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Quentin Matthias Emmanuel Garnaud, Guillaume Glemarec, Hervé Jean Albert Mouton, Guilhem Seize, Benoit Bernard René Leclerc
  • Patent number: 11827373
    Abstract: Aircraft engine exhaust systems enabling short aft fairings are described. An example turbofan engine exhaust system of an aircraft includes a primary nozzle having a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a heat shield coupled to an aft strut fairing. The heat shield has an upstream end and a downstream end. The downstream end of the heat shield is substantially coterminous with the trailing edge of the primary nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Abhishek Sahay, David F. Cerra
  • Patent number: 11807373
    Abstract: The pylon, intended to support a flying vehicle engine, includes a primary structure formed by at least one longeron and one panel, the panel including at least one end part provided with a notch, the longeron being provided with an end adapted to be positioned in the notch, the panel and the longeron being assembled by welding a part of the end to a part of the notch. A welded primary structure enables minimization of the blanks of parts associated with the longerons and with the panels by avoiding having recourse to the production of edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Julien Allain, Stéphane Dida, Jérome Colmagro, Olivier Dubois, Julien Moulis, Jacky Puech, Laurent Lafont
  • Patent number: 11807374
    Abstract: A propulsion assembly includes an engine below a pylon by engine attachments, including a thrust force uptake device, the engine having a longitudinal axis and a vertical median plane parallel to the longitudinal axis, the thrust force uptake device having a main fitting fixed below the pylon and two links disposed on either side of the vertical median plane and which each have a rear end articulated to the main fitting by a spreader mounted to pivot on the main fitting about an axis of rotation which, on the one hand, is orthogonal to a mean plane for transmitting thrust forces parallel to the longitudinal axis of each of the links, and which is disposed in the vertical median plane, each link being articulated to the spreader by a connecting pin extending parallel to the mean plane for transmitting thrust forces and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Michael Berjot, Thomas Robiglio, Karla Mariana Arellanes Mendoza
  • Patent number: 11794873
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit enclosure of an aircraft includes a space frame configured to carry a load and defining an auxiliary power unit compartment. The space frame includes a plurality of frame elements coupled together at a plurality of nodes. The auxiliary power unit enclosure also includes a fairing coupled to and surrounding the space frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven E. Pearson, Rosario Vingiani, Rajagopalan Margessery, Bernhard Dopker, Richard R. Rosman
  • Patent number: 11787552
    Abstract: Compliant mounting systems, devices, and methods for mounting a vehicle engine to a vehicle structure or base include a top mount, a lower mount, a center trunnion mount, and an aft mount which are configured to react forces transmitted by the engine to the vehicle structure. Metallic and elastomeric elements can provide vibrational and force isolation characteristics. Stops (e.g., snubbing elements) allow for a specific range of motion before internal mount structures contact each other to act as a conventional hard mount. Fluid elements and compressible gas-filled spaces/bladders may be incorporated to provide fluid damping behaviors to complement the metallic and elastomeric elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald P. Whiteford, Jonathan Sacco
  • Patent number: 11781482
    Abstract: A heat shield assembly for use with an aircraft engine. The heat shield assembly includes a structural member, a heat shield panel adapted for exposure to aircraft engine exhaust, an index joint coupling the heat shield panel to the structural member in a fixed positional location, and a plurality of slip joints coupling the heat shield panel to the structural member. Each slip joint includes at least one wear buffer coupled to the heat shield panel, and a slip fastener insertable through a slip joint hole in the heat shield panel with a clearance fit. A gap defined by the clearance fit is sized to provide a tolerance for expansion and contraction of the heat shield panel relative to the fixed positional location, and the at least one wear buffer is engageable by the slip fastener during expansion and contraction of the heat shield panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: John F. Summers
  • Patent number: 11767135
    Abstract: A main body of an unmanned vehicle is provided. The main body comprises a propulsion-receiving module having a mount point for removably mounting a propulsion source, a payload-receiving module having a mount point for removably mounting a payload, and a damper interposed between the payload-receiving module and the propulsion-receiving module to inhibit transmission of vibrations from the propulsion-receiving module to the payload-receiving module when the payload-receiving module and the propulsion-receiving module are in mechanical communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems ULC
    Inventors: Glen Johannesson, Michael Peasgood, Denis Lahaie, Albert Pegg
  • Patent number: 11767107
    Abstract: A vibratory motion reduction system for a pylon assembly includes an inner member having an opening extending therein that receives a first end of the pylon assembly, an outer member moveably attached to the inner member, a tuning mass attached to the inner member and the outer member such that a vibratory motion of the pylon assembly accelerates the tuning mass, a spring member that couples to a second end of the pylon assembly, and the spring member and the tuning mass reduce the vibratory motion of the pylon assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Carl VanBuskirk, Michael Scott Seifert
  • Patent number: 11760498
    Abstract: A system for mounting a gas turbine engine to a pylon and for detecting a failure within the system, the gas turbine engine comprising a first case, is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a first mount connecting the first case to the pylon; and a first sensor configured to detect a first relative motion between the first case and the first mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Gormley, Jihad Ramlaoui
  • Patent number: 11746664
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan rotor driven by a fan drive turbine about an axis through a gear reduction. An inner core engine has an inner core engine housing surrounding a compressor section, including a low pressure compressor. A rigid connection between a fan case and the inner core engine includes A-frames rigidly connected at a connection point to the fan case. Fan exit guide vanes rigidly connect to the fan case, and to the inner core engine. A fan intermediate case is positioned forward of a first rotor stage in the low pressure compressor. A rigid structure is connected to the inner core engine and to the fan exit guide vanes. The rigid structure defines a structure moment stiffness. The fan intermediate case defines an intermediate case moment stiffness. A ratio of the structure moment stiffness to the intermediate case moment stiffness is between 5 and 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Marc J. Muldoon, Michael E. McCune, Keith B. Allyn
  • Patent number: 11738878
    Abstract: The invention concerns a suspension system (7) for a turbomachine, comprising a beam (10) intended to be attached to a pylon of an aircraft, and a cylindrical part (15) articulated on a ball joint housing, the ball joint housing comprising a body (11), and a ball joint nut (16) articulated on the body (11), the cylindrical part (15) being mounted so as to pivot about its axis in the ball joint nut, characterized in that the cylindrical part (15) is intended to be integral with a fixed part (8) of the turbomachine (1), the body (11) of the ball joint housing being integral with the beam (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Quentin Matthias Emmanuel Garnaud, Antoine Elie Hellegouarch