Air And Diverse Fluid Discharge From Separate Discharge Outlets (e.g., Fan Jet, Etc.) Patents (Class 60/226.1)
  • Patent number: 11028776
    Abstract: A modulating fan air diverter and annular air-oil cooler for a gas turbine engine located in the inner fixed structure adjacent to the core cowl is provided. The fan air diverter modulates between an open position, corresponding to maximum fan nozzle area and airflow through the air-oil cooler, and a closed position, corresponding to minimum fan nozzle area and airflow through the air-oil cooler. As such, the device is capable of supporting dual functions of engine heat management as well as engine performance and fan stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard Alan Weiner
  • Patent number: 11028775
    Abstract: An aircraft engine system has a turbofan engine with a lubricating oil system. An oil pump is connected to pump oil from the oil tank through a cooling circuit to the turbofan engine. The cooling circuit has a bleed air boosted engine oil cooler assembly with a liquid/air heat exchanger (LAHEX) connected to an oil inlet conduit and receiving fan air from a high bypass fan of the turbofan engine as the cooling working fluid. The LAHEX is connected to an oil exit conduit. An ejector downstream of the LAHEX receives bleed air from a compressor section of the turbofan engine. The ejector draws the fan air through the LAHEX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steve G. Mackin, Samuel J. Tutko
  • Patent number: 11022047
    Abstract: An external turning vane includes a vane body extending radially from the inner cowl and disposed upstream from an inlet of the secondary flow system, the vane body configured to turn an airflow in a bypass flow path towards an axial direction to minimize separation between the airflow and the secondary flow system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Zsurka, Laurel F. Carlson
  • Patent number: 11015521
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion assembly comprising at least a main turbine mounted along a longitudinal axis, at least one main fan arranged upstream of the main turbine along the longitudinal axis and driven in rotation by the said main turbine, the said main fan being ducted by a main fan casing, an auxiliary turbine mounted along the longitudinal axis, the auxiliary turbine being independent of the main turbine, an auxiliary fan of axis offset with respect to the longitudinal axis and driven by the auxiliary turbine, the auxiliary fan being ducted by an auxiliary fan casing, the main casing being separate and distinct from the auxiliary casing so as respectively to generate a main secondary flow and an auxiliary secondary flow which remain independent of one another until they are discharged into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Augustin Marc Michel Curlier, Adrien Pierre Jean Pertat, Pierre-Alain Jean Philippe Reigner, Laurent Soulat, Kevin Morgane Lemarchand, Tewfik Boudebiza, Gilles Alain Charier, Nathalie Nowakowski
  • Patent number: 10995702
    Abstract: An assembly for a rear of a dual-flow turbomachine having a longitudinal axis includes a secondary nozzle and a heating system. The secondary nozzle is defined about the longitudinal axis and ejects a mixture of the flows coming from a secondary vein and a primary vein of the turbomachine. The secondary nozzle is of a convergent-divergent form with a neck corresponding to a minimal cross-cross-section of the secondary nozzle. The heating system is located on a portion of the internal circumference of the secondary nozzle longitudinally in the region of the neck or upstream from the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Guillaume Bodard, Jeremy Paul Francisco Gonzalez, Norman Bruno Andre Jodet
  • Patent number: 10989114
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling bleed air from an aircraft engine are described. An example system includes a housing to bifurcate airflow exiting a fan of an engine fan system, a pre-cooler assembly disposed within the housing to remove heat from the bleed air, and an inlet duct within the housing to direct the airflow to the pre-cooler assembly. The example system also includes at least one diverter duct within the housing and coupled to the inlet duct to divert the airflow around the pre-cooler assembly. The at least one diverter duct includes an exit directing the airflow into a fan duct of the engine fan system. The example system also includes at least one valve to control an amount of airflow through the inlet duct and an amount of airflow through the at least one diverter duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David F. Cerra, Paul R. Tretow
  • Patent number: 10975717
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section having a fan rotatable with a fan shaft and a turbomachinery section having a turbine and a turbomachine shaft rotatable with the turbine. A power gearbox is also provided mechanically coupled to both the fan shaft and the turbomachine shaft such that the fan shaft is rotatable by the turbomachine shaft across the power gearbox. A torque monitoring system includes a gearbox sensor operable with a gear of the power gearbox and a shaft sensor operable with at least one of the turbomachine shaft or the fan shaft. The torque monitoring system determines an angular position of the gear of the gearbox relative to at least one of the fan shaft or the turbomachine shaft using the gearbox sensor and the shaft sensor to determine a torque within the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Ory Moniz, Joseph George Rose, Robert Harold Weisgerber, Jeffrey Donald Clements, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 10927761
    Abstract: A heat management system for a turbomachine may include a first heat exchanger configured and arranged to receive a first fluid stream from a first duct, a second heat exchanger configured and arranged to receive the first fluid stream after discharging from the first heat exchanger, and a hatch configured to provide fluid communication from a second duct to the first duct so as to introduce a second fluid stream from the second duct to the first duct. A method of cooling fluid streams may include directing a first fluid stream from a first duct across or through a first heat exchanger, directing the first fluid stream across or through a second heat exchanger after discharging from the first heat exchanger, and directing a second fluid stream from a second duct to the first duct, with the second fluid stream flowing through a hatch configured to provide fluid communication from the second duct to the first duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Douglas Rambo
  • Patent number: 10914315
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a combustor section, a compressor section, and a turbine section. A high pressure compressor is arranged upstream of the combustor section. A fan section has an array of twenty-six or fewer fan blades. A low pressure compressor is counter-rotating relative to the fan blades and downstream from the fan section. The airfoil outside of the compressor section is rotatable relative to an engine static structure. The airfoil includes pressure and suction sides extending from a 0% span position to a 100% span position. A relationship between a leading edge angle and span position that defines a curve with at least one of a decreasingly negative slope or a positive slope from 80% span to 100% span. The leading edge angle is defined by a tangential plane normal to an engine axis and a line tangent to a camber mean line at the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Lisa I Brilliant, Joseph C. Straccia, Stanley J. Balamucki, Mark A. Stephens, Kate Hudon
  • Patent number: 10914194
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a spool and a turbine section including a turbine rear frame, a turbine, and a support member. The turbine includes a first plurality of turbine rotor blades and a second plurality of turbine rotor blades, the first plurality of turbine rotor blades and second plurality of turbine rotor blades alternatingly spaced along the axial direction and rotatable with one another. The support member extends between the first plurality of turbine rotor blades and the spool and couples the first plurality of turbine rotor blades to the spool. The turbomachine also includes a bearing assembly including a bearing, the bearing rotatably supporting the support member and supported by the turbine rear frame, the bearing spaced apart from the spool along the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peeyush Pankaj, Shashank Suresh Puranik, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Christopher Charles Glynn, Richard Schmidt, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal
  • Patent number: 10907504
    Abstract: A structural casing for an axial turbine engine includes an outer ring, an inner hub, and a plurality of struts extending radially from the hub to the ring, wherein the ring is made of a plurality of angular segments welded together. The segments extend circumferentially of different angles, some segments being larger angularly than others. The structural casing is adapted to be an intermediate casing between two compressors of a turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS SA
    Inventors: Ludovic Bovyn, Eric Englebert, Maxime Peeters
  • Patent number: 10907490
    Abstract: An air supply system is configured to provide cooling air with reduced heat pickup to a turbine rotor of a gas turbine engine. The system comprises a first cooling passage extending between a hollow airfoil and an internal pipe extending through the airfoil. The airfoil extends through a hot gas path. A second cooling passage extends through the internal pipe. The coolant flowing through the second cooling passage is thermally isolated from the airfoil hot surface by the flow of coolant flowing through the first cooling passage. The first and second cooling passages have a common output flow to a rotor cavity of the turbine rotor where coolant flows from the first and second cooling passages combine according to a predetermined ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Roger Huppe, Marc Tardif, Herve Turcotte
  • Patent number: 10890116
    Abstract: A fuel injector comprises a fuel feed arm and a fuel injector head and the fuel injector head has a fuel passage. The fuel feed arm has a fuel supply passage in fluid communication with the fuel passage in the fuel injector head. A first light guide extends through the fuel feed arm and has a distal end arranged to direct light into the fuel passage in the fuel injector head. A light source is arranged to supply light into a proximal end of the first light guide. A second light guide extends through the fuel feed arm and has a distal end arranged to receive transmitted light in the fuel passage in the fuel injector head and a light receiver is arranged to collect light at a proximal end of the second light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Robert A Hicks
  • Patent number: 10883384
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the disassembly of a transmission shaft in a turbomachine, an arm for turbomachine casing comprises a body provided with a recess housing a removable part which delimits a shaft housing and is capable of being inserted through a first opening of the recess by means of sliding movement of the removable part parallel to the direction of a central axis of the shaft housing, the first opening of the recess being configured for being arranged opposite an orifice within a casing outer shell ring of the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Pierre Yves Heinry, Aline Bourdais, Guillaume Julien Puech
  • Patent number: 10875654
    Abstract: According to the invention, a drive device for an aircraft is provided, which has a shaft turbine coupled to an impeller via a shaft. The impeller has an intake side and a thrust side. The shaft turbine is mounted in the area of the intake side of the impeller. The drive device is also designed for mounting externally on an aircraft fuselage and/or inside an aircraft fuselage and/or in a casing on a wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Scalewings IP GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Schwöller
  • Patent number: 10871077
    Abstract: Auxiliary lead-through device for a turbomachine, including two coaxial annular shell rings, respectively an inner and an outer one, between which there extend radial arms, through at least one of which auxiliaries (20) are led through. An auxiliary retention unit is housed inside the arm, on one wall, the arm includes an aperture that can be closed off by a cover that is attached and fixed to the arm. The retention unit includes at least one first member fixed to the internal surface of the arm and at least one second member fixed to the internal surface of the cover. The fixing of the cover to the arm causes the auxiliaries to be clamped and retained between the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Nicolas Stoliaroff-Pepin
  • Patent number: 10858115
    Abstract: An assembly for an aircraft having a propeller, including a wheel well for a retracted landing gear, first and second cooling ducts; and an engine assembly having an engine shaft configured for driving engagement with the propeller, the engine assembly including a coolant circulation system for circulation of a liquid coolant, a lubricant circulation system for circulation of a lubricant, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with at least the coolant circulation system, and a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with at least the lubricant circulation system. Each heat exchanger is positioned and configured for receiving a cooling airflow from the respective cooling duct. The wheel well is located between the heat exchangers. A method of cooling a lubricant and a liquid coolant of an engine assembly is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Luc Dionne, Bruno Villeneuve, Jean Thomassin
  • Patent number: 10836499
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a turbine engine to an aircraft can include an engine core for the turbine engine including a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section in flow arrangement. At least one strut couples to the engine core about a single mount plane. A structural wall at least partially defining a mainstream flow path couples to the at least one strut and passes through the compressor section and the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kenneth Arthur Gould, Martin Miles D'Angelo, Daniel Waslo, Brian Lewis Devendorf, Mark Gregory Wotzak
  • Patent number: 10837313
    Abstract: A case for a gas turbine engine includes a case body defining an axially extending core flow path, a radially extending bleed air duct coupling the core flow path in fluid communication with the external environment, and a structure-supporting member spanning the bleed air duct. A lubricant conduit is connected to the case body and is in thermal communication with the structure-supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Clarkson, Daniel K. Van Ness, II, Paul Thomas Rembish
  • Patent number: 10830179
    Abstract: A variable bleed valve system for use in a turbofan engine includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced variable bleed valve assemblies. Each variable bleed valve assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced variable bleed valve assemblies. Each variable bleed valve assembly includes a variable bleed valve door that is selectively adjustable through a range of intermediate positions between a closed position and an open position. The variable bleed valve door is configured to maintain any of the intermediate positions. Each variable bleed valve assembly also includes an actuator operatively coupled to the variable bleed valve door. The actuator is configured to selectively adjust a position of the variable bleed valve door through the range of intermediate positions between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Ami Hatim
  • Patent number: 10830130
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan rotor, a first compressor rotor and a second compressor rotor. The second compressor rotor compresses air to a higher pressure than the first compressor rotor. A first turbine rotor drives the second compressor rotor and a second turbine rotor. The second turbine drives the compressor rotor. A fan drive turbine is positioned downstream of the second turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine drives the fan through a gear reduction. The first compressor rotor and second turbine rotor rotate as an intermediate speed spool. The second compressor rotor and first turbine rotor together as a high speed spool. The high speed spool and the fan drive turbine configured to rotate in the same first direction. The intermediate speed spool rotates in an opposed, second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10823000
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a spool and a turbine section. The turbine section includes a turbine center frame and a turbine, with the turbine including a first plurality of turbine rotor blades and a second plurality of turbine rotor blades. The first plurality of turbine rotor blades and second plurality of turbine rotor blades are alternatingly spaced along the axial direction. The turbomachine also includes a gearbox aligned with, or positioned aft of, a midpoint of the turbine. The gearbox includes a first gear coupled to the first plurality of rotor blades, a second gear coupled to the second plurality of rotor blades, and a third gear coupled to the turbine center frame. The turbomachine also includes a support member, the first plurality of turbine rotor blades coupled to the spool through the support member, the support member extending aft of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peeyush Pankaj, Shashank Suresh Puranik, Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Christopher Charles Glynn, Richard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10822972
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a shroud assembly for a gas turbine. The shroud assembly includes a casing and a shroud. The shroud includes a radially outer wall engaged with the casing. A radially inner wall integrally couples to the radially outer wall. The radially inner wall and the radially outer wall collectively define a pair of axially opposed cavities. The radially inner wall moves radially outward toward the casing when one or more gas turbine blades contact the radially inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yu Mukherjee, Ananda Barua, Changjie Sun, Wenfeng Lu
  • Patent number: 10823056
    Abstract: A boundary layer ingestion engine includes a gas generator and a turbine fluidly connected to the gas generator. A fan is mechanically linked to the turbine via a shaft such that rotation of the turbine is translated to the fan. A boundary layer ingestion inlet is aligned with an expected boundary layer, such that the boundary layer ingestion inlet is configured to ingest fluid from a boundary layer during operation of the boundary layer ingestion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jesse M. Chandler
  • Patent number: 10815892
    Abstract: A multiflow turbojet engine generally includes an upstream fan driven by a gas generator having first and second coaxial compressors, an intake case forming a mounting for the rotors of the upstream fan and the first compressor, an inter-compressor case downstream from the intake case and forming a mounting for the rotors of the second compressor, and attachment means for thrust take-up control rods arranged in the inter-compressor case. The turbojet engine also includes a structural force shroud connecting the intake case to the inter-compressor case, of the and a floating first compressor case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Nils Edouard Romain Bordoni, Romain Guillaume Cuvillier, Guillaume Patrice Kubiak, Arnaud Nicolas Negri, Nathalie Nowakowski
  • Patent number: 10814996
    Abstract: A nacelle may comprise a fan cowl and a tie rod assembly coupled to the fan cowl. The tie rod assembly may comprise a first tie rod coupled to the fan cowl and a second tie rod coupled to the first tie rod and the fan cowl. Rotational motion may be transferred between the first tie rod and the second tie rod. A retention structure may be coupled to an interior surface of the fan cowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ROHR, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart J. Byrne, Thomas Paolini
  • Patent number: 10794218
    Abstract: A hub of an intermediate casing for a dual-flow turbine engine includes a discharge flow duct extending between an inner shroud and an outer shroud of the hub, the discharge flow duct leading into the secondary flow space through an outlet opening formed in the outer shroud, the outlet opening included in a discharge plane substantially tangential to the outer shroud; and discharge fins including an upstream fin and a downstream fin. An upstream acute angle between the discharge plane and the skeleton line of the upstream fin is smaller than a downstream acute angle between the discharge plane and the skeleton line of the downstream fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Jean-Frederic Pierre Joseph Bruhat, Philippe Jacques Pierre Fessou, Benjamin Lukowski
  • Patent number: 10794273
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to the present disclosure includes a first compressor and a first turbine for driving the first compressor. A core section includes a second compressor and a second turbine for driving the second compressor. A third turbine is arranged fluidly downstream of the first turbine and the second turbine and configured to drive a power take-off. A first duct system is arranged fluidly between the low-pressure compressor and the core section. The first duct system is arranged to reverse fluid flow before entry into the core section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery F. Perlak, Joseph B. Staubach, Gabriel L. Suciu, James D. Hill, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10794272
    Abstract: A turbine engine includes a compressor section including a compressor, the compressor including an axial compressor stage, a variable outlet guide vane, and a centrifugal compressor stage, the variable outlet guide vane positioned between the axial compressor stage and the centrifugal compressor stage; a bleed assembly including a bleed airflow duct in airflow communication with the compressor and a bleed valve operable with the bleed airflow duct, the bleed valve including a bleed valve actuator; and a linkage assembly coupling the bleed valve actuator with the variable outlet guide vane such that that variable outlet guide vane is moveable with the bleed valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Timothy Joseph Higgins
  • Patent number: 10787969
    Abstract: A front part of an aircraft turbomachine of the bypass type including a single fan, a gas generator positioned downstream of the fan, a reducer interposed between the gas generator and the fan, a flow splitter and a structure with structural outlet guide vanes. The vanes each have a root arranged upstream of the flow splitter and the reducer is also arranged at least half upstream of the flow splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Kevin Morgane Lemarchand, Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Guillaume Olivier Vartan Martin
  • Patent number: 10787962
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion unit including two distinct fan spools, and including a first duct and a second duct extending downstream of the two fan spools, the propulsion unit including a control ring disposed on one of the ducts, downstream of one of the fan spools, with at least one annular internal wall extending in an interior space of the duct, the control unit of the control ring being configured to modify the shape of the internal wall, and to cause an air passage cross section in the duct to vary at the ring, a device for acquiring acoustic signals generated by acoustic waves propagating downstream of the fan spools, and a device for processing the acoustic signals, configured to measure a dephasing between the acoustic waves and to control the control ring depending on the dephasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Jean Michel Roux, Norman Bruno André Jodet, Laurent Louis Robert Baudoin
  • Patent number: 10781749
    Abstract: A boundary layer ingestion engine includes a gas generator and a turbine fluidly connected to the gas generator. A fan is mechanically linked to the turbine via a shaft such that rotation of the turbine is translated to the fan. A boundary layer ingestion inlet is aligned with an expected boundary layer, such that the boundary layer ingestion inlet is configured to ingest fluid from a boundary layer during operation of the boundary layer ingestion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Jesse M. Chandler
  • Patent number: 10767559
    Abstract: A particle separator adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes an adaptive-area hub, an outer wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the adaptive-area hub and the outer wall to separate particles suspended in an inlet flow moving through the particle separator to provide a clean flow of air to the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Crawford F. Smith, III, Bryan H. Lerg, Kenneth M. Pesyna
  • Patent number: 10767486
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an annular shroud having a radially inner face and a radially outer face opposing the radially inner face, a radially inner array of airfoils extending from the radially inner face, and a radially outer array of airfoils extending from the radially outer face. The radially inner array of airfoils are configured to guide flow within a radially inner bypass flow passage, the radially inner bypass flow passage bypassing and being radially outward of a compressor section. At least one, but fewer than each, airfoil of the radially inner array of airfoils is circumferentially aligned with a corresponding airfoil in the radially outer array of airfoils, and the remaining airfoils in the radially inner array of airfoils are misaligned with the airfoils of the radially outer array of airfoils. A method of reducing a vibratory response of airfoils is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, Steven J. Ford
  • Patent number: 10760501
    Abstract: To facilitate the removal of a bearing housed in an arm of a turbomachine casing, which bearing guides a transmission shaft of the turbomachine, a casing arm includes a body with a vertical portion and a base defining a portion of a shaft housing; an additional part removably attached to the body and defining a bearing housing opening in the shaft housing; and a removable shim inserted between the base and the additional part. A turbomachine including such a casing arm is also described, as well as a method for removing the bearing from such a turbomachine, including removing the shim and moving the additional part towards the base, thereby allowing access to the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Sebastien Nicolas Juigne, Kevin Michael Robert Contal, Mathieu Gaillot, Francois Marie Paul Marlin, Steve Marcel Nicaise
  • Patent number: 10760439
    Abstract: A method of testing the integrity of a fluid flow regulator system for a turbine engine, the system including a fluid-passing duct associated with a movable flap; an actuator having a movable drive element suitable for delivering a movement force between a first position corresponding to the closed position of the movable flap and a second position corresponding to the open position of the movable flap; a push-pull cable interconnecting the drive element and the movable flap; and return device exerting a return force for moving the flap; the method of testing the integrity of the system including in succession: a step of supplying power to the actuator in order to place the drive element in the second position; a step of interrupting the supply of power; and a step of measuring the position of the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Clementine Morisot, Benoit Michel Pontallier
  • Patent number: 10753315
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rear assembly of a turbojet engine nacelle that includes a thrust reverser fixed structure having at least one half-cowl mounted on a beam pivotally hinged by at least one hinge, a suspension mast on which the fixed structure is movably mounted, a hatch for access to the hinge of the half-cowl, and a fireproof sealing device which includes a sealing gasket adapted to provide sealing between a median section of the nacelle and the beam area. The sealing gasket includes a tubular gasket type lower portion which extends at least partially over a seal bearing edge of the half-cowl that is adapted to cooperate with a seal bearing wall of the mast and an upper portion including an elastically deformable sealing sheet extending from the seal bearing wall of the mast to the rear face of the hatch for access to the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Joret, Jérôme Corfa, Serge Bunel, Xavier Bouteiller
  • Patent number: 10738703
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotating components housed within a main compressor section and a turbine section. A first tap is connected to the main compressor section and configured to deliver air at a first pressure. A heat exchanger is connected downstream of the first tap. A cooling air valve is configured to selectively block flow of cooling air across the heat exchanger. A cooling compressor is connected downstream of the heat exchanger. A shut off valve stops flow between the heat exchanger and the cooling compressor. A second tap is configured to deliver air at a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure. A mixing chamber is connected downstream of the cooling compressor and the second tap. The mixing chamber is configured to deliver air to at least one of the plurality of rotating components. A system stops flow between the cooling compressor and the plurality of rotating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Nathan Snape
  • Patent number: 10737801
    Abstract: A fan module for an aircraft is disclosed herein. The fan module includes a fan rotor, a vane ring, and an optional power supply system. The fan rotor is configured to discharge thrust in an aft direction when rotated about a central axis. The vane ring is located aft of the fan rotor along the central axis and mounted for rotation about the central axis. The vane ring includes a plurality of airfoils arranged to interact with the thrust discharged by the fan rotor so that the thrust drives rotation of the vane ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan S. Sands, Richard K. Keller
  • Patent number: 10738694
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure includes, among other possible things, a fan including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis, a plurality of inlet guide vanes mounted forward of the plurality of fan blades, the plurality of inlet guide vanes selectively rotatable about the axis independent of the plurality of fan blades; and a motor for controlling rotation of the plurality of inlet guide vanes about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Dmitriy B. Sidelkovskiy, Neil Terwilliger, William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10730636
    Abstract: An integrated aircraft cooling system comprising a turbine engine and a plurality of secondary cooling streams, wherein the turbine engine core exhaust stream drives the plurality of secondary cooling streams. A core exhaust stream outlet has a periphery and a composite secondary outlet positioned around the periphery of the core exhaust stream outlet, and the composite secondary outlet is segregated between the plurality of secondary streams. Each of the secondary flows are in fluid isolation from each other upstream of the composite secondary outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan H. Lerg, Kenneth M. Pesyna, Nilesh Shah, Douglas J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10731560
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a plurality of rotating components housed within a compressor section and a turbine section. A first tap is connected to the compressor section and configured to deliver air at a first pressure. A heat exchanger is connected downstream of the first tap and configured to deliver air to an aircraft fuselage. A cooling compressor is connected downstream of the heat exchanger. A high pressure feed is configured to deliver air at a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure. The cooling compressor is configured to deliver air to at least one of the plurality of rotating components. A valve assembly that can select whether air from the first tap or air from the high pressure feed is delivered to the aircraft pneumatic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Snape, Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian Merry, Jesse M. Chandler, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10724402
    Abstract: A duct liner assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first ring and a second ring. Also included is a first duct liner having a first end and a second end, the first duct liner mounted proximate the first end of the first duct liner to the first ring. Further included is a second duct liner having a first end and a second end, the second duct liner mounted proximate the second end of the second duct liner to the second ring. Yet further included is a coupling assembly including a threaded insert, a retaining bracket, and a threaded fastener extending through the retaining bracket and in threaded engagement with the threaded insert to couple the retaining bracket to the second duct liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rigels Bejleri, Patrick M. Devaney
  • Patent number: 10717543
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating electrical power for powering a device associated with a bladed rotor driven by a gas turbine engine of an aircraft are disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotor shaft coupled the bladed rotor of the aircraft and driven by a turbine shaft of the engine via a speed-reducing gear train. A speed-augmenting power transfer device has an input coupled to the rotor shaft and an output for outputting a rotation speed higher than a rotation speed of the rotor shaft received at the input of the speed-augmenting power transfer device. An electric generator disposed in a hub of the bladed rotor is coupled to the output of the speed-augmenting power transfer device and configured to generate electrical power for the device associated with the bladed rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Lazar Mitrovic, Richard Ullyott
  • Patent number: 10718271
    Abstract: A power extraction and amplification system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the power extraction and amplification system includes a low spool tower shaft configured for engagement with a low speed spool, a high spool tower shaft configured for engagement with a high speed spool, a first motor, a generator, a differential gear box operably coupled to the low spool tower shaft, to the first motor and to the generator, and a second motor operably coupled to the generator and the high spool tower shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, William G Sheridan
  • Patent number: 10703475
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle includes a tubular base structure, a motor having a stator, the stator being connected to the tubular base structure, an energy storage module configured to supply power to the motor, and at least one propeller driven by the motor, wherein the tubular base structure houses at least one cable for routing power or signals, or a fuel conduit or wire conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: UVIONIX AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yordan Iskrev, Boris Iskrev
  • Patent number: 10697374
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an inlet duct to guide a core engine flow to a compressor and an engine section stator arranged in the inlet duct upstream of the compressor including vanes with leading edges defining a first annulus area in the inlet duct, a mid-span leading edge point of the engine section stator vanes being arranged at a first radius. The compressor includes a first rotor with a row of first blades with leading edges defining a second annulus area; a mid-span leading edge point of the compressor first blades being arranged at a second radius and an axial distance from the engine section stator vane mid-span leading edge point. The ratio of the second to the first annulus area is equal or greater than 0.75, and the ratio of a difference between the first and second radius to the axial distance is equal or greater than 0.23.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Ian J Bousfield
  • Patent number: 10677158
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system and method of operating gas turbine engines are provided. The gas turbine engine assembly includes a gas turbine engine includes a power shaft configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a first fan and a second fan coupled to the power shaft coaxially with the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a first fan duct configured to direct a first stream of air to the first fan. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes a second fan duct configured to direct a second stream of air to the second fan. The gas turbine engine assembly also includes an exhaust duct configured to direct a stream of exhaust gases of the gas turbine engine in a direction of the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Narendra Digamber Joshi, Ian Francis Prentice, Kurt David Murrow
  • Patent number: 10676205
    Abstract: A propulsion system for an aircraft includes an electric propulsion engine. The electric propulsion engine includes an electric motor and a fan rotatable about a central axis of the electric propulsion engine by the electric motor. The electric propulsion engine also includes a bearing supporting rotation of the fan and a thermal management system. The thermal management system includes a lubrication oil circulation assembly and a heat exchanger thermally connected to the lubrication oil circulation assembly. The lubrication oil circulation assembly is configured for providing the bearing with lubrication oil. Such an electric propulsion engine may be a relatively self-sufficient engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Alan Niergarth, Randy M. Vondrell, Brandon Wayne Miller, Patrick Michael Marrinan, Lawrence Chih-hui Cheung, Nikolai N. Pastouchenko
  • Patent number: 10677103
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of power medium expansion that functions with a rate of efficiency higher than systems found in prior art. Novel features of the system increase the overall efficiency with the use of a power medium that begins the cycle in the liquid state and enters the gaseous state. An additional novel feature is the use of additional heat that may also increase the overall cycle efficiency. Another additional novel feature is recuperating energy that can supplement the phase change of the power medium along with isolating the components from the ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Cann