Air Passage Bypasses Combustion Chamber Patents (Class 60/262)
  • Patent number: 10006369
    Abstract: A method and system for a heat exchanger are provided. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of arcuate heat exchanger segments, each including a first header configured to extend circumferentially about at least a portion of a circumference of an internal surface of a fluid duct. The heat exchanger also includes a second header configured to extend circumferentially about the portion spaced axially apart from the first header in a direction opposite of fluid flow through the fluid duct and a first plurality of heat exchanger tubes extending generally axially between the first header and the second header, the first plurality of heat exchanger tubes each including a first flow path separate from a second flow path of any other of the first plurality of heat exchanger tubes, the first flow path changing direction along the flow path from the first header to the second header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Kupiszewski
  • Patent number: 9995289
    Abstract: The invention provides an energy recovery device comprising an engine comprising a plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or Negative Thermal Expansion (NTE) elements fixed at a first end and connected at a second end to a drive mechanism wherein a holder is configured with a plurality of slots adapted to receive the plurality of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) or NTE elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: EXERGYN LIMITED
    Inventors: Barry Cullen, Kevin O'Toole, Geogiana Tirca-Dragomirescu, Keith Warren, Rory Beirne
  • Patent number: 9982556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbine engine (10) comprising: at least one hollow guidance arm (44) radially extending from a hub (38) to an annular housing (42), and having one radially external end which opens out in an opening (60) of said annular housing, a radial countershaft (48) located in said guidance arm (44) for rotatably driving at least one device arranged at the periphery of said annular housing (42). According to the invention, a transfer case (50) is disposed facing the opening (60) of the annular housing, and the turbine engine comprises rotational power transfer means (78, 52) between the radial countershaft (48) and the device, with the guidance arm (44) being equipped, at the external end thereof, with a widened section (56) by which it opens out in the opening (60) of the annular housing and in which part of the transfer case (50) is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Jean-Baptiste Etienne Bernard Lepretre
  • Patent number: 9970323
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a compressor section, a compressor case substantially surrounding the compressor section, and a diffuser case attached at an attachment interface to the compressor case. The attachment interface is between a forward and an aft end of the compressor. A geared turbofan is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 9771968
    Abstract: A vaned wheel device traversed by a radial drive shaft includes radial arms, one of which contains the shaft, and stationary vanes manufactured separately from the casing and a ferrule and assembled thereto. A sleeve encompassing the shaft traverses the casing and serves to support a bearing for supporting the shaft with positional accuracy, and maintaining tightness by forming a single cavity with the radial arm cavities traversing the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Thierry Francois Maurice Duchatelle, Virginie Guilbert, Cedric Magret, Thierry Georges Paul Papin
  • Patent number: 9726112
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a propulsor including a fan and a power turbine, an engine core aerodynamically connected to the propulsor by a transition duct, and a bypass valve in the transition duct that allows for air from the engine core to bypass the power turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry
  • Patent number: 9719428
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an accessory gearbox within an engine pylon. The accessory components may be mounted within the engine pylon to save weight and space within the core nacelle as well as provide a relatively lower temperature operating environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 9546574
    Abstract: A device capable of collecting a condensate from a working fluid is disclosed. The condensate can take the form of a liquid and can be injected into a flow path of an engine. In one form the engine is a gas turbine engine and the liquid is injected upstream of a combustor. The liquid can be produced using a component that cools the working fluid to condense a vapor within it. In one non-limiting form the component is part of a refrigeration system. In addition to producing condensate, the refrigeration system can cool the working fluid to be used as cooled cooling air to a turbine of a gas turbine engine. In another non-limiting embodiment a liquid derived from a blackwater containing waste from an organism can be delivered in whole or in part to a flow path of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Robert T. Duge
  • Patent number: 9279387
    Abstract: A nozzle has a nozzle surface area and a nozzle rim, on which first and second guiding devices are alternatingly provided in the circumferential direction, where the first guiding devices are of the nozzle-type design and the second guiding devices are of the diffuser-type design. The first guiding devices each have a first azimuthal guide wall and two wall elements. The second guiding devices each have a second azimuthal guide wall and two wall elements. A wall element connects a first guiding device and a second guiding device. At least some of the first azimuthal guide walls of the first guiding device and at least some of the second azimuthal guide walls of the second guiding device have differing axial lengths, so that first and second trailing edges thereof have differing axial positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Marco Rose, Rene Spieweg
  • Patent number: 9261047
    Abstract: Reducing jet noise by weakening Mach cones in a jet exhaust gas streamtube. The Mach cones are weakened by modifying exhaust gas flow in a longitudinal axial core of the exhaust gas streamtube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Neal D. Domel, Daniel N. Miller
  • Patent number: 9249671
    Abstract: A deflector for guiding a cooling fluid to a blade device of a turbine is provided. The deflector includes a first opening region with a first opening shape and a second opening region with a second opening shape. The deflector is connectable to a first blade device and to a second blade device in such a way that the cooling fluid is streamable through the first opening region into the first blade device and the cooling fluid is streamable through the second opening region into the second blade device. The first opening shape differs from the second opening shape for achieving a predetermined first mass flow of the cooling fluid into the first blade device and a predetermined second mass flow of the cooling fluid into the second blade device at predetermined installation locations of the first blade device and the second blade device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: David Butler
  • Patent number: 9212625
    Abstract: A hybrid aerodynamic thrust system as a prime mover for aircraft or other high-speed vehicles. An arrangement of dual thrust resources to alternately accommodate low and high airspeed regimes. Electromotive force is used in lieu of hot section power turbines to achieve engine air compression or alternately perform thrust work at low velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: Rudolph Allen Shelley
  • Patent number: 9194755
    Abstract: A device for measuring a compressor inlet temperature in a primary stream flow passage of a bypass turbojet. The device includes an airtight hollow structure forming a connection arm of an intermediate casing of the turbojet and configured to pass radially through a flow passage for the primary stream and a flow passage for a secondary stream of the turbojet, the connection arm including at least one inlet air orifice opening out into the primary stream flow passage at an inlet of a compressor and at least one air outlet orifice leading to a zone of the turbojet in which surrounding pressure is less than pressure in the primary stream flow passage at the inlet of the compressor; and a temperature probe having its sensitive element arranged inside the connection arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Bruno Robert Gaully, Thierry Poix, Maurice Georges Vernochet
  • Patent number: 9175577
    Abstract: A bleed valve that expels a gas from a compressed region includes a valve section and a muffler section coupled to and located downstream from the valve section. The valve section includes a centerbody and a housing. The centerbody supports a plunger that controls opening and closing of the bleed valve. The centerbody is coupled to the housing by at least one strut disposed substantially radially. The at least one strut may have a cross-section that reduces or suppresses flow separation and vortex shedding from the at least one strut. The muffler section may include a baffle plate and a dome plate. A honeycomb may be installed between the baffle plate and the dome plate. The bleed valve may also include a middle plate on a face of the honeycomb and a conical diverter immediately upstream from the baffle plate. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Dimitri Papamoschou, Feng Liu
  • Patent number: 9175638
    Abstract: The invention aims at providing a sufficient air exchange in the engine area without raising the static pressure in the outlet area of the air exchange duct. In order to do this, the invention provides for an outlet section capable of concentrating the outlet of the exchange airflow towards zones with smaller static pressure. A turbojet engine outlet according to the invention provides an engine cowl, which comprises an external wall of a circumferential duct in which circulates an exchange airflow of the turbines, and an airflow mixer. At the outlet, the duct delivers the exchange airflow towards the mixer for the primary and secondary airflows of the turbojet engine. The mixer presents hot and cold lobes. In particular, the engine outlet also includes guiding of the exchange airflow towards the cold lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Pierrick Mouchoux, Eric De Vulpillieres, Gaetan Jean Mabboux, Marion Verdier
  • Patent number: 9052114
    Abstract: A combustion device used in gas turbine engines to produce propulsion or rotate a shaft for power generation includes an annular combustor with a system of fuel and air inlet passages and nozzles that results in a staged combustion of premixed fuel and air. The fuel and air inlets are placed at various longitudinal locations circumferentially, and can take on different configurations where all nozzles inject a fuel-air mixture or some may inject only air. The combustion device provides an optimal mixing of fuel and air, creates an environment for combustion that reduces pollutant emissions reducing the need for costly pollution control devices, enhances ignition and flame stability, reduces piloting issues, allows increased fuel flexibility, decreases the required size of the first stage nozzle guide vane (NGV), and improves vibration reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Inventors: Majed Toqan, Brent Allan Gregory, Jonathan David Regele, Ryan Sadao Yamane
  • Patent number: 9038362
    Abstract: A turbofan engine (10) employs a flow control device (41) that changes an effective exit nozzle area (40) associated with a bypass flow path (B) of the turbofan engine. A spool (14) couples a fan (20) to a generator (52). The turbofan emergency power system includes a controller (50) that communicates with the flow control device (41). Upon sensing an emergency condition, the controller manipulates the flow control device to reduce the effective nozzle exit area (40) of the bypass flow path, which chokes the flow through the bypass flow path thereby increasing the rotational speed of the fan. In this manner, the generator is driven at a higher rotational speed than if the flow through the bypass flow path was not choked, which enables a smaller generator to be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Winter, Charles E. Lents
  • Patent number: 9021784
    Abstract: The thermodynamic louvered jet engine is a jet engine having a central air inlet surrounded by an annular air inlet. Both inlets are adapted to receive relatively cool, low-pressure air and to convey the air to a combustion chamber to mix and combust with injected jet fuel. The annular inlet is provided with a louvered outlet for directing the air to the combustion chamber. A portion of the hot combustion gases produced in the combustion chamber is circulated from the combustion chamber to mix with the inlet air supplied via the annular air inlet. Also, the central air inlet is provided with structure that directs a portion of the air from the central air inlet to mix with the circulated combusted gases. This arrangement permits the engine to develop a high-pressure build-up of exhaust gases, producing superior thrust while the aircraft is setting and while the aircraft is in flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20150107225
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a mixer for a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes forming a forward end and an aft end of the mixer, and forming an annularly undulating contour that defines a plurality of core immersion lobes and a plurality of bypass immersion lobes between the forward end and the aft end. The plurality of bypass immersion lobes includes a first bypass immersion lobe and a second bypass immersion lobe. The first bypass immersion lobe has a first crown contour line extending from the forward end to the aft end of the mixer, and the second bypass immersion lobe has a second crown contour line extending from the forward end to the aft end of the mixer. The first crown contour line is different than the second crown contour line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Mustafa Dindar, Vaughn Ray Kunze
  • Patent number: 9010085
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has an engine case and a gaspath through the engine case. A fan has a circumferential array of fan blades. The engine further has a compressor, a combustor, a gas generating turbine, and a low pressure turbine section. A speed reduction mechanism couples the low pressure turbine section to the fan. A bypass area ratio is greater than about 6.0. The low pressure turbine section airfoil count to bypass area ratio ratio is below about 170.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Adams, Shankar S. Magge, Joseph B. Staubach, Wesley K. Lord, Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 8984894
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operation of a combined-cycle power plant with cogeneration, in which method combustion air is inducted in at least one gas turbine, is compressed and is supplied to at least one combustion chamber for combustion of a fuel, and the resultant exhaust gas is expanded in at least one turbine, producing work, and in which method the exhaust gas emerging from the at least one turbine is passed through a heat recovery steam generator in order to generate steam, which generator is part of a water-steam circuit with at least one steam turbine, a condenser, a feedwater tank and a feedwater pump, wherein heat is provided by extracting steam from the at least one steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Francois Droux, Dario Ugo Breschi, Karl Reyser, Stefan Rofka, Johannes Wick
  • Patent number: 8943796
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a high spool, a low spool and an intermediate spool. The high spool comprises a high pressure turbine coupled to a high pressure compressor. The intermediate spool comprises an intermediate pressure turbine coupled to a ducted fan. The low spool comprises a low pressure turbine coupled to an open-rotor propeller. A variable area turbine section positioned between the intermediate pressure turbine and the low pressure turbine variable turbine section is configured to vary an expansion ratio across the intermediate pressure turbine to control rotational speeds of the low spool and the intermediate spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 8943797
    Abstract: A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine defines first and second intake passages for supplying air through first and second intake valve openings to first and second cylinders. The cylinder head also defines first and second exhaust passages for conveying first and second streams of exhaust gas from first and second exhaust valve openings associated with first and second cylinders. The first exhaust valve opening is disposed outboard of the first intake valve opening, and the second exhaust valve opening is disposed outboard of the second intake valve opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, Eric C. Douse
  • Patent number: 8881502
    Abstract: A mixer for a confluent-flow nozzle of a turbine engine is provided. The mixer includes: an annular cap designed to be centered on a longitudinal axis of the nozzle and having a stationary upstream portion and a downstream portion that is movable in rotation about the longitudinal axis relative to the stationary portion, the movable portion of the cap terminating at its downstream end in inner lobes alternating circumferentially with outer lobes; and a mechanism which imparts reciprocating rotary motion to the movable portion of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Norman Jodet, Guillaume Bodard, Cyprien Georges Eric Henry, Maxime Koenig
  • Patent number: 8850824
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an aircraft gas turbine with a core engine which is surrounded by a bypass duct enclosed radially outwards by a bypass wall, with a radially inner wall of the bypass duct forming with the radially outer bypass wall a bypass nozzle, and with the radially inner wall including an adjusting element extending along the circumference of the inner wall and being deformable radially outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Predrag Todorovic, Miles Trumper
  • Patent number: 8850793
    Abstract: A turbofan engine is disclosed and includes a fan and a compressor in communication with the fan section, a combustor, a turbine and a speed reduction mechanism coupled to the fan and rotatable by the turbine. The turbine includes a first turbine section that includes three or more stages and a second turbine section that includes at least two stages. A ratio of airfoils in the first turbine section to a bypass area is less than about 170.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Adams, Shankar S. Magge, Joseph B. Staubach, Wesley K. Lord, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8844265
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has an engine case and a gaspath through the engine case. A fan has a circumferential array of fan blades. The engine further has a compressor, a combustor, a gas generating turbine, and a low pressure turbine section. A speed reduction mechanism couples the low pressure turbine section to the fan. A bypass area ratio is greater than about 6.0. The low pressure turbine section airfoil count to bypass area ratio is below about 170.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Adams, Shankar S. Magge, Joseph B. Staubach, Wesley K. Lord, Frederick M. Schwarz, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 8844264
    Abstract: Disclosed is a boundary layer ejector fluidically connecting boundary layer bleed slots from an external surface of an aircraft to reduce aircraft/nacelle/pylon drag, reduce jet noise and decrease thrust specific fuel consumption. A boundary layer withdrawn through the boundary layer bleed slots is entrained with an exhaust flow of a gas turbine engine. In another embodiment a boundary layer withdrawn through the boundary layer bleed slots is entrained with a flow stream internal to the gas turbine engine, such as a fan stream of a turbofan. A moveable shroud can be used to open and close a passage of an ejector which can be used to assist in withdrawing a boundary layer or entrain an ambient air. A lobed mixer can be used in some embodiments to effect mixing between the boundary layer and a primary fluid of the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Syed Jalaluddin Khalid
  • Patent number: 8844262
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having an offtake passage that in one form is capable of extracting a bypass flow from the engine. The airflow traversing the offtake passage is introduced to an exhaust flow of the gas turbine engine through an offtake outlet. The offtake outlet includes an airflow member that is moveable. A nozzle is also provided for exhaust from the gas turbine engine. In one form the nozzle includes moveable duct members. Flows exiting the offtake outlet and the nozzle can be combined after passing the airflow member and the moveable duct members, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Levi Sutterfield
  • Patent number: 8813472
    Abstract: A system includes a controller configured to control a semi-closed power cycle system. The controller is configured to receive at least one of a first signal indicative of an oxygen concentration within a first gas flow through a primary compressor, a second signal indicative of power output by the semi-closed power cycle system, a third signal indicative of a temperature of a second gas flow through a turbine, and a fourth signal indicative of a mass flow balance within the semi-closed power cycle system. The controller is also configured to adjust at least one of the first gas flow through the primary compressor, a fuel flow into a combustor, a fraction of the first gas flow extracted from the primary compressor, and an air flow through a feed compressor based on the at least one of the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Anthony West, Alan Meier Truesdale
  • Publication number: 20140230404
    Abstract: An exhaust mixer for a gas turbine engine includes an annular wall having upstream end adapted to be fastened to an engine case and a downstream end forming a plurality of inner and outer mixer lobes. A support member interconnects at least a number of the inner lobes, and includes a circumferentially extending stiffener ring located radially inwardly from the inner lobes and a series of circumferentially spaced apart mixer struts radially extending from the inner lobes to the stiffener ring. The mixer struts have a radial length at least equal to a width of a main gas path defined between the inner lobes and the exhaust cone such that the mixer struts extend entirely through the main gas path. The stiffener ring being fixed solely to the mixer struts such as to float with respect to the exhaust cone and permit relative movement therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Guy LEFEBVRE, Nicolas GRIVAS, Richard BOUCHARD, Denis LECLAIR, Eric DUROCHER
  • Publication number: 20140224940
    Abstract: A propulsion system for a supersonic aircraft includes an engine, a compression surface upstream of the engine, a shroud surrounding the engine configured to direct airflow passing over the compression surface towards the engine, and a plurality of vortex generators positioned upstream of the engine. The vortex generators have a height such that when the supersonic aircraft is flown at a predetermined speed, the plurality of vortex generators create a plurality of vortices that propagate partially outside of a boundary layer formed proximate a surface of a supersonic inlet. The vortices cause a high-velocity portion of the airflow to move towards a portion of the engine having a higher sensitivity to changes in stagnation pressure and a low-velocity portion of the airflow to move away from the portion of the engine having the higher sensitivity to changes in stagnation pressure prior to the airflow reaching a face of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Rybalko, Timothy R. Conners, Tom Wayman
  • Patent number: 8800260
    Abstract: A fan variable area nozzle (FVAN) includes a flap driven through a cable which circumscribes the fan nacelle. The cable is strung through a multiple of flaps to define a flap set of each circumferential sector of the EVAN. An actuator system includes a compact high power density electromechanical actuator which rotates a spool to deploy and retract the cable and effectively increase or decrease the length thereof between the spool and a fixed attachment to increase and decrease the fan nozzle exit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Zaffir Chaudhry
  • Publication number: 20140137538
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a compressor, a fan for delivering air into the compressor and into a bypass duct, a combustion section and a turbine section. A control for the gas turbine engine is programmed to change a fueling level and position at least one effector that may be moved to unique positions in a coordinated fashion upon receipt of a command to change thrust. The thrust provided by the engine is changed without a reduction in an airflow stability margin compared to a thrust change commanded only by a fueling change. Some aspects of the positioning are transitory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Patent number: 8713910
    Abstract: Assembly for supporting a gas turbine engine comprises a support member including mounting sites for attachment to an associated aircraft. The support member includes integral slider tracks disposed on opposed sidewalls for selective engagement with a translatable cowl. The translatable cowl is translatable along the slider tracks to selectively cover and expose a cascade thrust-reversing structure. The cascade structure includes arcuate segments mounted in hinged relationship to the support member. Rearward translation of the translatable cowl to a service position permits the cascade structure to be opened for access to the core engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan Roy Stuart, John Robert Fehrmann
  • Patent number: 8701385
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is disclosed for the operation of a turboprop aircraft engine provided with pusher propellers. In order to reduce thermal loading of the pusher propellers impaired by the hot exhaust-gas flow of the engine and increase the service life of the pusher propellers, cold air from the environment outside of the aircraft engine is fed into, and mixed with, the hot exhaust-gas flow passing the pusher propellers and their connecting structure before the hot exhaust-gas flow reaches the pusher propellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Carsten Clemen
  • Patent number: 8695324
    Abstract: A fan assembly having an outer fan system is disclosed, the fan assembly comprising an outer fan first stage and an outer fan second stage both extending radially outward from an arcuate platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Rollin George Giffin, James Edward Johnson
  • Patent number: 8683812
    Abstract: In an air mixing arrangement wherein a primary fluid is introduced through an opening in a wall to be mixed with a secondary fluid flowing along the wall surface, the opening is airfoil shaped with its leading edge being orientated at an attack angle with respect to the secondary fluid flow stream so as to thereby enhance the penetration and dispersion of the primary fluid stream into the secondary fluid stream. The airfoil shaped opening is selectively positioned such that its angle of attack provides the desired lift to optimize the mixing of the two streams for the particular application. In one embodiment, a collar is provided around the opening to prevent the secondary fluid from contacting the surface of the wall during certain conditions of operation. Multiple openings maybe used such as the combination of a larger airfoil shaped opening with a smaller airfoil shaped opened positioned downstream thereof, or a round shaped opening placed upstream of an airfoil shaped opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Fabio R. Bertolotti, David S. Liscinsky, Vincent C. Nardone, Michael K. Sahm, Bernd R. Noack, Daniel R. Sabatino
  • Publication number: 20140086739
    Abstract: A transition duct for use in a turbine engine is provided. The transition duct includes a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall positioned about the radially inner wall defining a flow passage therebetween. The radially outer wall extends and is contoured from an upstream end to a downstream end of the transition duct. As such, the slope of the radially outer wall increases from the upstream end to a predetermined axial location and decreases from the predetermined axial location to the downstream end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Machnaim, Brian David Keith, Scott Michael Carson
  • Publication number: 20140083079
    Abstract: A disclosed example geared turbofan engine includes a fan section including a plurality of fan blades rotatable about an axis and a core engine section defined about an engine axis. The core engine section includes a primary nozzle including a primary outer diameter at a primary nozzle trailing edge and a primary maximum inner diameter forward of the primary trailing edge. A bypass passage is defined between an inner nacelle surrounding the core engine section and an outer nacelle and includes a secondary nozzle. The secondary nozzle includes an outer diameter at a secondary nozzle trailing edge and a secondary maximum inner diameter forward of the secondary trailing edge. A ratio between the maximum inner diameter of the primary nozzle and an outer diameter at the trailing edge of the primary nozzle and a ratio between the maximum inner diameter of the secondary trailing edge and the outer diameter at the trailing edge of the secondary nozzle are both less than about 0.700.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140075919
    Abstract: A mixer of a bypass turbine aeroengine according to one embodiment, includes circumferential inner and outer flow surfaces in a wavy configuration to form a plurality of lobes of the mixer. The mixer has an upstream end portion of sheet metal with a first thickness and a downstream end portion of sheet metal with a second thickness less than the first thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric DUROCHER, Guy LEFEBVRE
  • Patent number: 8671693
    Abstract: A multi-layered honeycomb structure adapted to reduce and/or eliminate thermal deformation is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, walls of the honeycomb structure comprise a first layer, optionally, a second layer, and a core layer adjacent to the first layer or between the first and second layers. The first and second layers may be compositions of Inconel or other high strength materials. The core layer may be copper or another thermally conductive material. The core layer is adapted to transmit heat between a first region of a structure and a second region. In this manner, heat can be transferred from the heated region to an unheated region, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the regions and thus the amount of thermal deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: George C. P. Straza
  • Patent number: 8667775
    Abstract: Secondary air flow is provided for a ducted fan having a reverse flow turbine engine core driving a fan blisk. The fan blisk incorporates a set of thrust fan blades extending from an outer hub and a set of integral secondary flow blades extending intermediate an inner hub and the outer hub. A nacelle provides an outer flow duct for the thrust fan blades and a secondary flow duct carries flow from the integral secondary flow blades as cooling air for components of the reverse flow turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Michael K. Kisska, Norman H. Princen, Mark S. Kuehn, Gary B. Cosentino
  • Patent number: 8667774
    Abstract: Secondary air flow is provided for a ducted fan having an engine core driving a fan blisk. The fan blisk incorporates a set of thrust fan blades extending from an outer hub and a set of integral secondary flow blades extending intermediate an inner hub and the outer hub. A nacelle provides a first flow duct for the thrust fan blades and a secondary flow duct carries flow from the integral secondary flow blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark S. Kuehn, Daniel A. Nyhus, Timothy G. Brewer
  • Patent number: 8635875
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust mixer has a plurality of circumferentially distributed alternating inner and outer lobes. The outer lobes protrude into the annular bypass passage of the engine, whereas the inner lobes protrude into the main gas path passage of the engine. The inner and outer lobes respectively define alternating troughs and crest with radial interconnecting walls therebetween. The mixer has a jagged trailing edge including a plurality of tabs extending from each radial wall between the troughs and the crests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Mark Huzzard Cunningham
  • Patent number: 8601788
    Abstract: An improved bypass turbojet engine includes a particularly shaped hot flow nozzle arranged about a particularly shaped type of boss. The boss is bulbous in shape and is connected by a first connecting surface to a turbine casing. The hot flow nozzle is formed as a single skin that extends in a rearward direction from an engine cowl, with the hot flow nozzle being connected to the engine cowl along a second connecting surface. The hot flow nozzle and the bulbous boss are positioned relative to one another to delimit a nominal nozzle throat section and a nominal outlet section for hot flow from a hot flow generator. The hot flow nozzle single skin is also approximately bulbous in shape and widens from the second connecting surface in a direction toward the engine cowl's external wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Franck Crosta, Damien Prat
  • Patent number: 8584356
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a lobed structure for a gas turbine flow mixer having an annular upstream portion extended downstream by a portion forming a multilobed skirt, the method comprising: making a fiber preform (100) out of refractory fibers and having a shape corresponding to the shape of the lobed structure to be fabricated, from a plurality of component elements of fiber texture that are assembled together and shaped by means of tooling of a shape corresponding to the shape of the lobed structure to be fabricated so as to obtain an assembled fiber preform having a first preform portion (111) corresponding to the annular portion of the lobed structure and a second preform portion (112) corresponding to the multilobed skirt of the lobed structure, the component elements of the fiber preform being assembled together at least in part along connection lines (121) extending substantially in the flow direction of the flow past the lobes of the multilobed skirt preform portion; and densifying the assembled an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Snecma Propulsion Solide
    Inventors: Eric Philippe, Jean-Daniel Lalanne, Pascal Ducharlet, Dominique Coupe
  • Patent number: 8579225
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for acoustical treatment of the noise emitted by a bypass turbojet comprising a primary cowl having in an outer surface an inner annular acoustic treatment panel and a secondary cowl including in an inner surface an outer annular acoustic treatment panel arranged facing the inner panel. The inner and outer panels include respective central panel portions facing each other and extending axially over a common predetermined length, the length of the central panel portions lying in the range one-fifth to four-fifths of the total length of the panels, and the ratio between the acoustic resistances of the central panel portions being not less than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jacky Novi Mardjono, Jacques Michel Albert Julliard, Georges Jean Xavier Riou
  • Patent number: 8572947
    Abstract: The present inventions include a boundary layer ejector fluidically connecting boundary layer bleed slots from an external surface of an aircraft to reduce aircraft/nacelle/pylon drag, reduce jet noise and decrease thrust specific fuel consumption. In one embodiment a boundary layer withdrawn through the boundary layer bleed slots is entrained with an exhaust flow of a gas turbine engine. In another embodiment a boundary layer withdrawn through the boundary layer bleed slots is entrained with a flow stream internal to the gas turbine engine, such as a fan stream of a turbofan. Members can be provided near an outlet of a passageway conveying the withdrawn boundary layer air to locally reduce the pressure of the fluid in which the withdrawn boundary layer air is to be entrained. A lobed mixer can be used in some embodiments to effect mixing between the boundary layer and a primary fluid of the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Syed Jalaluddin Khalid
  • Patent number: 8534043
    Abstract: A heat exchange system for use in fluid operated equipment to provide air and working fluid heat exchanges to cool the working fluid in airstreams on a stream side of a wall. An actuator is mounted to be substantially located on a side of the wall opposite the stream side thereof having a positionable motion effector. A heat exchanger core having a plurality of passageway structures therein to enable providing the working fluid to, and removal therefrom. The heat exchanger core is mounted on the motion effector so as to be extendable and retractable thereby through the opening for selected distances into that region to be occupied by the airstreams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, Frederick L. Elsaesser