Including Heat Exchange Means Patents (Class 60/266)
  • Patent number: 11846234
    Abstract: An installation for supplying a cryogenic fuel to a combustion chamber of a turbine engine of an aircraft including a tank, a mixing chamber, and one or more heat exchangers. The tank stores cryogenic fuel in a and connects to a combustion chamber for supplying the combustion chamber with cryogenic fuel in the supercritical or gaseous state. The one or more heat exchangers are provided between the cryogenic fuel and air of an air-conditioning circuit of the aircraft, mounted in a line connecting the tank for cryogenic fuel to the mixing chamber and in a line to be connected to the air-conditioning circuit of the aircraft, the heat exchange taking place therein so as to cool the air of the air-conditioning circuit of the aircraft and to increase the temperature of the cryogenic fuel coming from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventors: Thierry Sibilli, Sarah Rebholz
  • Patent number: 11840929
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a rotating seal runner having an outer radial surface, and one or more rotationally stationary seal rings located radially outboard of the seal runner. Each seal ring has an inner radial surface, with the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface defining a sealing interface therebetween. An axially extending shape of the inner radial surface is selected utilizing a predicted shape of the outer radial surface at a selected operating condition of the seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jonathan Logan Miller
  • Patent number: 11815030
    Abstract: A contrail suppression system includes a shell having an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet, a condensate drain and a flow chamber in fluid communication with the exhaust gas inlet, the exhaust gas outlet and the condensate drain. The exhaust gas inlet is in fluid communication with a jet exhaust nozzle of a gas turbine engine. A first tube bundle is disposed within the flow chamber downstream from the exhaust gas inlet. The first tube bundle includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the first tube bundle is fluidly connected to a first cooling medium source. A second tube bundle is disposed within the flow chamber downstream from the first tube bundle and upstream from the exhaust gas outlet. The second tube bundle includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the second tube bundle is fluidly connected to a second cooling medium source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eyitayo James Owoeye
  • Patent number: 11486306
    Abstract: Presented are flush-mounted fluid inlets, methods for making/using such fluid inlets, and aircraft equipped with flush-mounted air inlets for engine intake/cooling, bleed air flow, etc. A fluid inlet device is presented for improving vehicle aerodynamic performance. The fluid inlet device includes an inlet base that rigidly mounts to the vehicle, laying substantially flush with a washed outer surface across which fluid flows. The inlet base has a mouth that fluidly couples with a vehicle duct. Two sidewalls are attached to the inlet base, extending between leading and trailing edges of the inlet mouth. An inlet ramp, which is interposed between and attached to the sidewalls, projects inward at an oblique angle from the mouth's leading edge. A highlight is attached to the inlet base, projecting forward from the trailing edge towards the leading edge of the mouth. The highlight has a waveform plan-view profile and undulating outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Garrett D. Klovdahl, Jennifer M. Shuster-Clark
  • Patent number: 11268443
    Abstract: A nacelle of a turbine engine has a substantially tubular structure and defines a secondary channel. The nacelle includes a shroud forming a trailing edge on a downstream end of the nacelle, the shroud being defined by at least one outer face subjected to an outside air flow and an inner face subjected to an inside air flow circulating in the secondary channel of the nacelle. The nacelle further includes a cooling device having at least one heat-exchange channel that extends into the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Safran Nacelles
    Inventors: Vincent Peyron, Patrick Gonidec, Jean-Nicolas Bouchout
  • Patent number: 11149684
    Abstract: A heat shield panel for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. In various embodiments, the heat shield panel includes an inner base layer, an outer base layer, and a grommet having a flange disposed between the inner base layer and the outer base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gary J. Dillard
  • Patent number: 11105265
    Abstract: A supplemental cooling air system for a turbine engine may comprise a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, and an electric motor operatively coupled to the compressor and configured to drive the compressor. The inlet may receive air from at least one of a freestream flow path, a bypass flow path, or an engine bay. The outlet may supply the air to at least a portion of the turbine engine for cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell Twelves, Arthur Salve, Jeffrey Prausa, Douglas Thonebe
  • Patent number: 11085376
    Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly comprising: a fuel supply circuit (15, 15a, 15b) configured to supply fuel to a turbine heat engine, an electronic module (14, 14a, 14b), a power source (13, 13a, 13b) for supplying power to the electronic module (14, 14a, 14b), and a heat exchanger (16, 16a, 16b) positioned to allow a flow of heat from the electronic module (14, 14a, 14b) to the fuel supply circuit (15, 15a, 15b), the assembly being characterised in that the electronic module (14, 14a, 14b) comprises a phase-change material (PCM), configured to change state when the temperature of same reaches a predetermined phase-change temperature (Tf).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Thomas Klonowski, Camel Serghine
  • Patent number: 10955595
    Abstract: A reflector for EUV radiation, the reflector comprising a reflector substrate and a reflective surface, the reflector substrate having a plurality of coolant channels formed therein, the coolant channels being substantially straight, substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the reflective surface and configured so that coolant flows in parallel through the coolant channels and in contact with the reflector substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Koos Van Berkel, Adrianus Hendrik Koevoets
  • Patent number: 10823462
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section. An associated fluid is to be cooled and an associated fluid is to be heated. A transcritical vapor cycle heats the fluid to be heated, and cools the fluid to be cooled. The transcritical vapor cycle includes a gas cooler in which the fluid to be heated is heated by a refrigerant in the transcritical vapor cycle. An evaporator heat exchanger at which the fluid to be cooled is cooled by the refrigerant in the transcritical vapor cycle. A compressor upstream of the gas cooler compresses the refrigerant to a pressure above a critical point for the refrigerant. An expansion device expands the refrigerant downstream of the gas cooler, with the evaporator heat exchanger being downstream of the expansion device, and such that the refrigerant passing through the gas cooler to heat the fluid to be heated is generally above the critical point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Snape, Joseph Brent Staubach
  • Patent number: 10634233
    Abstract: A processing system can include one or more processors configured to: automatically transition an operating condition of a gearbox cooling system through a plurality of operating states; determine an efficiency of the gearbox at each of a plurality of the operating states; for each of the plurality of operating states: select a future operating state of the cooling system based on the determined gearbox efficiency at the current operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Smith
  • Patent number: 10598135
    Abstract: An onboard, in-line fuel cooling system for a motor vehicle includes a chiller adapted to be powered by an onboard direct-current electric power source such as, for example, a motor vehicle power system or an auxiliary battery, and a fuel conduit adapted to form at least a portion of a fuel supply line between an onboard fuel tank and an onboard engine of the motor vehicle. The fuel conduit is in thermal communication with the chiller to cool fuel passing through the fuel conduit from the onboard fuel tank to the onboard engine. Thus, the engine is provided with fuel at a temperature lower than the temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank. The chiller can be a vapor-compression refrigeration system, a thermo-electric cooler, or any other suitable type of chiller powered by the onboard direct-current electric power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Walter L. Snead
  • Patent number: 10550764
    Abstract: A reverse-core turbofan engine including a propulsor section including a fan and a fan-tip turbine configured to deliver air to a core duct, including a first portion, disposed aft of the propulsor section, and direct air aft, toward an inlet of a reverse-core gas generator, and a second portion, configured to receive air from an exit of the gas generator and direct the air forward and radially outward of the propulsor, toward the fan-tip turbine in the propulsor, thereby driving the propulsor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gary D. Roberge
  • Patent number: 10458302
    Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system may include a reductant tank, a gaseous ammonia source, an injector, first conduit and a second conduit. The injector may receive the liquid reductant from the reductant tank and the gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source and inject the liquid reductant into a stream of exhaust gas in a first mode, inject the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a second mode, and both the liquid reductant and the gaseous ammonia into the stream of exhaust gas in a third mode. The first conduit may communicate liquid reductant from the reductant tank to the injector. The second conduit may communicate gaseous ammonia from the gaseous ammonia source to the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignees: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc., Tenneco GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Devito, Ryan A. Floyd, Adam J. Kotrba, Padmanabha R. Ettireddy, Michael C. Bradford, Bradley Fingland, John W. Degeorge, Philipp Kreutziger, Manuel Kluck, Michael Flockert, Mathias Hund, Eric A. Hein
  • Patent number: 10422281
    Abstract: A cooling system for a gas turbine engine comprises a closed circuit containing a change-phase fluid, at least one heat exchanger configured to receive a first coolant from a first engine system for the change-phase fluid in the closed circuit to absorb heat from the first coolant, whereby the cooling system is configured so that the change-phase fluid at least partially vaporizes when absorbing heat from the at least one heat exchanger. The closed circuit has a cooling exchanger adjacent to an annular wall of a bypass duct, the cooling exchanger configured to be exposed to a flow of cooling air in the bypass duct for the change-phase fluid to release heat to the cooling air and condense at least partially, the cooling exchanger having conduits configured to feed the vaporized change-phase fluid from a heat exchange with the at least one heat exchanger to the cooling exchanger, and to direct condensed change-phase fluid by gravity from the cooling exchanger to the at least one heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: David Menheere, Daniel Alecu
  • Patent number: 10253651
    Abstract: An exemplary flow control device assembly for a turbomachine includes a flow control device configured to move between a first position and a second position. The flow control device in the first position forces more flow through a plurality of cooling holes than the flow control device in the second position. The plurality of cooling holes are upstream the flow control device relative a direction of flow through the turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph T. Christians
  • Patent number: 10100666
    Abstract: A hot gas path component for a turbine system is disclosed. The hot gas path component includes a shell and one or more porous media having an exterior surface and an interior surface and positioned adjacent the shell. The one or more porous media is configured to include varying permeability in one of an axial direction, a radial direction, an axial and a radial direction, an axial and a circumferential direction, a radial and a circumferential direction or an axial, a radial and a circumferential direction, the porous media is positioned adjacent the shell. The one or more porous media is further configured to control one of an axial, a radial, an axial and a radial, an axial and a circumferential, a radial and a circumferential or an axial, a radial and a circumferential flow of a cooling medium flowing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brian Gene Brzek, Victor John Morgan, Benjamin Paul Lacy
  • Patent number: 10001136
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust panel mounting system comprising a panel, a casing and an attachment assembly for removably connecting the panel to the casing comprises a retaining portion, a clamping portion, and a ‘C’-shaped connecting link. The connecting link has a first attachment portion and an opposite second attachment portion with the first and second attachment portions being connected to one another by a center portion. Each of the first and second attachment portions is substantially parallel to one another and extends in the same direction from respective ends of the center portion. The first attachment portion is fixedly connected to the casing by the clamping portion, and the second attachment portion is slidingly connected to the panel by the retaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Paul Robert Hayton
  • Patent number: 9988986
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods related to thermal management systems for gas turbine engines. For example, a thermal management system comprises a thermally neutral heat transfer fluid circuit, a first heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit, and a second heat exchanger disposed on the fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan Snape, Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill, William Ackermann
  • Patent number: 9932845
    Abstract: A nozzle liner for a rotatable nozzle includes a seal land and a rotatable seal for moving with the nozzle. The seal has a first diffusion hole for distributing cooling air if the rotatable seal is in a first position and a second diffusion hole for distributing cooling air if the rotatable seal is in a first position and if in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Curtis C. Cowan, Jorge I. Farah
  • Patent number: 9874143
    Abstract: A power plant includes a first gas turbine and a second gas turbine. The first gas turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and an exhaust duct that receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The power plant further includes a first gas cooler having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to the turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to a coolant supply system and an outlet in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler provides a cooled combustion gas to the exhaust duct which mixes with the exhaust gas to provide an exhaust gas mixture to a first heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct. The first gas cooler is also in fluid communication with a combustor of the second gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Philip Klosinski, Alston Ilford Scipio, Sanji Ekanayake, Paul Robert Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9869250
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core engine section which includes a compressor section and a core turbine section. The core engine is configured to rotate about a core axis. A drive turbine is configured to rotate about a drive turbine axis. A bypass passage connects an intake to the gas turbine engine directly with an exhaust of the drive turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul R. Hanrahan, Daniel Bernard Kupratis
  • Patent number: 9850818
    Abstract: An airflow control system for a gas turbine system according to an embodiment includes: a compressor component of a gas turbine system; a mixing area for receiving an exhaust gas stream produced by the gas turbine system; an air extraction system for extracting a supply of bypass air from an excess flow of air generated by the compressor component of the gas turbine system; an enclosure surrounding the gas turbine system and forming an air passage, the bypass air flowing through the air passage and around the gas turbine system into the mixing area to reduce a temperature of the exhaust gas stream; and an exhaust processing system for processing the reduced temperature exhaust gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., Robert Joseph Reed
  • Patent number: 9828870
    Abstract: A system and method for improved system efficiency of an integrated power and control unit (IPCU) of an aircraft is disclosed. The system uses an open-loop cooling system and turbo machine power matching to provide wide operation range without over-sizing. In order to reduce the temperature of the air flow through the cooling heat exchanger, the cooling turbine need to expand further in the same time generating power but the power could be higher than the compressor could absorb so a generator that would convert the power and used in supplying the aircraft would result in more efficient system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Yuhang Ho
  • Patent number: 9771850
    Abstract: Reductant delivery systems are disclosed that include a dry reductant source and a liquid reductant source which are operable to selectively provide gaseous reductant and liquid reductant to an exhaust aftertreatment system for treatment and reduction of NOx emissions. The gaseous reductant is provided to the exhaust aftertreatment system for treatment of NOx emissions under a first temperature condition associated with the exhaust system and the liquid reductant for treatment of NOx emissions under a second temperature condition associated with the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Emission Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Cary Henry, Steven J. Kolhouse
  • Patent number: 9528468
    Abstract: A noise reduction system includes: a microjet ring (16) provided at an exhaust side peripheral edge of a main nozzle of a jet engine, and has a plurality of injection pipes (26) formed in a circumferential direction thereof at regular intervals; and a supply path configured to take part of compressed air in from a flow path in an upstream side of a combustor in the jet engine, and to guide the part of compressed air to the plurality of injection pipes (26), wherein the plurality of injection pipes (26) is configured to inject the part of compressed air to a jet flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nozomi Tanaka, Shinya Kusuda, Tsutomu Oishi, Yoshinori Oba
  • Patent number: 9243506
    Abstract: A transition nozzle for use with a turbine assembly is provided. The transition nozzle includes a liner defining a combustion chamber therein, a wrapper circumscribing the liner such that a cooling duct is defined between the wrapper and the liner, a cooling fluid inlet configured to supply a cooling fluid to the cooling duct, and a plurality of ribs coupled between the liner and the wrapper such that a plurality of cooling channels are defined in the cooling duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kevin Weston McMahan, Ronald James Chila, David Richard Johns
  • Patent number: 9121346
    Abstract: An engine includes a duct containing a flow of cool air and a pump system having an impeller with an inlet for receiving air from the duct and an outlet for discharging air into a discharge manifold. The discharge manifold containing at least one heat exchanger which forms part of a thermal management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye, Jorn A. Glahn
  • Patent number: 9097134
    Abstract: A system for cooling a generator mounted in the tail-cone of an engine. The system comprises a fairing, which receives through an inlet thereof air from a bypass duct and directs the bypass air towards a cavity of the tail-cone for cooling the generator. The bypass air is then expelled through an outlet of a support strut positioned in fluid communication with the tail-cone cavity. The fairing inlet and the strut outlet are both positioned in a plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the engine. In this manner, circulation of the bypass air through the fairing, the tail-cone cavity, and the strut may be achieved. The bypass air directed through the fairing further enables cooling of service lines accommodated in the fairing. A lobe mixer is further used to direct the fairing and shield the latter from core exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Gordon Ferch, Daniel Alecu, Xiaoliu Liu, Barry Barnett, Dileepan Sivalingam, Carmine Forgione
  • Patent number: 9052707
    Abstract: An exemplary component manufacturing method includes scanning a first surface of a component to determine a location of pocket surfaces of the first surface. The method machines apertures in the component from a second, opposite surface of the component. The apertures each have a cooling air inlet within one of the pocket surfaces and a cooling air outlet within the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Quitter
  • Patent number: 9038397
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, among other possible things includes a fan. A geared architecture is configured for driving the fan. A turbine section is configured for driving the geared architecture. A thermal management system that includes a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit that manage heat generated in at least a portion of the gas turbine engine. A first heat exchanger is incorporated into each of the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit. A second heat exchanger is incorporated into the first fluid circuit. A valve controls an amount of a first fluid that is communicated to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A controller is configured to control a positioning of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Federico Papa, Thomas G. Phillips, Kathleen R. Phillips, Ethan K. Stearns, Justin W. Heiss
  • Patent number: 9038398
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a heat exchanger, a bearing compartment, and a nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the bearing compartment. The heat exchanger exchanges heat with a bleed airflow to provide a conditioned airflow. The bearing compartment is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. A first passageway communicates the conditioned airflow from the heat exchanger to the bearing compartment. A second passageway communicates the conditioned airflow from the bearing compartment to the nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Ioannis Alvanos
  • Patent number: 9003766
    Abstract: There is disclosed a gas cooler 20 for providing high-pressure sealing gas to a bearing chamber. The cooler comprises a turbine 22; a turbine inlet 24 arranged to receive gas to drive the turbine and a turbine outlet 26 arranged to deliver gas output from the turbine; a compressor 28 arranged to be driven by the turbine 22; a compressor inlet 30 arranged to receive gas to be compressed by the compressor and a compressor outlet 32 arranged to deliver gas output from the compressor 28; and a cooler outlet 36 in fluid communication with the turbine outlet 26 and the compressor outlet 32 so as to deliver high-pressure sealing gas comprising gas merged from the turbine outlet 26 and the compressor outlet 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul W. Ferra, Yi Wang
  • Patent number: 8978353
    Abstract: Systems and methods for rejecting waste heat generated by one or more operating systems installed on an aircraft employ an endothermic fuel that can participate in endothermic catalytic cracking at temperatures below about 80° C. when exposed to a cracking catalyst that contains a superacid operative to induce low-temperature catalytic cracking of the branched alkanes. The endothermic fuel contains an effective amount of the branched alkanes so that a net endothermic effect is realized when the fuel is exposed to the cracking catalyst. The low-temperature, heat-consuming cracking of the branched alkanes increases the heat sink capacity of the endothermic fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Norton, Robert J. Perry, John Osaheni, Patrick Pastecki, Paul Glaser, Ashish B. Mhadeshwar
  • Patent number: 8973552
    Abstract: An oil management system includes an engine housing assembly which defines a first rotor volume and a second rotor volume. An oil cooler assembly arranged between the first rotor volume and the second rotor volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Mark D. Horn
  • Patent number: 8915057
    Abstract: A sump pressurization system for a gas turbine engine comprises a first hollow shaft and a second hollow shaft disposed within the first hollow shaft and defining a cavity therebetween. Each of the first and second hollow shafts has a common axis of rotation. Also included is a source of pressurized air to pressurize the cavity and a plurality of hollow tubes disposed in the cavity. The tubes are oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation and are connected to and rotatable with the first hollow shaft. A plurality of apertures in the second hollow shaft are in fluid communication with the tubes, such that pressurized air flowing through the tubes passes through the apertures into the interior of the second hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bala Corattiyil, Richard William Albrecht, Jr., Bradley W Fintel, Rebecca J. Schmidt, Scott Wolfer
  • Patent number: 8910465
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine heat exchange system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and heat exchange systems for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8904753
    Abstract: A thermal management system for a gas turbine engine includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger in communication with a bypass flow through an inlet. A valve is operable to selectively communicate the bypass flow to either the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8899008
    Abstract: A system includes an anti-icing heat recovery system, which includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a variable speed fan. The first heat exchanger is configured to receive a working fluid from an exhaust section of a gas turbine engine and to transfer heat from the working fluid to a cooled intermediate heat transfer medium to generate a heated intermediate heat transfer medium. The second heat exchanger is configured to receive the heated intermediate heat transfer medium from the first heat exchanger and to transfer heat from the heated intermediate heat transfer medium to air entering the gas turbine engine. The variable speed fan is configured to urge the working fluid from the exhaust section of the gas turbine engine through the first heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Jones, Gerardo Plata Contreras, Robert Allen Baten, Victor Gerardo Cabal Velarde, Jingmei Zhang, Jesus Elios Almendarez Mendez, Richard Michael Watkins
  • Publication number: 20140260181
    Abstract: A reaction propulsion device in which a first feed circuit for feeding a main thruster with a first propellant includes a branch connection downstream from a pump of a first turbopump, which branch connection passes through a first regenerative heat exchanger and a turbine of a first turbopump, and in which a second feed circuit for feeding the main thruster with a second propellant includes, downstream from a pump of a second turbopump, a branch-off passing through a second regenerative heat exchanger and a turbine of the second turbopump. At least one secondary thruster is connected downstream from the turbines of the first and second turbopumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Nicolas Soulier, Bruno Brochard, Jean-Michel Sannino
  • Publication number: 20140250895
    Abstract: A cooling air flow ejector has a primary nozzle position to entrain air from a secondary nozzle. Mixed air is provided into a downstream flow conduit to be directed to an exhaust liner for a gas turbine engine. A variable area device controls a volume of air passing through a primary nozzle. A control for the variable area device to control the size of an orifice within the variable area device controls the volume of air reaching the exhaust liner to be cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shawn M. McMahon, Steven M. Miller, Debora F. Kehret, Russell P. Parrish, Sean P. Zamora, Nicholas James Behlman
  • Patent number: 8826641
    Abstract: A thermal management system includes at least one heat exchanger in communication with a bypass flow of a gas turbine engine. The placement of the heat exchanger(s) minimizes weight and aerodynamic losses and contributes to overall performance increase over traditional ducted heat exchanger placement schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 8776494
    Abstract: A system and method of cooling a rocket motor component includes injecting a high pressure liquid coolant through an injector nozzle into a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber having a pressure lower than the high pressure liquid coolant. The liquid coolant flashes into a saturated liquid-vapor coolant mixture in the cooling chamber. The saturated liquid-vapor coolant mixture is at equilibrium at the lower pressure of the cooling chamber. Heat from the rocket motor component to be cooled is absorbed by the coolant. A portion of the liquid portion of the saturated liquid-vapor coolant mixture is converted into gas phase, the converted portion being less than 100% of the coolant. A portion of the coolant is released from the cooling chamber and the coolant in the cooling chamber is dynamically maintained at less than 100% gas phase of the coolant as the thrust and heat generated by the rocket motor varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cal Poly Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas W. Carpenter, William R. Murray, James A. Gerhardt, Patrick J. E. Lemieux
  • Patent number: 8763363
    Abstract: A method of assembling a turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a heat exchanger having a curvilinear body. The method also includes coupling the heat exchanger to at least one of a fan casing and an engine casing of the turbine engine. The curvilinear body facilitates reducing pressure losses in airflow channeled into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Srikanth Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 8756910
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique cooling system for a gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for cooling one or more objects of cooling. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Sean Donovan, William Daniel Feltz, Steven Wesley Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 8739516
    Abstract: The invention concerns a turbojet for aircraft including engine located in nacelle, and thermal exchanger intended to cool a fluid participating in the engine propulsive system, characterized in that said thermal exchanger is located on engine external wall, an interstitial space within which air can circulate being arranged between the engine external wall and a lower wall of said thermal exchanger. The invention also concerns an aircraft provided with at least one such turbojet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Guillaume Bulin, Patrick Oberle
  • Patent number: 8713909
    Abstract: A panel for use in a gas turbine engine exhaust case is disclosed. The panel has an airfoil section and a flow diverting structure adjacent a leading edge, wherein the flow diverting structure directs fluid flow into an area of the airfoil that lacks sufficient internal pressure for cooling fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francisco J. Cunha, Timothy S. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8707709
    Abstract: Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing compressor extraction cooling are provided. According to one example embodiment, a method is disclosed for controlling compressor extraction cooling. The method can include providing a cooling medium. The method can include extracting air from a compressor associated with a gas turbine. The method can also include introducing the cooling medium to the compressor extraction air, wherein the compressor extraction air is cooled by the cooling medium prior to or during introduction to the turbine section. Furthermore, method can include selectively controlling at least one of the compressor extraction air or the cooling medium based at least in part on a characteristic associated with the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lewis Berkley Davis, Jr., James Henahan
  • Patent number: 8683811
    Abstract: In a jet engine with compressor air circulation provided for stabilizing the flow conditions, the compressed hot compressor air tapped from the flow path of the compressor (1) is first cooled in the bypass duct (3) and then resupplied to the upstream compressor via line (12). This reduces the thermal load of the blades and improves efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Carsten Clemen, Enrique Sielaff
  • Publication number: 20140083081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improved rocket engine systems. In one embodiment, an improved rocket engine system includes a propellant source, at least one power source, at least one power source motor, a rocket engine, and at least one pump. The improved rocket engine system may further include at least one of the following: at least one controller, at least one propellant valve, and a propellant pressurizing source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: PATRICK R.E. BAHN