Ice Preventer Or De-icer Patents (Class 60/39.093)
  • Patent number: 8783619
    Abstract: An air inlet of an aircraft nacelle includes a pipe, extending over the circumference of the air inlet and defined in the back by a front frame, and an element for the localized injection of hot air into the pipe, thus ensuring the flow of hot air into the pipe in one direction along the circumference of the nacelle. The inlet includes at least one vortex generator (38) in the pipe (22), the generator being plate-shaped or shaped in a manner projecting from the wall of the pipe (22), in order to disrupt the hot air flow so as to compensate the effect of the centrifugal force and reduce the temperature gradient between the inside and outside of the pipe (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Arnaud Hormiere, Alain Dega, Stephane Gaillot
  • Publication number: 20140165531
    Abstract: A rigid electrical raft has electrical conductors embedded in a rigid material. The electrical conductors transmit electrical signals through the rigid electrical raft, which may form part of an electrical system of a gas turbine engine. The rigid electrical raft also has electrical heating elements embedded therein. The electrical heating elements provide heat which may be used, for example, to prevent condensation and/or ice build-up and/or to raise the temperature of electrical components to be within a desired range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Paul BROUGHTON, Michael Christopher WILLMOT, Justin Sean DALTON
  • Publication number: 20140144124
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system that includes a recirculation system. The recirculation system includes a compressor discharge air line extending from a compressor to an air intake. The compressor discharge air line is configured to flow a compressor discharge air flow, and the air intake is configured to supply an air flow to the compressor. An ejector is disposed along the compressor discharge air line between the compressor and the air intake. The ejector is configured to receive and mix the compressor discharge air flow and a turbine exhaust flow to form a first mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Indrajit Mazumder, Rajarshi Saha, Seyfettin Can Gulen, Sabarinath Devarajan, Prashant Kumar
  • Patent number: 8721755
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided and includes an inlet, including a peripheral wall formed to define a pathway along which gaseous, fluidic and particulate matter flow and two or more nets sequentially disposed in the pathway, the two or more nets being suspended on the peripheral wall with substantially no clearance between each of the two or more nets and the peripheral wall and held sufficiently loosely to permit relative movement of each of the two or more nets such that an effective pore size of the two or more nets is variable over time to encourage fluidic condensation at the two or more nets and to permit a relatively substantial portion of the gaseous and particulate matter to continue to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: BHA Altair, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Sherwood Bryant, Alan Edwin Baigent, Paul Christopher James Bissett, John Carl Davies, Evdokia Ivanovna Huddlestone, Etienne Rene Jarrier, Ian Hugh Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20140102113
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine and an anti-icing system coupled to the gas turbine. The gas turbine is configured to receive air and fuel and to combust a mixture of the air and the fuel into exhaust gases. The anti-icing system is configured to use heat from the exhaust gases to heat a heat transfer fluid (HTF) and to selectively heat the fuel and the air via the HTF.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Cuevas, James Knox Prochaska
  • Publication number: 20140096503
    Abstract: An apparatus has a first member having an exposed peripheral surface and an electrically and thermally conductive portion. A circumferential array of magnets of alternating polarity are mounted for rotation about an axis relative to the first member inboard of the peripheral surface, the magnets being in sufficient proximity to the electrically and thermally conductive portions so that the rotation of the magnets about the axis is effective to generate eddy currents, in turn, is effective to heat the electrically and thermally conductive portion and, thereby, heat the exposed peripheral surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lubomir A. Ribarov, Jacek F. Gieras
  • Patent number: 8677764
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion unit includes a nacelle in which a power plant is arranged. The nacelle includes an inside wall that delimits a pipe with an air intake at the front. The propulsion unit includes a frost treatment system having at least one first pipe equipped with elements for regulating the passing air, for directing the hot air from the power plant to the air intake, and, an exhaust system having at least one second pipe equipped with elements for regulating the passing air, for directing air from the power plant to a delivery zone. The at least one second pipe is connected to the at least one first pipe, and the elements for regulating the air that passes into the at least one first pipe are separate from the elements for regulating the air that passes into the at least one second pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventor: Alain Porte
  • Publication number: 20140077039
    Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage and wings mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage for sustained forward flight. An engine is mounted in the fuselage or at least one of the wings and includes an air intake. At least a portion of the air intake generally faces the forward direction for receiving intake air during forward flight. A filter assembly is mounted adjacent the air intake and disposed to impinge air and block objects from passing therethrough. A heated screen includes a heater and is mounted adjacent the air intake and upstream of the engine such that ice entering the air intake contacts the heated screen before entering the engine. A power source is provided to supply power to the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Aerospace Filtration Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Aerospace Filtration Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8661783
    Abstract: A heat exchanger is provided for warming fuel prior to introduction of the fuel to an engine, the heat exchanger including: a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet; a heat exchange matrix having heat transfer components past which the fuel flows between said inlet and said outlet and which are arranged to be heated; and swirl inducing means arranged between said inlet and said matrix arranged to cause fuel from said inlet to swirl prior to entering said matrix. By causing the fuel to swirl prior to entering the heat exchange matrix, entrained ice in the fuel can be caused to concentrate at an outer region of the heat exchanger thereby allowing fuel to continue to flow through the heat exchanger to the engine even when ice is present in the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Peter F W Foster
  • Publication number: 20140041393
    Abstract: An air processing assembly is provided. The assembly includes at least one filter element that includes a filter media having a first end and a second end spaced a predefined distance from the first end. A channel is defined within the filter media, wherein the channel extends from the filter media first end to the filter media second end. The channel defines a flow path for a solid desiccant, wherein air being channeled through the assembly is filtered via the filter media and moisture is substantially removed from the air via the solid desiccant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Bhalchandra Arun Desai, Julio Enrique Mestroni, Huong Van Vu
  • Publication number: 20140008497
    Abstract: A system for reducing moisture in a gas turbine engine with one or more air ducts includes one or more one or more covers, each with an outer face and an inner face, with the inner face connectable to the air duct, wherein the cover is shaped to engage and close the air duct and a desiccant that is attachable to the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric J. Alexander, Anthony C. Jones
  • Publication number: 20130340439
    Abstract: A system for de-icing a gas turbine engine is provided. A manifold is coupled to an inlet screen. A first conduit is coupled to a stage of the compressor and a first input of a mixing component. A second conduit is coupled to the exhaust and a second input of the mixing component. The second conduit being adapted to extract exhaust gases without increasing the pressure at the exhaust. A third conduit is coupled to the output of the mixing component and the manifold. A method for de-icing a gas turbine engine inlet screen includes determining a current temperature at the inlet screen, and determining a desired temperature at the inlet screen. If the current temperature at the inlet screen is less than the desired temperature at the inlet screen first flow rate of an air-exhaust mixture necessary to achieve the desired inlet screen temperature is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake, Alston Ilford Scipio, Dale J. Davis, Ryan Margate Pastrana
  • Publication number: 20130327012
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system having a compressor bleed air recirculation system. The compressor bleed air recirculation system includes a compressor bleed air line extending from a compressor to an air intake, wherein the compressor bleed air line is configured to flow a compressor bleed air flow, and the air intake is configured to supply an air flow to the compressor. The compressor bleed air recirculation system further includes an eductor disposed along the compressor bleed air line between the compressor and the air intake, wherein the eductor is configured to receive and mix the compressor bleed air flow and a first ambient air flow to form a first air mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammad Mahabub, Imran A. Khan, Tho Vankhanh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8590309
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an ice separating apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes a can having a first end and a tangential inlet proximate the first end of the can to receive a fluid flow within the can, wherein the fluid flow includes fuel and ice. The apparatus also includes a first conduit within the can to receive a separated fuel flow proximate a second end of the can, wherein the fluid flow separates ice from fuel to form the separated fuel flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce Paradise
  • Publication number: 20130305737
    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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 8549832
    Abstract: An anti-icing system and method for an aircraft engine nacelle. The nacelle has an inlet lip that defines a leading edge of the nacelle and has a cross-sectional shape and oppositely-disposed exterior and interior surfaces. An anti-icing system contacts at least the inlet lip of the nacelle. The anti-icing system includes at least one heating element having a cross-sectional shape that conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the inlet lip and in which carbon nanotubes are oriented and arranged to conduct electrical current through the heating element. Passing an electrical current through the heating element causes Joule heating of the heating element and heating of the inlet lip by thermal conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: MRA Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Mahendra Maheshwari
  • Publication number: 20130247541
    Abstract: The gas turbine intake anti-icing device is used for a gas turbine electric power generation system (1) having a gas turbine (2) and a power generator (20) coupled to the gas turbine (2) and rotationally driven to generate electrical power. The gas turbine intake anti-icing device includes a power generator cooling mechanism (21, 22, 23, 25), which takes air from the outside and introduces air into the power generator (20) to cool the power generator (20), and exhaust air supply path (31) that connects intake path (9) of the gas turbine (2) to exhaust path (30) for air that is discharged from power generator cooling mechanism (21, 22, 23, 25) after the power generator (20) is cooled. The air discharged from the power generator cooling mechanism (21, 22, 23, 25) is supplied to the intake path (9) of the gas turbine (2) through the exhaust air supply path (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130239542
    Abstract: A turbine engine has a fan comprising a duct and supporting struts, a first compressor configured to pressurize inlet air, and a second compressor configured to further pressurize the inlet air. A cooling circuit is located to cool the inlet air after the inlet air is pressurized by the first compressor and before the inlet air is further pressurized by the second compressor, and includes at least intercooler configured to transfer heat from inlet air to a secondary fluid heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arindam Dasgupta, Om P. Sharma
  • Patent number: 8522522
    Abstract: A power generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator (“PMA”) or a permanent magnet generator (“PMG”), may be used to provide electric power to a deicing system, for example. The power generator is embedded within a spinner, and may be in communication with a locally mounted electronic control unit (“ECU”).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Poisson
  • Publication number: 20130219916
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for conditioning air received by a power generation system includes flowing ventilation air through a turbine system to control a temperature of the turbine system and receiving the ventilation air from the turbine system and mixing the ventilation with an ambient air to form an intake air to be directed to a compressor, wherein a temperature of the ventilation air is greater than the ambient air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Bhachandra Arun Desai, Huong Van Vu
  • Patent number: 8505273
    Abstract: An ice and/or frost preventing system for positioning in an airflow tunnel having an air inlet includes a plurality of waveguide passages positioned in the airflow tunnel; an air filter positioned in each waveguide passage; a microwave energy source coupled to each waveguide passage; a first screen positioned in the airflow tunnel upstream of the plurality of waveguide passages; and a second screen positioned in the airflow tunnel downstream of the plurality of waveguide passages. The microwave energy sources and the first and second screens create a guided, standing wave, microwave energy that substantially prevents at least one of ice and frost from forming on the air filters. A turbine system including the ice and/or frost preventing system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, Jianmin Zhang
  • Patent number: 8499540
    Abstract: A de-icer device for de-icing an air inlet of a gas turbine, such as a helicopter turbine engine. The de-icer device includes an essentially metallic enclosure for admitting air into the engine, the enclosure including a first opening for admitting air into the enclosure, the first opening including a first essentially metallic grid, the enclosure further including a second opening for directing the air towards a compression stage of the gas turbine. The de-icer device further includes a wave generator for generating electromagnetic waves in the enclosure at a frequency suitable for causing ice to melt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Turbomeca
    Inventors: Edgar Haehner, Eric Royer
  • Publication number: 20130192247
    Abstract: A method of managing a gas turbine engine variable area fan nozzle includes the steps of evaluating an icing condition to determine the likelihood of ice presence. A variable area fan nozzle position is altered if ice is likely present or actually present. The gas turbine engine includes a fan nacelle including a flap configured to be moveable between first and second positions. An actuator is operatively coupled to the flap. A controller is configured to evaluate an icing condition to determine the likelihood of ice presence. The controller is configured to alter a variable area fan nozzle position schedule if ice is likely present by providing a command to the actuator to adjust the flap from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Geoffrey T. Blackwell, William G. Tempelman, William J. McVey
  • Publication number: 20130180227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fastening element, in particular to its use in a de-icing device of an aircraft gas-turbine engine, for connecting two components, with the fastening element ensuring a connection of the components with a predetermined relative movability to each other, with the fastening element including two struts arranged at an angle to each other, where two first end areas, spacedly arranged to each other, can be fastened to one of the components, and the two other second end areas can be connected to each other and fastened to the other component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventor: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
  • Patent number: 8463496
    Abstract: An electronic controller for a sub-system of an air management system including an area conversion module and a sub-system area control module. The area conversion module includes inputs for a bleed output pressure set point, a bleed output pressure measurement, a sub-system parameter set point, a sub-system parameter measurement, and a sub-system output pressure measurement; and sub-modules for calculating an area set point and an area measurement. The sub-modules generate the area set point as a function of the engine bleed output pressure set point, the sub-system parameter set point, and the sub-system output pressure measurement; and the area measurement as a function of the bleed output pressure measurement, the sub-system parameter measurement, and the sub-system output pressure measurement. The sub-system area control module generates a control output for the sub-system as a function of the calculated area set point and the calculated area measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Ernst, Kenneth F. Bibbins, Bruce R. Schroder
  • Patent number: 8429891
    Abstract: An exhaust flue is provided for use with a gas turbine engine. The exhaust flue is oriented to channel exhaust gases from a core engine of the gas turbine engine. The exhaust flue includes a radiating portion positioned within an air inlet of the gas turbine engine. The radiating portion is oriented to emit infrared radiation towards an air filter assembly within the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Paul Sherwood Bryant
  • Publication number: 20130099944
    Abstract: An icing detection subsystem for an aircraft turbine engine is presented. The icing detection subsystem includes a plurality of air pressure sampling ports formed within structure that surrounds a rotating component of the aircraft turbine engine. The subsystem also includes a pressure sensor arrangement coupled to the plurality of air pressure sampling ports to obtain air pressure measurements for the plurality of air pressure sampling ports. A processing module is coupled to the pressure sensor arrangement to analyze the air pressure measurements over time during operation of the aircraft turbine engine, and to generate an alert when at least one characteristic of the air pressure measurements over time is indicative of the presence of ice in the aircraft turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: David Richard Hanson, Dave Dischinger, Ronald Goodwin, John Repp
  • Publication number: 20130055723
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an ice separating apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes a can having a first end and a tangential inlet proximate the first end of the can to receive a fluid flow within the can, wherein the fluid flow includes fuel and ice. The apparatus also includes a first conduit within the can to receive a separated fuel flow proximate a second end of the can, wherein the fluid flow separates ice from fuel to form the separated fuel flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bruce Paradise
  • Patent number: 8387950
    Abstract: A flow device adapted to operate as a restrictor as well as provide a pressure relief capability in the event of an over-pressurization event within a fluid system containing the device. The flow device includes an expandable orifice that has an outer perimeter, a plurality of cantilevered tabs surrounded by the outer perimeter, and an opening surrounded and defined by the tabs. The tabs project from the outer perimeter toward the opening, which restricts flow of the bleed air through the expandable orifice at a pressure below a predetermined pressure level, but then expands to relieve an over-pressure condition of the bleed air at a pressure above the predetermined pressure level as a result of the cantilevered tabs being deflected by the over-pressure condition. The device is adaptable for use in aircraft applications, including the regulation of bleed air used in anti-icing/de-icing systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Hummel, Daniel Jean-Louis Laborie, Bradley James Holtsclaw
  • Patent number: 8382039
    Abstract: An anti-icing system for a nacelle of an aircraft engine. The nacelle has an inlet lip that defines a leading edge of the nacelle, and further has an annular-shaped cavity adjacent and delimited in part by an interior surface of the inlet lip. An anti-icing system is located within the cavity and includes a manifold with a cross-sectional shape that conforms to the interior surface of the inlet lip. A wall of the manifold faces the interior surface of the inlet lip, and air is conducted to the manifold to cause heating of the inlet lip via the manifold wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: MRA Systems Inc.
    Inventor: David Patrick Calder
  • Patent number: 8366047
    Abstract: A modular fan inlet ice protection system includes a center ring, an outer ring and a plurality of struts. The struts are each coupled at a first end to the center ring, and at a second end to the outer ring. A plurality of shell members are each configured to be removably coupled to a corresponding strut. Moreover, the shell members each include an electrothermal heater element. Preferably the system further includes a plurality of inlet guide vanes each including an electrothermal heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Euvino, Jr., Anthony J. Vinciquerra
  • Publication number: 20130019608
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting ice accretion within a turbine engine 4, 6, comprising the steps: (a) operating the turbine engine 4, 6 at a predetermined engine speed; and (b) driving the compressor 8, 10 of the turbine engine 4, 6 at an elevated speed which is greater than the nominal speed of the compressor 8, 10 at the predetermined engine speed so as to inhibit ice accretion within the compressor 8, 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Alan R. JONES
  • Patent number: 8342443
    Abstract: A wing-engine combination includes: a wing with a main wing and an engine with a premixing chamber, a combustion chamber and a hot-air space, which includes: an engine bleed-air duct, which extends along the wingspan direction and along the leading edge of the main wing, including an engine bleed-air inlet device that is coupled to an engine hot-air space, and including an engine bleed-air outlet device having a discharge orifice on the main wing or a connecting part for coupling the engine bleed-air duct to a consumer of the engine bleed-air, an ambient-air duct, which extends along the engine bleed-air duct, including an ambient-air inlet device which is arranged on an aircraft component of the aircraft, which aircraft component faces the intended flow-around direction of the aircraft and includes an aperture for letting ambient air into the ambient-air duct, and including an ambient-air outlet device with a passage between the ambient-air duct and a premixing chamber of the engine so that the arrangement i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Sten Gatzke
  • Patent number: 8334486
    Abstract: A system includes a first heater located at the leading edge of a gas turbine structural member, a second heater located aft of the first heater, and a third heater located aft of the second heater. The first, second and third heaters are electrically-powered to prevent icing of the gas turbine structural member. Each of the heaters has a Watt density, and the Watt densities of the heaters differ from one another as a function of a magnitude of a cooling coefficient for airflow passing the vicinity of each heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Isaac Jon Hogate
  • Patent number: 8322125
    Abstract: The de-icing system comprises a flexible bladder (5) filled with de-icing fluid, pressed by the centrifugal forces produced when the rotor tip (1) is rotating against the inner wall thereof to apply a pressure favoring the progressive and calibrated discharge of the fluid, in the absence of a pump and any other active means. For this, the bladder comprises a concavity (11) at the rear which is automatically enlarged under the effect of centrifugal forces during operation and discharges the fluid continuously from the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Claude Marcel Mons, Michel Paul Lucien Vernet
  • Publication number: 20120255274
    Abstract: A flow device adapted to operate as a restrictor as well as provide a pressure relief capability in the event of an over-pressurization event within a fluid system containing the device. The flow device includes an expandable orifice that has an outer perimeter, a plurality of cantilevered tabs surrounded by the outer perimeter, and an opening surrounded and defined by the tabs. The tabs project from the outer perimeter toward the opening, which restricts flow of the bleed air through the expandable orifice at a pressure below a predetermined pressure level, but then expands to relieve an over-pressure condition of the bleed air at a pressure above the predetermined pressure level as a result of the cantilevered tabs being deflected by the over-pressure condition. The device is adaptable for use in aircraft applications, including the regulation of bleed air used in anti-icing/de-icing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Hummel, Daniel Jean-Louis Laborie, Bradley James Holtsclaw
  • Publication number: 20120240594
    Abstract: An aircraft engine generates engine power by burning hydrocarbon fuel such as Jet-A. A minute quantity of the fuel is burned in such a manner as to generate no engine power, and the heat generated by the burning fuel is used to protect a region of a surface of a component of an aircraft. In one application, burner assemblies are located inside the splitter of a turbofan engine and the heat generated is used to deice or anti-ice the splitter and the inlet guide vanes of the engine. In another application, burner assemblies are located in an engine nacelle to deice or anti-ice the leading edge of the nacelle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: COX & COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Pavel SHAMARA
  • Publication number: 20120240593
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating fuel in an aircraft gas turbine engine, for example to provide fuel anti-icing to the fuel, comprises directing a fuel flow through a heat exchanger associated with a generator power conditioning unit as a sole means for providing anti-icing heating to fuel supplied for engine combustion. The method and apparatus permits the heat exchanger to heat the fuel sufficiently so that other dedicated heating means may be unnecessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Ian A. MACFARLANE
  • Publication number: 20120241561
    Abstract: An aircraft engine generates engine power by burning hydrocarbon fuel such as Jet-A. A minute quantity of the fuel is burned in such a manner as to generate no engine power, and the heat generated by the burning fuel is used to protect a region of a surface of a component of an aircraft. In one application, burner assemblies are located inside the splitter of a turbofan engine and the heat generated is used to deice or anti-ice the splitter and the inlet guide vanes of the engine. In another application, burner assemblies are located in an engine nacelle to deice or anti-ice the leading edge of the nacelle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: COX & COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Pavel SHAMARA
  • Patent number: 8272222
    Abstract: An inlet bleed heat system in a gas turbine includes a compressor discharge extraction manifold that extracts compressor discharge air, an inlet bleed heat manifold receiving the compressor discharge air, and a plurality of acoustic dispersion nozzles disposed at an output end of the inlet bleed heat manifold that reduce a velocity of the compressor discharge air in the inlet bleed heat manifold. Noise is generated from the shearing action between the surrounding atmosphere and air jets from orifices. When the air jet velocity is slowed using, for example, a multi-stage ejector/mixer, noise can be abated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hua Zhang, David Wesley Ball
  • Patent number: 8261528
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of an application and process that incorporates a waste heat source to increase the temperature of the airstream entering an inlet section of a combustion turbine. An embodiment of the present invention may perform an anti-icing operation that reduces the need to operate the IBH system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rahul Jaikaran Chillar, Siddharth Girishkumar Upadhyay
  • Patent number: 8246291
    Abstract: A working member for a power plant is disclosed herein. The working member includes a body defining at least one working surface of the working member. The at least one working surface is operable to contact a working fluid. The body also includes at least one inner surface opposite the at least one working surface. The working member also includes an interior chamber defined within at least part of the body proximate to the at least one working surface. The working member also includes at least one inlet to the interior chamber. The working member also includes at least one outlet from the interior chamber. The working member also includes a quantity of open-cell foam positioned in the interior chamber between the inlet and the outlet. The quantity of open-cell foam fills less than all of the interior chamber such that at least one empty space is defined in the interior chamber between the at least one inner surface and the quantity of open-cell foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Lee Wolford
  • Publication number: 20120192544
    Abstract: A splitter apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: a splitter including: an annular outer wall which defines a convex-curved leading edge at a forward end thereof; an annular floorplate positioned radially inboard of the outer wall; and an annular first bulkhead spanning between the outer wall and the floorplate. The outer wall, the floorplate, and the bulkhead collectively define an annular splitter plenum positioned adjacent the leading edge of the outer wall. At least one exhaust passage formed in the outer wall extends past the floorplate and communicates with the exterior of the splitter. At least one jumper tube assembly passes through the first bulkhead, each configured to pass air flow from the exterior of the splitter into the plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Benjamin Roby, Jarmo Monttinen
  • Patent number: 8220275
    Abstract: A system to mitigate thermal lag of start-up operations of a gas turbine is provided and includes a housing which is disposed upstream from and which is fluidly coupled to a compressor of the gas turbine, a first system coupled to an aft portion of the compressor and to the housing which, when activated, receives a first air supply from the compressor and delivers the first air supply to the housing, and a second system, coupled to the first system, which removes a second air supply from an intermediate portion of the compressor and delivers the second air supply to the first system prior to the activation of the first system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Steven William Tillery
  • Publication number: 20120174595
    Abstract: An example auxiliary power unit air inlet assembly includes a noise attenuating component disposed within a conduit. The conduit is configured to communicate a first flow of fluid to an auxiliary power unit. A second flow of fluid is communicated to the noise attenuating component. The second flow of fluid limits formation of ice in the conduit. The first flow of fluid is different than the second flow of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: Jay M. Francisco, James C. Napier
  • Patent number: 8209950
    Abstract: A turbofan engine deicing system includes a core nacelle (12) housing a turbine. A turbofan (20) is arranged upstream from the core nacelle. A controller (50) manipulates the turbofan in response to detecting an icing condition for avoiding undesired ice buildup on the turbofan engine (10) and nacelle parts. In one example, a variable area nozzle (40) is actuated to generate pressure pulses or a surge condition to break up any ice buildup. The icing condition can be determined by at least one sensor (52) and/or predicted based upon icing conditions schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ashok K. Jain, Michael Winter
  • Patent number: 8205426
    Abstract: A method for assembling a turbine engine to facilitate reducing an operating temperature of a lubrication fluid during engine operation, the gas turbine engine including a fan assembly, a booster downstream from the fan assembly, and a splitter circumscribing the booster. The method includes coupling a radially inner wall and a radially outer wall at a leading edge to form a splitter body, and coupling an inner support structure within the splitter body such that a cooling circuit is defined between at least a portion of the inner support structure and the inner and outer walls, said cooling circuit configured to circulate lubrication fluid therethrough such that as a temperature of the lubrication fluid is reduced and a temperature of at least a portion of the inner and outer walls is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jan Christopher Schilling
  • Publication number: 20120137650
    Abstract: A fluid impingement arrangement comprising a supply manifold and at least one nozzle exit coupled to the supply manifold. The nozzle exit is arranged as a Coanda surface having a restriction and has at least one static pressure tapping that cross-connects two regions of the restriction to induce passive oscillation in a fluid jet passing through the nozzle exit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Zahid M. HUSSAIN, Christopher T.J. SHEAF, Andrew J. MULLENDER, David MACMANUS, Brian A. HANDLEY
  • Patent number: 8141335
    Abstract: Extremely cold (e.g., ?20° C.) air A is heated by a heat exchanger 30, which is supplied with steam S via a control valve 32, and heated air A? is taken into a gas turbine 10. The valve opening degree of the control valve 32 is feedback-controlled so that the deviation between the measured temperature t1 and the target temperature TO of the heated air A? is eliminated. Further, when the number of revolutions, N, of the gas turbine 10 increases, or when an IGV opening degree OP increases, the valve opening degree of the control valve 32 is feedforward-controlled in accordance with the increase in the number N of revolutions or the increase in the IGV opening degree OP. By so doing, the temperature of air A? can be maintained at a temperature enabling stable combustion without delay in control, and intake air can be heated without delay in control, even at the start of the gas turbine or during change in the opening degree of an inlet guide vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanaka, Shoichi Harada, Kozo Toyama
  • Publication number: 20120036826
    Abstract: An engine and pod assembly for an aircraft includes a pod receiving an engine having an air intake. A rotating nose cone extends on the nose cone, as well as a device for limiting the formation of ice. The device includes means for creating a circumferential heterogeneity of ice on the nose cone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventors: Francois Dufresne De Virel, Michel Pealat, Patrick Joyez, Bruce Pontoizeau, Jean-Francois Lacuisse, Sylvie Wintenberger