Search Patents
  • Compound cycle engine
    Patent number: 10196971
    Abstract: A compound cycle engine having a rotary internal combustion engine, a first turbine, and a second turbine is discussed. The exhaust port of the internal combustion engine is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first turbine upstream of its rotor. The rotors of the first turbine and of each rotary unit drive a common load. The inlet of the second turbine is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first turbine downstream of its rotor. The first turbine is configured as a velocity turbine and the first turbine has a pressure ratio smaller than that of the second turbine. A method of compounding a rotary engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Jean Thomassin
  • Turbine engine bearing used as a static electricity leak path
    Patent number: 11149795
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine with a rotor having a shaft mounted to the engine with a plurality of electrically insulating bearings is provided. The electrically insulating bearings are coupled to the shaft to support the rotor in the engine. There is at least one electrically conductive bearing coupled to the shaft and that further support the rotor in the engine. An electrically conductive path is defined between the rotor and an electrical ground of the engine. The electrically conductive path is defined through the electrically conductive bearing to reach the electrical ground of the engine. A method for electrostatically discharging a rotor supported in the gas turbine engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Louis Brillon
  • Combustor igniter assembly
    Patent number: 10156189
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a combustor having a combustor liner assembly and a mounting bracket provided on the combustor liner assembly, a floating collar being slidingly received on the mounting bracket for relative sliding movement in a plane normal to an axis of an igniter opening in the liner assembly. The floating collar includes an annular surface defining a collar opening, and an igniter having an axis concentric with the axis of the collar opening is sealingly engages the annular surface. A plurality of purge openings defined in at least one of the igniter and the floating collar form cooling airflow passages communicating from the plenum to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Robert Sze, Kian McCaldon, Honza Stastny
  • STARTING METHODS FOR HYBRID-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
    Publication number: 20220135240
    Abstract: A method includes using an electric motor to start a thermal engine. The electric motor and thermal engine are connected to one another as the electric motor and the thermal engine of a hybrid-electric power plant in an aircraft. The electric motor can be connected to a combining gear box. The thermal engine can be connected to the combining gear box so that the electric motor and the thermal engine can provide torque to the combining gear box in a parallel hybrid-electric configuration. The combining gearbox can output torque to an air mover for providing thrust to the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Paul C. Imel, Sebastien Bergeron, Etienne Plamondon, Samuel Gosselin-Brisson, Leonid Guerchkovitch
  • Compound cycle engine
    Patent number: 10920662
    Abstract: A compound cycle engine having a rotary internal combustion engine, a first turbine, and a second turbine is discussed. The exhaust port of the internal combustion engine is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first turbine upstream of its rotor. The rotors of the first turbine and of each rotary unit drive a common load. The inlet of the second turbine is in fluid communication with the flowpath of the first turbine downstream of its rotor. The first turbine is configured as a velocity turbine and the first turbine has a pressure ratio smaller than that of the second turbine. A method of compounding a rotary engine is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jean Thomassin
  • Diffuser pipe with vortex generators
    Patent number: 10502231
    Abstract: A diffuser for a centrifugal compressor includes a diffuser pipe having an internal flow passage extending therethrough between an inlet and an outlet, a bend in the internal flow passage disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and a throat defined in the internal flow passage downstream of the inlet and upstream of the bend. One or more vortex generators project into the internal flow passage, and the vortex generators are disposed downstream of the throat and upstream of the bend. A method for diffusing fluid flow in a diffuser of a compressor is also described. In operation, the vortex generators engage fluid flow in the internal flow passage to generate downstream vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Hien Duong, Vijay Kandasamy, Madhusudhan Keragodu
  • Fuel swirler for pressure fuel nozzles
    Patent number: 11175044
    Abstract: A fuel swirler, for a gas turbine engine, has a primary cone housing defining an interior chamber. The interior chamber has an inlet in communication with a source of pressurized fuel. The interior chamber has a transition portion and a socket portion with an axisymmetric interior surface. A swirler core is disposed within the interior chamber. The swirler core has a downstream end and an upstream shank portion having an exterior surface mating the axisymmetric interior surface of the socket portion. The shank portion has a plurality of axially extending grooves. The grooves are disposed axisymmetrically about the exterior surface of the shank portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sylvain Jette, Oleg Morenko
  • Electric power system for powerplants of a multi-engine aircraft
    Patent number: 11718408
    Abstract: A multi-engine aircraft that includes two or more powerplants, each including an electric motor, and an electric power system controlling electrical distribution and operatively connected to the electric motors. The electric power system includes primary battery packs operatively connected to the electric motor of a respective one of the two or more powerplants, a reserve battery pack, and a switch interconnecting the reserve battery pack and the electric motors. The reserve battery pack is shared by the electric motors by the switch and configured such that the reserve battery pack provides electric power to a selected one of the electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Tatjana Pekovic
  • Method and apparatus for comparing a data set to a baseline value
    Patent number: 7216063
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for comparing a data set to a baseline value for use in data analysis of the data set having a plurality of data points, the method comprising providing the data set to be analyzed, locating potentially bad data points in at least a portion of the data set using an odd-man out recursive technique, preparing a baseline set by discarding the potentially bad data points from the at least a portion of the data set and calculating a baseline value from the baseline set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Phuc Luong Nguyen, Denis Collin, Peter Matschek
  • DC BUS VOLTAGE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20230045952
    Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a system for aircraft power. The system includes a DC/DC converter having a DC input and a DC output and a switching circuit connecting the DC input to the DC output operable to vary voltage at the DC output. A control module is operatively connected to the switching circuit for variable control of the DC output. The control module includes machine readable instructions to cause the control module to receive input indicative of altitude and control the switching circuit to vary voltage of the DC output as a function of environmental conditions such as altitude and humidity. In embodiments the altitude sensor is operatively connected to the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Richard Freer
  • Method for applying a coating to a substrate
    Patent number: 9758875
    Abstract: A method for applying a coating to a substrate surface is provided. The method involves cold spraying a coating material against the surface of the substrate at a first velocity. The first velocity is lower in magnitude than a critical velocity. The method also involves cold spraying the coating material against the surface of the substrate at a second velocity. The second velocity is greater in magnitude than the critical velocity. The critical velocity is a threshold velocity below which the coating material is substantially deflected by the surface of the substrate and above which the coating material substantially adheres to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignees: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP., NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
    Inventors: Pierre Verrier, Eric Irissou, Frederic Belval, Jean-Gabriel Legoux
  • METHOD OF BALANCING A SPOOL OF A GAS TURBINE ENGINE
    Publication number: 20150345294
    Abstract: A method of balancing a spool of a gas turbine engine, the spool including a forward rotor assembly and an aft rotor assembly separated by a spacer, the method comprising: balancing the forward rotor assembly and the aft rotor assembly independently from one another using conventional balancing techniques; and mathematically modeling the spool; applying a modeled axial load to the modeled spool to determine a trim weight which would balance the spool when subjected to the modeled axial load; and physically placing the trim weight to one of the forward rotor assembly and the aft rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: JIEMIN WANG, CAMERON WALTERS, RON ROBINSON, JEFFREY BERNARD HEYERMAN, DAVID BEAMISH
  • Low volumetric compression ratio integrated turbo-compound rotary engine
    Patent number: 7775044
    Abstract: A compound cycle engine (10) comprises a compressor and a turbine section (14, 18), and at least one cycle topping device (16) providing an energy input to the turbine section (18). The compressor section (14) compresses the air according to a pressure ratio PRgt. The cycle topping device (16) further compresses the air according to a volumetric compression ratio Rvc, and wherein PRgt×Rvc are selected, according to one aspect of the invention, to provide a cycle which permit a more compact and lighter compound cycle engine to be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: André Julien, André Chèvrefils
  • Filter assembly for gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11369908
    Abstract: A filter assembly for an engine, has: a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an internal volume, the housing having an open end; and a cartridge assembly receivable within the internal volume via the open end of the housing and securable to the housing, the cartridge assembly including a filter cartridge, a cover removably secured to the filter cartridge, and a sealing member between the cover and the filter cartridge, a locking engagement between the cover and the filter cartridge to limit an axial movement of the cover relative to the filter cartridge upon removal of the cartridge assembly from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Rose Beaulieu, Pierre Gauvin, Louis Brillon, Joanna Radon, Sean Powers, Kevin White
  • Method and system for failure prediction using lubricating fluid analysis
    Patent number: 9897582
    Abstract: Methods and systems for failure prediction using analysis of oil or other lubricant. Raw data about feature(s) of each of a plurality of particles filtered from a fluid sample are used to categorize each particle into one of a plurality of categories, each category being defined by one or more of: chemical composition, size and morphology. Particle physical characteristics in each category are quantified to obtain a set of categorized data. The categorized data are compared with historical data. Results of the comparing are evaluated to generate a prediction of any failure or mechanism of failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Maurice Jean, Daniel Meilleur
  • Propeller balancing using inflight data
    Patent number: 10611501
    Abstract: There is described herein a propeller balancing system and method that selects at least a portion of received propeller vibration data by comparing received aircraft data collected concurrently with the propeller vibration data with at least one customizable flight criterion, and identifying the portion of the vibration data acquired at a time when the aircraft data meets the at least one customizable flight criterion. The selected portion of the propeller vibration data is analyzed to assess a vibration level of the propeller and a balancing need is signaled when the vibration level reaches a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Brian Wirth, Robert Winchcomb, Bruce Calvert, Robert Wigny
  • Service tube locking device
    Patent number: 11739664
    Abstract: A service tube assembly comprises a service tube having a threaded end portion and a shoulder. The outer shoulder has a conical surface converging in a direction away from the threaded end portion. The threaded end portion is threadably engaged with a mating part. The mating part has a seat surface which cooperates with the shoulder of the service tube to form a conical seat. The assembly further includes a locking member having an outer conical surface complementary to the conical seat. A mechanical fastener is provided for releasably holding the locking member against the conical seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Guy Lefebvre, Remy Synnott, Philippe Savard
  • Structural reinforcement strut for gas turbine case
    Patent number: 8408011
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine case having a working fluid flow, includes inner and outer case portions defining an annular duct for directing the working fluid flow, and a plurality of struts positioned within the annular duct and extending between the inner and outer case portions. The struts are welded to the inner and outer case portions with a first weld along a peripheral line of the respective struts and with second weld, of fillet type, in selected locations for additionally connecting a portion of each strut to the respective inner and outer case portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Mike Fontaine, Rene Paquet, Jean Fournier
  • Method and device for minimizing oil consumption in a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 6877950
    Abstract: A method of minimizing oil consumption in a gas turbine engine, by avoiding reliance on air intake into the engine oil circuit for bearing chamber oil sealing purposes. The engine oil circuit has bearing chambers with hydropad seals between the shaft and bearing chamber. During engine operation the ring rotates to cast oil radially outwardly from the shaft axis toward the outer periphery of the bearing chamber under centrifugal force, independent of any gas pressure differential across the sealing surfaces of the hydropad seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Xiaoliu Liu
  • Rotary internal combustion engine with seal lubrication
    Patent number: 11428128
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine with a housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough opening into a portion of its inner surface engaging each peripheral or apex seal of the rotor. An injector has an inlet for fluid communication with a pressurized lubricant source and a selectively openable and closable outlet in fluid communication with the fluid passage for delivering the pressurized lubricant to each seal through the fluid passage. A housing for a Wankel engine and a method of lubricating peripheral seals of a rotor in an internal combustion engine are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Edwin Schulz, Etienne Plamondon, Jean Thomassin
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