Search Patents
  • LIQUID HYDROGEN EVAPORATORS AND HEATERS
    Publication number: 20230045911
    Abstract: In accordance with at least on aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a hydrogen fuel system for aircraft. The hydrogen fuel system includes a gas turbine engine and a fuel feed conduit. The fuel feed conduit is defined at least in part by, in fluid series, a liquid hydrogen tank fluidly connected to a combustor of the gas turbine engine, a liquid hydrogen pump to drive fuel to the combustor of the gas turbine engine, an evaporator, and an electric heat source in thermal communication with the evaporator to add heat into a flow of hydrogen passing through the evaporator. In embodiments, the electric energy source associated with the electric heat source to power the electric heat source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Scott Smith
  • Impeller exducer cavity with flow recirculation
    Patent number: 11268536
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for an aircraft engine is disclosed, having an impeller mounted for rotation about an axis. The impeller has impeller blades extending from an inducer end to an exducer end. A shroud extends over the impeller blades. A main flow passage is defined between the shroud and the impeller, a cavity fluidly communicates with the main flow passage via at least one extraction port and at least one reinjection port. The reinjection port is fluidly connected to the main flow passage upstream of the extraction port relative to a flow direction through the main flow passage. The reinjection port is disposed upstream of the exducer end of the impeller blade, in an exducer portion of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Hien Duong
  • System and method for purging a fuel manifold of a gas turbine engine using a pump
    Patent number: 11486303
    Abstract: Methods and systems of operating a gas turbine engine in a low-power condition are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying fuel to a combustor by supplying fuel to a first fuel manifolds and a second fuel manifold of the gas turbine engine. The method also includes, while supplying fuel to the combustor by supplying fuel to the first fuel manifold: stopping supplying fuel to the second fuel manifold; and using a pump to drive gas into the second fuel manifold to flush fuel in the second fuel manifold into the combustor and hinder coking in the second fuel manifold and associated fuel nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Antwan Shenouda
  • Hybrid gas-electric turbine engine
    Patent number: 10717539
    Abstract: A hybrid gas-electric turbine engine for turboprop or turboshaft applications is disclosed together with associated methods. In various embodiments disclosed herein, the turbine engine comprises a turbine configured to be driven by a flow of combustion gas; a turbine shaft configured to be driven by the turbine and transfer power to a load coupled to the turbine engine and an electric motor configured to transfer power to the load coupled to the turbine engine. The rotor may have a rotor axis of rotation that is radially offset from a shaft axis of rotation of the turbine shaft. In some embodiments, the electric motor may be a multi-rotor electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: David H. Menheere
  • System and method for aircraft propeller governing
    Patent number: 11554851
    Abstract: Methods and systems for governing an aircraft propeller of an engine are described. The method comprises obtaining a fluid flow command for speed control of the propeller, determining pulse parameters of a pulse width modulated valve control signal for actuating a two-position solenoid valve in accordance with the fluid flow command based on an average fluid flow through the solenoid valve and an opening and closing time of the solenoid valve, generating the valve control signal with the pulse parameters as determined, and transmitting the valve control signal to the solenoid valve for actuating the solenoid valve, thereby controlling the speed of the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Gabriel Meunier, Nicolas Des Roches-Dionne
  • Gas turbine engine recuperator with floating connection
    Patent number: 9394828
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine recuperator including a plurality of independent arcuate segments, each segment having an inlet connection member designed to sealingly engage a plenum in fluid flow communication with the compressor discharge, and an outlet connection member designed to sealingly engage a plenum containing the combustor. One of the inlet and outlet connection members is a rigid member forming a rigid connection to the respective plenum, and the other of the inlet and outlet connection members includes a flexible member and forms a floating connection to the respective plenum, the floating connection allowing relative movement between the segment and a remainder of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas Eleftheriou, David Menheere, Daniel Alecu
  • Hybrid electric powerplant (HEP) control architecture
    Patent number: 11649038
    Abstract: A system includes a thermal engine operatively connected to drive a propeller. An electric motor is operatively connected to the thermal engine to drive the propeller together with the thermal engine. An external input system is configured to accept input and output a thrust command. A protection function module is configured to enforce limits on the thermal engine, electric motor, and propeller. A low select module is operatively connected to receive input from the external input system and form the protection function module and to output the lower of input from the protection function module and external input system to the thermal engine, the electric motor, and the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Michael Mark, Leonid Guerchkovitch
  • Process for joining powder injection molded parts
    Patent number: 11383299
    Abstract: A process for joining two or more powder injection molded parts by preparing at least two green parts from a feedstock including a binder and an injection powder. Placing the two or more green part into intimate contact, and maintaining the two green parts in intimate contact at a position with a linkage between the at least two green parts to produce an interconnected green assembly. Placing the assembly under shape retaining conditions, melting the binder of the interconnected green assembly under shape retaining conditions to produce a seamless body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Orlando Scalzo, Marc Lorenzo Campomanes, Melissa Despres, Alain Bouthillier, Vincent Savaria
  • Carbon seal assembly
    Patent number: 10107121
    Abstract: A carbon seal assembly comprises an annular member adapted to be secured to a structure. An annular seal runner is sealingly mounted to a shaft to rotate therewith, with the seal runner being made of a material complementary to that of the annular member for magnetic attraction therebetween. An annular carbon seal element is mounted to the annular seal runner to rotate therewith and positioned in a gap between the annular member and the annular seal runner, the annular carbon seal element having an annular wear surface abutting against a face of the annular member. A cross-sectional area of the annular carbon seal element increases as the axial dimension of the annular seal runner decreases for at least a part of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Ivor John Roberts
  • Systems and methods for filling a fuel manifold of a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11760500
    Abstract: Systems and method for filling a fuel manifold comprising at least a primary and a second manifold of a gas turbine engine are described. The method comprises providing fuel flow to the secondary manifold of the gas turbine engine, the secondary manifold being partly or completely empty; monitoring at least one engine operational parameter of the gas turbine engine as fuel fills the secondary manifold; and accelerating the engine when a transition threshold is reached, the transition threshold being associated with the engine operational parameter and indicative that fuel has reached the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Poi Loon Tang, Philippe Beauchesne-Martel, James Robert Jarvo
  • Gas turbine engine heat management system
    Patent number: 9097169
    Abstract: A heat management system of a gas turbine engine for cooling oil and heating fuel, includes an oil circuit having parallel connected first and second branches. The first branch includes a fuel/oil heat exchanger and a first fixed restrictor in series and the second branch includes an air cooled oil cooler and a second fixed restrictor. The first and second fixed restrictors limit respective oil flows through the first and second branch differently, in response to viscosity changes of the oil caused by temperature changes of the oil during engine operation to modify oil distribution between the first and second branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Adam Logan, Daniel Alecu
  • Rotodynamic pump having a body defining a body cavity with a first and second housing portion defining a portion of an impeller cavity and disposed within the body cavity wherein the body cavity extends at least in part around the second housing portion and the housing portions defining an impeller clearance
    Patent number: 11459958
    Abstract: A rotodynamic pump for pumping a fluid includes an impeller, a housing surrounding the impeller, and a pressure regulating mechanism. The pressure regulating mechanism is configured to adjust the clearance between the impeller and the impeller housing to regulate pressure of the fluid downstream of the impeller. A method of regulating the delivery pressure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: David Waddleton, Benjamin Renaud, Sebastien Bergeron, Etienne Plamondon, Jean-Gabriel Gauvreau
  • CIRCULATING COOLANT FLUID IN HYBRID ELECTRICAL PROPULSION SYSTEMS
    Publication number: 20220185494
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a heat engine configured to drive a heat engine shaft. An electric motor configured to drive a motor shaft. A transmission system is connected to receive rotational input power from each of the heat engine shaft and the motor shaft and to convert the rotation input power to output power. A first lubrication/coolant system is connected for circulating a first lubricant/coolant fluid through the heat engine. A second lubricant/coolant system in fluid isolation from the first lubrication/coolant system is connected for circulating a second lubricant/coolant fluid through the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Jean Dubreuil, Eric LaTulipe
  • Combustor liner with integrated anti-rotation and removal feature
    Patent number: 8327648
    Abstract: A combustor liner for a gas turbine engine including first and second annular liner portions engaged to one another with an interference fit. The first liner portion includes at least one anti-rotation feature extending therefrom and engaging the second liner portion and having a threaded hole defined therethrough at least substantially perpendicularly to an adjacent radially extending surface of the second liner portion for threadingly receiving a pushing tool for pushing against that surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen Phillips, Kenneth Parkman, Bhawan B. Patel, Pierrot Duchesne
  • TOWER SHAFT (UTS) SHIELDING
    Publication number: 20080073152
    Abstract: An oil shield for an upper tower shaft gear. The shield provides a plurality of shield members for encapsulating the upper tower shaft gear to reduce the amount of displaced oil from contacting surrounding engine components. The shield includes a first shield member adjacent a top surface of the upper tower shaft gear and a second shield member adjacent an under surface of the upper tower shaft gear which is engaged with the first shield member to enclose the upper tower shaft gear. A third shield member is positioned adjacent the second shield member. The shield members permit oil drainage in a predetermined pattern without undesirable dispersion within the engine compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andreas ELEFTHERIOU, David DENIS
  • Automated test strip peening
    Patent number: 10330544
    Abstract: A system for assessing a calibration of a shot-peening apparatus using a part in a shot-peening session, comprising an intensity calculator for receiving real-time pressure data from at least one sensor positioned adjacent the part in the shot-peening session, and for calculating the intensity from the pressure data. A shot-peening parameter comparator compares the calculated intensity with a shot-peening intensity threshold range for the at least one sensor. A calibration assessor confirms a calibration of the shot-peening apparatus when the calculated intensity is within the shot-peening intensity threshold range for the at least one sensor. A method for assessing a calibration of a shot-peening apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Mario Blais, Martin Blanchet
  • System and method for monitoring engine fluid levels
    Patent number: 11280232
    Abstract: Methods and Systems for monitoring an engine fluid level in a fluid recipient are described. In one example, the method comprises, during a fluid replenishing procedure, detecting when the fluid level reaches a level associated with the recipient being full; in response to the detecting, triggering a timer corresponding to a predetermined number of operating hours of the engine based on a fluid volume capacity of the fluid recipient; when the timer expires, verifying the fluid level; and issuing a first alert signal when the fluid level is at the level associated with the recipient being full and the timer has expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Tatjana Pekovic, John Correia, Robert Pontarelli, Andre Ip
  • Method of applying a nanocrystalline coating to a gas turbine engine component
    Patent number: 10369593
    Abstract: A method of applying a nanocrystalline metal coating to a titanium or titanium alloy blade of a gas turbine engine is described. The method includes selecting an intermediate bond coat from the group consisting of nickel, nickel alloy, P, B, Tl and combinations thereof, and applying the intermediate bond coat to at least a portion of the blade. A nanocrystalline metal coating having an average grain size of between 10 nm and 500 nm is then applied to the portion of the blade overtop of the intermediate bond coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Barry Barnett, Kin-Leung Cheung, Thomas McDonough, Andreas Eleftheriou, Enzo Macchia
  • Fuel system for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 10443503
    Abstract: A gas turbine fuel system including a main fuel line providing fuel flow from a fuel tank to a combustor, and at least one pump, including an ejector pump, pumping fuel from the fuel tank to the combustor via a fuel metering unit. The fuel metering unit directs a portion of the fuel into a motive flow line which returns a portion of the fuel to the ejector pump. First and second heat exchangers are disposed in serial flow communication within the main fuel line between the pump and the fuel metering unit. The first heat exchanger is a fuel-to-fuel heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Daniel Alecu, Steven Strecker, Andrew Walz
  • Method of machining airfoils by disc tools
    Patent number: 7303461
    Abstract: A method for machining a rotor having a disc and a plurality of integral airfoils projecting outwardly from the disc, according to one aspect of the invention, comprises a step of machining each airfoil with a disc tool having a grinding periphery thereof adapted for removing material from the airfoils. The grinding periphery has a thickness greater than a thickness of an adjacent supporting portion of the disc to permit the grinding periphery to pass a surface of an airfoil in a multi-axis simultaneous motion, thereby matching the grinding periphery with a predetermined geometry of a portion of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Marc Lorenzo Campomanes, Charles Edward Becze, Bastien Ste-Marie
Narrow Results

Filter by US Classification