Search Patents
  • 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
  • Air-oil separation apparatus
    Patent number: 10507410
    Abstract: The described air-oil separation apparatus for an oil system of a gas turbine engine includes an oil tank having an oil impingement surface disposed on a tank bottom proximate an oil tank outlet and a centrifugal air-oil separator mounted within the oil tank. The centrifugal air-oil separator has an oil outlet that feeds an impingement nozzle having an outlet oriented, in operation, to eject an oil jet from the centrifugal air-oil separator to impinge the oil impingement surface at an intersection point spaced apart from the oil tank outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Marcin Czajkowski, Sebastien Bergeron, Filip Adam Pulter, Johnny Vinski
  • 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
  • Deflector for a gas turbine strut and vane assembly
    Patent number: 8182204
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided having an annular duct having an inner duct wall and an outer duct wall. At least one strut extends between the inner duct wall and the outer duct wall. The strut has an aerodynamic shape. At least one vane located circumferentially adjacent the strut and axially behind a leading edge of the strut, and an aerodynamic deflector located circumferentially between each strut and each vane. The aerodynamic deflector may positioned axially upstream of a flow separation point which would otherwise be caused by the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, Mohamad Sleiman, Panagiota Tsifourdaris
  • Method and system for controlling a crossing threshold used in determining rotational speed of a propeller
    Patent number: 10822105
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a crossing threshold used in determining a rotational speed of a propeller of an aircraft engine. An initial value for the crossing threshold is set. A sensor signal is received that comprises a first series of pulses indicative of passage of position markers about a circumference of a propeller shaft. A detection signal is generated that comprises a second series of pulses indicative of within the first series of pulses that have a zero-crossing transition and a magnitude that exceeds the crossing threshold. The rotational speed of the propeller is determined from the detection signal. The crossing threshold is adjusted as a function of the rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ella Yakobov, Ian Farrell
  • 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
  • ELECTRIC PROBE ASSEMBLY, GAS TURBINE ENGINE HAVING SAME AND METHOD OF COOLING SAME
    Publication number: 20150198091
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a hot section module which includes at least one electric probe assembly surrounded by an immediate environment having a local ambient temperature. The at least one electric probe assembly includes an electric probe having a probe body, and a conduit surrounding at least a portion of the probe body. In operation, the conduit carries a fluid flowing at a temperature lower than the local ambient temperature. The at least portion of the probe body is embedded in the fluid inside the conduit. The fluid thermally insulates the probe body from the local ambient temperature of the immediate environment around the at least one electric probe assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Guy LEFEBVRE, John Pietrobon
  • Labyrinth seal with variable seal clearance
    Patent number: 11555410
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal, has: rotating and static components rotatable relative to one another relative to a central axis, the rotating component securable to a shaft via a tight fit engagement at an engagement location on the rotating component, the static component securable to a housing; teeth protruding from one of the rotating and static components towards a seal land defined by the other one of the rotating and static components; and clearances between the teeth and the seal land, a first clearance of the clearances greater than a second clearance of the clearances, the first clearance located closer to the engagement location of the rotating component than the second clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Maksim Pankratov, Michel Massicotte
  • Internal combustion engine with common rail pilot and main injection
    Patent number: 9200563
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a pilot subchamber, a pilot fuel injector having a tip in communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element positioned to ignite fuel within the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector spaced apart from the pilot fuel injector. The engine includes a common rail in fluid communication with the main fuel injector and with the pilot fuel injector and a pressure regulating mechanism in fluid communication with the common rail for regulating a fuel pressure therein. A method of combusting fuel in an internal combustion engine is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Jean Thomassin
  • Operation of a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system
    Patent number: 10826415
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system. The method comprises providing alternating current (AC) electric power to a first electric motor to drive a first rotating propulsor, providing the first electric motor with AC electric power from at least one motor inverter operatively coupled to a direct current (DC) power source, detecting a failure in a path to the first electric motor, and selectively rearranging a first switching arrangement between the generator, the at least one motor inverter, and the first electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eric Latulipe, Richard Freer
  • Turbine shroud cooling
    Patent number: 10570773
    Abstract: A turbine shroud segment has a body having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface extending axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge and circumferentially between a first and a second lateral edge. A first serpentine channel is disposed axially along the first lateral edge. A second serpentine channel is disposed axially along the second lateral edge. The first and second serpentine channels each define a tortuous path including axially extending passages between a front inlet proximate the leading edge and a rear outlet at the trailing edge of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Remy Synnott, Mohammed Ennacer, Chris Pater, Denis Blouin, Kapila Jain, Farough Mohammadi
  • Igniter for gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11268486
    Abstract: There is disclosed an igniter for a gas turbine engine including: a base, a glow plug heater rod, the glow plug heater rod extending from the base along an axis and terminating in a rod end, a sleeve extending circumferentially around the glow plug heater rod along at least a portion of a length of the glow plug heater rod, the sleeve having an inner surface spaced from the glow plug heater rod to provide a gap between the inner surface and the glow plug heater rod, the gap extending radially relative to said axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Richard Freer, Kian Mccaldon, Tin-Cheung John Hu, Michel Bousquet, André Fortin
  • LOW ENERGY PLASMA COATING
    Publication number: 20140255613
    Abstract: A method of coating an aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy component, including cleaning and drying surfaces of the component to be coated; suspending a powdered coating material in a carrier gas and feeding the suspended powdered coating material through a plasma torch in a flowing gas; heating the coating material in the plasma torch to a molten or semi-molten state using a nominal power below 25 kW; and depositing the coating material with the plasma torch directly on the surfaces to be coated. The component may be made of a magnesium alloy containing at one or more of zinc, cerium and zirconium, or of an aluminum alloy containing one or more of magnesium, silicon, copper and chromium. The powder material may be made in majority of aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Pierre VERRIER
  • 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
  • Journal bearing assembly with dual oil cavities
    Patent number: 10935076
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a gearbox, the gearbox having gear(s). A journal bearing assembly rotatably supports the gear, the journal bearing assembly having at least a pin, and a journal having a tubular body defining a pin-receiving inner cavity having an inner surface, a first cavity and a second cavity defined in the inner surface of the pin-receiving inner cavity, a rib support located between the first cavity and the second cavity, the rib support being aligned with a longitudinal center of the tubular body, with the first cavity and the second cavity on opposed axial sides of the rib support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Bruno Martin, Louis Brillon, Julien Simard-Bergeron
  • Gas turbine engine exhaust mixer including circumferentially spaced-apart radial rows of tabs extending downstream on the radial walls, crests and troughs
    Patent number: 8635875
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust mixer has a plurality of circumferentially distributed alternating inner and outer lobes. The outer lobes protrude into the annular bypass passage of the engine, whereas the inner lobes protrude into the main gas path passage of the engine. The inner and outer lobes respectively define alternating troughs and crest with radial interconnecting walls therebetween. The mixer has a jagged trailing edge including a plurality of tabs extending from each radial wall between the troughs and the crests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Mark Huzzard Cunningham
  • Apex and face seals with rotary internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9850758
    Abstract: A rotor for a rotary internal combustion engine with a first face seal biased axially outwardly away from the first end face has opposed curled ends abutting a first end seal of a respective one of the adjacent apex portions, and a second face seal biased axially outwardly away from the second end face has opposed curled ends abutting a second end seal of a respective one of the adjacent apex portions. A rotary internal combustion engine and a method of sealing chambers of a Wankel engine are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Eugene Gekht, Jean Thomassin, Sebastien Bolduc, David Gagnon-Martin
  • Vapor-to-air heat exchanger for aircraft powerplant
    Patent number: 11945598
    Abstract: A vapor-to-air heat exchanger for an aircraft powerplant that includes: a pressurized vapor source supplying vapor; and a condenser including a condenser inlet in fluid communication with the pressurized vapor source to receive the vapor, a condenser outlet, and at least one pneumatic vessel defining a cavity in fluid communication between the condenser inlet and the condenser outlet. The pneumatic vessel is reversibly inflatable to be configurable between a collapsed vessel configuration and an inflated vessel configuration. A volume of the cavity is greater in the inflated vessel configuration than in the collapsed vessel configuration. The pneumatic vessel is inflatable from the collapsed vessel configuration to the inflated vessel configuration when the cavity is pressurized by the vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Daniel Alecu
  • Shaft shear detection through shaft oscillation
    Patent number: 10228304
    Abstract: There is described a shaft shear event detection method. The method comprises storing in memory a shaft oscillation signature determined as a function of known characteristics of the shaft and associated with a shaft shear event; monitoring a rotational speed of the shaft; detecting from the rotational speed an oscillation wave superimposed on the rotational speed, the oscillation wave having a wave modulation frequency and a wave modulation amplitude; comparing the oscillation signature to the oscillation wave; and detecting the shaft shear event when the oscillation wave corresponds to the oscillation signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bernard Heyerman, Antwan Shenouda, Michael Krynski, Poi Loon Tang
  • Rotor having crack mitigator
    Patent number: 11795821
    Abstract: A rotor for an aircraft engine, has: a hub extending circumferentially about a central axis, the hub having a bore, a gaspath-facing surface located radially outwardly of the bore relative to the central axis, a first face extending from the bore to the gaspath-facing surface, and a second face opposite the first face and extending from the bore to the gaspath-facing surface; blades circumferentially distributed about the central axis, the blades protruding away from the gaspath-facing surface of the hub; and a crack mitigator located on the first face, the crack mitigator extending circumferentially relative to the central axis, the crack mitigator extending axially from a baseline surface of the first face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Dikran Mangardich
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