Integrated fuel cell and combustor assembly
Granted: May 7, 2024
Patent Number:
11978934
An integrated fuel cell and combustor assembly, and a related method. The assembly includes a combustor having a combustor geometry and a combustor exit temperature. The assembly further includes multiple fuel cells fluidly coupled to the combustor, the multiple fuel cells being configured to generate a fuel cell power output using fuel and air directed into the multiple fuel cells and to direct a fuel and air exhaust from the multiple fuel cells into the combustor. The multiple fuel…
Insertion tool
Granted: May 7, 2024
Patent Number:
11977217
A tool system for inserting into a cavity, the tool system including a first continuum having a flexible body defining a connection interface; and a second continuum having a flexible body defining a connection interface; and an engagement mechanism configured to couple the connection interfaces of the first and second continua together to form the tool.
Bearing assembly
Granted: May 7, 2024
Patent Number:
11976593
A gas turbine engine including a rotating shaft and a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly is configured to support the rotating shaft. The bearing assembly has a first bearing and a second bearing. The first bearing is configured to support an axial load of the rotating shaft when a forward thrust of the rotating shaft is greater than ten percent. The second bearing is configured to support the axial load of the rotating shaft when a thrust of the rotating shaft is between ten percent…
System for controlling blade clearances within a gas turbine engine
Granted: May 7, 2024
Patent Number:
11976562
A system for controlling blade clearances within a gas turbine engine includes a rotor disk and a rotor blade coupled to the rotor disk. Additionally, the system includes an outer turbine component positioned outward of the rotor blade such that a clearance is defined between the rotor blade and the outer turbine component. Furthermore, the system includes a heat exchanger configured to receive a flow of cooling air bled from the gas turbine engine and transfer heat from the received…
Dual phase magnetic material component and method of its formation
Granted: May 7, 2024
Patent Number:
11976367
A dual phase magnetic component, along with methods of its formation, is provided. The dual phase magnetic component may include an intermixed first region and second region formed from a single material, with the first region having a magnetic area and a diffused metal therein, and with the second region having a non-magnetic area. The second region generally has greater than 0.1 weight % of nitrogen.
Ice protection systems for aircraft
Granted: May 7, 2024
Patent Number:
11975847
An ice protection system for an external surface for an aircraft. The external surface is configured to have air flow over the external surface and has a plurality of zones. At least one heat source is thermally coupled to the external surface in each zone of the plurality of zones. A controller is configured to selectively control the at least one heat source in each zone of the plurality of zones based on an operating condition related to the air flowing over the external surface.
Engine with rotating detonation combustion system
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970994
A Brayton cycle engine including a longitudinal wall extended along a lengthwise direction. The longitudinal wall defines a gas flowpath of the engine. An inner wall assembly is extended from the longitudinal wall into the gas flowpath. The inner wall assembly defines a detonation combustion region in the gas flowpath upstream of the inner wall assembly.
Contrast imaging system and method
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11972563
An imaging system and method acquires non-contrast images of a region of interest in a body and determines an entrance criterion based on the non-contrast images. The entrance criterion dictates conditions in which to begin acquiring contrast imaging exposures of the region of interest. An amount of a contrast agent is measured in one or more locations in the imaged body subsequent to acquiring the non-contrast images. The system and method determine that the one or more conditions of…
Methods and apparatus to autonomously detect thermal anomalies
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11971329
Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to autonomously detect thermal anomalies. Disclosed examples include an example apparatus to detect engine anomalies comprising: at least one memory; instructions in the apparatus; and processor circuitry to execute the instructions to: control a plurality of infrared cameras to capture a baseline image set, the baseline image set including at least two thermal images; generate emissivity data based on the baseline…
Damping device for damping shaft vibration
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11971054
Damping devices, turbomachines, and methods of damping vibration are provided. For example, a damping device for damping vibration of a shaft rotatable about an axis of rotation is provided. The damping device defines radial and axial directions. The damping device comprises a bearing, a housing, and a damper element. The housing and damper element define a cavity therebetween for receipt of a damping fluid. The cavity has a length along the axial direction that is curved away from the…
Method for repairing composite components and associated infiltration systems and methods
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11969962
A method for repairing composite components includes positioning repair material within a repair region of a composite component formed of a composite material. Furthermore, the method includes heating the repair region to a first temperature. Additionally, the method includes heating a remaining portion of the composite component to a second temperature. Moreover, the method includes melt infiltrating the repair region with an infiltrant to densify the repair material. The first…
Acoustic cores and tools and methods for forming the same
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970992
An acoustic core may include an array of resonant cells configured as a plurality of resonant cell groups. The resonant cell groups may include a plurality of resonant cells configured as a partitioned resonant cell that include a converging resonant cell and a diverging resonant cell. The converging resonant cell and the diverging resonant cell may be defined by a plurality of cell walls integrally formed with one another and a partition integrally formed with the plurality of cell…
Turbine engine with shockwave attenuation
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970979
A turbine engine and method of operating includes an engine core with a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine in axial flow arrangement. A flow path extends through the engine core from the compressor to the turbine to define a flow direction for a working airflow through the engine core.
Heat transfer system for gas turbine engine
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970971
A turbofan engine is provided. The turbofan engine includes a fan; a turbomachine operably coupled to the fan for driving the fan, wherein the turbomachine, the fan, or both include an engine component; a heat source; and a heat transfer system configured to reduce ice buildup or ice formation in the engine component, the heat transfer system in communication with the heat source, the heat transfer system comprising: a first heat transfer component in communication with the heat source;…
Compressor bypass bleed system for a ducted fan engine
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970969
An exhaust device for a compressor bypass bleed system of a ducted fan engine includes a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a centerline axis from the inlet end to the outlet end, an inlet flow conditioner arranged at the inlet end, the inlet flow conditioner including a plurality of inlet openings for conducting a flow of compressed air therethrough into the housing, and an exit screen arranged at the outlet end of the housing. The exit screen includes a…
Acoustic turbofan airfoil apparatus
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970957
Acoustic turbofan airfoil apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a platform of a turbofan engine, the platform including perforations to receive acoustic waves, acoustic chambers protruding from a first side of the platform, the acoustic chambers aligned with the perforations in a radial direction defined by the turbofan engine, the acoustic chambers to attenuate the acoustic waves, and an airfoil protruding from a second side of the platform opposite the first side of…
Pitch change mechanism for a fan of a gas turbine engine
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970956
A gas turbine engine including: a turbomachine having a compressor section, a combustion section, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order; a fan defining a fan axis and comprising a plurality of fan blades rotatable about the fan axis; and a pitch change mechanism operable with the plurality of fan blades, the pitch change mechanism including a plurality of linkages, the plurality of linkages including a first linkage coupled to a first fan blade of the plurality of fan…
Method and system for rotor stabilization
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970952
A system and method for controlling rotor dynamics at a rotor assembly. The system includes a magnetic actuator and a controller. The magnetic actuator is positioned in magnetic communication with the rotor assembly and is configured to obtain a measurement vector corresponding to the rotor assembly and a measurement vector indicative of a rotor dynamics parameter. The magnetic actuator is further configured to selectively output an electromagnetic force at the rotor assembly. The…
Clearance control assembly
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970946
A clearance control assembly for a gas turbine engine that defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a stage of rotor blades and a shroud hanger. The assembly includes a case configured to be positioned outward along the radial direction from the stage of rotor blades when installed in the gas turbine engine. The case is further configured to be engaged with the shroud hanger at a first location when installed in the gas turbine engine. The assembly also includes a…
Aircraft thrust management with a fuel cell
Granted: April 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11970282
Systems and methods of aircraft thrust management are provided. For example, a propulsion system for an aircraft comprises a fuel cell assembly comprising a fuel cell, a turbomachine, and a controller comprising memory and one or more processors. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the propulsion system to perform operations including receiving data indicative of a propulsion system thrust discrepancy and modifying an output of the fuel…
