Methods and apparatus for detecting fuel in oil, lube degradation, and fob thru optical and color characterization
Granted: June 4, 2024
Patent Number:
11999363
Systems and techniques that facilitate detecting fuel in oil, lube degradation, and foreign object contamination through optical and/or color characterization are provided. A signature component can generate a digital signature corresponding to a lubricant in a lubrication circuit of an engine. The digital signature can be based on optical or visual properties of a sensor array coupled to the lubrication circuit and exposed to the lubricant, wherein the optical or visual properties of…
Method and apparatus for robotic arm navigation
Granted: June 4, 2024
Patent Number:
11999058
A robotic arm is inserted into a passage of a part to be examined. Operator instructions defining a tip motion for a tip of the robotic arm, sensor readings, and an environmental map are received. The operator instructions, the environmental map and sensor readings are applied to a previously trained machine learning model to produce control signals. The control signals to an actuator on the arm to control a movement of the robotic arm allowing the robotic arm to automatically gain…
Casting core for a cast engine component
Granted: June 4, 2024
Patent Number:
11998974
A casting core used in the manufacture of a cast engine component for a turbine engine, the cast engine component having a first area, a second area, a fluid passage wall separating the first area and the second area, and a connecting fluid passage extending through the fluid passage wall and interconnecting the first area and the second area. The connecting fluid passage having a turn with a radius (R). The casting core having a first core and a second core. The first core and the…
Fuel system having a coke filtration system
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994071
A fuel system including a fuel metering unit, a heat exchanger, a plurality of fuel nozzles, and a coke filtration system. The fuel metering unit is configured to meter a flow of a hydrocarbon fuel. The heat exchanger is fluidly connected to the fuel metering unit. The heat exchanger is configured to heat the hydrocarbon fuel to improve engine performance or efficiency. The plurality of fuel nozzles is fluidly connected to the heat exchanger downstream of the heat exchanger to receive…
Multi pressure drop swirler ferrule plate
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994295
A swirler assembly includes a swirler having primary swirler with a primary swirler venturi, a swirler ferrule plate connected to the primary swirler, and a fuel nozzle disposed in the swirler ferrule plate. The swirler ferrule plate has an aft wall, an annular conical wall, and an annular cavity wall that together form an annular cavity. The annular cavity includes a plurality of inlet orifices, and at least one outlet orifice. A flow of oxidizer through the plurality of inlet orifices…
Combustor liner
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994294
A combustor includes a skeleton mesh structure having a plurality of structural elements configured to mesh together to form the skeleton mesh structure, each of the plurality of structural elements including a frame and, a plurality of louvers connected to the frame. The combustor also includes an inner liner mounted to the skeleton mesh structure to define a combustion chamber. The inner liner includes a plurality of inner planks mounted to the skeleton mesh structure, each of the…
Impingement cooling apparatus support structure and method of manufacture
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994293
An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment. The combustion liner includes a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The integrated combustor nozzle further includes an impingement cooling apparatus positioned within the cavity. The impingement cooling apparatus includes a flange. The impingement cooling apparatus further includes a plurality of…
Impingement cooling apparatus for turbomachine
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994292
An integrated combustor nozzle includes a combustion liner that extends radially between an inner liner segment and an outer liner segment, the combustion liner includes a forward end portion, an aft end portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The aft end portion of the combustion liner defines a turbine nozzle. The combustion liner defines a cavity forward of the turbine nozzle. The cavity extends between the first side wall and the second side wall. An impingement cooling…
Performance factor for a combustion liner
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994291
An annular combustor includes a combustion liner defining a combustion chamber, the combustion liner having an outer liner and an inner liner and a plurality of dimples in the combustion liner. The combustion liner is characterized by a performance factor greater than or equal to one and less than or equal to seven. An engine includes the annular combustor.
Lubricant supply system
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994165
A lubricant supply system for a squeeze film damper. The lubricant supply system includes a fluid passage configured to supply a lubricant to the squeeze film damper of a bearing assembly. The fluid passage includes a first flow path for lubricant into the lubricant supply system and into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly and a second flow path for lubricant into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly. The lubricant supply system includes a valve assembly…
Thermal management system
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994066
A thermal management system of a gas turbine engine, the thermal management system including: a thermal transport bus configured to have a heat exchange fluid flowing therethrough and including a pump including a plurality of bearings; an auxiliary thermal bus in thermal communication with the plurality of bearings; and an auxiliary heat exchanger in thermal communication with the auxiliary thermal bus.
Advanced aero diffusers for turbine frames and outlet guide vanes
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994041
Diffuser apparatus for turbine frames and outlet guide vanes are disclosed. An example diffuser is integrated into a turbine engine. The example diffuser includes a plurality of struts extending between an inner portion and an outer portion of the turbine engine; and a plurality of flowpath surfaces supported by the plurality of struts. The example plurality of flowpath surfaces extends circumferentially within the turbine engine at a plurality of radial spans to control diffusion of air…
Shroud for a gas turbine engine
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11994039
A gas turbine engine having a rotor blade stage with a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotors, a nozzle stage adjacent the rotor blade stage and including an outer nozzle end, at least one stop, and a shroud. The shroud having a forward end positioned radially outward from the circumferentially spaced rotor blades, and an aft end axially aft of the forward end. The at least one stop confronting at least a portion of the outer nozzle end.
Systems and methods of servicing equipment
Granted: May 28, 2024
Patent Number:
11992952
Systems and methods of servicing engines including a method of servicing an engine, the method including navigating at least a portion of a robotic assembly to a location associated with the engine; applying, from the robotic assembly, a medium to one or more adjustable components of the engine while the engine is at an elevated temperature; waiting a duration of time; and with the robotic assembly, operating on the one or more adjustable components.
Build plane measurement systems and related methods
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11987005
An additive manufacturing machine includes an energy beam system situated in a fixed position relative to a reference plane coinciding with an expected location of a build plane, an energy beam system with an irradiation device configured to generate an energy beam and to direct the energy beam upon the build plane, and a position measurement system configured to determine a position of the build plane. A position measurement assembly includes one or more position sensors, and one or…
Airfoils for a fan section of a turbine engine
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11988103
An airfoil for a fan section of a turbine engine may include a fan blade or an outlet guide vane formed of a first material, and an edge guard disposed about an edge of the fan blade. The edge guard may include a matrix composite that has a toughness that is greater than a toughness of the first material. The airfoil may include a fan blade or an outlet guide vane. The first material of the airfoil may include a metal alloy and/or a matrix composite. A method of manufacturing an airfoil…
Unducted thrust producing system architecture
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11988099
An unducted thrust producing system, includes a rotating element, a stationary element. An inlet may be located forward or aft of the rotating element and the stationary element. An exhaust may be located forward, aft, or between the rotating element and the stationary element.
Seal assemblies for turbine engines and related methods
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11988096
A seal assembly for a rotary machine, such as a turbine engine, may include a seal rotor comprising a rotor face, a seal slider comprising a slider face, a seal stator, wherein the seal slider is slidably coupled to the seal stator, and wherein the slider face and the rotor face define a primary seal. The seal slider may be configured to slidably engage and retract the slider face with respect to the rotor face. The seal assembly may further include a secondary seal disposed between the…
Seals for managing thermal distortion in a turbomachine and methods for building the same
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11988095
A seal assembly for a component of a turbomachine and method of assembly thereof is provided. The seal assembly includes at least one mating face positioned adjacent to the component and a seal coupled to the mating face. The seal includes an outer shell defining an interior space; an inner matrix filling the interior space comprising a plurality of unit cells comprising one or more metamaterials, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of unit cells are identical, and wherein the…
Irradiation sequences for consolidating powder material in an additive manufacturing machine
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11987008
A method of additively manufacturing a three-dimensional object may be performed using an irradiation sequence that is based at least in part on a predicted location of one or more fume plumes emitted from the powder material when irradiated by a plurality of energy beams. An exemplary method may include determining, with a computing device, an irradiation sequence for selectively consolidating powder material using an energy beam system of an additive manufacturing machine, and…
