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…
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…
Apparatus and method for additive manufacturing
Granted: May 21, 2024
Patent Number:
11986884
Additive manufacturing apparatus, along with methods of forming an object therewith, are provided. The additive manufacturing apparatus may include at least one build unit; a build platform (such as a rotating build platform); and a pair of collectors positioned on the apparatus such that a first collector contacts an outer surface of an object as it is formed on the build platform and a second collector contacts an inner surface of the object as it is formed on the build platform.
Titanium alloy compressor case
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11982236
A titanium-based component having a high heat capacity surface. The high heat capacity surface prevents or inhibits titanium fires. The component is titanium-based, forming the substrate, and includes a high heat capacity surface overlying the titanium substrate. A diffusion barrier is intermediate the titanium-based substrate and the high heat capacity surface. The diffusion barrier is non-reactive with both the titanium-based substrate and the high heat capacity surface. The system…
Electrical generator and method of operating the same
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11984259
An electrical generator and method for operating the same are provided. Accordingly, the generator includes a non-rotatable component supporting a field winding assembly and a rotatable component oriented to rotate relative thereto. The generator also includes an armature winding assembly fixedly coupled to the rotatable component so as to rotate therewith during operation of the generator. The generator also includes a resistive assembly fixedly coupled to the rotatable component so as…
Sensor system and method
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11982645
A system includes a sensor comprising a sensor bonding layer disposed on a surface of the sensor, wherein the sensor bonding layer is a metallic alloy. An inlay includes a planar outer surface, wherein the inlay may be disposed on a curved surface of a structure. A structure bonding layer may be disposed on the planar outer surface of the inlay, wherein the structure bonding layer is a metallic alloy. The sensor bonding layer is coupled to the structure bonding layer via a metallic…
Heat exchanger and leak detection system
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11982497
A system for heat exchange and leak detection is generally provided, the system including a heat exchanger including a first wall defining a first passage containing a first fluid. A leak detection enclosure containing a leak detection medium is defined between the first wall and a second wall surrounding the first wall.
Airfoil having a spar assembly for a turbine engine
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11982205
An airfoil for a turbine engine having a spar assembly. The spar assembly including a composite spar, a metallic hub, and a composite body. The metallic hub can receive a portion of the composite spar at an interior surface to define an overlapping region. The composite body is located at the overlapping region.
Method and system for integrated pitch control mechanism actuator hydraulic fluid transfer
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11981419
The variable pitch propeller assembly includes a hub. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a plurality of propeller blade assemblies spaced circumferentially about the hub. Each of the plurality of propeller blade assemblies configured to rotate a respective propeller blade. The variable pitch propeller assembly also includes a hydraulic fluid port assembly integrally formed and including at least three hydraulic fluid ports configured to receive respective flows of…
Powder removal systems and assemblies for additive manufacturing
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11981081
A powder removal assembly includes a build module comprising module sidewalls and a moveable build plate slidably coupled to the module sidewalls, and an extraction housing removably engaged with the module sidewalls of the build module and defining a turbulence chamber between the build module and the extraction housing. The extraction housing includes one or more sidewalls comprising one or more sidewall fluid flow channels extending through the one or more sidewalls and a top wall…
Systems and methods for multi-laser head alignment in additive manufacturing systems
Granted: May 14, 2024
Patent Number:
11980965
An additive manufacturing system includes a build platform and at least two laser heads. Each laser head includes at least one laser device, an optical sensor, and a computing device. The build platform includes a plurality of calibration marks. The laser device is configured to generate a laser beam. The laser beam is directed toward the plurality of calibration marks and the build platform. The optical sensor is configured to detect a scattering signal of the laser beam generated by…
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.
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.
