Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080203218 | Systems And Methods For Reducing Pressure Loss Of Air Flowing From A First Area To A Second Area - Systems and methods are provided for reducing pressure loss of air flowing from a first area in a first direction to a second area in a second direction. The systems include a flow surface, first and second fence walls, an opening, and a flow path. The flow surface defines a portion of the first area. The fence walls extend substantially parallel to each other along the flow surface in the first direction. The opening is formed in the flow surface and is disposed between the first and second fence walls. The flow path defines at least a portion of the second area and is in flow communication with the opening to receive a portion of the airflow and to direct the airflow in the second direction. Methods of using and manufacturing the systems are also provided. | 08-28-2008 |
20090065297 | DUAL ACTION INLET DOOR AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF - An inlet door assembly and method for reducing noise from an auxiliary power unit (APU) contained within an aircraft housing is provided. The inlet assembly includes an inlet duct, an actuator, and a door. The inlet duct is configured to extend from the auxiliary power unit to the aircraft housing and has a sidewall that defines a flow passage through which APU noise propagates. The actuator is disposed at least partially within the inlet duct. The door coupled to the actuator. The actuator is also configured to selectively rotate the door between at least a first position, in which at least a portion of the door deflects APU noise in a first direction, and a second position, in which at least a portion of the door deflects the APU noise in a second direction. | 03-12-2009 |
20090139398 | INLET PARTICLE SEPARATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An inertial inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine includes an inertial inlet particle separator and an adjustment mechanism. The separator includes a fluid inlet coupled to a scavenge channel and to a clean channel such that a first amount of fluid passing through the fluid inlet enters the scavenge channel and a second amount of fluid passing through the fluid inlet enters the clean channel. The scavenge channel is defined by a first wall and a splitter, and the clean channel is defined by a second wall and the splitter. The splitter and the second wall are stationary with respect to each other. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the inertial inlet particle separator and configured to adjust a size of the scavenge channel. Although not necessarily, the adjustment mechanism may also be coupled to the scavenge fan speed. | 06-04-2009 |
20090236470 | LAUNCH AND CAPTURE SYSTEMS FOR VERTICAL TAKE-OFF AND LANDING (VTOL) VEHICLES - A launch and capture system for capturing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle having a thruster and a duct configured to direct airflow generated by the thruster includes a capture plate and an extension. The capture plate is configured to alter the airflow and generate a force attracting the duct to the capture plate. The extension is coupled to the capture plate, and is configured to at least facilitate holding the VTOL vehicle against the capture plate. | 09-24-2009 |
20140294564 | AUXILIARY POWER UNITS AND OTHER TURBOMACHINES HAVING PORTED IMPELLER SHROUD RECIRCULATION SYSTEMS - Embodiments of a turbomachine, such as a gas turbine engine, are provided. In one embodiment, the turbomachine includes an impeller, a main intake plenum in fluid communication with the inlet of the impeller, and an impeller shroud recirculation system. The impeller shroud recirculation system includes an impeller shroud extending around at least a portion of the impeller and having a shroud port therein. A shroud port cover circumscribes at least a portion of the shroud port and cooperates therewith to at least partially define an impeller recirculation flow path. The impeller recirculation flow path has an outlet positioned to discharge airflow into the main intake plenum at a location radially outboard of the shroud port when pressurized air flows from the impeller, through the shroud port, and into the impeller recirculation flow path during operation of the turbomachine. | 10-02-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100013226 | Tethered Autonomous Air Vehicle With Wind Turbines - A wind turbine energy conversion device that can take advantage of the higher speed and more persistent winds at higher altitudes is hereinafter disclosed. The wind turbine energy conversion device includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connected to one end of a tether (which may include multiple shorter tethers), the other end being connected to a terrestrial anchorage point. The UAV flies at altitudes where wind speeds can reach 40 mph or higher. The UAV comprises a flying wing with one or more trailing wind power turbines and flies airborne maneuvers designed to increase relative wind speed up to about four times the true wind speed. | 01-21-2010 |
20110070076 | COOLING SYSTEMS AND ASSEMBLIES FOR COOLING AN AFT BEARING ASSEMBLY MOUNTED TO A ROTOR - Assemblies for cooling an aft bearing assembly mounted to a rotor are provided. An assembly includes a static aft bearing structure configured to surround the aft bearing assembly and including a cylindrical section defining a cavity for disposal of the aft bearing assembly, a plurality of hollow struts extending from the static aft bearing structure, each hollow strut including an outer radial end configured to receive a gas from an air source and to provide a pathway for the gas to flow into the cavity, and a center-body cap disposed over an end of the static aft bearing structure, the center-body cap including a rim configured to create a low pressure region at an interface between the static aft bearing structure and the center-body cap, wherein the low pressure region has a pressure that is lower than a pressure within the cavity. | 03-24-2011 |
20130216371 | TURBOPROP ENGINE SYSTEMS WITH NOISE REDUCING INLET ASSEMBLIES - An inlet assembly for a turboprop engine system is provided. The inlet assembly includes an inlet plenum defining first inlet configured to receive air from the atmosphere; an expansion plenum coupled to the inlet plenum and configured to receive the air from the inlet plenum, the inlet plenum and the expansion plenum defining a flow path for the air with a bend of at least 90°; and a second inlet coupled to the expansion plenum and configured to receive the air from the expansion plenum. | 08-22-2013 |
20130318995 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIRECTING COOLING FLOW INTO THE SURGE PLENUM OF AN EXHAUST EDUCTOR COOLING SYSTEM - An eductor assembly comprises a primary nozzle configured to discharge turbine exhaust gas therefrom. The eductor assembly further comprises a cooler plenum having an inlet and an outlet and a surge plenum at least partially surrounding the cooler plenum and the nozzle, the surge plenum for conducting a surge flow. Cooling air flows through a vent between the cooler plenum and the surge plenum when there is no surge flow. | 12-05-2013 |
20140076159 | INLET PARTICLE SEPARATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An inertial inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine is provided. A separator assembly and collector assembly are coupled to the scavenge flow path and configured to receive the scavenge air. The collector inlet has a throat defining a cumulative throat area at each position along the throat length from the first throat end to the second throat end. The collector body defines a cross-sectional area associated with each position along the throat length between the first throat end and the second throat end. The collector outlet is coupled to the collector body such that scavenge air flows into the collector inlet, through the collector body, and out through the collector outlet. At a first position between the first throat end and the second throat end, the respective cross-sectional area of the collector body is greater than or equal to the respective cumulative throat area. | 03-20-2014 |
20140119891 | TURBOSHAFT ENGINES HAVING IMPROVED INLET PARTICLE SCAVENGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF - Embodiments of a turboshaft engine are provided, as are embodiments of a method for manufacturing a turboshaft engine. In one embodiment, the turboshaft engine includes an Inlet Particle Separator (IPS) system having an IPS scavenge flow circuit fluidly coupled to the engine's inlet section. A heat exchanger and a heat exchanger bypass duct are fluidly coupled to the IPS scavenge flow circuit. The heat exchanger bypass duct is configured to direct airflow around the heat exchanger. A particle separation device, such as an IPS blower, is fluidly coupled in series with the heat exchanger in the IPS scavenge flow circuit. The particle separation device is positioned to direct particulate matter entrained within the airflow through the IPS scavenge flow circuit into an inlet of the heat exchanger bypass duct and thereby reduce the amount of particulate matter ingested by the heat exchanger during operation of the turboshaft engine. | 05-01-2014 |
20140130510 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIRECTING COOLING FLOW INTO THE SURGE PLENUM OF AN EXHAUST EDUCTOR COOLING SYSTEM - A method and apparatus is provided for cooling the external surface of an aircraft APU eductor assembly. A processor is configured to open a surge valve by a predetermined amount when the surge valve is closed and the temperature of the exhaust gas exceeds a predetermined temperature in order to cool the surge plenum surfaces. | 05-15-2014 |
20140144123 | INLET PARTICLE SEPARATOR SYSTEM WITH AIR INJECTION - An inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine includes a hub section, a shroud section, a splitter section, and an injection opening. The shroud section surrounds at least a portion of the hub section and is spaced apart therefrom to define a passageway having an air inlet. The splitter is disposed downstream of the air inlet and extends into the passageway to divide the passageway into a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path. The injection opening is formed in and extends through the hub section, and is disposed downstream of the air inlet. | 05-29-2014 |
20140190347 | LIQUID INJECTION INLET PARTICLE SEPARATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine includes a separator assembly and a liquid injection system. The separator assembly defines an inlet flow path for receiving inlet air and includes a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path downstream of the inlet flow path. The separator assembly is configured to separate the inlet air into scavenge air and engine air such that the scavenge air is directed from the inlet flow path into the scavenge flow path and the engine air is directed from the inlet flow path into the engine flow path. The liquid injection system is coupled to the separator assembly and configured to introduce a diffused liquid into the inlet air flowing through the separator assembly. | 07-10-2014 |
20150040535 | INLET PARTICLE SEPARATOR SYSTEM WITH HUB AND/OR SHROUD SUCTION - An inlet particle separator system for a vehicle engine includes a hub section, a shroud section, a splitter, and a hub suction flow passage. The shroud section surrounds at least a portion of the hub section and is spaced apart therefrom to define a main flow passageway that has an air inlet. The splitter is disposed downstream of the air inlet and extends into the passageway to divide the main flow passageway into a scavenge flow path and an engine flow path. The hub suction flow passage has a hub suction inlet port and a hub suction outlet port. The hub suction inlet port extends through the hub section and is in fluid communication with the air inlet. The hub suction outlet port extends through the splitter and is in fluid communication with the scavenge flow path. | 02-12-2015 |