General Electric Company

Frederic Gardner Haaser

James C Przytulski

Boris Kamentser

Eugenia Kamentser

Francisco Zul

Bala Corattiyil

Wayne Ray Bowen

William Terence Dingwell

Guy C Murphy

Steven Keith Handelsman

Scott Francis Wolfer

Charles Robert Granitz

Michael Even-Nur

Awtar Singh Khera

Anthony J Matacia

Eric John Rubbiero

Fernando Ceccopieri

James Elbert Willey

James Charles Przytulski

A fiber-optic based thrust load measurement system is coupled to a bearing housing. The measurement system includes at least one fiber optic sensor configured to detect one or more parameters related to the bearing housing. An optical coupler is configured to regulate light signals emitted from a light source and light signals reflected from the fiber optic sensor. A detector system is configured to receive light signals from the optical coupler. A processor is configured to receive an output from the detector system and to determine a thrust load on a thrust bearing based on the detected one or more parameters related to the bearing housing.

Fiber-optic based thrust load measurement system

A bearing rotor thrust sensor assembly is provided for being secured to a bearing housing having a plurality of fingers extending between a pair of opposite portions of the housing. The assembly includes a first anchor member including a first cleat and configured to couple to a first housing portion of the pair of opposite housing portions, a second anchor member including a second cleat and configured to couple to a second of the pair of opposite housing portions, and a head sensor bracket positioned at least partially between the first and second anchor members. The head sensor bracket includes a load cell including a bridge circuit for producing a signal representative of forces on said cell.

Apparatus for measuring bearing thrust load

A torque shaft assembly includes a hollow tube with a central axis disposed between and fixedly connected to first and second crankshafts at first and second distal ends, respectively, of the tube for movement of an array of connecting members such as push rods. A hollow interior of tube between the first and second crankshafts is filled with a sufficient quantity of flowable inertia material or damping media to absorb vibratory energy by friction during operation of the engine. The hollow interior is preferably filled with a quantity of damping media to a level by volume of about 98% and a preferred flowable inertia material is round steel shot. A plurality of spaced-apart clevises are fixedly attached to a tube wall on an outer surface of the tube wall surrounding the hollow interior. Each clevis includes connection means disposed away from the wall outer surface for connection with an actuator for movement of the array of adjustable devices such as variable stator vanes.

Damped torque shaft assembly

A sump evacuation system for a gas turbine facilitates reducing oil leakage from bearing assembly sumps in a cost-effective and reliable manner. The engine includes at least one bearing assembly housed within a sump pressurization cavity. The sump evacuation system includes a sump pressurization cavity, a sump oil cavity, an air/oil separator, and an air pump. The bearing assembly and the sump oil cavity are coupled in flow communication with the sump pressurization cavity, and the air/oil separator is coupled in flow communication with the sump oil cavity. Furthermore, the air pump is coupled in flow communication with the air/oil separator.

Methods and systems for preventing gas turbine engine lube oil leakage

An orifice plate assembly for a gas turbine engine that facilitates extending a useful life of bearing assemblies within the gas turbine engine is described. Each orifice plate assembly is coupled in flow communication with an engine air source, and includes a first body portion and a second body portion. The first body portion includes a channel and a flow opening. The channel is sized to receive the second body portion, such that the second body portion may slide with respect to the first body portion. The orifice plate assembly is adjustable after engine shutdown to regulate bearing loading.

Methods and apparatus for controlling bearing loads within bearing assemblies

A guide vane mounting assembly for outlet guide vanes adjacent the fan of a bypass gas turbine engine comprises a wedge shaped end section on a vane and a wedge shaped elastomer material boot closely fitting thereon. The wedge shaped booted section resides in an oppositely shaped slot in a vane support to provide a dovetail joint with the elastomer material boot compressed between the wedge section of the vane and the slot walls as a vibration damping medium and vane retention means.

Gas turbine outlet guide vane mounting assembly

A plurality of openings are provided in a stationary wall of a gas turbine engine aft of the compressor discharge to admit compressor discharge air into a sealed cavity formed between the stationary wall and the rotor of the gas turbine engine. A valve, biased to an open position, is associated with each of the openings so that under low speed conditions some of the compressor discharge air is admitted to the cavity to provide supplementary axial force on the rotor in one direction to prevent crossover under such conditions. Under higher speed conditions the increase in compressor discharge pressure overcomes the force biasing the valve to its open position, thereby causing the valve to close and terminate flow of compressor discharge air to the cavity, terminating the aforementioned supplementary axial force on the rotor. Each of the valves includes a housing surrounding the corresponding opening in the stationary wall and a valve piston within the housing is biased to an open position by open or more belleville springs positioned within the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

Frederic Gardner Haaser