IP Library Granted Patent US 12,601,301
Granted Patent B2
US 12,601,301 · App. 19/006,941 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Separators for use with gas turbine engines

Inventors: Pradeep Hemant Sangli (Bangalore, IN); Santosh Kumar Potnuru (Bangalore, IN); Keith A. Miedema (Fairfield, OH); Matthew D. Brothers (Cincinnati, OH); Ravindra Shankar Ganiger (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
F02C7/30B64D2013/0651F05D2260/607
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,601,301
App. No.
19/006,941
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Separators for use with gas turbine engines are disclosed herein. An example cabin bleed system disclosed herein includes a bleed line coupled to a gas turbine engine, a separator defining a cavity fluidly coupled to the bleed line, the separator including a first ring including a first opening fluidly coupled to the cavity. a second ring surrounding the first ring, the second ring including a second opening fluidly coupled to a cabin of an aircraft, and a filter disposed in a fluid pathway extending between the first opening and the second opening.

Claims (47)

1 . A cabin bleed system comprising:

a bleed line coupled to a gas turbine engine;

a separator defining a cavity fluidly coupled to the bleed line, the separator including:

a first ring including a first opening fluidly coupled to the cavity;

a second ring surrounding the first ring, the second ring including a second opening fluidly coupled to a cabin of an aircraft;

a filter disposed in a fluid pathway extending between the first opening and the second opening;

a shaft coupled to the separator;

a motor coupled to the shaft, the motor to cause a rotation of the separator and the shaft, the rotation to cause a flow of fluid from the bleed line through the fluid pathway; and

a particulate matter sensor disposed in the bleed line, the motor triggered based on an output of the particulate matter sensor.

2 . The cabin bleed system of claim 1 , wherein the motor is powered by the gas turbine engine.

3 . The cabin bleed system of claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a high-efficiency particulate absorbing material.

4 . The cabin bleed system of claim 1 , wherein the separator includes a plurality of walls dividing an interior of the second ring into a plurality of interior sections.

5 . The cabin bleed system of claim 4 , further including a plurality of filters disposed in the plurality of interior sections.

6 . A separator coupled to a bleed line of a gas turbine engine, the separator comprising:

a first ring including a first opening fluidly coupled to a cavity, the cavity to be fluidly coupled to the bleed line;

a second ring coupled to the first ring, the second ring outboard of the first ring; and

a filter disposed between the first ring and the second ring, a rotation of the separator causing a bleed flow of the bleed line to flow through a fluid pathway including the filter, the filter configured to separate an air of the bleed flow from particulate matter of the bleed flow,

wherein the first ring includes:

an annular portion abutting the second ring; and

a lip portion extending from the annular portion away from the second ring.

7 . The separator of claim 6 , wherein the particulate matter includes at least one of oil, fuel, smoke, or coke.

8 . The separator of claim 6 , wherein the second ring includes:

an inner annular portion coupled to the first ring;

an outer annular portion outboard of the first inner annular portion;

a first exterior wall extending between the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion; and

a second exterior wall extending between the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion, the inner annular portion, the outer annular portion, the first exterior wall, and the second exterior wall defining an interior, the filter disposed in the interior.

9 . The separator of claim 8 , wherein the second ring includes a plurality of internal walls extending between the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion, the plurality of internal walls dividing the interior into a plurality of interior sections.

10 . The separator of claim 9 , wherein each of the interior sections is fluidly sealed.

11 . A separator coupled to a bleed line of a gas turbine engine, the separator comprising:

a first ring including a first opening fluidly coupled to a cavity, the cavity to be fluidly coupled to the bleed line;

a second ring coupled to the first ring, the second ring outboard of the first ring;

a filter disposed between the first ring and the second ring, a rotation of the separator causing a bleed flow of the bleed line to flow through a fluid pathway including the filter, the filter configured to separate an air of the bleed flow from particulate matter of the bleed flow; and

a piston seal on an outboard surface of the second ring.

12 . An aircraft including:

a cabin;

a gas turbine engine including a bleed line, the bleed line configured to pressurize the cabin, the bleed line defining a bleed flow path;

a shaft configured to rotate during operation of the aircraft; and

a separator coupled to the shaft, the separator configured to separate a particulate matter from an airflow of the bleed line, the separator including:

a first ring;

a second ring coupled to the first ring, the bleed flow path flowing through an interior of the second ring;

a filter in the interior; and

a plurality of walls in the interior, the plurality of walls dividing the interior into a plurality of interior sections including a corresponding plurality of filters, the corresponding plurality of filters included in the interior.

13 . The aircraft of claim 12 , wherein the particulate matter includes at least one of oil, fuel, smoke, or coke.

14 . The aircraft of claim 12 , further including:

a particulate matter sensor configured to output a signal corresponding to a presence of the particulate matter in the bleed flow path; and

a motor coupled to the shaft, the motor configured to rotate in response to the signal.

15 . The aircraft of claim 14 , wherein the gas turbine engine includes an accessory gear box coupled to the motor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: SANGLI, PRADEEP HEMANT; POTNURU, SANTOSH KUMAR; MIEDEMA, KEITH A.; BROTHERS, MATTHEW D.; GANIGER, RAVINDRA SHANKAR
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069709/0784 →
Priority Claims (1)
IN 202311008052 · Feb 8, 2023 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 18295590 · Apr 4, 2023
Related Publication 20250137406A1 · May 1, 2025
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