kenyon portfolio 2016 - rev2sm

ROSS KENYON

Portfolio

14 Cayuga Trail � Jay, NY 12941(203) 770-3674 � [email protected]

www.linkedin.com/in/MRrosskenyon

Ross Kenyon - Portfolio

I volunteered in a full-time position with the Isha Foundation for most of 2014 and 2015. Together with a colleague, I took ownership of the design and construction of this $5MM, 40,000 sq ft meditation hall. My involvement extended to architecture, engineering (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), lighting design,

project/construction management, subcontractor selection, cost reduction and financial auditing. Top: Elevation of the finished building (it is 60ft tall). Below: 3D BIM model that I created in Revit to coordinate

routing of sprinkler lines, HVAC ducts, domestic water, combustion vents, and hydronic piping. Bottom: Plan view of same.

Isha Foundation


United Stated Patent #8,661,782Kenyon, et al. March 4, 2014

Rotating valve assembly for high temperature and high pressure operation

United Stated Patent #7,739,867Kenyon, et al. June 22, 2010

Compact, low pressure-drop shock-driven combustor

Patents (granted)

Description: I led the development of this valve while working on the pulse detonation program at General Electric’s Global Research laboratory. It is designed to handle the extremely high mechanical and thermal loading of pulse detonation combustion while functioning in the high-pressure and high-temperature environment of a gas turbine engine combustor. The success of this design played a key role in winning a large government contract to continue development of the technology, and was the cornerstone of GE’s prototype hybrid engine design.

Description: Early in the pulse detonation research program, we investigated an exciting method of initiating the combustion process using shock waves. The process was known as shock-to-detonation transition, and it provided significant advantages over existing, known processes. This invention drew upon fundamental shock wave research and provided successful test results. I led the design, construction and testing of this prototype combustor.


United Stated Patent #8,899,010Kenyon, et al. December 2, 2014

United Stated Patent #9,140,456Kenyon, et al. September 22, 2015

Pulse detonation combustor

Variable initiation location system for pulse detonation combustor

Patents (granted)

Description: To integrate pulse detonation technology into existing gas turbine engines, we had to radically rethink the layout of the engine. This patent captures our successful solution to the most difficult integration challenge – managing the unique geometry and ensuing thermal growth of the pulse detonation combustor tubes over the operating envelope of a gas turbine engine.

Description: A key challenge for the pulse detonation program was maintaining combustor operability over the wide range of conditions found in the gas turbine engine. We were able to successfully solve some of these issues by incorporating variable geometry elements in the combustor.


Patent Applications

US Patent Application <not yet published> Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al.

INTERNALLY COOLED TURBINE BLISK

US Patent Application <not yet published> Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al.

HIGH SPEED PROPULSION SYSTEM WITH INLET COOLING

US Patent Application 20150167550 Vandervort; Christian Lee ; et al. June 18, 2015

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING GAS STREAMS

US Patent Application 20130042595 Rasheed; Adam ; et al. February 21, 2013

PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTOR WITH PLENUM

US Patent Application 20120204534 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. August 16, 2012

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DAMPING PRESSURE OSCILLATIONS WITHIN A PULSE DETONATION ENGINE

US Patent Application 20120131900 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. May 31, 2012

INLET PARTICLE SEPARATOR SYSTEM

US Patent Application 20110146285 Glaser; Aaron ; et al. June 23, 2011

PULSE DETONATION SYSTEM WITH FUEL LEAN INLET REGION

US Patent Application 20110126510 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. June 2, 2011

PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTOR

US Patent Application 20110047962 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. March 3, 2011

PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTOR CONFIGURATION FOR DEFLAGRATION TO DETONATION TRANSITION

ENHANCEMENT

US Patent Application 20110047961 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. March 3, 2011

PULSE DETONATION INLET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

US Patent Application 20090266047 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. October 29, 2009

MULTI-TUBE, CAN-ANNULAR PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTOR BASED ENGINE WITH TANGENTIALLY

AND LONGITUDINALLY ANGLED PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTORS

US Patent Application 20090139203 Rasheed; Adam ; et al. June 4, 2009

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAILORING THE EQUIVALENCE RATIO IN A VALVED PULSE DETONATION

COMBUSTOR

US Patent Application 20090139199 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. June 4, 2009

PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTOR VALVE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HIGH PRESSURE OPERATION

US Patent Application 20090133377 Kenyon; Ross Hartley ; et al. May 28, 2009

MULTI-TUBE PULSE DETONATION COMBUSTOR BASED ENGINE


MN

MX

Most of my work with GE is either proprietary,

export controlled or government classified. However, this device is cleared for public disclosure

as its design, manufacture and testing was part of my graduate thesis at The Ohio State University. This is a mechanical brake used to test frangible driveshafts

for accessory gearbox components of large commercial turbofan engines. The brake attaches to

the gearbox and applies torque of up to 2000ft-lb at 9000rpm. This torque causes the gearbox shaft to

rupture and the dynamic response of the gearbox is measured to ensure compliance with FAA regulations.

I designed the $30k brake to use as many off-the-

shelf components as possible (including standard automotive brake calipers) and it saved GE $300k relative to a proposed custom design. I created a

computational model to predict performance, sized the hydraulic system, performed finite element

analysis, guided a drafter to create detailed engineering drawings, reviewed the design with

chief engineers, then supported manufacturing. Once it was assembled, I performed laboratory tests to ensure it met the design requirements. (2006)

VFSG Brake


This “Launch and Impact Tester for Aerial Forestation” was designed and built as a senior capstone design project at Boston University. I

worked with two fellow students on this project. It was awarded the “Most Outstanding Capstone

Design Project” for 2004 and it was later featured on Discovery Channel’s “Ways To Save The Planet”series which aired in 2008.

It is capable of firing 2lb projectiles into the ground

at speeds of up to 300ft/sec. The projectiles are to be used for aerial forestation - a process of planting

trees by dropping them from an airplane. We created computational models to analyze the air flow that propels the canisters and the dynamics of the valve

opening mechanism then built, tested and calibrated the device for use. (2004)

Aerial Forestation


The SAE Mini Baja is an intercollegiate event in which amphibious off-road vehicles are designed, built and raced. I

was the captain of BU’s first ever Mini Baja team; we designed and built the car during the 2002-2003 school year

and raced in the Mini-Baja East competition, held in April 2003 in Orlando, FL. We sourced major components like the engine, transmission, shocks, struts and brakes but built the

chassis entirely from scratch. We placed 18th overall in a field of 50 competitors, including a first place finish in the

Land Maneuverability event, a second place finish in the Mud Bog event, and a 12th place finish in the four-hour-long

Endurance Race. We developed a novel design for the fenders that allowed them to pivot with the suspension to improve propulsion in the water while having the strength

to withstand multiple vehicle rollovers.

SAE Mini Baja


This is a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) machine for which I did the majority of the mechanical design and packaging while working at Fraunhofer USA. I

worked on the project with a software engineer and a DNA chemist. One challenge for this project was to

mount an ultraviolet ring light and camera above the sample tray and keep the system “light tight” while maintaining adjustability. I solved this problem with

a rubber bellows that is held in place with magnets. (Fall 2003)

Turbo PCR


Right A novel flow reversal system that I developed to be used in conjunction with the flow

cell. This system used two solenoid valves in an “H-Bridge”

setup to automatically reverse flow to flush chemicals during

experiments (Fall 2001)

DNA Microarrays

Left: Views of a “flow cell”used in oligonucleotide microarray synthesis that I

helped design, fabricate and develop at Fraunhofer USA

(Fall 2001)


Top left: An ice axe that I fabricated from hammer-formed and TIG-welded aluminum sheet.

Above: Crampons that I developed and built specially for use with snowboard boots. This pair

was made from CNC milled 4130 steel with a TIG-welded frame. Later I changed the design to avoid

CNC machining and made a few pairs for friends of mine at Whiteface Mountain Ski Patrol.

Right: Coffee table and floor lamp, both made from TIG-welded aluminum sheet.

(Summer 2002)

Personal Projects


This is a skateboard truck that I adapted from a similar BMW design. I performed kinematic analysis on the linkage, modeled the components, created the drawings and CNC machined the

parts for a manufacturing engineering project at Boston University. (Fall 2001)

Compound Skateboard Truck

kenyon portfolio 2016 - rev2sm

Documents