Kenyon Portfolio 2016 - rev2sm

ROSS KENYON
Portfolio
14 Cayuga Trail Jay, NY 12941
(203) 770-3674 ross.kenyon@gmail.com
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 #8,661,782
Kenyon, et al. March 4, 2014
Rotating valve assembly for high temperature and high pressure operation
Kenyon, 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.

Kenyon, et al. December 2, 2014
Kenyon, 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 EQUIVALENCERATIO 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

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