Patents by Inventor Alexis LAMBOURNE
Alexis LAMBOURNE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11905028Abstract: An aircraft comprises a hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system, a plurality of like generally cylindrical hydrogen storage tanks and a conveying system arranged to convey hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tanks to the hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system. The aircraft further comprises a fuselage having a cargo bay (502) including one or more (510A-G) of the plurality of hydrogen storage tanks, the longitudinal axes (511A-G) of the one or more hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (501) of the fuselage and lying in one or more planes (595, 597) extending across the width dimension of the cargo bay. The hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay have a common aspect ratio R in the range 4.2?R?25.7, allowing the volume of space with the cargo bay occupied by stored hydrogen to be maximised or approximately maximised.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Malcolm L Hillel, Alexis Lambourne
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Patent number: 11828415Abstract: A composite gas storage tank includes a composite wall defining a main storage volume and a hollow conduit portion communicating with and extending away from the main storage volume. A hollow coupling element has a length portion which is partially embedded within and extends substantially parallel to the hollow conduit portion of the composite wall. The hollow conduit portion and the coupling element provide communication between the main storage volume and the tank exterior. A leakage path around the hollow coupling element is significantly longer than those of tanks of the prior art and reduces the rate at which hydrogen leaks from the tank. A carbon fibre filament winding extends over the length of the hollow conduit portion and provides a radially inwardly-directed force biasing the carbon fibre material of the hollow conduit portion into contact with the coupling element, further reducing the leakage rate on the leakage path.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Alexis Lambourne
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Publication number: 20230249840Abstract: An aircraft comprises a hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system, a plurality of like generally cylindrical hydrogen storage tanks and a conveying system arranged to convey hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tanks to the hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system. The aircraft further comprises a fuselage having a cargo bay (502) including one or more (510A-G) of the plurality of hydrogen storage tanks, the longitudinal axes (511A-G) of the one or more hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (501) of the fuselage and lying in one or more planes (595, 597) extending across the width dimension of the cargo bay. The hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay have a common aspect ratio R in the range 4.2?R?25.7, allowing the volume of space with the cargo bay occupied by stored hydrogen to be maximised or approximately maximised.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Malcolm L HILLEL, Alexis LAMBOURNE
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Publication number: 20230219695Abstract: An aircraft comprises a hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system, a plurality of like generally cylindrical hydrogen storage tanks and a conveying system arranged to convey hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tanks to the hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system. The aircraft further comprises a fuselage having a cargo bay (502) including one or more (510A-G) of the plurality of hydrogen storage tanks, the longitudinal axes (511A-G) of the one or more hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (501) of the fuselage and lying in one or more planes (595, 597) extending across the width dimension of the cargo bay. The hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay have a common aspect ratio R in the range 4.2 ? R ? 25.7, allowing the volume of space with the cargo bay occupied by stored hydrogen to be maximised or approximately maximised.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Malcolm L. HILLEL, Alexis LAMBOURNE
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Publication number: 20230203956Abstract: A bladed disc for a rotating machine comprising a central disc that rotates about a central axis, the central disc having a series of blades arranged around its periphery; the blades have dovetail roots which engage with slots on the central disc; the bladed disc being configured so that there is a pre-loading force between the blades and the central disc such that each blade is forced away from the central axis of the bladed disc; and wherein the pre-loading force is equal or greater than 40% of the maximum centrifugal force applied to the blade during a flight cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2022Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Neelambaran KARAPURATH, Alexis Lambourne, Neil E. GLOVER
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Patent number: 11655939Abstract: A composite storage tank comprises a composite wall enclosing a gas storage volume and defining a cylindrical portion of the tank. The composite wall incorporates first and second sets of metallic fibres each of which is susceptible to embrittiement by hydrogen and has ends extending through the exterior surface of the composite wall. By measuring the electrical resistances of the metallic fibres, a measure of the amount of hydrogen that has leaked through the composite wall over a period of time, and the present physical condition of the tank, may be determined. The approximate axial and azimuthal coordinates of a particular leakage point may also be determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventor: Alexis Lambourne
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Publication number: 20220281615Abstract: An aircraft comprises a hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system, a plurality of like generally cylindrical hydrogen storage tanks and a conveying system arranged to convey hydrogen from the hydrogen storage tanks to the hydrogen-fuelled propulsion system. The aircraft further comprises a fuselage having a cargo bay (502) including one or more (510A-G) of the plurality of hydrogen storage tanks, the longitudinal axes (511A-G) of the one or more hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (501) of the fuselage and lying in one or more planes (595, 597) extending across the width dimension of the cargo bay. The hydrogen storage tanks within the cargo bay have a common aspect ratio R in the range 4.2?R?25.7, allowing the volume of space with the cargo bay occupied by stored hydrogen to be maximised or approximately maximised.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2021Publication date: September 8, 2022Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Malcolm L HILLEL, Alexis LAMBOURNE
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Publication number: 20220255162Abstract: A battery or fuel cell module comprising a plurality of battery cells or fuel cells and metal foam bus bars that electrically connect together at least some of the battery cells or fuel cells is described. The battery or fuel cell module may further include a cooling system arranged to provide a flow of cooling fluid through the metal foam bus bars to remove heat from the bus bars. In some examples, the cooling system comprises one or more forced air devices. In other examples, the metal foam bus bars are encased in a fluid-impermeable skin so that the bus bars form fluid-tight pipes with a metal foam interior, and the cooling system is arranged to provide the flow of cooling fluid through the metal foam interior of the fluid-tight pipes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Alexis LAMBOURNE, Neil E. GLOVER, Jameel B. KHAN
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Patent number: 11367543Abstract: A method of manufacturing a winding assembly for an electrical machine, the method comprising: forming, by three-dimensional, 3D, printing, an electrically insulating body comprising a channel defining a winding path, the channel having an inlet and an outlet; heating the electrically insulating body to a temperature above the melting point of an electrically conducting material; flowing the electrically conducting material through the inlet to the outlet to fill the channel; and cooling the electrically insulating body to solidify the electrically conducting material within the channel, thereby forming said winding assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Inventors: Alexis Lambourne, Alexander C. Smith, Jameel B. Khan
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Patent number: 11329536Abstract: A method of manufacturing a winding assembly for an electrical machine, the method comprising: selecting (S1) a mathematical function defining the spatial separation between adjacent turns of a winding path, the mathematical function dependent on one or more parameters of the electrical machine and/or of the anticipated operating environment of the electrical machine; forming (S2), by three-dimensional, 3D, printing, an electrically insulating body comprising a channel defining the winding path in accordance with said function, the channel having an inlet and an outlet; heating (S3) the electrically insulating body to a temperature above the melting point of an electrically conducting material; flowing (S4) the electrically conducting material through the inlet to the outlet to fill the channel; and cooling the electrically insulating body to solidify the electrically conducting material within the channel, thereby forming said winding assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Inventors: Jameel B. Khan, Alexis Lambourne, Alexander C. Smith
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Patent number: 11279100Abstract: A procedure for repairing a polymer matrix composite component is provided. The procedure includes the steps of: providing a polymer matrix composite component having a site prepared for repair by removal of damaged or defective material; locating an uncured, polymer matrix composite repair patch at the site to re-build the component thereat; and curing the polymer matrix of the repair patch by heating the patch using eddy currents induced by one or more alternating current coils. The repair patch is without metallic additives, such that the repaired polymer matrix composite after the curing step is also without metallic additives in the vicinity of the repair patch.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Alexis Lambourne, Alexander C. Smith, Jameel B. Khan
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Publication number: 20220065399Abstract: A composite gas storage tank includes a composite wall defining a main storage volume and a hollow conduit portion communicating with and extending away from the main storage volume. A hollow coupling element has a length portion which is partially embedded within and extends substantially parallel to the hollow conduit portion of the composite wall. The hollow conduit portion and the coupling element provide communication between the main storage volume and the tank exterior. A leakage path around the hollow coupling element is significantly longer than those of tanks of the prior art and reduces the rate at which hydrogen leaks from the tank. A carbon fibre filament winding extends over the length of the hollow conduit portion and provides a radially inwardly-directed force biasing the carbon fibre material of the hollow conduit portion into contact with the coupling element, further reducing the leakage rate on the leakage path.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Alexis LAMBOURNE
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Publication number: 20220065398Abstract: A composite storage tank comprises a composite wall enclosing a gas storage volume and defining a cylindrical portion (406) of the tank. The composite wall incorporates first) and second sets of metallic fibres each of which is susceptible to embrittlement by hydrogen and has ends extending through the exterior surface of the composite wall. By measuring the electrical resistances of the metallic fibres, a measure of the amount of hydrogen that has leaked through the composite wall over a period of time, and the present physical condition of the tank, may be determined. The approximate axial and azimuthal coordinates of a particular leakage point may also be determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventor: Alexis LAMBOURNE
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Publication number: 20210408858Abstract: A 3D printed metal coil for an electrical machine. The 3D printed coil has a plurality of turns and is configured to fit within a slot in an electrical machine. A cross-sectional shape of successive turns of the plurality of turns varies such that a portion of each turn forms a part of an external surface of the metal coil, the external surface forming an interface with a side of the slot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Alexis LAMBOURNE, Iain TODD, Geraint W. JEWELL
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Publication number: 20210408859Abstract: A 3D printed metal coil for an electrical machine. The 3D printed coil has a plurality of turns and is configured to fit within a slot in an electrical machine. A portion of each turn forming an end winding of the coil has a flat plate-like shape for dissipating heat from the end winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Alexis LAMBOURNE, Iain TODD, Geraint W. JEWELL
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Patent number: 11177712Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating an insulated metal coil for an electrical machine. The method includes 3D printing a metal coil having a plurality of turns. The method further includes subsequently infiltrating insulating material between the turns of the metal coil to electrically insulate the turns from each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Alexis Lambourne, Iain Todd, Geraint W Jewell
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Patent number: 10951101Abstract: A method of manufacturing an induction motor rotor assembly, the method includes the steps of: providing a rotor; machining a plurality of re-entrant slots axially along an outer surface of the rotor; positioning a sleeve concentrically over the outer surface of the rotor; applying a friction stir welding process to the sleeve along each re-entrant slot axially along the outer surface of the rotor to cause the sleeve material to plasticise and flow into the axial re-entrant slot to form an axial re-entrant slot bar; and providing an electrical connection at each of the opposing axial ends of the rotor between respective ones of opposing ends of each of the axial re-entrant slot bars to thereby form the induction motor rotor.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2016Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: James Emberton, Alexis Lambourne, John J A Cullen
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Publication number: 20200119628Abstract: A method of manufacturing a winding assembly for an electrical machine, the method comprising: selecting (S1) a mathematical function defining the spatial separation between adjacent turns of a winding path, the mathematical function dependent on one or more parameters of the electrical machine and/or of the anticipated operating environment of the electrical machine; forming (S2), by three-dimensional, 3D, printing, an electrically insulating body comprising a channel defining the winding path in accordance with said function, the channel having an inlet and an outlet; heating (S3) the electrically insulating body to a temperature above the melting point of an electrically conducting material; flowing (S4) the electrically conducting material through the inlet to the outlet to fill the channel; and cooling the electrically insulating body to solidify the electrically conducting material within the channel, thereby forming said winding assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Jameel B. KHAN, Alexis LAMBOURNE, Alexander C. SMITH
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Publication number: 20200098492Abstract: A method of manufacturing a winding assembly for an electrical machine, the method comprising: forming, by three-dimensional, 3D, printing, an electrically insulating body comprising a channel defining a winding path, the channel having an inlet and an outlet; heating the electrically insulating body to a temperature above the melting point of an electrically conducting material; flowing the electrically conducting material through the inlet to the outlet to fill the channel; and cooling the electrically insulating body to solidify the electrically conducting material within the channel, thereby forming said winding assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2019Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Alexis LAMBOURNE, Alexander C. SMITH, Jameel B. KHAN
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Patent number: 10483037Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetically graded material, including depositing a steel filler material to a substrate, and applying a directed energy source to first and second regions of the filler material to thereby join the filler material to form a joined material. The energy source is directed to the first region while the first region is provided with an inert shield gas such that the material of the first regions includes a magnetic phase, and the energy source is directed to the second region while the second region is provided with a nitrogen containing shield gas to thereby impart an non-magnetic phase to the joined material.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Alexis Lambourne, Iain Todd