Patents by Inventor Douglas D. Dierksmeier

Douglas D. Dierksmeier 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).

  • Publication number: 20200224606
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine, a gearbox, a first propulsor, and a second propulsor. The gas turbine engine is coupled with an input shaft of the gearbox and configured to power the gearbox during operation of the gas turbine engine. The gearbox is configured to drive selectively the first propulsor and the second propulsor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10704466
    Abstract: Vehicles, such as aircraft, may include turbine-based combined cycle power plants (TBCC) for power to achieve high-mach speeds. Cooling systems for such TBCC may include a turbine-generator arranged to be driven for rotation by ambient air to reduce the temperature of the ambient air while providing electric power for use under cocooning of a primary gas turbine engine in favor of a scramjet engine during high-mach travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10683866
    Abstract: An axial compressor comprises a plurality of compressor stages positioned axially adjacent within a casing. Each of the plurality of compressor stages comprise a rotor segment and a banded stator segment positioned axially adjacent the rotor segment. An annulus is formed between the casing and an outer flowpath ring of the stator segment. A pathway is provided that establishes an air flowpath between an entry pathway in a first stage and an exit pathway in a second stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Edward C. Rice, Ryan C. Humes
  • Patent number: 10683772
    Abstract: An axial compressor comprises a plurality of compressor stages positioned axially adjacent one another within a casing. Each of the plurality of compressor stages comprise a rotor segment and a banded stator segment positioned axially adjacent the rotor segment. An annulus is formed between the casing and an outer flowpath ring of the stator segment. A vane of each stator segment comprises a member extending into the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Edward C. Rice, Ryan C. Humes
  • Patent number: 10654576
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a cooling air system, a coolant system, and a thermoelectric heat exchanger adapted for selective operation in response to operational states of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Daniel K. Vetters, Michael A. Karam
  • Patent number: 10619503
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment for use in a segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The CMC seal segment comprises an arcuate flange having a surface facing the turbine and a portion defining a bore for receiving an elongated pin, with the bore having a length that is at least 70% of the length of the elongated pin received therein. The CMC seal segment is carried by the carrier by at least one of the elongated pins being received within the bore. The CMC seal segment portion defining a pin-receiving bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange extending radially outward from the arcuate flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel K. Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Joseph Lamusga, Rick Uskert, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel, Matt Brandt
  • Patent number: 10612468
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a cooling source, and a thermoelectric intercooler adapted for selective operation in response to operational states of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Daniel K. Vetters, Michael A. Karam
  • Patent number: 10563620
    Abstract: An expandable exhaust cone assembly is described which is able to move from a collapsed position to an expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Edward C. Rice, Ryan C. Humes
  • Patent number: 10563670
    Abstract: A compressor for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The compressor includes a case, vanes, and a vane actuation system. The vanes are arranged circumferentially adjacent to one another about a central axis inside the case and each one of the vanes is configured for rotation about a vane axis generally perpendicular to the central axis. The vane actuation system is configured to cause rotation of at least one of the vanes about the vane axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Edward C. Rice, Ryan C. Humes
  • Publication number: 20200047896
    Abstract: A propulsor includes an electric motor, a fan unit, and a thrust system positioned downstream of and coupled to the fan unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20190376396
    Abstract: A turbine blisk for use in a turbine rotor assembly in a gas turbine engine includes a turbine blade having a base end with a discrete bonding surface; an intermediate component having a first bonding surface and a second bonding surface; and a portion of a rotor disc having an outer surface that includes a bonding area. The discrete bonding surface of the base end of the turbine blade is attached to the first bonding surface of the intermediate component, thereby forming a first joint. The second bonding surface of the intermediate component is attached to the bonding area of the outer surface of the rotor disc, thereby forming a second joint. The first joint includes a diffusion bond, while the second joint includes a linear friction weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10415403
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, a blisk and methods of manufacturing are disclosed. The blisk includes a disk and a plurality of blades. Each blade includes a platform, an airfoil, and a shank portion radially extending between the platform and the disk. The airfoil includes cooling features. Cooling cavities are defined between shank portions of adjacent blades and are in communication to the internal of blades via cooling feed channels. A coverplate is coupled to a downstream side of the blisk to cover the cooling cavities. A plurality of inner tabs extends from an inner edge of the coverplate to securely couple the coverplate to the disk. The disk and the plurality of blades may be integrally formed or casted as a single unit. The platform, the airfoil, and the shank portion may be formed integrally as a single unit and bonded to the disk to form the blisk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20190271231
    Abstract: A blisk for a turbine engine is provided, the blisk includes a hub, a rim positioned radially outward from the hub, and a blade. The rim an outer surface facing radially outward from the hub and an inner surface. The blade is integral to the rim and includes a leading end, a trailing end, an interior surface, and a radially inward end. A cooling passage extends from an inlet in the inner surface of the rim, from the inlet through a channel enclosed within the rim and extending along the outer surface of the rim, and from the channel through an opening at the trailing end of the blade into a chamber defined by the interior surface of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20190234308
    Abstract: Vehicles, such as aircraft, may include turbine-based combined cycle power plants (TBCC) for power to achieve high-mach speeds. Cooling systems for such TBCC may include a turbine-generator arranged to be driven for rotation by ambient air to reduce the temperature of the ambient air while providing electric power for use under cocooning of a primary gas turbine engine in favor of a scramjet engine during high-mach travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20190195072
    Abstract: A disc for use in a turbine rotor is provided including a hub, a plurality of webs extending outwardly from the hub, and a plurality of rims. Each of the plurality of webs are separate from each other by a gap. Each rim is positioned at an outward end of one of the webs. Each rim is configured to receive a respective set of turbine blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Ryan C. Humes
  • Publication number: 20190136767
    Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method may be configured for detecting coking in a gas turbine engine. The system may comprise one or more heatable collecting elements configured to be positioned in a fuel supply passage having an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus heatable collecting may be configured to generate heat at or over a fuel system temperature range to induce coking in at least one of the heatable collecting elements. The apparatus may also include a sensor configured to detect an indication of coking on the heatable collecting elements and, in response to the coking indication, communicate a coking condition signal to an engine control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: David Farnum, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Ben Moloney, Patrick C. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 10247015
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine and a blisk are disclosed, including methods of making the same. The blisk may include a disk, spars of airfoils, platforms, and shanks of airfoils integrally formed as a unit. Such blisk features may be integrally formed by a casting process or additive manufacturing. The blisk includes cooled airfoils, such that the spar is hollow, and a cover panel is bonded to an outer surface of standoffs to define passages between the cover panel and the spar. Cooling air is fed to the hollow spar through a cooling feed channel defined in the disk or shank portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Kush, Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10215035
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The wheel assembly includes a disk arranged for rotation about a central axis and formed to include a plurality of slots. The wheel assembly also includes a plurality of blades sized to be received in the plurality of slots so that the blades are coupled to the disk for common rotation about the central axis. The wheel assembly further includes a plurality of blade biasers positioned in the slots between the disk and the blades so that the blade biasers are engaged with the disk and the blades to preload the blades away from the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Patent number: 10196904
    Abstract: An airfoil may include a spar comprising a passageway inside of the spar for a cooling fluid, a pedestal on an outer surface of the spar, and an inlet configured to direct the cooling fluid from the passageway to the outer surface of the spar. The airfoil may further include a coversheet, wherein an inner surface of the coversheet is positioned on the pedestal of the spar and an edge of the coversheet is positioned along an end of the spar. The inner surface of the coversheet, the pedestal, and the outer surface of the spar may define a cooling path from the inlet to an outlet at the edge of the coversheet. The outlet at the edge of the coversheet may be configured to direct cooling fluid onto the end of the spar, onto a footing, and/or onto a fillet positioned along an intersection of the footing and the spar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tab M. Heffernan, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Okey Kwon
  • Patent number: 10196988
    Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method may be configured for detecting coking in a gas turbine engine. The system may comprise one or more heatable collecting elements configured to be positioned in a fuel supply passage having an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus heatable collecting may be configured to generate heat at or over a fuel system temperature range to induce coking in at least one of the heatable collecting elements. The apparatus may also include a sensor configured to detect an indication of coking on the heatable collecting elements and, in response to the coking indication, communicate a coking condition signal to an engine control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Farnum, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Ben Moloney, Patrick C. Sweeney