Patents by Inventor Ian Tibbott
Ian Tibbott 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: 7648333Abstract: A cooling arrangement 21 for use within a gas turbine engine comprises a first shroud or platform 26 incorporating coolant passages 25 and a second shroud or platform 28. Generally, each platform or shroud 26, 28 will incorporate a pressure portion and a suction portion, with the pressure portion incorporating the coolant passages 25 through which the coolant flow 27 becomes incident on a surface 40 of the suction portion of the second shroud 28. The surface 40 is inclined or tapered towards the passage 25, such that there is limited direct impingement upon a front edge 39 of the surface 40. The coolant flow 27 thereby remains adjacent to the surface 40 for a longer period and so enhances cooling efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Ian Tibbott, Roderick M Townes, Ian W R Harrogate
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Publication number: 20090317258Abstract: Cooling within aerofoils (30, 47, 67, 87) is a requirement in order that the materials from which the aerofoil (30, 47, 67, 87) is created can remain within acceptable operational parameters. Traditionally static pressure as well as enhanced dynamic pressure impingement flows have been utilised but there are problems with regard to achieving a necessary over pressure to avoid hot gas ingestion or reduced cooling effect. It will be appreciated that fluid flows and in particular coolant fluid flows must be used most appropriately in order to maintain operational efficiency. By providing a plurality of feed apertures (41, 61, 81) which are shaped to have an entry portion (51, 71, 91) which is generally elliptical and an exit portion (52, 72, 92) it is possible to grab and turn a proportion of a feed flow (44, 64, 84) for substantially perpendicular or other angular presentation to an opposed surface of a cooling chamber (42, 62, 82) within which cooling is required.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2009Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Ian Tibbott, Roderick M. Townes
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Patent number: 7632062Abstract: A rotor blade tip arrangement is provided in which winglets extend from the end of rotor blade aerofoil walls. These winglets incorporate passages which extend to coolant apertures or holes in order to present a coolant flow about the tip of the turbine rotor blade. The winglets define at least an open ended gutter channel in order to inhibit leakage flow across the tip arrangement from a pressure side P to a suction side S. The coolant flow facilitates cooling of the arrangement despite any heating caused by leakage flow across the arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Neil W Harvey, Ian Tibbott
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Publication number: 20090280011Abstract: With regard to gas turbine engines it will be appreciated that blades are typically cooled in order to ensure that the materials from which the blades are formed remain within acceptable operational parameters. Coolant is judiciously used in order to maintain engine operational efficiency. Unfortunately with regard to rotor blades horseshoe vortices tend to increase heating towards a pressure side of a blade resulting in localised overheating. Such localised overheating may result in premature failure of the blade component. Traditionally coolant flows have been presented over a forward projection of a blade platform. In such circumstances coolant flow will not be used as efficiently as possible with regard to protecting a pressure side of a platform in a blade assembly and arrangement. By provision of a deflector element on the forward blade platform coolant flow can be proportioned either side of a leading edge of the blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventor: Ian Tibbott
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Publication number: 20090263235Abstract: Dampers (56, 76, 96) are utilised with regard to mounting arrangements (50, 70, 90) in gas turbine engines (10) in order to facilitate cooling. It is known to provide slotted upper surface or cottage roof dampers to enhance cooling effect. However, cooling efficiency cannot be optimised and improving cooling effectiveness particularly between the parts of a mounting arrangement can be difficult without detrimental reductions in overall efficiency of a gas turbine engine (10) incorporating such a mounting. By provision of impingement jets (54, 75, 94) which extend through the damper (56, 76, 96) into slots (51, 71, 91) which define an upper surface of the damper (56, 76, 96) improvements in cooling efficiency can be achieved. The slots (51, 71 91) are typically closed to reduce requirements with respect to pressure differentials. However, open ended slots (51, 71, 91) with impingement jets (54, 74, 94) can also be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Ian Tibbott, Caner H. Helvaci
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Patent number: 7600973Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine comprises an aerofoil having a root portion, a tip portion located radially outwardly of the root portion, and leading and trailing edges extending between the root portion and the tip portion. A shroud extends transversely from the tip portion of the aerofoil and the aerofoil defines interior cooling passages which extend between the root portion and the tip portion. The aerofoil includes a wall member adjacent the trailing edge and a support structure extending from the wall member to the shroud to support the shroud. The support structure permits a flow of cooling air from a cooling passage to the trailing edge at a region proximate the tip portion of the aerofoil. Optionally, the aerofoil also includes a flow disrupting arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2006Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Ian Tibbott, Charles F Connolly
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Publication number: 20090214328Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine comprises an aerofoil having a root portion, a tip portion located radially outwardly of the root portion, and leading and trailing edges extending between the root portion and the tip portion. A shroud extends transversely from the tip portion of the aerofoil and the aerofoil defines interior cooling passages which extend between the root portion and the tip portion. The aerofoil includes a wall member adjacent the trailing edge and a support structure extending from the wall member to the shroud to support the shroud. The support structure permits a flow of cooling air from a cooling passage to the trailing edge at a region proximate the tip portion of the aerofoil. Optionally, the aerofoil also includes a flow disrupting arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2006Publication date: August 27, 2009Inventors: Ian Tibbott, Charles F. Connolly
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Publication number: 20090162200Abstract: A rotor blade has a tip with an outer face including at least two channels which each extend to an outlet in the vicinity of the trailing edge. Accordingly, gas leakage around the tip must cross at least three walls, at least in the vicinity of the uncovered turning region near the trailing edge of the blade. Leakage gas entering the channels will tend to create a vortex and pass along the channel to the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2008Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Ian Tibbott, Edwin Dane, Dougal Richard Jackson
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Publication number: 20090081024Abstract: An aerofoil for a gas turbine engine, the aerofoil comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, pressure and suction surfaces and defines therebetween an internal passage for the flow of cooling fluid therethrough. A particle deflector means is disposed within the passage to deflect particles within a cooling fluid flow away from a region of the aerofoil susceptible to particle build up and subsequent blockage, such as a cooling passage for a shroud of a blade.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2006Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventor: Ian Tibbott
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Publication number: 20080273988Abstract: An aerofoil 20 for a gas turbine engine includes a root portion 22, a tip portion 24 located radially outwardly of the root portion 22, leading and trailing edges 26, 28 extending between the root portion 22 and the tip portion 24 and an internal cooling passage 34. The aerofoil 20 includes a plurality of cooling fluid discharge apertures 36 extending between the root portion 22 and the tip portion 24 in a trailing edge region 28a to discharge cooling fluid from the internal cooling passage 34 to an outer surface 31 of the aerofoil in the trailing edge region 28a and thereby provide a cooling film in the trailing edge region 28a. The cooling fluid discharge apertures 36 are arranged so that the flow rate of the cooling fluid discharged from the internal cooling passage 34 to the outer surface trailing edge region 28a varies between the root portion 22 and the tip portion 24.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2007Publication date: November 6, 2008Inventors: Ian Tibbott, Edwin Dane
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Patent number: 7442008Abstract: An internal fluid cooling system for a gas turbine aerofoil comprises a plurality of multi-pass cooling arrangements each of which consists of a serpentine passage in the interior of the aerofoil. The cooling fluid—in particular air—is supplied to an inlet end of each passage and exhausted through a multiplicity of discharge holes to provide tip, leading edge, trailing edge and surface film cooling. The inlet end of a first serpentine passage is positioned close to the leading edge and flows rearwards while the inlet end of the second serpentine passage is positioned close to the trailing edge and flows forwards. These serpentine passages are disposed side-by-side, one adjacent the pressure surface and the other adjacent the suction surface on opposite sides of a main load carrying member which comprises a major part of the internal structure of the aerofoil.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2005Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Michiel Kopmels, Ian Tibbott, Edwin Dane, Timothy M Mitchell
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Publication number: 20080063524Abstract: A component, such as a blade, vane or combustor wall of a gas turbine engine comprises two walls defining a coolant passage and has an array of pedestals extending between the two walls for heat removal. Each pedestal changes in cross-section along its length. Alternate rows of pedestals are arranged such that their larger cross-sectional area is adjacent one wall then the other. When a coolant flows through the passage it is forced to flow between one wall and the other wall so as to increase turbulence and hence mixing for a more even coolant temperature. The array of pedestals can also be used to tailor the individual heat loads on each wall independently and has the ability to use differing levels of blockage to counter adverse pressure gradients along successive rows of pedestals.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventor: Ian Tibbott
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Publication number: 20070253815Abstract: An internal fluid cooling system for a gas turbine aerofoil (2) comprises a plurality of multi-pass cooling arrangements each of which consists of a serpentine passage (50,52,54 & 48,56,58) in the interior of the aerofoil (2). The cooling fluid—in particular air—is supplied to an inlet end (22,24) of each passage (50,52,54 & 48,56,58) and exhausted through a multiplicity of discharge holes (60,62,64,68) to provide tip, leading edge, trailing edge and surface film cooling. The inlet end (22) of a first serpentine passage (50,52,54) is positioned close to the leading edge (26) and flows rearwards while the inlet end (24) of the second serpentine passage (48,56,58) is positioned close to the trailing edge (28) and flows forwards.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2005Publication date: November 1, 2007Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Michiel Kopmels, Ian Tibbott, Edwin Dane, Mark Mitchell
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Publication number: 20070110580Abstract: Cooling with regard to high-pressure turbine platforms is important in order to maintain gas turbine engine efficiency. Cottage Roof dampers located below junction gaps between adjacent platforms have been used but tend to present spent coolant flow at a high angle relative to hot gas flows about the aerofoil blades. The present arrangement has the junction gap angled such that the emergent coolant flow remains adjacent to the suction side to create a coolant film lingering above that suction side of the platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2006Publication date: May 17, 2007Inventors: Ian Tibbott, Edwin Dane
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Publication number: 20070031241Abstract: A cooling arrangement 21 for use within a gas turbine engine comprises a first shroud or platform 26 incorporating coolant passages 25 and a second shroud or platform 28. Generally, each platform or shroud 26, 28 will incorporate a pressure portion and a suction portion, with the pressure portion incorporating the coolant passages 25 through which the coolant flow 27 becomes incident on a surface 40 of the suction portion of the second shroud 28. The surface 40 is inclined or tapered towards the passage 25, such that there is limited direct impingement upon a front edge 39 of the surface 40. The coolant flow 27 thereby remains adjacent to the surface 40 for a longer period and so enhances cooling efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Inventors: Ian Tibbott, Roderick Townes, Ian Harrogate
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Patent number: 7037075Abstract: Turbine blades used in jet engines generally require cooling in order to achieve desired engine performance. Cooling of blade tip areas is difficult due to the limited space available such that thickening tip areas in order to allow passages and holes to be incorporated adds to weight and therefore stressing along with causing additional manufacturing costs. The present cooling arrangement includes coolant release passages 5 which present coolant flow to coolant entrainment elements or fins 2 such that the coolant flow is entrained close to the blade tip surface 12. Thus, turbulent air flow caused by adjacent shrouds and edges are inhibited from diluting the coolant flow and therefore reducing thermal efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2003Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventors: Roderick M Townes, Ian Tibbott
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Patent number: 7021898Abstract: A damper seal 7, 21, 31 is provided in order to act within a mounting platform structure 3 for turbine blades 1, 2. The damper seal 7, 21, 31 includes an entrant surface 8, 28, 38 incorporating a number of paths 22, 32 to enable coolant flow across the entrant surface 8, 28, 38. The damper seal 7, 21, 31 acts to plug an aperture 9 in the structure 3 between adjacent blades 1, 2 and damper detrimental vibrations in the structure 3 which could damage the blades 1, 2. Thus, whilst contact portions 23, 33 are in vibrational coupling contact with the aperture 9, coolant airflow through the paths 22, 32 enables cooling of the seal 7, 21, 31 and areas of the structure 3 about the aperture 9.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Robert Elliott, Ian Tibbott
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Publication number: 20050232771Abstract: A rotor blade tip arrangement is provided in which winglets extend from end of rotor blade aerofoil walls. These winglets incorporate passages which extend to coolant apertures or holes in order to present a coolant flow about the tip of the turbine rotor blade. The winglets define at least an open ended gutter channel in order to inhibit leakage flow across the tip arrangement from a pressure side P to a suction side S. The coolant flow facilitates cooling of the arrangement despite any heating caused by leakage flow across the arrangement. The presented coolant flow may also by impingement cool an adjacent casing segment of an assembly or within a turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2005Publication date: October 20, 2005Inventors: Neil Harvey, Ian Tibbott
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Publication number: 20040165983Abstract: A damper seal 7, 21, 31 is provided in order to act within a mounting platform structure 3 for turbine blades 1, 2. The damper seal 7, 21, 31 includes an entrant surface 8, 28, 38 incorporating a number of paths 22, 32 to enable coolant flow across the entrant surface 8, 28, 38. The damper seal 7, 21, 31 acts to plug an aperture 9 in the structure 3 between adjacent blades 1, 2 and damper detrimental vibrations in the structure 3 which could damage the blades 1, 2. Thus, whilst contact portions 23, 33 are in vibrational coupling contact with the aperture 9, coolant airflow through the paths 22, 32 enables cooling of the seal 7, 21, 31 and areas of the structure 3 about the aperture 9.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2004Publication date: August 26, 2004Applicant: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Robert Elliott, Ian Tibbott
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Publication number: 20040109754Abstract: Turbine blades used in jet engines generally require cooling in order to achieve desired engine performance. Cooling of blade tip areas is difficult due to the limited space available such that thickening tip areas in order to allow passages and holes to be incorporated adds to weight and therefore stressing along with causing additional manufacturing costs. The present cooling arrangement includes coolant release passages 5 which present coolant flow to coolant entrainment elements or fins 2 such that the coolant flow is entrained close to the blade tip surface 12. Thus, turbulent air flow caused by adjacent shrouds and edges are inhibited from diluting the coolant flow and therefore reducing thermal efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Roderick M. Townes, Ian Tibbott