Patents by Inventor Kerry Lighty

Kerry Lighty 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).

  • Patent number: 11486270
    Abstract: A system is presented for directing the flow of cooling fluid in a rotational machine having co-axial rotatable shafts. The system comprises a first shaft rotatable about an axis, a second shaft rotatable about the axis and having a portion axially overlapping with the first shaft, and a fluid catcher. The fluid catcher is coupled between the first shaft and the second shaft. The fluid catcher comprises a first interface region interfacing with the first shaft, a second interface region interfacing with the second shaft, a fluid retention lip at least partly defining an oil capture region; and a body. The body is coupled to the oil retention lip and defines a channel in fluid communication with the oil capture region. The channel is positioned to direct fluid to one of the first interface region or the second interface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Brian Fish
  • Patent number: 11143103
    Abstract: A nose cone and fan assembly are disclosed. The fan assembly comprises a fan rotor and a nose cone retention flange. The fan rotor at least partly defines a fan assembly air flow boundary surface. The nose cone retention flange extends from the fan rotor and comprises a retention flange air flow boundary surface adjacent the fan assembly air flow boundary surface and a nose cone mating surface. The nose cone comprises a nose cone flange having a rotor mating surface. The nose cone is affixed to the nose cone retention flange with the rotor mating surface overlaying the nose cone mating surface of the nose cone retention flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
  • Patent number: 11022174
    Abstract: An oil scavenge system of a rotatable machine having an axis of rotation is disclosed. The oil scavenge system comprises a sump housing, a scavenge conduit, a bearing, and a squeeze film damper. The sump housing is arranged about the axis and at least partly defining a sump. The sump housing has a radially inner surface for directing the flow of oil and defining a collection orifice. The scavenge conduit is in fluid communication with the collection orifice and a downstream location remote from the sump. The bearing is disposed within the sump. The squeeze film damper is positioned proximate the bearing. The squeeze film damper comprises an annular channel and a supply line. The supply line supplies oil to the annular channel. The squeeze film damper further comprises a discharge line. The discharge line is axially aligned with and discharges toward an inner wall of the scavenge conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, David Farnum, Daniel Feinstein, Joseph Swift
  • Patent number: 10903720
    Abstract: A starter generator located within a sump region of a turbofan engine and coupled to an adapter shaft. The adapter shaft rotationally coupled to the high pressure shaft, forward of a high pressure shaft bearing, and secured by a spanner nut. The engine makes use of two pluralities of electrical conductors, the first extends through an electrical conduit defined by a forward strut extending from the sump region to the outward casing, the second extends axially away from the electric starter. Each of the first plurality of electrical conductors makes reversible contact with a respective one of the second plurality of electrical conductors via an elbow/pin connector, producing a tight turn in area of limited space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
  • Publication number: 20200325823
    Abstract: A nose cone and fan assembly are disclosed. The fan assembly comprises a fan rotor and a nose cone retention flange. The fan rotor at least partly defines a fan assembly air flow boundary surface. The nose cone retention flange extends from the fan rotor and comprises a retention flange air flow boundary surface adjacent the fan assembly air flow boundary surface and a nose cone mating surface. The nose cone comprises a nose cone flange having a rotor mating surface. The nose cone is affixed to the nose cone retention flange with the rotor mating surface overlaying the nose cone mating surface of the nose cone retention flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
  • Publication number: 20200328654
    Abstract: A starter generator located within a sump region of a turbofan engine and coupled to an adapter shaft. The adapter shaft rotationally coupled to the high pressure shaft, forward of a high pressure shaft bearing, and secured by a spanner nut. The engine makes use of two pluralities of electrical conductors, the first extends through an electrical conduit defined by a forward strut extending from the sump region to the outward casing, the second extends axially away from the electric starter. Each of the first plurality of electrical conductors makes reversible contact with a respective one of the second plurality of electrical conductors via an elbow/pin connector, producing a tight turn in area of limited space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
  • Publication number: 20200102854
    Abstract: A system is presented for directing the flow of cooling fluid in a rotational machine having co-axial rotatable shafts. The system comprises a first shaft rotatable about an axis, a second shaft rotatable about the axis and having a portion axially overlapping with the first shaft, and a fluid catcher. The fluid catcher is coupled between the first shaft and the second shaft. The fluid catcher comprises a first interface region interfacing with the first shaft, a second interface region interfacing with the second shaft, a fluid retention lip at least partly defining an oil capture region; and a body. The body is coupled to the oil retention lip and defines a channel in fluid communication with the oil capture region. The channel is positioned to direct fluid to one of the first interface region or the second interface region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Brian Fish
  • Publication number: 20200102985
    Abstract: A system and method for directing a fluid in a rotating machine is provided. The system may comprise a shaft, a fluid catching member, and a fluid jet. The fluid catching member may be positioned radially outward of the shaft. The fluid catching member may have a surface and a flange. The surface may extend radially outward from the shaft. The flange may extend radially along a portion of the shaft and way from the surface. The flange may bound, in part, a fluid catchment volume between the flange and a portion of the shaft. The fluid jet may be positioned radially outward of the fluid catching member flange. The fluid jet may be configured to eject a stream of fluid under pressure such that the stream of fluid has low angle of incidence with the surface of the fluid catching member at the first point where the stream contacts the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, David Farnum
  • Publication number: 20200102986
    Abstract: An oil scavenge system of a rotatable machine having an axis of rotation is disclosed. The oil scavenge system comprises a sump housing, a scavenge conduit, a bearing, and a squeeze film damper. The sump housing is arranged about the axis and at least partly defining a sump. The sump housing has a radially inner surface for directing the flow of oil and defining a collection orifice. The scavenge conduit is in fluid communication with the collection orifice and a downstream location remote from the sump. The bearing is disposed within the sump. The squeeze film damper is positioned proximate the bearing. The squeeze film damper comprises an annular channel and a supply line. The supply line supplies oil to the annular channel. The squeeze film damper further comprises a discharge line. The discharge line is axially aligned with and discharges toward an inner wall of the scavenge conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, David Farnum, Daniel Feinstein, Joseph Swift
  • Patent number: 10527098
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for directing oil to a bearing of a rotatable shaft. A system comprises a bearing race, a nozzle, and an oil catcher. The bearing race defines a first radial passage and a second radial passage axially displaced from the first radial passage. The nozzle is arranged to eject a stream of oil under pressure toward the shaft. The oil catcher is positioned between the bearing race and the shaft. The oil catcher comprises an annular catching flange at least partly defining a catchment region. The oil catcher defines a first channel extending from the catchment region to the first radial passage of the bearing race and a second channel extending from the catchment region to the second radial passage of the bearing race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Andrew Schwendenmann, Eric McClellan