Patents by Inventor Melissa Hughes
Melissa Hughes 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: 11852072Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 28, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Melissa Hughes, Brian R. Bennett, Stanford Clemens, Randal Renback
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Publication number: 20220049648Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Inventors: Melissa Hughes, Brian R. Bennett, Stanford Clemens, Randal Renback
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Patent number: 11143103Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
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Gensets and methods of producing gensets from an engine and generator for hybrid electric propulsion
Patent number: 11008884Abstract: According to one aspect, a genset includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure shaft wherein the gas turbine engine is adapted to provide mechanical power to a propulsion type load. The genset further includes a generator having an input power shaft wherein the generator is adapted to receive mechanical power to develop electric power. The genset further includes an output power shaft having a first end coupled to the low pressure shaft of the gas turbine and a second end coupled to the input power shaft of the generator and a plurality of struts wherein the first ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the gas turbine engine and second ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the generator at locations substantially aligned with a center of gravity of the generator.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Melissa Hughes, Christopher Banham, Brian R Bennett, Jason L Swindle -
Patent number: 10903720Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
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Publication number: 20200325823Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
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Publication number: 20200325821Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicants: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Melissa Hughes, Brian Bennett, Stanford Clemens, Randal Renback
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Publication number: 20200328654Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Kerry Lighty, Melissa Hughes
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Publication number: 20200063593Abstract: An article may include a substrate including a metal or alloy; a bond coat directly on the substrate; an intermediate ceramic layer on the bond coat; and an abradable ceramic layer directly on the intermediate ceramic layer. The intermediate ceramic layer includes a stabilized tetragonal prime phase constitution and defines a first porosity. The abradable ceramic layer includes zirconia or hafnia stabilized in the tetragonal prime phase by a second mixture including between about 5 wt. % and about 10 wt. % ytterbia, between about 0.5 wt. % and about 2.5 wt. % samaria, and between about 1 wt. % and about 4 wt. % of at least one of lutetia, scandia, ceria, neodymia, europia, or gadolinia, and a balance zirconia or hafnia. The abradable ceramic layer defines a second porosity, and the second porosity is higher than the first porosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Ann Bolcavage, Raymond J. Sinatra, Michael Cybulsky, Matthew R. Gold, Melissa Hughes
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Publication number: 20200049026Abstract: According to one aspect, a genset includes a gas turbine engine having a low pressure shaft wherein the gas turbine engine is adapted to provide mechanical power to a propulsion type load. The genset further includes a generator having an input power shaft wherein the generator is adapted to receive mechanical power to develop electric power. The genset further includes an output power shaft having a first end coupled to the low pressure shaft of the gas turbine and a second end coupled to the input power shaft of the generator and a plurality of struts wherein the first ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the gas turbine engine and second ends of the plurality of struts are coupled to the generator at locations substantially aligned with a center of gravity of the generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2018Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Melissa Hughes, Christopher Banham, Brian R. Bennett, Jason L. Swindle