Patents by Inventor Michael J. WHITTLE

Michael J. WHITTLE 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: 11193393
    Abstract: A turbine assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine with a turbine vane comprising ceramic matrix composite materials. The turbine vane is configured to redirect air moving through a primary gas path of the gas turbine engine. The turbine assembly includes a vane-stage support for holding the turbine vane in place relative to a turbine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Anthony G. Razzell, Roderick M. Townes, David J. Shepherd, Duncan Forbes
  • Publication number: 20210355835
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a turbine outer case, a blade track segment, and a carrier. The turbine outer case is arranged circumferentially around an axis. The blade track segment includes an arcuate runner that extends circumferentially partway around the axis to define a gas path boundary of the turbine shroud assembly and an attachment feature that extends radially outward from the runner. The carrier is configured to couple the blade track segment to the turbine outer case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, Alexandra Baucco, Anthony Razzell, Michael J. Whittle, Jeffrey Crutchfield
  • Publication number: 20210354253
    Abstract: A method comprises inspecting a ceramic matrix composite component assembled in a gas turbine engine to determine an extent of damage to the ceramic matrix composite component, determining a repair technique to repair the damage to the ceramic matrix composite component based on the extent of damage to the ceramic matrix composite component, and repairing the ceramic matrix composite component using the repair technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Stephen Harris, Keith Sadler, Matthew D. Thomason, Andrew Norton, James Kell
  • Patent number: 11174742
    Abstract: A turbine section for use in gas turbine engine includes a turbine case, turbine shroud rings, a turbine vane assembly, and a vane mount ring. The vane mount ring couples the turbine vane assembly to the turbine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters
  • Publication number: 20210348516
    Abstract: A vane assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a plurality of airfoils. The outer wall and the inner wall extend at least partway about an axis. At least one of the airfoils is coupled with the outer end wall and the inner end wall to transmit force loads through the vane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Jay E. Lane, Michael J. Whittle, Anthony Razzell
  • Patent number: 11162372
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to turbine vanes comprising ceramic matrix composite materials and vane ring assemblies including the same and adapted for use in gas turbine engines. The turbine vanes each include a platform that defines a gas path of the gas turbine engine and an airfoil that extends away from the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Ted J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11149559
    Abstract: A turbine assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The turbine assembly includes a turbine vane comprising ceramic matrix composite materials configured for use in high temperature environments. The turbine assembly further includes a vane-stage support for holding the turbine vane and other components in place relative to a turbine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Anthony G. Razzell, Roderick M. Townes, David J. Shepherd, Duncan Forbes
  • Patent number: 11149561
    Abstract: Systems and methods of forming a ceramic matrix composite vane with profiled endwalls are provided using a multi-piece tooling. The multi-piece tooling includes core tools as well as profiled endwall tools having three dimensional contours formed in the tools that correspond to the three dimensional shape to be formed on the vane endwalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Andrew T. Holt, Guillaume Lambertin
  • Patent number: 11149560
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a vane that includes an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil. The outer platform defines an outer boundary of a gas path. The inner platform is spaced apart axially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends axially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters, Ted J. Freeman, Eric Koenig, Jeff Crutchfield, Jeffrey A. Walston, David J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11149553
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for use in a turbine of a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil that extends radially relative to an axis. The airfoil includes an inner surface that defines a cooling cavity that extends radially into the airfoil and an outer surface that defines a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, and a section side of the airfoil. The airfoil assembly further includes features for increasing the heat transfer coefficient of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Ian M. Edmonds
  • Patent number: 11149567
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a roller joint formed between a ceramic airfoil portion and a carrier allowing sliding (rolling) radial movement therebetween to accommodate thermal growth disparity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel Kent Vetters, Eric Koenig
  • Patent number: 11149581
    Abstract: A component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a component body, and a damage-indicative coating. The damage-indicative coating is configured to change from an intact state in which the damage-indicative coating has a first appearance to a damaged state in which the damage-indicative coating has a second appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Anthony G. Razzell, Stephen I. Harris
  • Patent number: 11149568
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a support strut and a vane. The support strut is made of metallic materials. The vane is made of composite materials and is arranged around the support strut to insulate the metallic materials of the support strut during use of the turbine vane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Michael G. Abbott, Austin R. Warmuth
  • Publication number: 20210310408
    Abstract: A highly efficient gas turbine engine includes the fan of the gas turbine engine driven from a turbine via a gearbox, such that the fan has a lower rotational speed than the driving turbine, thereby providing efficiency gains. The efficient fan system is mated to a core that has low cooling flow requirements and/or high temperature capability, and which may have particularly low mass for a given power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Pascal DUNNING, Michael J. WHITTLE, Roderick M. TOWNES
  • Publication number: 20210301737
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes an engine component comprising ceramic matrix composite materials, at least one control system configured to control at least a temperature of the engine component, and a controller. The controller includes a degradation map stored therein. The degradation map includes degradation fields, each field defined by a unique range of temperatures and stresses of the component and correlated to different types of degradation of the component. The controller is configured to determine a first temperature and stress of the component and a first field based on the first temperature and stress, determine a second field different from the first and a second temperature and stress that would locate the component in the second field, and instruct the control system to change the temperature of the component from the first to the second temperature to locate the component in the second field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Ian M. Edmonds, Stephen Harris
  • Patent number: 11111796
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a turbine outer case, a blade track segment, and a carrier assembly. The turbine outer case is arranged around an axis. The blade track segment is configured to define a portion of a gas path of the gas turbine engine. The carrier assembly is coupled to the turbine outer case and supports the blade track segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, Alexandra Baucco, Anthony Razzell, Michael J. Whittle, Jeffrey Crutchfield
  • Publication number: 20210254485
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to turbine vane assemblies comprising ceramic matrix composite materials. The turbine vane assemblies further including reinforcements that strengthen joints in the turbine vane assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters, Jeffrey A. Walston, Eric Koenig
  • Patent number: 11078802
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes a first component, a second component, and a seal. The first component is spaced apart from the second component to form a gap between the first component and the second component. The seal is configured to block gases from flowing in the gap between the first component and the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: Anthony G. Razzell, Michael J. Whittle, Steven Hillier
  • Publication number: 20210231022
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a shroud ring, a vane ring, and a secondary flow assembly. The shroud ring extends around an associated turbine wheel and includes a carrier segment and a blade track segment comprising ceramic matrix composite materials. The blade track segment and the carrier segment defining a shroud cavity radially therebetween. The vane ring includes a heat shield comprising ceramic matrix composite materials that forms an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil defining a heat shield cavity radially through the heat shield. The secondary flow assembly includes a recirculating flow circuit having a discharge tube and a vane pressurizing tube; and the secondary flow assembly is configured to cool the blade track segment. The flow circuit is further configured to pressurize the heat shield cavity thereby providing a seal against the gases from the primary gas path entering the heat shield cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Keith Sadler, Matthew D. Thomason, Andrew Holt
  • Publication number: 20210231024
    Abstract: A turbine section of a gas turbine engine includes a vane assembly that redirects hot gases in the turbine section, a turbine shroud that extends around a turbine wheel to keep the hot gases from avoiding interaction with the turbine wheel, and a heat shield that provides parts of the vane assembly and the turbine shroud. The heat shield comprises ceramic matrix composite materials and is formed as a one piece component. The heat shield includes a vane portion that protects other vane assembly parts, a seal segment portion that protects other turbine shroud parts, and a forward turn-up and an aft turn-up. The forward turn-up and the aft turn-up couple the heat shield to other parts of the turbine section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Michael J. Abbott