Patents by Inventor Michael P Spooner

Michael P Spooner 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: 8365531
    Abstract: A fuel injector head for a gas turbine engine the head comprising a pilot injector and a main injector located radially outwardly of the pilot injector. A concentric separates the pilot injector from the main injector and bounding a duct through which in use a fuel injected by the pilot injector flows. The splitter is hollow to improve cooling and has a radially inner surface which defines a first portion which tapers radially inwardly to a throat and a second portion which tapers radially outwardly from the throat with the angle of the radially outwards taper being such that a flow of air in use over the radially inner surface remains attached over the length of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Michael P Spooner
  • Publication number: 20100050644
    Abstract: A fuel injector head for a gas turbine engine the head comprising a pilot injector and a main injector located radially outwardly of the pilot injector. A concentric separates the pilot injector from the main injector and bounding a duct through which in use a fuel injected by the pilot injector flows. The splitter is hollow to improve cooling and has a radially inner surface which defines a first portion which tapers radially inwardly to a throat and a second portion which tapers radially outwardly from the throat with the angle of the radially outwards taper being such that a flow of air in use over the radially inner surface remains attached over the length of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: rolls-royce PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 7669420
    Abstract: A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine has a swirl slot that supplies fuel to a prefilmer. The swirl slot has an upstream lip and a downstream lip that are arranged eccentrically. The slot is thus provided with an area of high static pressure and an area of low static pressure caused by the flowing over the eccentrically arranged lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 7089742
    Abstract: A wall element (29) for a wall structure (21) of a gas turbine engine combustor (15). The wall element (29) comprises a main member (36) with an upstream edge region (30) and a downstream edge region (31). A plurality of heat removal members (38) are provided on the main member (36). The downstream edge (35) of the wall element and/or the downstream facing surface of the heat removal members closest to the downstream edge (35) are provided with a thermally resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michael P. Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 7000397
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P Spooner
  • Patent number: 6857275
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Publication number: 20040083739
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 6708499
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P Spooner
  • Publication number: 20040045298
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 6666025
    Abstract: A wall element (29) for a wall structure (21) of a gas turbine engine combustor (15). The wall element (29) comprises a main member (36) with an upstream edge region (30) and a downstream edge region (31). A plurality of heat removal members (38) are provided on the main member (36). The downstream edge (35) of the wall element and/or the downstream facing surface of the heat removal members closest to the downstream edge (35) are provided with a thermally resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michael P Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 6470685
    Abstract: A wall structure for a gas turbine combustor arranged to have a general direction of fluid flow therethrough includes inner and outer walls defining a space therebetween. The inner wall is made up of a plurality of tiles having axial edges aligned generally with the direction of fluid flow, a gap being defined between axial edges of adjacent tiles. Orifices are provided within the axial edges to direct leakage air passing through the gaps to give the leakage air a flow component in the general direction of fluid flow through the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P Spooner
  • Publication number: 20020124572
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 6408628
    Abstract: A wall element (29A, 29B) for a combustor (20) of a gas turbine engine (10). The wall element (29A, 29B) defines an axis. In use, the axis is arranged generally parallel to the principal axis of the engine (10). In one aspect, the length of the wall element (29B) along the axis is at least substantially 20% of the length of the wall element (29B) transverse to the axis. In another aspect, the wall element (29A, 29B) has a first pair of opposite edges extending transverse to the axis and a second pair of opposite edges (48, 50) extending transverse to the first pair, at least one of the second pair of edges (48, 50) being angled relative to the axis of the wall element (29A, 29B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 6324830
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly designed to withstand a predetermined impact load resulting from ingestion of a bird or other foreign object into the combustion stage of a gas turbine engine comprises a body member adapted to be mounted adjacent to and to extend into the combustion chamber and an abutment member disposed downstream of the injector assembly in the direction of air flow through the combustion stage, the arrangement being such that the body member moves into contact with the abutment member when subjected to an impact load in excess of the impact load it is designed to withstand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michael P Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Publication number: 20010029738
    Abstract: A wall structure for a gas turbine combustor arranged to have a general direction of fluid flow therethrough includes inner and outer walls defining a space therebetween. The inner wall is made up of a plurality of tiles having axial edges aligned generally with the direction of fluid flow, a gap being defined between axial edges of adjacent tiles. Orifices are provided within the axial edges to direct leakage air passing through the gaps to give the leakage air a flow component in the general direction of fluid flow through the combustor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Publication number: 20010017034
    Abstract: A wall element (29) for a wall structure (21) of a gas turbine engine combustor (15). The wall element (29) comprises a main member (36) with an upstream edge region (30) and a downstream edge region (31). A plurality of heat removal members (38) are provided on the main member (36). The downstream edge (35) of the wall element and/or the downstream facing surface of the heat removal members closest to the downstream edge (35) are provided with a thermally resistant coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Michael P. Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 6170266
    Abstract: A double wall structure for a gas turbine engine has an inner wall comprising a number of tiles. The outer wall is provided with a number of apertures through which air is directed into the space between the two walls. Inclined apertures are provided in the tiles so that cooling air can pass into the combustion chamber and form a cooling film underneath the tile. Each tile is provided with a number of pedestals. The orientation of the inclined apertures is such that the axis of each aperture lies upon an unobstructed channel between the pedestals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P Spooner