Patents by Inventor Paul O'Meallie

Paul O'Meallie 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: 11746701
    Abstract: An example thermal management system may include a first heat exchanger including a bleed air inlet configured to receive input bleed air from a gas turbine engine and a bleed air outlet configured to output cooled bleed air. A turbine including a turbine inlet may be fluidically coupled to the bleed air outlet. The turbine may be configured to drive a shaft mechanically coupled to the turbine in response to expansion of the cooled bleed air through the turbine. A second heat exchanger may include an expanded bleed air inlet fluidically coupled to a turbine outlet of the turbine. The second heat exchanger may be configured to extract heat from at least one heat source using the expanded bleed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul O'Meallie, Douglas J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11702976
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a flow restrictor, an inertial separator, and a pressure relief valve cooperating to effect diversion of vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan, Alan W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20220205362
    Abstract: A rotor assembly adapted for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a wheel, and a retaining nut. The shaft extends along an axis and includes a first tapered surface. The wheel is arranged circumferentially around the shaft and includes a second tapered surface. The retaining nut is fastened to the shaft and applies an axial force to the wheel to couple the wheel with the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Brian R. Bennett, Matthew Jordan
  • Patent number: 11365630
    Abstract: A rotor assembly adapted for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a wheel, and a retaining nut. The shaft extends along an axis and includes a first tapered surface. The wheel is arranged circumferentially around the shaft and includes a second tapered surface. The retaining nut is fastened to the shaft and applies an axial force to the wheel to couple the wheel with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Brian R. Bennett, Matthew Jordan
  • Patent number: 11365909
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a vapor/liquid separation feature configured to separate vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop also includes a pressure sensor configured to detect an increase in pressure in the first cooling loop that may result from a leak of second coolant into the first cooling loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan
  • Patent number: 11365682
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a bearing, and an annular sump cover. The shaft is arranged along an axis and configured to rotate about the axis. The bearing is coupled to the shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft about the axis. The annular sump cover is fixed relative to the axis and is configured to allow a lubrication fluid and a buffer air into an air chamber formed between the shaft, the bearing, and the annular sump cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie
  • Patent number: 11346284
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bypass duct, a compressor, and a pyrotechnic gas conduit. The bypass duct conducts bypass air between an outer bypass wall and an inner bypass wall. The compressor includes an impeller to compress engine air. The pyrotechnic gas conduit is configured to conduct a gas onto the impeller to start the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Jordan, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie
  • Patent number: 11273925
    Abstract: A method for cooling a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system comprises transporting a coolant through a two-phase pumped loop (TPPL) in thermal contact with an electrical machine and a plurality of power modules to be cooled, where the TPPL includes: a parallel arrangement of cold plates; an evaporator; a condenser; a first control valve; a liquid receiver; and a pump. A sensor positioned upstream of the cold plates, and in some cases upstream of the liquid receiver, measures pressure and/or temperature of a return stream of the coolant and transmits measurement data to a first controller electrically connected to the first control valve. The first controller regulates flow of a first liquid stream through the first control valve based on the pressure and/or temperature measured by the sensor, thereby keeping the return stream at a temperature within a predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Paul O'Meallie, Daniel G. Edwards, Douglas J. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20210389028
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a vapor/liquid separation feature configured to separate vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop also includes a pressure sensor configured to detect an increase in pressure in the first cooling loop that may result from a leak of second coolant into the first cooling loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan
  • Patent number: 11193855
    Abstract: An example method includes obtaining a representation of a change in rotational speed of an electric machine; obtaining a representation of an expected change in rotational speed of the electric machine; and determining, based on the obtained representation of the change in rotational speed of the electric machine and the representation of an expected change in rotational speed of the electric machine, whether a disconnect device has failed, wherein, when operating in an engaged state, the disconnect device is configured to couple rotational mechanical energy between the electric machine and a rotating device, and wherein, when operating in a disengaged state, the disconnect device is not configured to couple rotational mechanical energy between the electric machine and the rotating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul O'Meallie, Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 11130582
    Abstract: Systems and methods of heat management of turbine engines including turbofans, turboprops and turboshafts and fan driven propulsion systems. The propulsion system may comprise a fan, nacelle, an electrical or mechanical heat source and a cooling system consisting of heat exchangers in the fan duct and on the nacelle and coolant pumps. The heat source can be a motor or a generator or turbine machinery or accessories rotationally coupled to rotating shafts. The heat management system transfers heat to the air in the fan flow path to provide additional fan thrust. The heat management system also transfers heat to structural members in the gas flow path that require anti-icing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Alan Smith, Paul O'Meallie
  • Publication number: 20210293174
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a flow restrictor, an inertial separator, and a pressure relief valve cooperating to effect diversion of vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan, Alan W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20210102869
    Abstract: An example method includes obtaining a representation of a change in rotational speed of an electric machine; obtaining a representation of an expected change in rotational speed of the electric machine; and determining, based on the obtained representation of the change in rotational speed of the electric machine and the representation of an expected change in rotational speed of the electric machine, whether a disconnect device has failed, wherein, when operating in an engaged state, the disconnect device is configured to couple rotational mechanical energy between the electric machine and a rotating device, and wherein, when operating in a disengaged state, the disconnect device is not configured to couple rotational mechanical energy between the electric machine and the rotating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Paul O'Meallie, Alan W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200355121
    Abstract: An example thermal management system may include a first heat exchanger including a bleed air inlet configured to receive input bleed air from a gas turbine engine and a bleed air outlet configured to output cooled bleed air. A turbine including a turbine inlet may be fluidically coupled to the bleed air outlet. The turbine may be configured to drive a shaft mechanically coupled to the turbine in response to expansion of the cooled bleed air through the turbine. A second heat exchanger may include an expanded bleed air inlet fluidically coupled to a turbine outlet of the turbine. The second heat exchanger may be configured to extract heat from at least one heat source using the expanded bleed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Paul O'Meallie, Douglas J. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20200039654
    Abstract: Systems and methods of heat management of turbine engines including turbofans, turboprops and turboshafts and fan driven propulsion systems. The propulsion system may comprise a fan, nacelle, an electrical or mechanical heat source and a cooling system consisting of heat exchangers in the fan duct and on the nacelle and coolant pumps. The heat source can be a motor or a generator or turbine machinery or accessories rotationally coupled to rotating shafts. The heat management system transfers heat to the air in the fan flow path to provide additional fan thrust. The heat management system also transfers heat to structural members in the gas flow path that require anti-icing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Smith, Paul O'Meallie