Patents by Inventor Tom J. Roberts

Tom J. Roberts 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: 10612458
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS LTD.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Patent number: 10167774
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Publication number: 20180291802
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Patent number: 9404383
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis; an annular inlet passage defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members, at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates, a first plate defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS TURBO TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd
  • Publication number: 20160061103
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Patent number: 9234525
    Abstract: A compressor wheel for a turbocharger comprising a central hub and a plurality of impeller blades extending outwardly from the hub. Each of the blades defines a leading edge, a trailing edge and a root portion which connects the blade to the hub. At least one of the blades has a surface provided with a variable thickness surface layer of a ceramic material. The leading edge of the blade is provided with a thicker surface layer of the ceramic material than the trailing edge of the blade, the root portion of the blade, or both the trailing edge and root portion of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Michael Voong, Tom J. Roberts, Katie Rhodes, Luke Hankin
  • Patent number: 9234456
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Publication number: 20140248138
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis; an annular inlet passage defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members, at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates, a first plate defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd
  • Patent number: 8764388
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel (5) in a housing (1) for rotation about a turbine axis, an annular inlet passage (9) defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members (11, 12), at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes (14) extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots (28) defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates (29, 30), a first plate (29) defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate (30) so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Tom J Roberts, Robert L Holroyd
  • Patent number: 8747057
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; the annular inlet divided into axially adjacent annular portions by at least one annular baffle which is axially spaced from the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet formations extending axially across at least two of said annular portions defined by the or each baffle so as to divide said annular inlet into at least two axially offset inlet passages; the baffle(s) and inlet formations forming part of a nozzle assembly located within said annular inlet; wherein first and second components of the nozzle assembly define complementary features which co-operate to connect together said first and second components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20140133969
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis; an annular inlet passage defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members, at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates, a first plate defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd
  • Patent number: 8721268
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; and a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; wherein the annular inlet is divided into at least three axially offset annular inlet portions by two or more axially spaced annular baffles disposed between the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet vanes extending axially into at least one of the inlet portions and defining circumferentially adjacent inlet passages; and wherein each of at least two of said baffles extends radially inboard of inlet vanes which extend into at least one of the inlet portions axially adjacent the respective baffle, and wherein a distance between an inner diameter of a first baffle of said at least two of said baffles and a trailing edge of a radially innermost vane in one of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Moore, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, James Alexander McEwen
  • Publication number: 20140105730
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; and a guide for guiding the movement of the cylindrical sleeve, the guide being at least partially located within the inlet at a radially extent of the inlet portions, and extending in an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Tim Denholm, James Alexander McEwen, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, Christopher Nomington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Edward Garrett
  • Patent number: 8696308
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; and a guide for guiding the movement of the cylindrical sleeve, the guide being at least partially located within the inlet at a radially extent of the inlet portions, and extending in an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Tim Denholm, James Alexander McEwen, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Edward Garrett
  • Publication number: 20130315718
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: John F. Parker, Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts, James Alexander McEwen, Tim Denholm, Simon Moore, Michael Voong, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Garrett
  • Publication number: 20110229338
    Abstract: A compressor wheel for a turbocharger comprising a central hub and a plurality of impeller blades extending outwardly from the hub. Each of the blades defines a leading edge, a trailing edge and a root portion which connects the blade to the hub. At least one of the blades has a surface provided with a variable thickness surface layer of a ceramic material. The leading edge of the blade is provided with a thicker surface layer of the ceramic material than the trailing edge of the blade, the root portion of the blade, or both the trailing edge and root portion of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Voong, Tom J. Roberts, Katie Rhodes, Luke Hankin
  • Publication number: 20110194929
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; and a guide for guiding the movement of the cylindrical sleeve, the guide being at least partially located within the inlet at a radially extent of the inlet portions, and extending in an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Tim Denholm, James Alexander McEwen, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, Christopher Normington, Arun Vijayakumar, Stephen Edward Garrett
  • Publication number: 20110123316
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel (5) in a housing (1) for rotation about a turbine axis, —an annular inlet passage (9) defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members (11, 12), at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes (14) extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots (28) defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates (29, 30), a first plate (29) defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate (30) so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd
  • Publication number: 20110110766
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; and a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; wherein the annular inlet is divided into at least three axially offset annular inlet portions by two or more axially spaced annular baffles disposed between the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet vanes extending axially into at least one of the inlet portions and defining circumferentially adjacent inlet passages; and wherein each of at least two of said baffles extends radially inboard of inlet vanes which extend into at least one of the inlet portions axially adjacent the respective baffle, and wherein a distance between an inner diameter of a first baffle of said at least two of said baffles and a trailing edge of a radially innermost vane in one of
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Simon Moore, Tom J. Roberts, Robert L. Holroyd, James Alexander McEwen
  • Publication number: 20110103938
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; the annular inlet divided into axially adjacent annular portions by at least one annular baffle which is axially spaced from the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet formations extending axially across at least two of said annular portions defined by the or each baffle so as to divide said annular inlet into at least two axially offset inlet passages; the baffle(s) and inlet formations forming part of a nozzle assembly located within said annular inlet; wherein first and second components of the nozzle assembly define complementary features which co-operate to connect together said first and second components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Robert L. Holroyd, Tom J. Roberts