Patents Assigned to Roll-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
  • Aircraft with electric propulsor
    Patent number: 11338926
    Abstract: A propulsor includes an electric motor, a fan unit, and a thrust system positioned downstream of and coupled to the fan unit. The electric motor converts electrical power to mechanical rotation to rotationally drive the fan unit and create an air stream directed towards the thrust control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Dierksmeier
  • Pressure equalization in a dual flow path exhaust of a hypersonic propulsion system
    Patent number: 11339744
    Abstract: A dual flow path exhaust assembly for use with a combined turbofan and ramjet engine includes a turbofan engine exhaust duct, a ramjet engine exhaust duct, a combined outlet, and door configured to move between an open position and a closed position to selectively isolate the turbofan engine exhaust duct from the combined outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Pesyna, Todd S. Taylor, Nicholas Metzger, Timothy Roesler
  • Blade retainer for gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11339674
    Abstract: A blade retainer adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is configured to block axial movement of a blade. The blade retainer includes a first brace, a second brace, and a web that extends between the first brace and the second brace. The blade retainer is configured to block axial movement of a root of the blade out of a blade receiver slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Bailey
  • ELECTROMAGNETIC CARBON SEAL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20220154649
    Abstract: A seal system may include a static housing, a carbon seal positioned in the static housing, a runner having a sealing surface aligned with the carbon seal, a number of electromagnets positioned in the static housing, and a controller circuitry. The controller circuitry may control a variable flow of electric current to control an electromagnetic field respectively generated by each of the electromagnets. The controller circuitry may variably apply the electromagnetic field to move at least one of the carbon seal or the runner and correspondingly adjust an applied force loading of an interface of the carbon seal and the sealing surface of the runner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Unton
  • REFRIGERATION OR TWO PHASE PUMP LOOP COOLING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20220154980
    Abstract: A cooling system comprising a cooling circuit connecting a heat exchanger and a heat load. The cooling system comprising a first velocity fuse upstream of the heat exchanger or heat load and a second velocity fuse or valve downstream of the heat exchanger or heat load. The heat exchanger or heat load is dynamically isolated from the rest of the cooling system by the first velocity fuse or the second velocity fuse in response to a velocity of a flow of cooling fluid exceeding a respective velocity setting of the first velocity fuse or the second velocity fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Unton
  • System and method of transferring power in a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11333080
    Abstract: A method of extracting work from a convertible gas turbine engine having a core flowpath and a bypass flowpath. The method comprises operating the convertible gas turbine engine at a first volumetric flow rate through the core flowpath and a second volumetric flow rate through the bypass flowpath to produce a first work output of the convertible gas turbine engine; extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a first fan to shaft extraction ratio; altering the second volumetric flowrate through the bypass flowpath while maintaining the first work output; and extracting the first work output via an unshrouded fan and a shaft at a second fan to shaft extraction ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. McNeil, John Kusnierek
  • THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH DUAL-USE SERIAL THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE FOR SYSTEM SIZE REDUCTION
    Publication number: 20220151102
    Abstract: Thermal management systems for cooling high-power, low-duty-cycle thermal loads by rejecting heat from the thermal loads to the ambient environment are provided. The thermal management systems include a two-phase pump loop in fluid communication with a vapor compression system loop, evaporators disposed in parallel between the two-phase pump loop and the vapor compression system loop, and a thermal energy storage loop including a cold-temperature tank and a warm-temperature tank thermally coupled to the two-phase pump loop and the vapor-compression system loop. Methods of transferring heat from one or more thermal loads to an ambient environment are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Snyder
  • Turbine shroud assembly with pinned attachment supplements for ceramic matrix composite component mounting
    Patent number: 11326474
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine shroud assembly with a carrier and a plurality of turbine shroud segments. Each turbine shroud segment includes a blade track segment and a mount assembly. The carrier is arranged to extend circumferentially at least partway around an axis. The blade track segment includes a shroud wall and a mount post that extends radially away from the shroud wall. The mount assembly is configured to couple the blade track segment with the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Thomas Nixon, Jay Lane, Aaron D. Sippel, Robert F. Proctor
  • Exhaust nozzle having a compliant shell for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11326551
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle for use with a gas turbine engine includes an outer shroud, an inner plug spaced radially apart from the outer shroud, and at least one support vane that is coupled to the outer shroud. The outer shroud and the inner plug cooperate to provide an exhaust nozzle flow path therebetween. The at least one support vane interconnects the outer shroud and the inner plug to support the inner plug in the exhaust nozzle flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Sutterfield, Jack D. Petty, Bryan H. Lerg, Andrew Sanderson
  • Gas turbine engine vane end devices
    Patent number: 11326464
    Abstract: A turbomachinery component of a gas turbine engine is disclosed having a number of techniques of reducing the effects of a gap flow between an airfoil member of the gas turbine engine and a wall of the gas turbine engine. The airfoil member can be variable and in one form is a variable turbine vane. In one embodiment a brush seal is included between the vane and the wall. In another form a wear surface is disposed between the vane and the wall. In yet another form a moveable member capable of being actuated to change position can be disposed between the vane and the wall to alter the size of a gap between the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Linnea Taketa, John Munson, Ted J. Freeman
  • Hybrid vane segment with ceramic matrix composite airfoils
    Patent number: 11319822
    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: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Jay E. Lane, Michael J. Whittle, Anthony Razzell
  • Single movement convergent and convergent-divergent nozzle
    Patent number: 11319832
    Abstract: A variable exhaust nozzle for use with a gas turbine engine includes an outer shroud and an inner plug that can move relative to the outer shroud. The relative movement of the inner plug and the outer shroud changes the shape of the variable exhaust nozzle from one that converges in area to one that converges and then diverges in area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Sanderson, David L. Sutterfield, Bryan H. Lerg
  • Electrical controller for engine-driven electric machine
    Patent number: 11319880
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a system that includes an engine having a shaft that rotates around an axis of rotation, an engine controller configured to control the engine, an electric machine mechanically coupled to the shaft of the engine, and an electrical controller. The engine controller is configured to control the engine using control techniques configured for a mechanical device having a target moment of inertia around the axis of rotation. The electric machine has an actual moment of inertia around the axis of rotation that is different from the target moment of inertia. To supplement control of the engine due to the difference in moments of inertia, the electrical controller is configured to receive a rotational speed of the shaft, determine a torque for the shaft based on the speed of the shaft, and control the electric machine to apply the torque to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Russell Trawick
  • Exhaust nozzle with centerbody support structure for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11313320
    Abstract: An exhaust nozzle for use with a gas turbine engine includes an outer shroud, an inner plug spaced radially apart from the outer shroud, and at least one support vane that is coupled to the outer shroud. The outer shroud and the inner plug cooperate to provide an exhaust nozzle flow path therebetween. The at least one support vane interconnects the outer shroud and the inner plug to support the inner plug in the exhaust nozzle flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Sutterfield, Jack D. Petty, Bryan H. Lerg, Andrew Sanderson
  • Non-continuous abradable coatings
    Patent number: 11313243
    Abstract: In some examples, a component includes a substrate and a non-continuous abradable coating on the substrate. The abradable coating includes a first portion defining a first plurality of coating blocks, a second portion defining a second plurality of coating blocks, and a blade rub portion extending between the first portion and the second portion and defining a third plurality of coating blocks. At least one of the first plurality of coating blocks or the second plurality of coating blocks is different than the third plurality of coating blocks in at least one coating block parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Shi, Matthew R. Gold
  • Shock absorption bracket
    Patent number: 11313434
    Abstract: In some examples, a shock absorption bracket includes one or more damping pads coupled to a facing surface of an absorption leg. The absorption leg is attached to a support leg and defines an internal corner with the support leg. The support leg is configured to attach to an equipment cabinet. The shock absorption bracket may be configured to define a gap between the damping pads and one or more support surfaces of the equipment cabinet. The shock absorption bracket may be configured to attach to a rear section of an equipment cabinet having an equipment access in a front section of the equipment cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Schubert, Taylor Bruner, Sean Guitar, Donald Robert Flagin
  • Frequency encryption for communication signals
    Patent number: 11310043
    Abstract: A receiver in a communication system may include a buffer and hardware. The buffer may be configured to store a communication signal comprising one or more pulses representative of data. The hardware may be configured to determine whether a data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses, and authenticate, based on the determination of whether the data authentication pulse has been superimposed over at least one of the one or more pulses, the one or more pulses as a valid representation of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Costello, Richard Joseph Skertic, Wayne Thomas Padgett, Sr.
  • Method and process of cyber security via software imaging
    Patent number: 11301349
    Abstract: Control systems and methods for securing software images to be executed by the control system. In some examples the control system includes a control node, a concentrator node, and a security module. The security module may include a secured memory area that can hold software images. The security module may load a first executable image from the secured memory area to the control node. The security module may also load a second executable image from the secured memory area to the concentrator node. In some examples, rather than having a security module load the software images, the control node and concentrator node each include a secured area of memory where their respective software images reside. Each of the control node and concentrator node may load the software images from their respective secured areas of memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John Joseph Costello, Richard Joseph Skertic
  • Inlet guide vane draw heat exchanger system
    Patent number: 11300049
    Abstract: A system includes a housing for a gas turbine engine, and a fan disposed in the housing to rotate coaxially with a gas turbine included in the housing. The system also includes an inlet guide vane disposed in the housing in axial alignment with the fan and configured to have an open position where a first flow of air is received by the fan through the inlet guide vane, and a closed position where airflow through the inlet guide vane is obstructed. The system further includes a heat exchanger disposed in a supply passage in fluid communication with a second flow of air received by the fan. The second flow of air is received by the fan via the supply passage with the inlet guide vane in the open position or in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Douglas Boyd, Douglas J. Snyder, Graham Burkholder, William Barry Bryan
  • SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING INTERMITTENT FAST TRANSIENT HEAT LOADS
    Publication number: 20220099340
    Abstract: A heat transfer system for controlling two or more heat loads, including a high transient heat load, is provided. The heat transfer system may include sensible-heat thermal energy storage. A method of transferring heat from two or more heat loads to an ambient environment is further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Unton, Eric Sean Donovan