Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11692446
    Abstract: A method for forming a component for a gas turbine engine may include forming a first portion of the component that includes a cast metal or metal alloy, forming a second portion of the component that includes presintered preform defining at least one support structure, positioning the second portion on the first portion to define an assembly such that the first portion and the second portion define at least one cooling channel therebetween, and heating the assembly to join the first portion and the second portion and form the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew T. Kush, Michael Wood, Scott Nelson, Joseph Peter Henderkott
  • Publication number: 20230203970
    Abstract: A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. One of the first cooling fluid that has been heated by the second heat exchanger or a second cooling fluid different than the first cooling fluid can pass through the first heat exchanger and thereby heat upstream first cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Charles JANSEN, Jeffrey Wen-Yu CHEN
  • Patent number: 11686202
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a rotor extending circumferentially about a central axis. The rotor includes a ring that extends around the central axis and a mount that extends axially away from the ring. The ring includes an axially facing engagement surface. A blade extends radially outward from the ring of the rotor. A damper is coupled with the mount of the rotor and engaged with the engagement surface to minimize vibrations of the rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230193781
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a nozzle guide vane endwall. The nozzle guide vane endwall includes a first wall and a second wall. The first wall includes a first opening that extends completely through the first wall into a primary flow path of a high-pressure turbine. The second wall includes a second opening that extends completely through the second wall into an inner passageway of the nozzle guide vane endwall. The inner passageway is configured to direct a cooling fluid to the first opening and/or the second opening. The first and second opening are configured to receive a plug or a probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Moody, Kevin P. Holley
  • Publication number: 20230193768
    Abstract: A gas turbine nozzle guide vane structure includes a vane shaped as an airfoil and having a vane trailing edge, an endwall including an opening to receive an end of the vane, and an element securing the endwall and the vane to each other. Clearance remaining between the endwall and the vane defines a plenum to feed cooling air to the vane at a location adjacent the vane trailing edge. Certain arrangements may have a purge groove defined in at least one of the endwall and the vane and located between the endwall and the vane to receive cooling fluid supplied. In certain arrangements, the structure may include a cover sheet on the endwall defining a gap with the vane, the purge groove configured to receive cooling fluid that exits through the gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Jack Moody, Jerry Layne
  • Patent number: 11680753
    Abstract: In some examples, a method for additively manufacturing a heat pipe, the method including depositing, via a filament delivery device, a filament to form a heat pipe preform, wherein the filament includes a binder and a metal or alloy powder; and sintering the heat pipe preform to form the heat pipe, the heat pipe including an outer shell, a wicking region, and a vapor transport region defined by the metal or alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Quinlan Yee Shuck, Scott Nelson, Raymond Ruiwen Xu, Brandon David Ribic, Matthew R. Gold
  • Patent number: 11680495
    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: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Sanderson, David L. Sutterfield, Bryan H. Lerg
  • Patent number: 11680524
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan case assembly adapted to extend around blades of a fan rotor included in the gas turbine engine. The fan case assembly includes an annular case that extends around an axis, an acoustic panel coupled to the annular case and configured to dampen vibrations and a bolting arrangement that couples the acoustic panel to the annular case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Christopher D. Hall, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11661856
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a sump housing, an electric generator, and a shaft assembly and includes features for directing lubrication fluid away from the electric generator. The sump housing is configured to collect the lubrication fluid and air used in the gas turbine engine. The electric generator is located in the sump housing and configured to produce electric energy during use of the gas turbine engine. The shaft assembly extends through the electric generator and may be coupled with the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Kerry J. Lighty
  • Patent number: 11655543
    Abstract: A method includes predicting a composition of calcium-magnesium-aluminum-silicate (CMAS) to be encountered by a high temperature mechanical system during use of the high temperature mechanical system. The method further includes selecting a composition of a CMAS-resistant barrier coating layer based at least in part on the predicted composition of CMAS. The CMAS-resistant barrier coating layer includes a base composition and at least one secondary oxide selected based on the predicted composition of CMAS. The at least one secondary oxide includes at least one of an oxide of a divalent element, an oxide of a trivalent element, or an oxide of a tetravalent element. The CMAS-resistant barrier coating layer comprises greater than 0 mol. % and less than about 7 mol. % of the at least one secondary oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE PLC, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ngunjoh Lawrence Ndamka, Li Li, Ann Bolcavage, Bruce Edward Varney, Sean E. Landwehr
  • Patent number: 11655757
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The method comprises providing a set of standard axial compressor stages. Each axial compressor stage included in the set of standard axial compressor stages includes a rotor having a plurality of blades configured to rotate about an axis and a stator having a plurality of stator vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin M. Iwrey
  • Patent number: 11657496
    Abstract: An inspection support apparatus comprises a support bed and a platform base wherein the support bed includes spaced first and second index surfaces adapted to support first and second portions, respectively, of an airfoil in fixed positions relative to the support bed. An adjustment apparatus is coupled to the support bed and the platform base and is adapted to establish a desired fixed positional relationship between the support bed and the platform base in three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Knerr
  • Publication number: 20230141484
    Abstract: Airfoils and methods of cooling an airfoil are provided. The airfoil may comprise a spar; a coversheet on the spar; and a dual feed circuit between the spar and the coversheet. The dual feed circuit may include a first dam, a second dam spaced apart from the first dam along the chord axis of the spar, a first inlet disposed adjacent to the first dam, a second inlet disposed adjacent to the second dam, a circuit outlet disposed between the first inlet and the second inlet, and a plurality of diamond and/or hexagonal pedestals disposed on an outer surface of the spar. The diamond and/or hexagonal pedestals may form a plurality of cooling channels between the first inlet, the second inlet, and the circuit outlet. There may be no other circuit inlets are located between the first inlet and the second inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Barker, Eric Koenig, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20230141827
    Abstract: A dual-wall airfoil comprises a spar including pressure and suction side walls with raised features on outer surfaces thereof. A pressure side coversheet has an inner surface in contact with the raised features on the outer surface of the pressure side wall so as to define pressure side flow pathways between the pressure side wall and the pressure side coversheet, and a suction side coversheet has an inner surface in contact with the raised features on the outer surface of the suction side wall so as to define suction side flow pathways between the suction side wall and the suction side coversheet. The raised features on the outer surface of the pressure and/or suction side wall include an arrangement of pedestals, where each pedestal comprises an aspect ratio in a range from about 1:1 to about 5:1. The aspect ratio of the pedestals is varied within the arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Brett J. Barker, Eric Koenig, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20230133478
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A blade splitter (shroud) on the fan partially spans the fan blade thus separating the core and bypass streams downstream while leaving a gap upstream for communication between the flows. The communication gap expands the operational range of the fan over fans without the communication gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: William Barry Bryan
  • Patent number: 11635000
    Abstract: An endwall may be disposed at one end of a vane assembly. The endwall may comprise an endwall spar and a coversheet on the hot surface of the endwall spar. The endwall may further comprise a cooling fluid channel between the hot surface of the endwall spar and the cold surface of the coversheet. The cooling fluid channel may include a cooling fluid inlet disposed in the endwall spar, and a cooling fluid outlet. The cooling fluid outlet may be formed at an angle with the axis of the endwall spar. A plurality of pedestals may be disposed on the hot surface of the endwall spar extending into the cooling channel. The pedestals may be formed at an angle with the axis of the endwall spar to direct a cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jack Moody, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Brett Barker, Eric Koenig
  • Patent number: 11630031
    Abstract: An instrumentation assembly configured to measure properties of an engine exhaust stream is disclosed in this paper. The instrumentation assembly may include an outer support ring that extends around a central axis, an inner support ring arranged radially inward of the outer support ring around the central axis, and a plurality of instrumentation rake assemblies. The plurality of instrumentation rake assemblies extends from the outer support ring to the inner support ring across an annular passageway defined between the outer support ring and the inner support ring configured to carry the engine exhaust stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Mark O'Leary
  • Patent number: 11628949
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing flexible, scalable, and controllable electrical power to an aircraft. In some embodiments, a modular power unit comprises a container containing a power generation unit, a control system, a conditioning system, and an environmental control system. The power generation unit produces a generated power. The control system provides control signals to the power generation unit and controls at least one parameter of the generated power. The conditioning system receives and conditions the generated power and provides an output power to the power bus of the aircraft. The environmental control system provides a temperature regulating fluid to the power generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Long, Dwayne Bevis, Sean Guitar
  • Patent number: 11629640
    Abstract: An oil pumping system for use with a gas turbine engine includes an electric machine, an oil pump assembly, and a variable frequency drive controller. The variable frequency drive is connected with the electric machine and the oil pump assembly. The variable frequency drive controller is programmed to control a torque and speed of the pump motor independent of the gas turbine engine speed so that a flow of oil moved by the oil pump assembly is controlled to cool or lubricate components of the gas turbine engine independent of the gas turbine engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 11619146
    Abstract: A fluid storage tank can be configured to store a cooling fluid in a liquid state and a gas state. A first heat exchanger can be configured to release heat into the fluid storage tank. A second heat exchanger can be disposed fluidly downstream of the fluid storage tank and configured to exchange heat between the cooling fluid and a heat load. A pressure control device can be disposed fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger can be fluidly downstream of the second heat exchanger such that cooling fluid, after being heated in the second heat exchanger, passes through the first heat exchanger and thereby heats upstream cooling fluid resident in the fluid storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Charles Jansen, Jeffrey Wen-Yu Chen