Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11619170
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a centrifugal compressor, a combustor, a radial turbine, and a cooling air metering system. The centrifugal compressor is configured to rotate about an axis to produce compressed air. The combustor is fluidly connected downstream of the centrifugal compressor to receive the compressed air from the centrifugal compressor. The radial turbine is fluidly connected with the combustor and is axially spaced apart from the centrifugal compressor. The cooling air metering system is configured to selectively block or allow a portion of the compressed air flowing radially between the centrifugal compressor and the radial turbine, bypassing the combustor, and through a heat exchanger for cooling the radial turbine and other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Michael A. Karam
  • Patent number: 11619387
    Abstract: A liner for a combustor includes a support member, an intermediate member, and a liner member. The intermediate member is positioned intermediate the support member and the liner member and has a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses. The support member is coupled to the intermediate member at a tangent of each protrusion. Additionally, the liner member is comprised of a ceramic matrix composite material. The liner member is coupled to the intermediate member at a tangent of each recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ted Joseph Freeman, Bruce E. Varney, Adam L. Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 11607725
    Abstract: A method for delivering a flowable material into a mold or to infiltrate a preformed component, a fiber preform, or a green body includes: providing a crucible having a body configured as a reservoir to hold the flowable material; adding a metal, a metal alloy, or combination thereof into the body of the crucible, the metal or metal alloy having a predetermined melting point; heating the crucible with the metal or metal alloy contained therein to a temperature that is at or above the melting point of the metal or metal alloy; allowing the metal or metal alloy to melt to form the flowable material; and creating a siphon such that the molten metal or metal alloy flows from the body of the crucible to infiltrate the preformed component or to fill the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Gregory David Scofield
  • Publication number: 20230074039
    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: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Unton, Eric Sean Donovan
  • Patent number: 11601304
    Abstract: A vehicle control method of starting and shutting down an engine, in which a processor receives a blockchain update comprising a first transaction with instructions to perform an engine startup or shutdown; the blockchain update is validated; an engine startup or shutdown is performed based on the validated blockchain update; where the engine startup or shutdown is delayed based on validating a predetermined number of subsequent blockchain updates, including a second transaction with instructions to perform the engine startup or shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: John J. Costello, Richard J. Skertic
  • Patent number: 11591102
    Abstract: A thermal energy system for use with an aircraft includes a cooling loop and a cooler. The cooling loop includes a fluid conduit and a pump configured to move fluid through the fluid conduit to transfer heat from a heat source to the fluid in the fluid conduit to cool the heat source. The cooler includes an air-stream heat exchanger located in a duct and is in thermal communication with the fluid conduit to transfer heat between the fluid in the cooling loop and the air passing through the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11591927
    Abstract: A fan case assembly is adapted to extend around blades of a fan rotor included in a gas turbine engine. The fan case assembly includes an annular case that extends around an axis, a fan track liner coupled to the annular case and extending circumferentially at least partway about the axis, and a bolting arrangement that couples the fan track liner to the annular case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Hall, Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11588322
    Abstract: In some examples, this disclosure describes a method for detecting a fault in an electrical power system comprising a bus connected between a first solid state power converter and a second solid state power converter. The method includes receiving, at a controller of the electrical power system, a first signal indicating a current at a source side of the first solid state power converter, wherein the source side of the first solid state power converter is connected to a power source of the electrical power system. The method also includes receiving, at the controller, a second signal indicating a current at the bus and determining, by the controller, that a fault occurred in the electrical power system based on the first signal and further based on the second signal. The method further includes controlling the first solid state power converter in response to determining that the fault occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chandana Jayampathi Gajanayake, Yu Yang, David Loder, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 11587798
    Abstract: A base plate for cooling a power electronics device is provided, the base plate comprising cooling fins, the base plate configured to receive the power electronics device directly above the cooling fins, the cooling fins integral to the base plate, the base plate configured to conduct a liquid coolant past the cooling fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 11585235
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for use with a turbine engine includes a shaft and a magnetic mode control unit. The shaft extends along an axis and is configured to rotate about the axis. The magnetic mode control unit is configured to control deflection of the shaft as the shaft rotates about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Unton
  • Patent number: 11578654
    Abstract: A compressor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an impeller, a diffuser, and a deswirler. The impeller is arranged circumferentially about an axis and configured to rotate about the axis. The diffuser is arranged circumferentially around the impeller to receive the air from the impeller. The deswirler is configured to receive the air from the diffuser and to conduct the air into a combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan C. Humes, Andrew J. Eifert
  • Patent number: 11571762
    Abstract: A printing method for selectively depositing braze powders on a surface comprises extruding a filament from a nozzle moving relative to a surface, where the filament comprises a flowable carrier mixed with a braze powder. As the nozzle moves, the filament is deposited on the surface in a predetermined pattern defined by the motion of the nozzle relative to the surface; thus, the braze powders are deposited at one or more predetermined locations on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Gold, Greg Lopshire, Raymond Xu, Carl Russo
  • Patent number: 11565336
    Abstract: A method for selectively adhering braze powders to a surface comprises applying a braze powder to a surface, and then directing a laser beam onto the braze powder while the laser beam moves along a predetermined path relative to the surface. The laser beam selectively heats the braze powder along the predetermined path such that the braze powder is sintered and bonded to the surface. Thus, a braze deposit is formed at one or more predetermined locations on the surface. After forming the braze deposit, excess braze powder, that is, the braze powder not selectively heated by the laser, is removed from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Greg Lopshire, Quinlan Y. Shuck, Matthew Gold, Carl Russo
  • Patent number: 11560801
    Abstract: An airfoil for use in a gas turbine engine is formed to define a cavity formed in the airfoil. The airfoil further includes at least one obstructing member arranged within the cavity and a magnetorheological fluid disposed in the cavity. A viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid increases in response to a magnetic field being generated proximate to the fluid in response to the airfoil experiencing an aeromechanic response or vibrations. As such, the obstruction of the movement of the thicker fluid by the obstructing member dampens the vibrations of the airfoil and reduces negative effects of a dynamic response of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Christopher D. Hall
  • Patent number: 11560810
    Abstract: A method of maintaining at least one gas turbine engine includes monitoring a compressor of the gas turbine engine. The compressor includes a compressor case at least partially defining a flow path, a plurality of stages and a vane actuator system configured to move at least one of the stages. The vane actuator system includes a vane mover having one or more slots formed therein and configured to actuate the at least one stage. The vane mover may be replaced after the gas turbine engine has experienced engine degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Argote, Aaron King
  • Patent number: 11561153
    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: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Mark O'Leary, Nathan Ottow
  • Patent number: 11554536
    Abstract: A method may include fused filament fabricating a fused filament fabricated component by delivering a softened filament to selected locations at or adjacent to a build surface. The softened filament may include a sacrificial binder and a powder including a shape memory alloy (SMA). The method also may include removing substantially all the sacrificial binder from the fused filament fabricated component to leave an unsintered component; and sintering the unsintered component to join particles of the SMA and form an SMA component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 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: 11542032
    Abstract: A hybrid interchangeable battery evaluation tool (HIBET) is provided. HIBET determines an amount of electrical energy and an amount of jet fuel necessary for a hybrid electric aircraft to complete a flight based on a range of the flight, a payload of the hybrid electric aircraft, an indication of a battery mass limitation of the hybrid electric aircraft, and an optimization of an energy split between the electrical energy and the jet fuel. HIBET causes an indication of the amount of electrical energy to be displayed in a graphical user interface and/or to be otherwise outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Long, Dwayne Bevis, Sean Guitar, Michael J. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 11542864
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: William Barry Bryan
  • Publication number: 20220416266
    Abstract: A system includes a flow battery and a temperature control system. The flow battery is configured to thermally manage a thermal load. In some embodiments, the flow battery is also configured to electrically power the thermal load. The temperature control system is configured to cool electrolyte in the flow battery in response to the thermal load being inactive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Gore