Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
  • Modular multistage turbine system for gas turbine engines
    Patent number: 11879386
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The method comprises providing a set of standard turbine stages. Each turbine stage included in the set of standard turbine stages includes a single turbine rotor having a plurality of blades configured to rotate about an axis and a subset of standard turbine vane rings associated with the single turbine rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin M. Iwrey, Mark W. Creason
  • Sectioned compressor inner band for variable pitch vane assemblies in gas turbine engines
    Patent number: 11879480
    Abstract: A compressor assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an outer band, a plurality of variable pitch vanes, and an inner band. The plurality of variable pitch vanes extend radially between the outer band and the inner band. The inner band extends circumferentially partway about an axis and includes a first ring segment and a second ring segment that cooperate to receive the plurality of variable pitch vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Engebretsen, Christopher Hall, Erick Meyer
  • Flywheel powered barring engine for gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11873765
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine, an accessory gearbox, and a flywheel powered barring engine system. The gas turbine engine includes a rotor and a turbine. The accessory gearbox is connected with the rotor. The flywheel powered barring engine system is connected with the accessory gearbox and configured to rotate the rotor after shut down of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan C. Humes
  • ENDWALL PLUG COOLING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20240011414
    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 and a third opening that extend 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 via at least the third opening. The first and second opening are configured to receive a plug or a probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Moody, Kevin P. Holley
  • Gas turbine engine with combustor section mounted modulated compressor air cooling system
    Patent number: 11867089
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a turbine, a combustor fluidly coupled to the turbine, and a cooling air system. The turbine includes including a turbine rotor having a shaft mounted for rotation about an axis of the gas turbine engine and a set of turbine blades coupled to the turbine rotor for rotation therewith. The combustor includes an outer combustor case and an inner combustor case that cooperate to define a combustion chamber. The cooling air system is configured to cool the turbine using air form the combustion chamber of the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan C. Humes
  • Hybrid propulsion systems
    Patent number: 11866180
    Abstract: An example hybrid aircraft propulsion system includes one or more power units configured to output electrical energy onto one or more electrical busses; a plurality of propulsors; and a plurality of electrical machines, each respective electrical machine configured to drive a respective propulsor of the plurality of propulsors using electrical energy received from at least one of the one or more electrical busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Andrew Long
  • Dual power lift system
    Patent number: 11859542
    Abstract: A system including a turbine engine configured to generate rotor power and produce an engine air flow. The system is configured to provide rotor power to one of more shaft-driven lift fans to generate a first thrust on an aircraft body and provide a gas flow to one or more gas-driven lift fans to generate a second thrust on the aircraft body. The gas flow may be at least a portion of the engine air flow produced by the turbine engine. The turbine engine may be configured to exhaust another portion of the engine air flow through a jet nozzle to generate an engine thrust. In examples, the system includes at least a second turbine engine. The one of more shaft-driven lift fans and/or one of more gas-driven lift fans be powered by the turbine engine, the second turbine engine, or both the turbine engine and the second turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K Keller, Paul Johnson
  • Co and counter flow heat exchanger
    Patent number: 11859511
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brett Barker, Eric Koenig, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Starter/generator
    Patent number: 11852072
    Abstract: A starter generator located within a sump region of a turbofan engine and coupled to an adapter shaft. The adapter shaft rotationally coupled to the high pressure shaft, forward of a high pressure shaft bearing, and secured by a spanner nut. The engine makes use of two pluralities of electrical conductors, the first extends through an electrical conduit defined by a forward strut extending from the sump region to the outward casing, the second extends axially away from the electric starter. Each of the first plurality of electrical conductors makes reversible contact with a respective one of the second plurality of electrical conductors via an elbow/pin connector, producing a tight turn in area of limited space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa Hughes, Brian R. Bennett, Stanford Clemens, Randal Renback
  • Thermal barrier coatings for components in high-temperature mechanical systems
    Patent number: 11851770
    Abstract: An article that includes a substrate; a first layer including yttria and zirconia or hafnia, where the first layer has a columnar microstructure and includes predominately the zirconia or hafnia; a second layer on the first layer, the second layer including zirconia or hafnia, ytterbia, samaria, and at least one of lutetia, scandia, ceria, neodymia, europia, and gadolinia, where the second layer includes predominately zirconia or hafnia, and where the second layer has a columnar microstructure; and a third layer on the second layer, the third layer including zirconia or hafnia, ytterbia, samaria, and a rare earth oxide including at least one of lutetia, scandia, ceria, neodymia, europia, and gadolinia, where the third layer has a dense microstructure and has a lower porosity than the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Gold, Michael Cybulsky, Stephanie Gong, Li Li
  • Electric fan array for distortion tolerance of turbofan engines
    Patent number: 11835064
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises an engine core and an electric fan array. The engine core includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The compressor compresses and delivers air to the combustor. The combustor mixes fuel with the compressed air received from the compressor and ignites the fuel. The hot, high-pressure products of the combustion reaction in the combustor are directed into the turbine to cause the turbine to rotate about an axis and drive the compressor. The electric fan array may include at least two non-concentric fans having parallel shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Kathryn A. Sontag, Michael G. Meyer
  • Systems and methods for multi-dimensional variable vane stage rigging utilizing adjustable alignment mechanisms
    Patent number: 11834966
    Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment assembly. The ring adjustment assembly includes a shim plate having a first shim surface removably arranged on an axially facing surface of the annular ring, a carrier plate having a first carrier surface removably arranged on a second shim surface of the shim plate opposite the first shim surface, and a roller pin coupled to a second carrier surface of the carrier plate opposite the first carrier surface. The shim plate is sized so as to locate the roller pin at a predetermined distance from the annular ring so as to adjust a position of the plurality of variable vanes relative to the roller pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
  • Thrust bearing for a rotating machine
    Patent number: 11835088
    Abstract: A rotating machine including a thrust bearing configured to receive an axial thrust exerted by a rotor. The thrust bearing may be configured to transfer the axial thrust from the rotor to a housing or other structural component of the rotating machine using a plurality of ball bearings. The rotating machine includes a magnetic apparatus configured to cause the rotating machine to exert an axial force on the thrust bearing in the direction of the axial thrust of the rotor, such that the magnetic apparatus loads the ball bearings in the direction of the axial thrust. The magnetic apparatus may be configured to generate a magnetic field causing a first magnetic component of the magnetic apparatus to repel or attract a second magnetic component of the apparatus. The first magnetic component may be configured to rotate relative to the second magnetic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Unton, Sean Andrew Morgan
  • Turbine engine inertial particle separator with particle rebound suppression
    Patent number: 11834988
    Abstract: An inlet duct for a gas turbine engine includes a particle separator, a scavenge duct, and a layer of material having a low coefficient of restitution. The particle separator including an outer wall spaced, an inner wall, and a splitter located radially between the outer wall and the inner wall. The scavenge duct is coupled with particle separator. The layer of material is located on at least one of the outer wall, the splitter, and the scavenge duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Brian J. Connolly, Eric Loth, Crawford F. Smith, III
  • Coating system including nucleating agent
    Patent number: 11827986
    Abstract: In some examples, an article may include a substrate and a coating system on the substrate. The coating system may include a layer comprising a plurality of voids, wherein respective voids of the plurality of voids define respective void volumes; and a nucleating agent within at least some of the respective void volumes of the layer, wherein the nucleating agent is configured to induce crystallization of the molten CMAS. The coating system may include an environmental barrier coating, thermal barrier coating, and/or abradable coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Sean E. Landwehr, Ngunjoh Lawrence Ndamka, Matthew R. Gold, Michael Cybulsky, Li Li, Robert Golden
  • Outlet guide vane mounting assembly for turbine engines
    Patent number: 11828197
    Abstract: A guide vane assembly includes a fan case, a vane, and a retention ring. The fan case extends circumferentially partway about an axis. The vane extends radially inward away from the fan case and is coupled to the fan case. The retention ring extends circumferentially partway about the axis and is coupled with the fan case and supports the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Fused filament fabrication of high entropy alloys
    Patent number: 11820070
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing technique includes depositing, via a filament delivery device, a filament onto a surface of a substrate. The filament includes a binder and a high entropy alloy powder. The technique also includes sacrificing the binder to form a preform and sintering the preform to form a component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 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
  • Supplement thermal management system cooling using thermoelectric cooling
    Patent number: 11821355
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase the recharge rate of a supplemental cooling system are provided. The system may include a primary cooling system configured to cool a thermal load, a supplemental cooling system, and a thermoelectric cooling apparatus. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus may assist the primary cooling system in recharging the supplemental cooling system in response to the supplemental cooling system operating in a recharge state, to the availability of electrical capacity, and to one or more operating parameters of the primary cooling system falling outside a predetermined range, wherein the operating parameter affects a cooling capacity of the primary cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Noderer, Eric S. Donovan
  • Method of fabricating cooling features on a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component
    Patent number: 11820716
    Abstract: A method of fabricating cooling features on a CMC component may comprise compressing a fabric preform within tooling including holes and/or recesses facing the fabric preform. During the compression, portions of the fabric preform are pushed into the holes and/or recesses. Gases are delivered through the tooling to deposit a matrix material on exposed surfaces of the fabric preform while the fabric preform is being compressed. The matrix material builds up on the portions of the fabric preform pushed into the holes and/or recesses, and a rigidized preform with surface protrusions is formed. The tooling is removed, and the rigidized preform is densified, thereby forming a CMC component including raised surface features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ted Freeman, Aaron Sippel, Robert Shinavski, Chris Barrett
  • Carrier liquid composition control for suspension plasma spraying
    Patent number: 11819869
    Abstract: In some examples, a method comprising: controlling a first ratio of a first liquid to a second liquid to form a first suspension comprising a powder and a first carrier liquid composition comprising at least one of the first liquid or the second liquid; directing the first suspension comprising the first carrier liquid and the powder to a plume of a thermal spray device; forming a first portion of a coating comprising the powder on a substrate from the first suspension; controlling a second ratio of the first liquid to the second liquid to form a second suspension comprising a second carrier liquid composition and the powder; directing the second suspension comprising the second carrier liquid composition and the powder to the plume of the thermal spray device; and forming a second portion of the coating comprising the powder on the substrate from the second suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Matthew R. Gold, James Gyaneshwara Jung Brewster