Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11466855
    Abstract: A combustor adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell comprising metallic materials. The combustor shell is formed to define an internal space. The combustor further includes a heat shield mounted to an axially aft surface of the combustor shell within the internal space and a combustor liner arranged to extend along inner surfaces of the combustor shell within the internal space. The combustor liner cooperates with the heat shield to define a combustor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel
  • Patent number: 11466858
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell, a burner seal, and a burner seal retainer. The combustor shell includes metallic materials and is formed to define an interior combustion space. The burner seal includes ceramic matrix composite materials and is configured to extend through apertures formed in the combustor shell and the heat shield. The burner seal retainer is configured to retain the burner seal to the combustor shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, Jack D. Petty, Gregory W. Zeaton
  • Patent number: 11456891
    Abstract: Control systems and methods for securely authenticating and validating a control system. The control system may include a plurality of dependent control nodes and master control nodes. Each dependent control node is communicatively coupled to one or more peripheral devices. Each control node maintains a unit level distributed ledger, where each unit level distributed ledger includes information from corresponding peripheral devices. Each control node may transmit a portion of the unit level distributed ledger to a master control node. Each master control node may maintain a system level distributed ledger that includes information from the corresponding unit level distributed ledgers. Each master node may transmit a portion of the system level distributed ledger to a central node that maintains a separate secure distributed ledger. The master node may authenticate the control system based on the received portion of the system level distributed ledgers and the secure distributed ledgers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Joseph Skertic, John Joseph Costello
  • Patent number: 11448432
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a heat exchanger through which a refrigerant flows, the heat exchanger having a fluid passing therethrough such that heat is rejected to the fluid, an evaporator, a refrigerant piping split point that receives the refrigerant at a given pressure from the heat exchanger and splits the refrigerant flow into a first circuit and a second circuit, the first circuit having an expansion valve that receives the refrigerant at the given pressure, and the second circuit having a first turbine coupled to a first compressor, wherein the first turbine receives the refrigerant at the given pressure, and a set of valves arranged to direct the refrigerant through the first circuit, the second circuit, or both the first and second circuits based on ambient conditions of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Steve T. Gagne, Kyle Burkholder
  • Patent number: 11441968
    Abstract: A sealed cooling system includes a coolant tank having a liquid space configured to hold liquid coolant, and a gas space configured to hold gas. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the liquid coolant. A pressure sensor detects the pressure in the coolant tank. A processor compares the pressure in the coolant tank to predicted pressure in the coolant tank as a function of liquid coolant temperature. The processor determines and outputs a signal indicative of a leak in the sealed cooling system if the pressure in the coolant tank deviates from the predicted pressure in the coolant tank according to predetermined criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 11440677
    Abstract: A system is described that includes a controllable component of an engine configured to regulate fuel flow to the engine, a digital control unit configured to control the engine by at least communicating with the controllable component of the engine, and a protection component configured to disable communication between the digital control unit and the controllable component of the engine. The system further includes an analog control unit configured to control the engine by at least communicating with the controllable component of the engine in response to the protection component disabling communication between the digital control unit and the controllable component of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dawn Kay Andrus, Daniel John Bitz, Richard Joseph Skertic
  • Patent number: 11441516
    Abstract: A compressor adapted for use in for a gas turbine engine includes a diffuser and a housing. The diffuser is arranged circumferentially around an axis and includes a fore plate, an aft plate spaced apart axially from the fore plate to define a flow path therebetween, and a plurality of vanes that extend between the fore plate and the aft plate. The housing is arranged circumferentially about the axis and located adjacent the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Humes
  • Patent number: 11437813
    Abstract: Control logic for a power sharing system on a hybrid propulsion aircraft, utilizing parallel multiple control loops outputting difference commands which provide bumpless transfer between control loops without integrator wind up or reset logic, allowing for efficient load distribution between electric generators and batteries powering electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Michael P. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 11434775
    Abstract: An assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a static component and a metering band. The static component is fixed relative to an axis. The metering band is arranged to extend circumferentially at least partway about the axis and is coupled with the static component. The metering band defines at least a portion of a cooling passageway for air to flow through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon R. Snyder, Jonathan S. Sands
  • Patent number: 11426794
    Abstract: A composite component may include a substrate including a first material and defining a surface; and at least one feature attached to the surface of the substrate. The at least one feature may include a second, different material attached to the surface using cold spraying. Cold spraying may include accelerating particles of the second material toward the surface without melting the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Nesteroff, Matthew R. Gold
  • Patent number: 11428410
    Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a combustor shell, a heat shield and a burner seal. The combustor shell includes metallic materials and is formed to define an interior combustion space. The heat shield includes ceramic matrix composite materials and is configured to shield a portion of the combustor shell from the interior combustion space. The burner seal includes ceramic matrix composite materials and is configured to extend through apertures formed in the combustor shell and the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel, Paulo Bazan
  • Patent number: 11420279
    Abstract: A method for selectively adhering braze powders to a surface comprises applying a binder material to a surface, depositing a braze powder on the binder material, 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 and the binder material along the predetermined path such that the binder material is removed and 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 and binder material, that is, the braze powder and binder material not selectively heated by the laser, are removed from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Gold, Greg Lopshire, Carl Russo
  • Patent number: 11415016
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a bladed wheel assembly, a vane assembly, and an inner seal. The bladed wheel assembly is adapted to interact with gases flowing through a gas path of the gas turbine engine. The vane assembly is located upstream of the bladed wheel assembly and adapted to direct the gases at the bladed wheel assembly. The inner seal is configured to block gases from passing around the vane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Keith Sadler, Ted J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 11408368
    Abstract: A propulsion unit includes a gas turbine engine arranged along an axis and an exhaust system coupled to the gas turbine engine. The gas turbine engine includes an engine core configured to discharge a core flow and a fan configured to be driven by the engine core to discharge a bypass flow. The exhaust system receives the mixed bypass and core flows from the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Sutterfield, Todd S. Taylor, Jack D. Petty, Andrew Sanderson, Bryan H. Lerg
  • Patent number: 11402096
    Abstract: A combustor dome may be formed by way of additive layer manufacturing. The combustor dome may further include a raised outer surface and a recessed outer surface on a hot side of the combustor dome. The recessed outer surfaces may be closer to the cold side than the raised outer surfaces. The combustor dome may include a shadow surface defined between the raised outer surface and recessed outer surface. The shadow surface may define a corresponding cooling outlet in fluid communication with an internal cooling channel defined inside of the combustor dome. The cooling outlet may release air from the internal cooling channel to the hot axial side of the combustor dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Sauer, Lewis Dailey, Keith McCormick, Duane Smith, Christopher D. DeBruhl
  • Patent number: 11385047
    Abstract: An example method that includes receiving a geometry of a component that includes a plurality of locations on a surface of the component; determining a first target trajectory including a first plurality of target trajectory points and a second target trajectory including a second plurality of target trajectory points, the first and second trajectories offset in a first direction, and the first and second plurality of trajectory points offset in a second direction; determining a respective target coating thickness of the coating based on a target coated component geometry and the geometry; and determining a respective motion vector of a coating device based on the first and second target trajectories to deposit the respective target coating thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Bourne, Matthew R. Gold, Benjamin Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11385045
    Abstract: An example method that includes receiving, by a computing device, a geometry of the component that includes a plurality of locations on a surface of the component; determining, by the computing device, a respective target thickness of the coating for each respective location of the plurality of locations based on a target coated component geometry and the geometry of the component; and determining, by the computing device, a number of passes or velocity of a coating device for each respective position of a plurality of positions to achieve the respective target thickness for each respective location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Bourne, Matthew R. Gold, Marshall Louis Sweet, Frol Periverzov, Benjamin Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11385046
    Abstract: An example method that includes receiving a first geometry of a component in an uncoated state and a second geometry of the component in a coated state; determining a first difference between the second geometry and a first simulated geometry based on the first geometry and a first spray law comprising a plurality of first spray law parameters; iteratively adjusting at least one first spray law parameter to determine a respective subsequent spray law; iteratively determining a respective subsequent difference between the second geometry and a subsequent simulated geometry based on the first geometry and the subsequent respective spray law; selecting a subsequent spray law from the respective subsequent spray laws based on the respective subsequent differences; and controlling a coating process based on the selected subsequent spray law.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Bourne, Matthew R. Gold, Marshall Louis Sweet, Frol Periverzov, Benjamin Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11385048
    Abstract: An example method that includes receiving a geometry of an uncoated component and a measured coating thickness of a coated test; determining a simulated coating thickness based on the geometry and a first spray law including a plurality of first spray law parameters; determining a difference between the simulated coating thicknesses and the measured coating thickness; iteratively adjusting at least one first spray law parameter to determine a respective subsequent spray law and determining a respective subsequent difference between the measured coating thickness and a subsequent simulated coating thickness based on the geometry and the respective subsequent spray law; selecting a subsequent spray law from the plurality of respective subsequent spray laws based on the respective subsequent differences; and controlling a coating process based on the selected subsequent spray law to compensate for the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Bourne, Matthew R. Gold, Benjamin Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11380945
    Abstract: A thermal management system and method for regulating the dissipation of a thermal load during operation of a vehicle. The thermal management system including one or more cooling loops configured to regulate the temperature of at least one battery pack; and an energy recovery mechanism configured to recover energy dissipated upon the occurrence of a thermal runaway event. The amount of energy recovered maintains the power level at or above the level exhibited by the battery pack prior to the occurrence of the thermal runaway event. Upon the occurrence of the thermal runaway event, the energy recovery mechanism transforms the cooling loop into a Rankine cycle loop or uses a Seebeck effect to recover energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: David R. Trawick