Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Gas turbine engine with reversible heat exchanger
    Patent number: 11286881
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine having a fan bypass duct, a heat exchanger system, and a flow transfer unit configured to selectively allow or preclude flow between the fan bypass duct and the heat exchanger system. A controller is coupled to and configured to vary the state of one or more of a fan exit nozzle, a heat exchanger exit nozzle, and a flow control valve controlling flow between the fan bypass duct and the heat exchanger system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Boyd, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Douglas J. Snyder, Graham Burkholder, William B. Bryan
  • Erosion-resistant coating with patterned leading edge
    Patent number: 11286794
    Abstract: An airfoil of a gas turbine engine includes a leading edge and an opposed trailing edge defining a chord between the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein the chord has a chord length. A concave surface is between the leading edge and the trailing edge, which includes a first portion proximal the leading edge of the airfoil and a second portion proximal the trailing edge of the airfoil, wherein the first portion of the concave surface includes about 10% to about 50% of the chord length. An erosion-resistant ceramic, cermet or intermetallic coating is on the second portion of the concave surface, which includes a coating leading edge pattern. The first portion of the concave surface is free of the erosion-resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: James Carl Loebig
  • Airfoil assembly with ceramic matrix composite parts and load-transfer features
    Patent number: 11286798
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a vane that includes an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil. The outer platform defines an outer boundary of a gas path. The inner platform is spaced apart axially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends axially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform. Force loads caused by gases interacting with the airfoil are configured to be transmitted from the airfoil assembly to a case arranged around the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters, Ted J. Freeman, Eric Koenig, Jeff Crutchfield, Jeffrey A. Walston, David J. Thomas
  • Variable area nozzle exhaust system with integrated thrust reverser
    Patent number: 11286878
    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: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Cornoration
    Inventors: Todd S. Taylor, David L. Sutterfield, Jack D. Petty, Andrew Sanderson, Bryan H. Lerg
  • Secure engine communication
    Patent number: 11290301
    Abstract: A method of communication, within a processing system of a gas turbine engine, between a first electronic component and a second electronic component, comprising: generating by the first electronic component, a request, comprising a digital certificate, intern comprising a first host public key and a first client public key, signed with a first host private key, to initiate a trusted communication session with a second electronic component; encrypting at the first electronic component, at least a portion of the request with a first client private key; transmitting the request to the second electronic component; the first host private key and the first host public key defining a first asymmetric keypair and the first client private key and the first client public key defining a second asymmetric keypair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard J. Skertic, John J. Costello, Robert T. Duge
  • Gas turbine engine with variable pitch fan and variable pitch compressor geometry
    Patent number: 11286865
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan and an engine core that includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The fan and the compressor include variable pitch geometry. The gas turbine engine further includes a control system configured to adjust the variable pitch geometry of the fan and the compressor to optimize a performance characteristic of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Klein, Michael Karam, Jonathan Sands
  • Method of Controlling Thermal Energy Storage in a Thermal Energy Management System
    Publication number: 20220090868
    Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling thermal energy storage in a thermal energy management system that may operate in response to a variable or high transient heat load. Thermal energy management systems are also provided for controlling thermal energy storage that may operate in response to a variable or high transient heat load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Sean Donovan, Timothy Unton, Peter Gegg
  • Turbine shroud segment with flange-facing perimeter seal
    Patent number: 11280206
    Abstract: A turbine shroud adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of metallic carrier segments and a plurality of blade track segments mounted to corresponding metallic carrier segments. Cooling air is directed onto the blade track segments to cool the blade track segments when exposed to high temperatures in a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel K. Vetters, Mark O'Leary