Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce plc
  • Automatic extremum detection on a surface mesh of a component
    Patent number: 9087165
    Abstract: A datum line, such as the leading or trailing edge of an aerofoil component, is identified on a surface mesh of the component for use in a simulation. The method includes the steps of: defining a reference coordinate system including a direction X, which may be a general flow direction over the component; defining a span variable that varies along the component in a forwards marching direction, for example corresponding to the root to tip direction of the aerofoil; selecting a first frontal node on the datum line; using a Pareto front algorithm to define the datum line at an extremity of the surface mesh with respect to the X direction, the Pareto front algorithm evaluating a criterion for dominated nodes and operating on a Pareto variable to select successive connected frontal nodes that form the datum line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Bryan L. Lapworth
  • Layered composite components
    Patent number: 9086362
    Abstract: A method is provided that enables the identification of a region of a layered composite component that a test signal has passed through. The method comprises applying a label to the test signal as it passes through the region, such that the label applied to the test signal is indicative of the said region. The labelled signal can be identified by a sensor, even if the signal is of low strength and amongst a lot of noise, such as that caused by the multiple reflections and refractions that take place when an acoustic signal passes through a layered composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Alison J. McMillan
  • HARNESS CABLE
    Publication number: 20150192067
    Abstract: A conduit assembly for the communication of electricity, light or fluid, including at least one conduit, wherein the conduit assembly also includes a core member, the at least one conduit in contact with the core member and arranged in a convoluted path defined with respect to the shape of the core member, the at least one conduit thereby having a first direct length between its ends such that removal of at least a portion of the core member permits the at least one conduit to straighten in the region of the core member removal to increase its direct length to a second direct length, the second direct length being greater than the sum of the first direct length and the length removed from the core member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Gareth L. JONES
  • Cooled rotor blade
    Patent number: 9074484
    Abstract: A cooled turbine rotor blade for a gas turbine engine is provided. The engine has an annular flow path for conducting working fluid though the engine. The blade has an aerofoil section for extending across the annular flow path. The blade further has a root portion radially inward of the aerofoil section for joining the blade to a rotor disc of the engine. The blade further has a platform between the aerofoil section and the root portion. The platform extends laterally relative to the radial direction of the engine to form an inner boundary of the annular flow path and to provide a rear overhang portion which projects in use towards a corresponding platform of a downstream nozzle guide vane. The platform contains at least one internal elongate plenum chamber for receiving cooling air. The longitudinal axis of the plenum chamber is substantially aligned with the circumferential direction of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Ian Tibbott, Oliver C T Tibbott
  • Nickel alloy
    Patent number: 9074476
    Abstract: A nickel-base alloy having the following composition (in weight percent unless otherwise stated): Cr 13.7-17.5; Co 2.5-5.6; Fe 8.0-9.3; Si 0-0.6; Mn 0-0.95; Mo 0.5-2.3; W 2.7-3.0; Al 2.2-3.5; Nb 2.7-7.2; Ti 0-0.85; Ta 0-3.25; Hf 0.0-0.5; C 0.01-0.05; B 0.02-0.04; Zr 0.04-0.06; Mg 0.015-0.025; S<50 ppm; P<50 ppm; the balance being Ni and incidental impurities. The alloy has an improved combination of properties (principally resistance to surface environmental damage and dwell fatigue crack growth) compared with known alloys, and is intended to operate for prolonged periods of time above 700° C., and up to peak temperatures of 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Mark Christopher Hardy
  • Method of supporting a tool and an apparatus for supporting a tool in an assembled apparatus
    Patent number: 9073156
    Abstract: A method of supporting a tool (106) in an assembled apparatus (10) comprises the steps of (a) inserting a support structure (60) through a first aperture (52,56) in a casing (50,54) of the apparatus (10), a first end (62) of the support structure (60) being outside the casing (50,54) and a second end (64) of the support structure (60) being inside the casing (50,54), (b) securing the first end (60) of the support structure (60) to the casing (50,54), (c) arranging a first portion (78) of the support structure (60) to abut at least one surface within the casing (50,54), (d) inserting a tool (106) through the first aperture (52,54) or a second aperture in the casing (50,54), and (e) securing the tool (106) to a second portion (102) of the support structure (60) within the casing (50,54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Daniel Clark, Justin Burrows, James Kell
  • Damped assembly
    Patent number: 9074478
    Abstract: A damped assembly within a gas turbine, comprising a first member and a second member mechanically connected via an intermediate vibration dampener which has at least first and second surfaces for contacting the first and second members respectively, wherein either or both of the first and second surfaces include a plurality of raised portions in direct contact with the respective member and a plurality of recessed portions which contain adhesive for bonding the intermediate vibration dampener to the respective member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Eric P. Ravey, Matthew D. Curren
  • Fluidised bed treatment
    Patent number: 9074817
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of a component using a fluidized bed of powder fluidized by a gas flow has a treatment chamber for receiving at least a treatment part of the component and for containing the fluidized bed. A fluidizing gas inlet provides fluidizing gas to the treatment chamber and a fluidizing gas outlet removes used fluidizing gas from the treatment chamber. A powder screen is located between the treatment chamber and the fluidizing gas outlet, the powder screen operable substantially to prevent loss of powder from the fluidizing bed entrained in the fluidizing gas removed from the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber can be small and moveable, and then applied to a part of a component to be treated. Heating of the fluidized bed may be provided by heating of the fluidizing gas in a fluidizing gas reservoir remote from the treatment chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Bhrami Jegatheeswaram Pillai, Paul Anthony Goulding, Daniel Jason Howe, Kin Keung Chan
  • Stator vane assembly
    Patent number: 9068475
    Abstract: There is disclosed a stator vane assembly comprising a support structure 14 arranged to be mounted to a mounting structure 16, a stator vane 12 radially extending from the support structure 14 and a continuity member 28 coupled to the support structure 14 and arranged in use to extend between the mounting structure 16 and the support structure 14 so as to provide a substantially continuous gas-washed surface across the mounting structure 16 and the support structure 14. There is also disclosed a method of forming a stator vane assembly, the method comprising the steps of forming at least one stator vane radially extending from a support structure having a continuity member coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Graham Littler, Ian A Hood
  • Endwall component for a turbine stage of a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9068472
    Abstract: A component of a turbine stage of a gas turbine engine is provided, the component forming an endwall for the working gas annulus of the stage. The component has one or more internal plena behind the endwall which, in use, contain a flow of cooling air. The component further has a plurality of exhaust holes in the endwall. The holes connect the plena to a gas-washed surface of the endwall such that the cooling air effuses through the holes to form a cooling film over the gas-washed surface. Each exhaust hole has a flow cross-sectional area which is greater at an intermediate position between the entrance of the hole from the respective plenum and the exit of the hole to the gas-washed surface than it is at said exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Rawlinson, Peter Ireland, Lynne H. Turner, Ian Tibbott
  • Method of sealing cooling holes
    Patent number: 9061347
    Abstract: A method of selectively sealing at least one cooling hole provided on an aerofoil component (10). The method comprises applying a thermoplastic material to one or more selected cooling holes (12, 14) in a molten phase, and cooling the thermoplastic material to set the thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Simon John Crowther, Michiel Kopmels
  • Exhaust cone
    Patent number: 9062610
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine exhaust cone (40) comprising one or more acoustic absorption chambers (48), each chamber (48) comprising two side walls (50) and an acoustic attenuation wall (62). The side walls (50) define the circumferential extent of the chamber (48). The acoustic attenuation wall (62) has one or more acoustic attenuators (64) and is positioned circumferentially intermediate the side walls (50). The side walls (50) extend axially along the exhaust cone (40) at least one of them with a circumferential progression. The acoustic attenuation wall (62) extends axially along the exhaust cone (40) with or without a circumferential progression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Romuald Morvant
  • Endwall component for a turbine stage of a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9062561
    Abstract: A component of a turbine stage of a gas turbine engine is provided. The component forms an endwall for the working gas annulus of the stage. The component has one or more internal passages behind the endwall which, in use, carry a flow of cooling air providing convective cooling for the component at the endwall. Each passage is formed by a plurality of straight passage sections. The passage sections connect end-to-end such that the connections between nearest-neighbour passage sections form angled bends. A first portion of the passage sections lie in a first plane. A second portion of the passage sections lie in a second plane which is spaced from and parallel to the first plane. A third portion of the passage sections extend between the first and the second planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Ian Tibbott
  • Brazed joining with electrical deposition
    Patent number: 9061363
    Abstract: The present method creates a relatively thin in situ brazing alloy layer upon first and second component edges which are brought together in order to create a component joint. This in situ brazing alloy layer is created by deposition of brazing elements, such as copper or nickel, from an electrical discharge cutting process electrode depletion utilized in order to cut the component edges, and then a subsequent brazing technique creates through interstitial migration between that brazing alloy layer and the underlying material substrate of the components a robust component joint wherein the in situ brazing alloy layer penetrates the respective component cut edge surface to only a limited depth such that the geometric effect is similarly limited, and the properties of the underlying component material structure are maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS- ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Wayne E Voice, Richard C Dewes, Martin R Bache, Stephen J Tuppen, Hong G Lee, David K Aspinwall
  • Turbine engine stator and method of assembly of the same
    Patent number: 9062552
    Abstract: A turbine engine stator stage includes a plurality of vanes with each of the plurality of vanes having a camber angle. The plurality of vanes is arranged in a plurality of groups with each group including a pre-determined sequence of vanes. The ordering of vanes within each group is determined by the camber of the individual vanes. This results in an arrangement of vanes within the stator stage which can modify the flow characteristics of the air entering the stator stage to reduce the circumferential pressure variation in the flow region immediately downstream of the stator stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Lewis J. Holmes
  • Leaf seal
    Patent number: 9057444
    Abstract: A leaf seal is provided for effecting a seal between two, coaxial, relatively rotating components. The leaf seal has an annular pack of stacked leaves. The pack is mountable to a first one of the components at root portions of the leaves and extends towards the other component such that end edges of the leaves are presented for wiping contact with the other component and, in use, a pressure drop is maintained axially across the pack. The leaf seal has a coverplate at the high or the low pressure side of the pack covering a portion of the radial extent of the pack. Some or all of the leaves have respective abutment formations. Each abutment formation is arranged to abut the coverplate at a stop portion upon radial deflection of the leaf by a predetermined amount to prevent further radial deflection beyond that amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Ingo Henry Johannes Jahn
  • Clipping die for clipping a component
    Patent number: 9056352
    Abstract: A clipping die for clipping a component, the clipping die including a riser having a support surface with a cutting edge for clipping the component under the action of a punch. A referencing member is provided for engagement with a reference portion of the component. The referencing member is mounted on a resilient element. The resilient element is depressed under the action of a punch to move the referencing member into a position such that the component is fully supported by the support surface during the clipping process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: John McBain
  • Torque-limiting coupling
    Patent number: 9051972
    Abstract: Described herein is a torque-limiting coupling provided for connecting coaxial, first and second rotating shafts. The coupling includes a first connecting part on an end of the first shaft and a second connecting part on an end of the second shaft. An interconnector joins to the first connecting part at a first engagement formation, and joins to the second connecting part at a second engagement formation. The first engagement formation threadingly joins the interconnector to the first connecting part. The second engagement formation can resist rotational movement of the interconnector relative to the second connecting part but allows movement of the interconnector in the axial direction of the shafts. When a torque transmitted by the shafts exceeds a predetermined value, the interconnector rotates relative to the first connecting part at the threaded engagement formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Seamus Garvey, James Simonds
  • Fuel heat management system
    Patent number: 9051056
    Abstract: A fuel heat management system including a fuel line for conveying fuel, and a fuel/oil heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line. The fuel heat management system further comprises an oil line for circulating oil from an engine oil system to the fuel/oil heat exchanger and back to the engine oil system. The fuel/oil heat exchanger brings the oil and the fuel into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further includes an air/oil heat exchanger which receives oil flowing through the oil line, the air/oil heat exchanger bringing the oil and air into heat exchange relationship. The fuel heat management system further includes an air/fuel heat exchanger which receives fuel flowing through the fuel line, the air/fuel heat exchanger bringing the fuel and air into heat exchange relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Robert E. Leese
  • Support structure forming method
    Patent number: 9051850
    Abstract: A method of forming an annular support structure for fastening a component of a gas turbine engine to a static part of the engine is provided. The support structure has a substantially frustoconical skin portion which, in use, extends inwardly from the static part. The support structure further has a flange portion which extends inwardly from an inner edge of the skin portion. In use, a mating flange extending outwardly from the component is attached to the flange portion. The flange portion has an engagement face against which a corresponding face of the mating flange is secured. The flange portion further has an inwardly-facing land at an outer edge of the engagement face which restrains the component against radial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Michael L. Carlisle