Patents Assigned to Rolls-Royce plc
  • GAS TURBINE ENGINE NOSE CONE
    Publication number: 20110236217
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine nose cone assembly (40) comprises a tapering spinner (42). The tapering spinner (42) has a point (44) at a first end (46) and a circular base (48) at a second end (50). The tapering spinner (42) comprises a carbon fibre containing composite material layer (70), an electrically insulating layer (74) arranged on an inner surface (72) of the carbon fibre containing composite material layer (70), an electrically conducting layer (78) arranged on an inner surface (76) of the electrically insulating layer (74) and an electrically conducting member (80) extends through the first end of the tapering spinner (42) and is connected to the electrically conducting layer (78). This arrangement provides lightning protection for the gas turbine engine nose cone assembly (40).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Kristofer J. BOTTOME
  • ELECTRICAL MACHINE SAFETY SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110234180
    Abstract: An electrical machine system including a permanent magnet assembly having a magnetic field and a plurality of conductive coils, the magnet assembly and coils arranged for relative rotation between the coils and magnetic field in the manner of an electrical generator or motor, the system further comprising a current injector electrically connected to said coils and arranged selectively to supply a current signal thereto, the current signal being asynchronous with the frequency of rotation between the permanent magnet assembly and coils so as to heat and thereby demagnetise one or more magnet within said permanent magnet assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: John J. A. CULLEN, Geraint W. JEWELL
  • METHOD OF SECURING A LINER PANEL TO A CASING
    Publication number: 20110232833
    Abstract: A liner panel, such as a cassette 120 of a fan track liner of a gas turbine engine, is secured to a casing of the engine at flanges 124 and 126. Foam pads 42 are disposed between the casing 40 and the cassette 120 to support the cassette 120 from the casing 40. The pads 42 may be made from a reticulated polyurethane foam which is sufficiently resilient to be compressed and to expand to remain in contact with the cassette 120 and the casing 40 as the cassette 120 moves towards and away from the casing 40 during the assembly process. The foam is impregnated with a hardener composition which is uncured during installation of the cassette 120, but subsequently cures to increase the rigidity of the pads 42.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Ross COLLINS, Ruth A. Barcock
  • MAGNETIC GEAR ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20110234034
    Abstract: A magnetic gear arrangement comprises: (i) a first gear member for generating a first magnetic field, (ii) a second gear member for generating a second magnetic field, and (iii) a coupling device which provides arrangements of interpoles between the first gear member and the second gear member. The interpoles couple the first and second magnetic fields such that different arrangements of interpoles produce different gear ratios between the first and second gear members. The coupling device comprises a plurality of ferromagnetic pole elements which at leastly partly form the interpoles. Each pole element has a Curie temperature whereby the pole element is active below its Curie temperature and inactive above its Curie temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Huw L. Edwards
  • INTERSTAGE SEAL
    Publication number: 20110236185
    Abstract: An interstage seal is provided for installation between forward and aft stage discs of a turbine section of a gas turbine engine. The seal has a forward annular portion, which extends forward to contribute to an air seal at the outer periphery of the forward stage disc, and an aft annular portion, which extends rearward to contribute to an air seal at the outer periphery of the aft stage disc. The seal has a peripheral slot into which static vane inner rails are loadable. The seal includes a first component, which provides the forward annular portion, and a second component, which provides the aft annular portion. The second component is separably connectable to the first component such that the first and second components, when connected, cooperate to form the peripheral slot. Loading the static vane inner rails into the slot prevents the second component separating from the first component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: KATHERINE SOPHIA PIGGOTT, PAUL ANTONY DAVIS, MARK JOHN SIMMS
  • FUEL HEAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20110232293
    Abstract: A fuel heat management system comprises 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 comprises 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 comprises 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Robert E. LEESE
  • STRAIN MEASUREMENT OF ROTATING COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20110232395
    Abstract: A strain sensor apparatus for a rotatable shaft including an emitter/receiver, a vibration element attached to the shaft and arranged for receiving and reflecting signals to and from the emitter/receiver wherein the vibration element includes asymmetric stiffness properties between a radial and axial and/or circumferential directions relative to a rotational axis of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Werner Schiffers, John R. Webster
  • VALVE
    Publication number: 20110233434
    Abstract: A valve arrangement including a valve body and a valve seat each having an opposed surface, the valve arrangement also includes a high-frequency cyclic actuator to move the valve body with respect to the valve scat seat to bring the opposed surfaces into and out of abutment, characterised in that the opposed surface at least one of the valve body and the valve seat includes a resiliently displaceable surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: John R. Webster
  • Wall elements for gas turbine engine combustors
    Patent number: 8024933
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wall element for a wall structure of a gas turbine engine combustor. The wall element has an inner, in use, hot surface, and an outer, in use, cooler surface. A plurality of projections is provided on the outer surface to facilitate heat transfer to a coolant flow. The wall element comprises a means to direct more coolant flow at a hot-spot on an adjacent tile than the remainder of the adjacent tile and thereby reducing the thermal gradient across the adjacent tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: James R Woolford, Stephen J Mills, Kevin A White
  • ROTATING BLADE ANALYSIS
    Publication number: 20110231171
    Abstract: Methods are provided for: (i) measuring the position of the blade stagger angle axis for one or more blades of a row of blades attached to a rotor, (ii) measuring the blade tip stagger angle for one or more such blades, and (iii) measuring the blade tip axial displacement for one or more such blades. The methods use forward and rearward blade tip timing datasets for successive rotations of the blades from two axially spaced blade tip timing probes. The forward probe is forward of the rearward probe along the axial direction of the rotor. The blade tip timing datasets allow the times of arrival of the blades at the respective probes to be measured. The methods also use a once per revolution dataset for the successive rotations of the blades. The once per revolution dataset allows the angular velocity of the blades to be measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: OLIVIER JOUSSELIN
  • ROTOR BLADE TIP CLEARANCE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20110229306
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a row of circumferentially spaced rotor blades and a plurality of seal segments circumscribing the rotor blade tips and attached to a radially inward side of a casing of the engine. The seal segments are spaced from the casing by a spacing cavity. A flow of relatively hot cooling air is routed to the spacing cavity to cool the seal segments. The engine has an external cooling arrangement for impinging relatively cold cooling air on a radially outward side of the casing. The engine has a wall containing a plurality of through-holes which is attached to a radially inward side of the casing adjacent the seal segments. The wall is spaced from the casing to define a heating control chamber between the wall and the casing. The engine has one or more closable ducts which allow air to be exhausted from the heating control chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Leo V. LEWIS, Marko BACIC
  • CONTROLLING BLADE PITCH ANGLE
    Publication number: 20110229319
    Abstract: A method and arrangement of controlling blade pitch angle of a set of rotor blades. The method comprises providing a target blade pitch angle to a controller mounted on the rotor; measuring the speed of rotation of the rotor using a rate gyro mounted on the rotor; calculating the blade pitch angle required to match the target blade pitch angle by summing the target blade pitch angle and the measured rotational speed; and actuating the blades to the calculated blade pitch angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Marko BACIC, Jonathan E. HOLT
  • Bearing arrangement
    Patent number: 8021050
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement having first and second components located for relative operational movement by a respective bearing. The bearing has a bearing element including a pack of resiliently flexible bristles or leaves for transmitting force between the components thereby locally to provide a relative kinematic constraint on at least one degree of freedom of the components during the relative operational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: John L. Gibbons
  • Crystallographic orientation measurement
    Patent number: 8023108
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring the crystallographic orientation of a component cast by a directional solidification process. The method comprises the steps of: illuminating at least a region of the component surface with substantially coherent light, measuring the mean angle and intensity of the light reflected from the component surface, and correlating said mean angle and intensity to the crystallographic orientation of the component. The method has been found to lend itself particularly well to automation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: John H. Boswell
  • ACTUATOR
    Publication number: 20110219764
    Abstract: An actuator comprises an actuator element in the form of a lamina 2 made from a shape memory material. A heating element 6 is bonded to the lamina 2 and serves to heat the lamina 2 to cause it change phase and thereby operate the actuator. The heating element 6 is encapsulated in a bonding layer 4 which is bonded to the lamina 2. The heating element 6 is made from a superelastic and/or shape memory effect material, for example an alloy such as NiTi, which exhibits superelastic properties so that the heating element 6 can follow the strain induced in the lamina 2 without being strained beyond its elastic limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: John E. ANTHONY, Cosimo BUFFONE
  • PROPELLER ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20110223020
    Abstract: A propeller arrangement has a first propeller assembly providing a row of first propellers, and a second propeller assembly, rearward of the first propeller assembly, providing a row of second propellers. The first and second propellers are radially extendable and retractable. The propeller arrangement further has a control system for controlling the extension and retraction of the first and second propellers. The control system is arranged such that when the propellers of one of the first and second propeller assemblies extend, the propellers of the other of the first and second assemblies retract.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Alexander V. LAVRENKO
  • STRAIN GAUGE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20110219883
    Abstract: A strain gauge assembly 2 comprising: a plurality of strain gauges 4, 6 arranged in a side-by-side relationship, each having a first end 10 and a second end 12; wherein the first and/or second end 10, 12 of one of the plurality of strain gauges 4, 6 is offset from a corresponding first and/or second end 10, 12 of another of the plurality of strain gauges 4, 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Alison J. MCMILLAN
  • STRAIN MEASUREMENT OF ROTATING COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20110219887
    Abstract: A strain sensor apparatus for a rotatable shaft including a radiation emitter/receiver, a vibration element attached to the shaft and a radiation-reflective annulus surrounding the shaft and vibration element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Werner Schiffers, John R. Webster
  • APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF TESTING THE ADHESION STRENGTH AND/OR COHESIVE STRENGTH OF A COATING
    Publication number: 20110214497
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) to test the adhesion strength and/or cohesive strength of a coating (12) comprises a first member (14) having an aperture (16) and a second member (18) locatable in the aperture (16) in the first member (14). A temperature sensor (20) is arranged to measure the temperature of the first member (14). A third member (22) and a fourth member (24) are mounted on the first member (14). The third member (22) has a first strain gauge (26) to measure the strain in a first direction and the fourth member (24) has a second strain gauge (28) to measure the strain in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Christopher SELLARS, Andrew HEWITT
  • CONTAINMENT CASING
    Publication number: 20110217156
    Abstract: A containment casing is provided comprising a radially outer layer; an intermediate energy absorbing layer, and a retention framework for retaining an aerofoil blade in the event of detachment of whole or part of the blade. The retention framework is distributed axially and circumferentially along the casing and extends substantially radially inwardly at least partially through the intermediate energy absorbing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Alison J. MCMILLAN