Patents by Inventor Alan R Maguire

Alan R Maguire has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11572805
    Abstract: A system for supplying lubricant to a component of a gas turbine engine having a fan shaft is provided. The system includes a pump drivably couplable to the fan shaft for pumping lubricant to the component. The pump includes an inlet for receiving lubricant from a lubricant source, an outlet for outputting lubricant to the component and a swashplate movable between at least a first position and a second position. The system also includes a swashplate actuator for actuating the swashplate between the first position and the second position according to whether the fan shaft is rotating in a forward direction or a reverse direction opposite to the forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, Richard Sharpe, Neil J. Davies
  • Patent number: 11454174
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, in particular an aircraft engine, includes: a turbine connected via an input shaft device to a gearbox device having a sun gear, a planet carrier having a plurality of planet gears attached thereto, and a ring gear, the sun gear is connected to the input shaft device, the planet carrier or the ring gear is connected to a propulsive fan via an output shaft device of the gearbox device, with a rear carrier bearing device radially between the planet carrier and a static structure on the input side of the gearbox device, an inter-shaft bearing system being positioned radially between the input shaft device and the planet carrier of the gearbox device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Alan R Maguire
  • Patent number: 11230945
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft. The gas turbine engine comprises a rotatable shaft defining a rotational axis extending between rearward and forward ends of the gas turbine engine and a compressor drum surrounding, and coupled to, the shaft so as to define an annular gap therebetween. The gas turbine engine further comprises an intermediate case arranged axially rearward of the compressor drum and comprising a bearing support element extending into the annular gap, and a forward bearing mounted between the bearing support element and the shaft proximate a forward end of the compressor drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, Stewart T. Thornton, Philip C. Bond, Glenn A. Knight
  • Patent number: 10995678
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a core engine including: a compressor, combustion equipment which receives compressed air from the compressor, a circumferential row of nozzle guide vanes, and a turbine. The nozzle guide vanes defines a throat receiving hot working gases from the combustion equipment into the turbine. The gas turbine engine further has an air system which is switchably operable between an on-position which opens a diversion pathway along which a portion of the compressed air exiting the compressor bypasses the combustion equipment to join the hot working gases at re-entry holes located between the nozzle guide vanes and a rotor at the front of the turbine, thereby increasing the semi-dimensional mass flow ?(T30)0.5/(P30) of the core engine at the exit of the compressor, and an off-position which closes the diversion pathway, thereby decreasing the semi-dimensional mass flow of the core engine at the exit of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, Timothy J. Scanlon, Luis F. Llano, Paul A. Sellers
  • Patent number: 10968835
    Abstract: Apparatus for a gas turbine engine, the apparatus comprising: a core engine casing having a longitudinal axis and including: an inner wall defining at least part of a core airflow path through the gas turbine engine; an outer wall defining an external surface of the core engine casing, a first cavity being defined between the inner wall and the outer wall of the core engine casing; a plurality of guide vanes extending radially from the outer wall of the core engine casing; a torque box defined within the first cavity of the core engine casing and at least partially overlapping axially with the plurality of guide vanes, the torque box defining a second cavity; and an accessory gear box positioned within the second cavity of the torque box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, Richard G. Stretton
  • Patent number: 10920672
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, in particular an aircraft engine, includes: a turbine connected via an input shaft device to a gearbox device having a sun gear, a planet carrier having a plurality of planet gears attached thereto, and a ring gear, the sun gear is connected to the input shaft device, the planet carrier or the ring gear is connected to a propulsive fan via an output shaft device of the gearbox device, with a rear carrier bearing device radially between the planet carrier and a static structure on the input side of the gearbox device, an inter-shaft bearing system being positioned radially between the input shaft device and the planet carrier of the gearbox device. The input shaft device having a high rigidity or the input shaft device having a diaphragm section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Alan R. Maguire
  • Patent number: 10914240
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, in particular an aircraft engine, includes: a turbine connected via an input shaft device to a gearbox device having a sun gear, a planet carrier having a plurality of planet gears attached thereto, and a ring gear, the sun gear is connected to the input shaft device, the planet carrier or the ring gear is connected to a propulsive fan via an output shaft device of the gearbox device, with a rear carrier bearing device radially between the planet carrier and a static structure on the input side of the gearbox device or a front carrier bearing device radially between the planet carrier and a static structure on the output side of the gearbox device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, Geoffrey Hughes
  • Patent number: 10655475
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine and a turbine cooling arrangement. The turbine includes a turbine rotor surrounded by a static rotor track liner, and a nozzle guide vane downstream of the rotor in a core main gas flow path. The cooling arrangement includes a first air duct that provides cooling airflow to a rotor track liner cooling plenum and a second air duct that provides a cooling airflow to the nozzle guide vane. A common manifold is upstream in the cooling airflow of the ducts and provides cooling air to the ducts. A two-way valve modulates air provided to the ducts from the manifold. The valve is operates in a first or second mode. In the first mode, air flow to the first duct is relatively high and airflow to the second duct is relatively low compared to where the valve is operated in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Alan R Maguire, Timothy J Scanlon
  • Patent number: 10494105
    Abstract: An aircraft cabin blower system is described having a hydraulic circuit comprising a first hydraulic device and a second hydraulic device. The first hydraulic device is mechanically coupled to a cabin blower compressor and the second hydraulic device is arranged in use to be mechanically coupled to a spool of a gas turbine engine. The first hydraulic device is capable of performing as a hydraulic motor and the second hydraulic device is capable of performing as a hydraulic pump. When, in use, the system is operating in a cabin blower configuration, a driving force supplied by the spool of the gas turbine causes the second hydraulic device to pump liquid provided in the hydraulic circuit and thereby to drive the first hydraulic device, which in turn rotates the cabin blower compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Glenn A Knight, Alan R Maguire, Richard Sharpe
  • Patent number: 10371059
    Abstract: An aircraft cabin blower system comprising a transmission and a compressor is disclosed. The system has a forward configuration in which the compressor is drivable in use via the transmission. The transmission comprises a toroidal continuously variable transmission giving selectively variable control over the rate at which the compressor is driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Glenn A Knight, Alan R Maguire, Daniel Robinson
  • Patent number: 10145387
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a compressor, a compressor case surrounding the compressor and a compressor tip injector system is disclosed. The compressor tip injector system comprises a cabin blower system comprising a cabin blower compressor arranged in use to compress air used in a cabin of an aircraft and by the compressor tip injector system. The compressor case comprises one or more injectors of the compressor tip injector system through which in use air from the cabin blower compressor is injected towards blade tip ends of blades of the compressor as they rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Glenn A Knight, Alan R Maguire, Daniel Robinson, George Bostock, Mark J Wilson
  • Patent number: 9845682
    Abstract: A fan disc is provided for supporting fan blades of a gas turbine engine. The fan disc has a disc body having axially extending slots for receiving, in use, dovetail root fixings of a circumferential row of fan blades. The fan disc further has an annular drive arm which extends radially inwardly from a forward portion of the disc body to a connector for engaging, in use, with a corresponding connector portion of a drive shaft of the engine. The fan disc further has a hoop stiffening ring which is removably mounted to a rear portion of the disc body, the stiffening ring being axially spaced from the drive arm to increase the torsional stiffness of the fan disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Alan R Maguire, Kenneth F Udall, Phillip J Doorbar
  • Patent number: 8303187
    Abstract: In order to accommodate loading in a number of situations such as with regard to thrusts in a gas turbine engine it is known to provide thrust bearings. These thrust bearings can be large and may be difficult to accommodate. By providing a duplex or multiplex thrust bearing which may be of increased axial length but reduced radial width easier accommodation may be achieved. By providing a thrust element 27 which compromises a balance beam from which extend elastic hinges to a mounting to a fixed bearing frame and ends of bearing races 21, 22 an appropriate thrust response can be achieved dependent upon bearing loads presented through bearing elements 23, 24. By rotation of the balance beam and flexing of the elastic hinges 30, 31, 32 an appropriate bearing load share is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Udall, Alan R. Maguire
  • Patent number: 8104972
    Abstract: A number of machines such as gas turbine engines have asymmetric axial loading along a shaft (2, 3, 4). In order to accommodate for this asymmetric loading, known as an end bearing load, a load share bearing (103) is typically provided. However, specifying the fixed bearing (11, 12) becomes increasingly difficult as space and weight considerations are taken into account. In such circumstances providing a combination of a fixed bearing (11, 12) and a load share bearing (103) to achieve an acceptable bearing end load capacity is more acceptable. The proportion of the combination provided respectively by the fixed bearing and the load share bearing can be varied dependent upon operational stage in order to achieve more efficient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Alan R. Maguire
  • Patent number: 8083472
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine (10) comprising a first turbine (19) and a first compressor (13) mounted on a first shaft (26) and a bearing arrangement (52, 34) supporting the shaft (26), the bearing arrangement is subject to a total end load and comprises a fixed bearing (34), a load share bearing (52) and a bearing end load management system (50) that is capable of applying a variable load to the load share bearing to manage total end load between the bearings. The bearing end load management system comprises a static diaphragm (54) that defines part of a chamber (56) and that is coupled to the load share bearing whereby increased pressurization of the chamber loads the diaphragm which in turn increases the proportion of the total end load on the load share bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Alan R. Maguire
  • Patent number: 8011904
    Abstract: A gas feed assembly (30) comprises a compressor arrangement (32) comprising first and second compressor (34, 36). The gas feed assembly includes an outlet (42) for gas for the first and second compressors (34, 36). The gas feed assembly includes a first inlet (38) for the first compressor (34) and a second inlet (40) for the second compressor (36). The gas feed assembly further includes a valve assembly (52, 64) for allowing gas to enter either, or both, of the first and second compressors from at least one gas source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Alan R Maguire, Matthew W Whellens, Glenn A Knight
  • Publication number: 20100142871
    Abstract: In order to accommodate loading in a number of situations such as with regard to thrusts in a gas turbine engine it is known to provide thrust bearings. These thrust bearings can be large and may be difficult to accommodate. By providing a duplex or multiplex thrust bearing which may be of increased axial length but reduced radial width easier accommodation may be achieved. By providing a thrust element 27 which compromises a balance beam from which extend elastic hinges to a mounting to a fixed bearing frame and ends of bearing races 21, 22 an appropriate thrust response can be achieved dependent upon bearing loads presented through bearing elements 23, 24. By rotation of the balance beam and flexing of the elastic hinges 30, 31, 32 an appropriate bearing load share is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Udall, Alan R. Maguire
  • Patent number: 7698884
    Abstract: A power transmission arrangement comprises a first power transmission member connectable to a first main shaft of an engine. The arrangement also includes a second power transmission member connectable to a second main shaft of the engine and to a third power transmission member. A coupling assembly is provided which has a selectable coupling condition to couple the first power transmission member to the second power transmission member to allow power to be transmitted from the third power transmission member to the first main shaft of the engine via the first power transmission member. The coupling assembly has a decoupling condition to decouple the first power transmission member from the second power transmission member to allow power to be transmitted from the main shaft of the engine to the third power transmission member via the second power transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Alan R. Maguire, David C. Butt, Martyn Richards, Geoffrey E. Kirk, David A. Edwards, Glenn A. Knight
  • Patent number: 7625171
    Abstract: A cooling system for a gas turbine engine (FIG. 1) comprises a pre-swirl arrangement, preferably including a pre-swirl chamber, for providing cooling air to a turbine blade disc, and a ventilation arrangement for providing ventilation air to a rotating component of the gas turbine engine. The cooling system includes an air bypass arrangement, which preferably includes first, second and third air bypass duct portions, for conveying ventilation air away from the pre-swirl arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Alan R Maguire, John Hoptroff
  • Patent number: 7543439
    Abstract: A generator assembly for a gas turbine engine. The assembly includes an electrical generator connected via a first sprag clutch to an accessory gearbox driven by the engine. The generator is also connected by a second sprag clutch to an air turbine connected to engine bleed valves which are selectively open when the engine speed falls below a predetermined level. The clutches are arranged such that the generator is driven at any time by the fastest rotating of the gearbox and turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: David C Butt, Alan R Maguire