Patents by Inventor Andrew Eifert
Andrew Eifert 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).
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Patent number: 12146414Abstract: A vane assembly includes vanes, an actuator assembly, and a controller. The vanes are configured to rotate about their pitch axes. The actuator assembly includes an annular ring arranged radially outward of the vanes and coupled to the vanes, a magnet arranged on the annular ring, and a stator arranged adjacent the magnet. The ring is configured to rotate the vanes about the pitch axes in response to rotation of the ring about the central axis and the stator is configured to selectively rotate the magnet and annular ring about the central axis. The controller controls movement of the ring via the stator and magnets in response to at least one of (i) at least one operating condition of the gas turbine engine, or (ii) at least one operating parameter of the at least one first vane.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Timothy Unton, Andrew Eifert, Michael Moser
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Patent number: 12146415Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment plate. The adjustment plate includes a main plate portion arranged on the ring and including a first adjustment region defined between two walls and a first elongated opening formed through the first adjustment region, and an adjustment fastener removably arranged in the first adjustment region between the first and second walls and including an adjustment head and a fastening pin eccentrically coupled to the adjustment head and removably coupled to the annular ring. The adjustment fastener can be selectively arranged at rotational positions within the first adjustment region so as to selectively arrange the fastening pin at distinct circumferential positions relative to the first and second walls such that the main plate portion can be positioned at distinct circumferential positions.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
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Publication number: 20240229673Abstract: A vane assembly includes a casing, vanes, and an actuator assembly. The vanes are arranged within the casing and are rotatably coupled to the casing for rotation relative thereto and configured to rotate about their pitch axes. The actuator assembly is arranged radially outward of the casing and includes an annular ring surrounding the casing and coupled to the vanes, a magnet arranged on the ring, and a stator spaced apart from the magnet. The ring is configured to rotate the vanes about their pitch axes in response to rotation of the ring about the central axis and the stator is configured to selectively rotate the magnet and ring about the central axis. The stator is configured to create a magnetic field which causes annular movement of the ring via interaction with the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2022Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: Timothy Unton, Andrew Eifert, Michael Moser
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Publication number: 20240229672Abstract: A vane assembly includes vanes, an actuator assembly, and a controller. The vanes are configured to rotate about their pitch axes. The actuator assembly includes an annular ring arranged radially outward of the vanes and coupled to the vanes, a magnet arranged on the annular ring, and a stator arranged adjacent the magnet. The ring is configured to rotate the vanes about the pitch axes in response to rotation of the ring about the central axis and the stator is configured to selectively rotate the magnet and annular ring about the central axis. The controller controls movement of the ring via the stator and magnets in response to at least one of (i) at least one operating condition of the gas turbine engine, or (ii) at least one operating parameter of the at least one first vane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2022Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: Timothy Unton, Andrew Eifert, Michael Moser
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Publication number: 20240218805Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment plate. The adjustment plate includes a main plate portion arranged on the ring and including a first adjustment region defined between two walls and a first elongated opening formed through the first adjustment region, and an adjustment fastener removably arranged in the first adjustment region between the first and second walls and including an adjustment head and a fastening pin eccentrically coupled to the adjustment head and removably coupled to the annular ring. The adjustment fastener can be selectively arranged at rotational positions within the first adjustment region so as to selectively arrange the fastening pin at distinct circumferential positions relative to the first and second walls such that the main plate portion can be positioned at distinct circumferential positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2022Publication date: July 4, 2024Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
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Patent number: 12000292Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment assembly. The ring adjustment assembly includes a base plate coupled to the ring and having a recess, a first collar removably arranged within the recess and having a cavity formed therein, a second collar removably arranged within the cavity, and a roller pin fixedly coupled to the second collar. The cavity is offset relative to the first collar and roller pin is offset relative to the second collar. The first collar can be selectively arranged at rotational positions within the recess and the second collar can be selectively arranged at rotational positions within the cavity such that the roller pin can be positioned at distinct positions each corresponding to a rotational position of the first collar and a rotational position of the second collar.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
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Patent number: 12000293Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly includes a base frame mounted on the ring and including a support body having a first cavity, a first collar removably arranged within the first cavity and having a second cavity formed therein, a second collar removably arranged within the second cavity, and a roller pin coupled to the second collar. The second cavity is offset relative to the first collar and the roller pin is offset relative to the second collar. The first and second collars can be selectively arranged at rotational positions within the first and second cavities such that the roller pin can be positioned at distinct roller pin positions each corresponding to a rotational position of the first collar and a rotational position of the second collar.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
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Patent number: 11982193Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment assembly. The ring adjustment assembly includes a first inclined plate and a second inclined plate, the first inclined plate having an inclined surface facing a first inclined surface of the second inclined plate. A roller pin is coupled to a second inclined surface of the second inclined plate opposite the first inclined surface. The second inclined plate is adjustable in the circumferential direction such that the inclined surface of the first inclined plate and the first inclined surface of the second inclined plate slide against each other during adjustment of the second inclined plate so as to adjust an axial position and a circumferential position of the roller pin relative to the annular ring.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
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Publication number: 20240133312Abstract: A vane assembly includes vanes, an actuator assembly, and a controller. The vanes are configured to rotate about their pitch axes. The actuator assembly includes an annular ring arranged radially outward of the vanes and coupled to the vanes, a magnet arranged on the annular ring, and a stator arranged adjacent the magnet. The ring is configured to rotate the vanes about the pitch axes in response to rotation of the ring about the central axis and the stator is configured to selectively rotate the magnet and annular ring about the central axis. The controller controls movement of the ring via the stator and magnets in response to at least one of (i) at least one operating condition of the gas turbine engine, or (ii) at least one operating parameter of the at least one first vane.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Timothy Unton, Andrew Eifert, Michael Moser
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Publication number: 20240133313Abstract: A vane assembly includes a casing, vanes, and an actuator assembly. The vanes are arranged within the casing and are rotatably coupled to the casing for rotation relative thereto and configured to rotate about their pitch axes. The actuator assembly is arranged radially outward of the casing and includes an annular ring surrounding the casing and coupled to the vanes, a magnet arranged on the ring, and a stator spaced apart from the magnet. The ring is configured to rotate the vanes about their pitch axes in response to rotation of the ring about the central axis and the stator is configured to selectively rotate the magnet and ring about the central axis. The stator is configured to create a magnetic field which causes annular movement of the ring via interaction with the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Inventors: Timothy Unton, Andrew Eifert, Michael Moser
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Patent number: 11834966Abstract: A vane adjustment assembly includes a plurality of vanes, an annular ring coupled to the vanes, and a ring adjustment assembly. The ring adjustment assembly includes a shim plate having a first shim surface removably arranged on an axially facing surface of the annular ring, a carrier plate having a first carrier surface removably arranged on a second shim surface of the shim plate opposite the first shim surface, and a roller pin coupled to a second carrier surface of the carrier plate opposite the first carrier surface. The shim plate is sized so as to locate the roller pin at a predetermined distance from the annular ring so as to adjust a position of the plurality of variable vanes relative to the roller pin.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ryan Humes, Andrew Eifert, Paulo Bazan
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Patent number: 10920602Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling tip clearance in a gas turbine engine are provided. The system may include a distribution manifold positioned along the engine case for a turbine of a gas turbine engine. The distribution manifold may include a passageway for a thermal fluid, an inlet configured to direct the thermal fluid into the passageway, an inner surface extending along and facing the outer surface of the engine case, and a plurality of outlets configured to direct the thermal fluid onto the outer surface of the engine case. The thermal fluid may include bypass air. A component may add kinetic energy to the thermal fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Adrian Carl Sitler, Andrew Eifert, Ryan C. Humes
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Patent number: 10794667Abstract: Systems and methods thermal management of a directed energy weapon are provided. The system may include a controller module executable by a processor to determine a planned energy emission from a light-emitting diode (LED) of the directed energy weapon. The controller module may generate a cooling instruction to influence a temperature of the LED with a cooling fluid in response to the planned energy emission. The controller module may cause the cooling fluid to be applied to the LED in accordance with the cooling instruction prior to a start of the planned energy emission of the LED.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Andrew Eifert, Eric Wilson, Russell White, Mark Jon Blackwelder
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Publication number: 20200165933Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling tip clearance in a gas turbine engine are provided. The system may include a distribution manifold positioned along the engine case for a turbine of a gas turbine engine. The distribution manifold may include a passageway for a thermal fluid, an inlet configured to direct the thermal fluid into the passageway, an inner surface extending along and facing the outer surface of the engine case, and a plurality of outlets configured to direct the thermal fluid onto the outer surface of the engine case. The thermal fluid may include bypass air. A component may add kinetic energy to the thermal fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Adrian Carl Sitler, Andrew Eifert, Ryan C. Humes
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Patent number: 10428676Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling tip clearance in a gas turbine engine are provided. The system may include a distribution manifold positioned along an outer surface of an engine case of a gas turbine engine. The distribution manifold may include a plurality of outlets defined on the distribution manifold to direct a thermal fluid received by the distribution manifold onto an outer surface of the engine case of the gas turbine engine. The system may further include a variable blower configured to blow the thermal fluid into the distribution manifold at a flow rate controlled by the variable blower. The flow rate through the variable blower may be adjustable over a range of non-zero target flow rates.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2017Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Adrian Carl Sitler, Andrew Eifert, Ryan C. Humes
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Publication number: 20180363488Abstract: An apparatus and methods for controlling tip clearance in gas turbine engines may be provided. The apparatus and methods may include situating fins on a surface of a turbine case included in a turbine section of the gas turbine engine. The fins may act as a means for maintaining tip clearance by, for example, controlling the thermal expansion of the turbine case. The turbine case may shroud turbine blades, and the turbine blades may include tips at a radial end of the blades. During operation of the gas turbine engine, the clearance between the tips and the turbine case is desirably as small as possible while avoiding contact in order to optimize efficiency of the gas turbine engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2017Publication date: December 20, 2018Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Adrian Carl Sitler, Andrew Eifert, Ryan C. Humes
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Publication number: 20180355747Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling tip clearance in a gas turbine engine are provided. The system may include a distribution manifold positioned along an outer surface of an engine case of a gas turbine engine. The distribution manifold may include a plurality of outlets defined on the distribution manifold to direct a thermal fluid received by the distribution manifold onto an outer surface of the engine case of the gas turbine engine. The system may further include a variable blower configured to blow the thermal fluid into the distribution manifold at a flow rate controlled by the variable blower. The flow rate through the variable blower may be adjustable over a range of non-zero target flow rates.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2017Publication date: December 13, 2018Inventors: Adrian Carl Sitler, Andrew Eifert, Ryan C. Humes
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Publication number: 20180259302Abstract: Systems and methods thermal management of a directed energy weapon are provided. The system may include a controller module executable by a processor to determine a planned energy emission from a light-emitting diode (LED) of the directed energy weapon. The controller module may generate a cooling instruction to influence a temperature of the LED with a cooling fluid in response to the planned energy emission. The controller module may cause the cooling fluid to be applied to the LED in accordance with the cooling instruction prior to a start of the planned energy emission of the LED.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2017Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Andrew Eifert, Eric Wilson, Russell White, Mark Jon Blackwelder
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Patent number: 9915201Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed which includes a bypass passage that in some embodiments are capable of being configured to act as a resonance space. The resonance space can be used to attenuate/accentuate/etc a noise produced elsewhere. The bypass passage can be configured in a number of ways to form the resonance space. For example, the space can have any variety of geometries, configurations, etc. In one non-limiting form the resonance space can attenuate a noise forward of the bypass duct. In another non-limiting form the resonance space can attenuate a noise aft of the bypass duct. Any number of variations is possible.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Michael Abraham Karam, Craig Heathco, Andrew Eifert
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Publication number: 20140248121Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed which includes a bypass passage that in some embodiments are capable of being configured to act as a resonance space. The resonance space can be used to attenuate/accentuate/etc a noise produced elsewhere. The bypass passage can be configured in a number of ways to form the resonance space. For example, the space can have any variety of geometries, configurations, etc. In one non-limiting form the resonance space can attenuate a noise forward of the bypass duct. In another non-limiting form the resonance space can attenuate a noise aft of the bypass duct. Any number of variations is possible.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2013Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Michael Abraham KARAM, Craig HEATHCO, Andrew EIFERT