Patents by Inventor Anthony Pidcock

Anthony Pidcock 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: 10451278
    Abstract: A lean burn combustor includes a first wall and a second wall spaced from the first annular wall. Angularly spaced axially extending coolant collection manifolds collect coolant from the space between the first and second walls. A plurality of rows of axially spaced apertures extend through the first wall to supply coolant into the space between the first and second walls and one row of aperture is positioned between each pair of adjacent manifolds. The second wall extends the full length of the combustor. The second wall has a circumferentially extending wall extending towards and contacting the first wall and the wall is spaced from the downstream end of the second wall. An annular supply manifold supplies coolant to the space between the first and second walls downstream of the circumferentially extending wall and the manifolds supply coolant to the manifold. A film of coolant is discharged from the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Paul I. Chandler
  • Patent number: 10451277
    Abstract: A liner element for a gas turbine combustor having a structural wall with fixing apertures provided therethrough. The liner element has a unitary construction defining a cooling side and combustion side, and a plurality of effusion holes extending between a cooling side surface of the element and a combustion side surface of the element. The liner element is configured to be affixed to the structural wall of a combustor with its cooling side surface spaced from the wall to define a chamber between the cooling side surface and the wall, and the liner element further includes integrally formed and non-threaded protuberances on its cooling side, the protuberances being arranged to engage and extend through respective fixing apertures in the combustor wall. Also disclosed is a method of thermally insulating the liner element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul Ian Chandler, Anthony Pidcock
  • Patent number: 10295189
    Abstract: A combustion chamber arrangement comprises an annular combustion chamber arranged radially between an inner casing and an outer casing. The combustion chamber comprises a metering wall arranged upstream of an upstream wall and the upstream wall and the metering wall each have a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures. Each aperture in the metering wall is aligned with a respective one of the apertures in the upstream wall. A fuel injector is arranged in each of the apertures in the upstream wall. An air swirler is aligned with a respective one of the fuel injectors. Each air swirler is arranged between the upstream wall and the metering wall. The metering wall has a plurality of metering holes arranged to provide a controlled supply of air to each of the air swirlers and the combustion chamber is secured to the inner casing by a mounting feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Paul Chandler
  • Patent number: 9970660
    Abstract: There is disclosed a liner element in the form of an impingement/effusion tile for a gas turbine combustor having a structural wall. The liner element has a unitary construction defining a cooling side and combustion side, and a plurality of effusion holes extending between a cooling side surface of the element and a combustion side surface of the element. The liner element is configured to be affixed to the structural wall of a combustor with its cooling side surface spaced from the structural wall to define a chamber between the cooling side surface and the structural wall, and the liner element further includes integrally formed and internally threaded protuberances on its cooling side, the protuberances being arranged to engage the structural wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul I Chandler, Anthony Pidcock
  • Patent number: 9932903
    Abstract: A fuel manifold and fuel injector arrangement has a fuel manifold and at least one fuel injector. The fuel injector has main and pilot fuel nozzles. The fuel manifold has at least one fuel pipe segment and each fuel pipe segment has an outer pipe, an intermediate pipe arranged within the outer pipe and an inner pipe arranged within the intermediate pipe. A thermally insulating medium is provided in a chamber defined between the outer pipe and the intermediate pipe. The chamber between the intermediate pipe and the inner pipe is fluidly connected to a first fuel supply and the chamber within the inner pipe is fluidly connected to a second fuel supply. The at least one pilot fuel nozzle is fluidly connected to the chamber between the intermediate pipe and the inner pipe and the main fuel nozzle is fluidly connected to the chamber within the inner pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Paul Ian Chandler
  • Patent number: 9518737
    Abstract: A combustion chamber comprises an outer wall and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall. The outer wall has at least one mounting aperture extending there-through and the inner wall has threaded studs extending there-from. The threaded studs extend through the mounting apertures in the outer wall. Cooperating nuts locate on the studs and washers are positioned between the outer wall and the cooperating nuts. Each washer has a rim and a bore. The washers have one or more passages extending there-through from the rim to the bore of the washer to provide a flow of coolant through the passages in the washers, the mounting apertures in the outer wall and around the threaded studs to cool the threaded studs to increase the working life of the inner wall. Other cooling arrangements for the threaded studs are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Paul Ian Chandler
  • Publication number: 20160230994
    Abstract: A lean burn combustor includes a first wall and a second wall spaced from the first annular wall. Angularly spaced axially extending coolant collection manifolds collect coolant from the space between the first and second walls. A plurality of rows of axially spaced apertures extend through the first wall to supply coolant into the space between the first and second walls and one row of aperture is positioned between each pair of adjacent manifolds. The second wall extends the full length of the combustor. The second wall has a circumferentially extending wall extending towards and contacting the first wall and the wall is spaced from the downstream end of the second wall. An annular supply manifold supplies coolant to the space between the first and second walls downstream of the circumferentially extending wall and the manifolds supply coolant to the manifold. A film of coolant is discharged from the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Anthony PIDCOCK, Paul I. CHANDLER
  • Publication number: 20160102860
    Abstract: A liner element for a gas turbine combustor having a structural wall with fixing apertures provided therethrough. The liner element has a unitary construction defining a cooling side and combustion side, and a plurality of effusion holes extending between a cooling side surface of the element and a combustion side surface of the element. The liner element is configured to be affixed to the structural wall of a combustor with its cooling side surface spaced from the wall to define a chamber between the cooling side surface and the wall, and the liner element further includes integrally formed and non-threaded protuberances on its cooling side, the protuberances being arranged to engage and extend through respective fixing apertures in the combustor wall. Also disclosed is a method of thermally insulating the liner element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Ian CHANDLER, Anthony PIDCOCK
  • Publication number: 20160025345
    Abstract: There is disclosed a liner element in the form of an impingement/effusion tile for a gas turbine combustor having a structural wall. The liner element has a unitary construction defining a cooling side and combustion side, and a plurality of effusion holes extending between a cooling side surface of the element and a combustion side surface of the element. The liner element is configured to be affixed to the structural wall of a combustor with its cooling side surface spaced from the structural wall to define a chamber between the cooling side surface and the structural wall, and the liner element further includes integrally formed and internally threaded protuberances on its cooling side, the protuberances being arranged to engage the structural wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Paul I. CHANDLER, Anthony PIDCOCK
  • Publication number: 20150330635
    Abstract: A combustion chamber arrangement comprises an annular combustion chamber arranged radially between an inner casing and an outer casing. The combustion chamber comprises a metering wall arranged upstream of an upstream wall and the upstream wall and the metering wall each have a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures. Each aperture in the metering wall is aligned with a respective one of the apertures in the upstream wall. A fuel injector is arranged in each of the apertures in the upstream wall. An air swirler is aligned with a respective one of the fuel injectors. Each air swirler is arranged between the upstream wall and the metering wall. The metering wall has a plurality of metering holes arranged to provide a controlled supply of air to each of the air swirlers and the combustion chamber is secured to the inner casing by a mounting feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony PIDCOCK, Paul CHANDLER
  • Publication number: 20150211418
    Abstract: A fuel manifold and fuel injector arrangement has a fuel manifold and at least one fuel injector. The fuel injector has main and pilot fuel nozzles. The fuel manifold has at least one fuel pipe segment and each fuel pipe segment has an outer pipe, an intermediate pipe arranged within the outer pipe and an inner pipe arranged within the intermediate pipe. A thermally insulating medium is provided in a chamber defined between the outer pipe and the intermediate pipe. The chamber between the intermediate pipe and the inner pipe is fluidly connected to a first fuel supply and the chamber within the inner pipe is fluidly connected to a second fuel supply. The at least one pilot fuel nozzle is fluidly connected to the chamber between the intermediate pipe and the inner pipe and the main fuel nozzle is fluidly connected to the chamber within the inner pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony PIDCOCK, Paul Ian CHANDLER
  • Patent number: 9010124
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustion chamber includes a first wall and a second wall. The second wall is arranged within and spaced from the first wall to define a cavity between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall has a plurality of impingement apertures extending there-through and the second wall has a plurality of effusion apertures extending there-through. The impingement apertures have a first diameter, a first pitch, and a first area. The effusion apertures have a second diameter, a second pitch, and a second area. The ratio of the first diameter to the second diameter is at least 3, the ratio of the first pitch to the second pitch is at least 4 and the ratio of the first area to the second area is at least 9. This arrangement increases the cooling performance of the effusion apertures in the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul I. Chandler, Anthony Pidcock
  • Patent number: 8794961
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for a surface of a wall in a gas turbine engine, the wall having a plurality of effusion holes each with an outlet onto the surface for supplying an effusion flow to the surface and an inlet, the inlets of the effusion holes being arranged at the peripheries of groups tessellated on an opposing surface of the wall, each inlet being located on the peripheries of three groups. The arrangement comprises a second wall spaced apart from the opposing surface having impingement orifices each for directing a flow of air in use to a respective impingement location on the opposing surface, each group having a centrally positioned impingement location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventors: Paul I. Chandler, Anthony Pidcock
  • Publication number: 20140190166
    Abstract: A combustion chamber comprises an outer wall and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall. The outer wall has at least one mounting aperture extending there-through and the inner wall has threaded studs extending there-from. The threaded studs extend through the mounting apertures in the outer wall. Cooperating nuts locate on the studs and washers are positioned between the outer wall and the cooperating nuts. Each washer has a rim and a bore. The washers have one or more passages extending there-through from the rim to the bore of the washer to provide a flow of coolant through the passages in the washers, the mounting apertures in the outer wall and around the threaded studs to cool the threaded studs to increase the working life of the inner wall. Other cooling arrangements for the threaded studs are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Anthony PIDCOCK, Paul Ian CHANDLER
  • Publication number: 20130078582
    Abstract: A method of operating a “rich burn” combustion chamber includes supplying 10% of the air through an inlet in an upstream wall; supplying 64% to 80% of the air for mixing and supplying 10% to 26% of the air for cooling at least one double skin wall and the upstream wall; supplying a first portion of the 64% to 80% of the air for mixing through mixing ports into the combustion chamber; supplying a second portion of the 64% to 80% of the air for mixing to provide convective cooling of the at least one double skin wall before being supplied through additional mixing ports into the combustion chamber; and supplying the 10% to 26% of the air for cooling the at least one double skin wall and the upstream wall to provide convective and/or effusion cooling of the at least one double skin wall and the upstream wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Anthony PIDCOCK
  • Patent number: 8365531
    Abstract: A fuel injector head for a gas turbine engine the head comprising a pilot injector and a main injector located radially outwardly of the pilot injector. A concentric separates the pilot injector from the main injector and bounding a duct through which in use a fuel injected by the pilot injector flows. The splitter is hollow to improve cooling and has a radially inner surface which defines a first portion which tapers radially inwardly to a throat and a second portion which tapers radially outwardly from the throat with the angle of the radially outwards taper being such that a flow of air in use over the radially inner surface remains attached over the length of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Michael P Spooner
  • Publication number: 20120260663
    Abstract: A fuel supply arrangement for supplying fuel to a turbine engine, the arrangement having a fuel injector in fluidical connection with a first manifold via a first conduit and a second fuel manifold via a second conduit, wherein the first conduit is in fluidical connection with a valve having two outlets, the first outlet fluidically connecting the valve with at least one pilot vent in the injector, and the second outlet fluidically connecting the valve with at least one main vent in the injector via a second valve, the second conduit in fluidical connection with at least one further main vent in the injector via a third valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Anthony PIDCOCK
  • Publication number: 20120255308
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustion chamber includes a first wall and a second wall. The second wall is arranged within and spaced from the first wall to define a cavity between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall has a plurality of impingement apertures extending there-through and the second wall has a plurality of effusion apertures extending there-through. The impingement apertures have a first diameter, a first pitch, and a first area. The effusion apertures have a second diameter, a second pitch, and a second area. The ratio of the first diameter to the second diameter is at least 3, the ratio of the first pitch to the second pitch is at least 4 and the ratio of the first area to the second area is at least 9. This arrangement increases the cooling performance of the effusion apertures in the second wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Paul I. CHANDLER, Anthony PIDCOCK
  • Publication number: 20110016874
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for a surface of a wall in a gas turbine engine, the wall having a plurality of effusion holes each with an outlet onto the surface for supplying an effusion flow to the surface and an inlet, the inlets of the effusion holes being arranged at the peripheries of groups tessellated on an opposing surface of the wall, each inlet being located on the peripheries of three groups. The arrangement comprises a second wall spaced apart from the opposing surface having impingement orifices each for directing a flow of air in use to a respective impingement location on the opposing surface, each group having a centrally positioned impingement location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Paul I. Chandler, Anthony Pidcock
  • Publication number: 20100263755
    Abstract: A fuel distributor valve (19) of a type suitable for use in the fuel supply system of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The valve comprises: a valve body (22) through which a bore (24) extends between a fuel inlet (22) and a fuel outlet (23); a first valve seat (28) and associated valve member (30) provided across the bore (24), the first valve seat (28) defining at least one fuel-flow-port (26) and the valve member (30) being moveable between a closed position in which it substantially seals against the first valve seat (28) to close the or each fuel-flow-port (26) and an open position in which it is spaced from the first valve seat (28) to permit the flow of fuel through the or each fuel-flow-port (26) in a direction flowing from the fuel inlet (22) towards the fuel outlet (23).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Robert A. J. TAYLOR, Anthony PIDCOCK