Patents by Inventor Bradley W. Burkett

Bradley W. Burkett 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: 11861270
    Abstract: An improved manufacturing method includes virtually aligning scanned virtual vane components that are virtual electronic counterparts of separately manufactured and three-dimensionally scanned physical vane components used in gas turbine engines. The improved method performs virtual alignments for any of various possible virtual combinations of the virtual vane components to predict how their physical counterparts would likely behave in combination with each other before those physical counterparts are inseparably combined. One or more optimal virtual combinations are identified, in turn indicating optimal physical combinations to select to form physical vanes incorporated into one or more gas turbine engines, in turn improving the quality of the vanes and ultimately engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Bradley W. Burkett
  • Publication number: 20210334427
    Abstract: An improved manufacturing method includes virtually aligning scanned virtual vane components that are virtual electronic counterparts of separately manufactured and three-dimensionally scanned physical vane components used in gas turbine engines. The improved method performs virtual alignments for any of various possible virtual combinations of the virtual vane components to predict how their physical counterparts would likely behave in combination with each other before those physical counterparts are inseparably combined. One or more optimal virtual combinations are identified, in turn indicating optimal physical combinations to select to form physical vanes incorporated into one or more gas turbine engines, in turn improving the quality of the vanes and ultimately engine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Alan Bulgrin, Bradley W. Burkett
  • Patent number: 11003806
    Abstract: A computing device for determining effective flow areas of a turbine or turbine engine includes optically scanning and digital modeling of turbine components to produce virtual vanes, virtual vane segments, and virtual ring assemblies. The computing device determines both individual effective flow areas between vanes and the total effective flow area of a vane ring assembly. Based on the virtual vanes and determined effective flow areas, the computing device may compare one or more turbine components to a reference turbine to determine whether the turbine is out of specification and aid in repair, modification, or reassembly of the turbine or turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Engine Services Oakland, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley W. Burkett
  • Publication number: 20200026821
    Abstract: A computing device for determining effective flow areas of a turbine or turbine engine includes optically scanning and digital modeling of turbine components to produce virtual vanes, virtual vane segments, and virtual ring assemblies. The computing device determines both individual effective flow areas between vanes and the total effective flow area of a vane ring assembly. Based on the virtual vanes and determined effective flow areas, the computing device may compare one or more turbine components to a reference turbine to determine whether the turbine is out of specification and aid in repair, modification, or reassembly of the turbine or turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventor: Bradley W. Burkett
  • Patent number: 10339264
    Abstract: A computing device for determining effective flow areas of a turbine or turbine engine includes optically scanning and digital modeling of turbine components to produce virtual vanes, virtual vane segments, and virtual ring assemblies. The computing device determines both individual effective flow areas between vanes and the total effective flow area of a vane ring assembly. Based on the virtual vanes and determined effective flow areas, the computing device may compare one or more turbine components to a reference turbine to determine whether the turbine is out of specification and aid in repair, modification, or reassembly of the turbine or turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Engine Services Oakland, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley W. Burkett
  • Publication number: 20170206303
    Abstract: A computing device for determining effective flow areas of a turbine or turbine engine includes optically scanning and digital modeling of turbine components to produce virtual vanes, virtual vane segments, and virtual ring assemblies. The computing device determines both individual effective flow areas between vanes and the total effective flow area of a vane ring assembly. Based on the virtual vanes and determined effective flow areas, the computing device may compare one or more turbine components to a reference turbine to determine whether the turbine is out of specification and aid in repair, modification, or reassembly of the turbine or turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventor: Bradley W. Burkett