Patents by Inventor Brian Shoemaker

Brian Shoemaker 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: 10626731
    Abstract: An airfoil cooling system may be provided. An airfoil may have a pressure side and a suction side that are separated by a leading edge. The leading edge may pass through a stagnation point of the airfoil. A spar may have an outer surface comprising standoffs. The standoffs may define a cooling channel that extends across the leading edge on the outer surface of the spar, from the pressure side to the suction side. The cooling channel may have a first portion and a second portion defined by the standoffs. The first portion may be located closer to a base or a tip of the airfoil than the second portion. The spar may further comprise an inlet on the pressure side or the suction side. The inlet may be configured to convey a cooling fluid from a passageway located inside of the spar to the cooling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brett Barker, Bruce Varney, Brian Shoemaker, Charles Bulgrin
  • Publication number: 20200080426
    Abstract: An airfoil cooling system may be provided. An airfoil may have a pressure side and a suction side that are separated by a leading edge. The leading edge may pass through a stagnation point of the airfoil. A spar may have an outer surface comprising standoffs. The standoffs may define a cooling channel that extends across the leading edge on the outer surface of the spar, from the pressure side to the suction side. The cooling channel may have a first portion and a second portion defined by the standoffs. The first portion may be located closer to a base or a tip of the airfoil than the second portion. The spar may further comprise an inlet on the pressure side or the suction side. The inlet may be configured to convey a cooling fluid from a passageway located inside of the spar to the cooling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Brett Barker, Bruce Varney, Brian Shoemaker, Charles Bulgrin
  • Patent number: 10450873
    Abstract: An airfoil cooling system may be provided. An airfoil may have a pressure side and a suction side that are separated by a leading edge. The leading edge may pass through a stagnation point of the airfoil. A spar may have an outer surface comprising standoffs. The standoffs may define a cooling channel that extends across the leading edge on the outer surface of the spar, from the pressure side to the suction side. The cooling channel may have a first portion and a second portion defined by the standoffs. The first portion may be located closer to a base or a tip of the airfoil than the second portion. The spar may further comprise an inlet on the pressure side or the suction side. The inlet may be configured to convey a cooling fluid from a passageway located inside of the spar to the cooling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Brett Barker, Bruce Varney, Brian Shoemaker, Charles Bulgrin
  • Patent number: 10436040
    Abstract: An airfoil with dual wall cooling for a gas turbine engine comprises a spar having pressure and suction side walls that meet at leading and trailing edges of the airfoil, with a tip extending therebetween. An interior of the spar includes a coolant cavity, and each of the pressure and suction side walls includes an arrangement of pedestals on an outer surface thereof and a plurality of cooling holes in fluid communication with the coolant cavity. A pressure side coversheet overlies the pressure side wall and terminates in a radial direction short of the tip of the spar to form a shelf extending along a chordal direction. Flow channels between the pressure side wall and coversheet are configured to direct coolant from the cooling holes to radial flow outlets adjacent to the shelf. A suction side coversheet overlies the suction side wall, and a coolant circuit between the suction side wall and coversheet does not include radial coolant outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery F. Rhodes, Tyler C. Gillen, Christopher Nash, Brian Shoemaker, Brett J. Barker
  • Publication number: 20190032493
    Abstract: An airfoil cooling system may be provided. An airfoil may have a pressure side and a suction side that are separated by a leading edge. The leading edge may pass through a stagnation point of the airfoil. A spar may have an outer surface comprising standoffs. The standoffs may define a cooling channel that extends across the leading edge on the outer surface of the spar, from the pressure side to the suction side. The cooling channel may have a first portion and a second portion defined by the standoffs. The first portion may be located closer to a base or a tip of the airfoil than the second portion. The spar may further comprise an inlet on the pressure side or the suction side. The inlet may be configured to convey a cooling fluid from a passageway located inside of the spar to the cooling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Brett Barker, Bruce Varney, Brian Shoemaker, Charles Bulgrin
  • Publication number: 20180202295
    Abstract: An airfoil with dual wall cooling for a gas turbine engine comprises a spar having pressure and suction side walls that meet at leading and trailing edges of the airfoil, with a tip extending therebetween. An interior of the spar includes a coolant cavity, and each of the pressure and suction side walls includes an arrangement of pedestals on an outer surface thereof and a plurality of cooling holes in fluid communication with the coolant cavity. A pressure side coversheet overlies the pressure side wall and terminates in a radial direction short of the tip of the spar to form a shelf extending along a chordal direction. Flow channels between the pressure side wall and coversheet are configured to direct coolant from the cooling holes to radial flow outlets adjacent to the shelf. A suction side coversheet overlies the suction side wall, and a coolant circuit between the suction side wall and coversheet does not include radial coolant outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffery F. Rhodes, Tyler C. Gillen, Christopher Nash, Brian Shoemaker, Brett J. Barker
  • Publication number: 20050046095
    Abstract: A check valve assembly for the forced gas cooling system of a vacuum heat treating furnace is disclosed. The check valve assembly includes a check valve for installation on the exterior of a hot zone wall in a vacuum heat treating furnace. The check valve includes a valve body forming an inlet, an outlet, and a channel extending longitudinally through the valve body. The valve body has an inner wall that forms a recess near the inlet. The channel contains a flap pivotally supported on a shaft that extends through the recess. The flap pivots in and out of the channel to permit a cooling gas to flow through the valve body in one direction while substantially preventing the flow of gas through the valve body in the opposite direction. The flap is operable between a closed position in which the flap extends into the channel to obstruct the channel, and an open position in which the flap is pivoted out of the channel and into the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventor: Brian Shoemaker