Patents by Inventor Dale E Evans

Dale E Evans 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).

  • Publication number: 20200298987
    Abstract: A containment for a gas turbine engine, the containment comprising: a plurality of acoustic panels angularly arranged around a central longitudinal axis of the containment, each forming part of an annular acoustic liner. Each acoustic panel comprises: a core of cellular material comprising a plurality of elongate cells which are elongate along respective cell directions, wherein each of the elongate cells is circumferentially inclined relative to a local radial direction such that the cell direction has a circumferential component and a radial component relative to the central longitudinal axis; at least one axially-extending panel side wall which is circumferentially inclined relative to a local radial direction such that, in a plane normal to the central longitudinal axis, the panel side wall has a circumferential component and a radial component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Dale E. EVANS
  • Patent number: 10689990
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vane arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises providing an aerofoil having a hollow cavity with an open end and providing a support member having a stub. The method further comprises welding the aerofoil to the stub. The method yet further comprises removing material from the stub so as to define a hollow region that extends through the support member and stub to the cavity of the aerofoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Dale E. Evans, Steven A. Radomski, Clive Grafton-Reed
  • Patent number: 10675716
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vane arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises providing an aerofoil having a hollow cavity with an open end and providing a support member having a stub with a through hole extending therethrough. The method comprises welding the aerofoil to the stub such that the open end of the hollow cavity of the aerofoil is aligned with the through hole of the stub so as to define a hollow region extending through the support member and stub to the cavity of the aerofoil. During welding a tool is positioned within the through hole and cavity and is aligned with an interface between the stub and aerofoil, the tool being configured to prevent weld splatter onto a surface of the cavity or through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Dale E. Evans, Steven A. Radomski, Clive Grafton-Reed
  • Patent number: 10428681
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas turbine engine comprising a tubular containment casing surrounding a rotary fan blade assembly. The radially outer perimeter (and optionally the radially inner perimeter) of the radial cross-sectional profile of the containment casing is non-circular e.g. polygonal, corrugated, fluted or wavy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: James A Finlayson, Dale E Evans, Ian C D Care
  • Publication number: 20190048887
    Abstract: A fan disc apparatus for a gas turbine engine comprises a fan disc; a first drive arm for connecting the fan disc to a fan drive shaft of the gas turbine engine; and a second drive arm for connecting the fan disc to the fan drive shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Christopher BENSON, Dale E. EVANS
  • Patent number: 10161419
    Abstract: A fan casing assembly comprising an annular casing member for circumferentially surrounding a fan, and an annular fan track liner comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjacent liner panels. The annular fan track liner is positioned radially inward of the annular casing member. A tilting arrangement is provided and configured to selectively circumferentially tilt one or more of the liner panels, such that, in the event of a fan blade being released from a fan, the tilting arrangement can initiate tilting of one or more liner panels so that the liner panels can trim one or more of the remaining fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian C D Care, Dale E Evans
  • Publication number: 20180320534
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vane arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises providing an aerofoil having a hollow cavity with an open end and providing a support member having a stub. The method further comprises welding the aerofoil to the stub. The method yet further comprises removing material from the stub so as to define a hollow region that extends through the support member and stub to the cavity of the aerofoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Dale E. EVANS, Steven A. Radomski, Clive Grafton-Reed
  • Publication number: 20180318966
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vane arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises providing an aerofoil having a hollow cavity with an open end and providing a support member having a stub with a through hole extending therethrough. The method comprises welding the aerofoil to the stub such that the open end of the hollow cavity of the aerofoil is aligned with the through hole of the stub so as to define a hollow region extending through the support member and stub to the cavity of the aerofoil. During welding a tool is positioned within the through hole and cavity and is aligned with an interface between the stub and aerofoil, the tool being configured to prevent weld splatter onto a surface of the cavity or through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Dale E. EVANS, Steven A. RADOMSKI, Clive GRAFTON-REED
  • Publication number: 20180066538
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising a stator, wherein the stator comprises laminated oscillating heat pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Steven A. RADOMSKI, Dale E EVANS
  • Publication number: 20160363135
    Abstract: A fan casing assembly comprising an annular casing member for circumferentially surrounding a fan, and an annular fan track liner comprising a plurality of circumferentially adjacent liner panels. The annular fan track liner is positioned radially inward of the annular casing member. A tilting arrangement is provided and configured to selectively circumferentially tilt one or more of the liner panels, such that, in the event of a fan blade being released from a fan, the tilting arrangement can initiate tilting of one or more liner panels so that the liner panels can trim one or more of the remaining fan blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian C D CARE, Dale E EVANS
  • Publication number: 20160356286
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas turbine engine comprising a tubular containment casing surrounding a rotary fan blade assembly. The radially outer perimeter (and optionally the radially inner perimeter) of the radial cross-sectional profile of the containment casing is non-circular e.g. polygonal, corrugated, fluted or wavy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: James A. FINLAYSON, Dale E. EVANS, Ian C.D. CARE
  • Patent number: 9359901
    Abstract: This invention relates to a stator aerofoil for a gas turbine engine, comprising: a body portion; at least one panel which forms at least part of one of either the pressure or section surface of the aerofoil; at least one internal chamber which is bounded by the body portion and panel; and, at least one elastomeric component within the at least one internal chamber, wherein the elastomeric component at least partially defines a cell within the internal chamber, wherein the cell is in fluid communication with the exterior of the aerofoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Dale E Evans, Ian C D Care
  • Patent number: 9145784
    Abstract: An annulus filler system bridges the gap between two adjacent blades attached to a rim of the rotor disc of a gas turbine engine. The system includes an annulus filler having a lid which extends between the adjacent blades and defines an airflow surface for air being drawn through the engine. The filler also has a support body extending beneath the lid and terminating in an elongate foot which, in use, extends along a groove provided in the rim of the disc. The groove has a neck which prevents withdrawal of the foot through the neck in a radially outward direction of the disc. The system further includes a sleeve which, after installation of the filler, is slidably locatable into a gap between the foot and sides of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Dale E. Evans, Ian C. D. Care
  • Patent number: 8888439
    Abstract: A turbomachine casing assembly including a first casing element locatable radially outward of one or more rotating aerofoil elements of a turbomachine, a second casing element located radially distal to the first casing element is provided. A void is provided between a radially proximal face of the first casing element and a radially proximal face of the second casing element, at the first end of the first casing element. The first end of the first casing element is located against a corresponding first end of the second casing element by an energy absorbing element, with the first casing element; including a cantilever. The cantilever is arranged in a region extending along the first casing element from the first end; and having a pivot axis at a mid portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Cedric B. Harper, Ian C. D. Care, Dale E. Evans
  • Patent number: 8851850
    Abstract: An annulus filler assembly for a rotor of a turbomachine, the assembly comprising: an annulus lid (56) having a radially outwardly facing surface (58) for forming an inner wall of a flow annulus of the rotor and a radially inwardly facing surface; and a frame for supporting the annulus lid (40), the frame being mountable to a disc of the rotor such that the annulus lid (56) is spaced away from the disc, wherein the frame (40) comprises a connection portion (46) which, in use, passes through an aperture (60) in the annulus lid (56) from the radially inwardly facing surface towards the radially outwardly facing surface (58) such that at least a portion of the connection portion (46) is visible from the radially outwardly facing surface (58); the assembly further comprising a locking element (68) which locks the connection portion (46) to the annulus lid (56) via the visible portion of the connection portion (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Matthew A. C. Hoyland, Dale E. Evans, Ian C. D. Care
  • Patent number: 8647049
    Abstract: High bypass ratio turbofan propulsion engines are designed with a two-step approach to surviving foreign object damage to the fan assembly. First, a containment system encircling the fan assembly to capture any part of a released fan blade in the event of damage occurring, and two in order to cope with the vibrations resulting from a rotating unbalanced fan assembly the support structure for the bearing of the rotating assembly is constructed with frangible parts to introduce a snubber gap to permit the rotating, unbalanced fan assembly and bearing to orbit thereby to reduce the resulting vibrations. However, in the case of very wide chord fan assemblies, the largest acceptable snubber gap is insufficient to reduce the induced vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Dale E. Evans, Michael R. Lawson
  • Publication number: 20130064661
    Abstract: This invention relates to a stator aerofoil for a gas turbine engine, comprising: a body portion; at least one panel which forms at least part of one of either the pressure or section surface of the aerofoil; at least one internal chamber which is bounded by the body portion and panel; and, at least one elastomeric component within the at least one internal chamber, wherein the elastomeric component at least partially defines a cell within the internal chamber, wherein the cell is in fluid communication with the exterior of the aerofoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Dale E. EVANS, Ian C D CARE
  • Patent number: 8371803
    Abstract: A fan casing assembly for a gas turbine, the assembly having a fan casing for surrounding a fan, a resilient, flexible containment material around the outside of the fan casing for containing a detached fan blade that breaches the casing during a fan blade off event, and a retaining cable arrangement for resisting separation of a first and second portion of the casing as a result of the breach. The cable arrangement includes a continuous length of retaining cable extending around the fan casing on the outside of the containment material, the retaining cable being slidably or rollably secured to each of the first and second portions at a plurality of positions around the fan casing to form respective cable spans between the casing portions, there being sufficient overall slack in the cable for accommodating radial flexing of the underlying containment material upon impact of the detached fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Dale E. Evans
  • Publication number: 20120263596
    Abstract: An annulus filler system bridges the gap between two adjacent blades attached to a rim of the rotor disc of a gas turbine engine. The system includes an annulus filler having a lid which extends between the adjacent blades and defines an airflow surface for air being drawn through the engine. The filler also has a support body extending beneath the lid and terminating in an elongate foot which, in use, extends along a groove provided in the rim of the disc. The groove has a neck which prevents withdrawal of the foot through the neck in a radially outward direction of the disc. The system further includes a sleeve which, after installation of the filler, is slidably locatable into a gap between the foot and sides of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Dale E. EVANS, Ian C.D. CARE
  • Publication number: 20120263595
    Abstract: An annulus filler system bridges the gap between two adjacent blades attached to a rim of the rotor disc of a gas turbine engine. The system includes an annulus filler having a lid which extends between the adjacent blades and defines an airflow surface for air being drawn through the engine. The filler also has a support body extending beneath the lid and terminating in an elongate foot which, in use, extends along a groove provided in the rim of the disc. The groove has a neck which prevents withdrawal of the foot through the neck in a radially outward direction of the disc. The system further includes a sleeve which, after installation of the filler, is slidably locatable into a gap between the foot and sides of the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Dale E. EVANS, Ian C.D. CARE