Patents by Inventor Desmond Close

Desmond Close 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: 7181914
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine pre-diffuser 40 is generally annular, including radially inner and radially outer walls 40 and 42 and a generally cylindrical midline 48 defined between the walls. The pre-diffuser 40 includes a central member 46 which forces air flowing through the pre-diffuser 40 to separate, initially to be directed away from the midline 48 before subsequently being allowed to diffuse back towards the midline 48. The majority of the diffusion takes place on the walls of the central member and is thus in an inner region of the annulus of air ejected from the pre-diffuser to pass to the combustor. Any boundary losses therefore do not significantly effect air at the extremities of this annulus, this air being destined for the annuli of the combustor and requiring relatively high energy levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 7089742
    Abstract: A wall element (29) for a wall structure (21) of a gas turbine engine combustor (15). The wall element (29) comprises a main member (36) with an upstream edge region (30) and a downstream edge region (31). A plurality of heat removal members (38) are provided on the main member (36). The downstream edge (35) of the wall element and/or the downstream facing surface of the heat removal members closest to the downstream edge (35) are provided with a thermally resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michael P. Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 7080516
    Abstract: A gas diffusion arrangement (22) for a gas turbine engine (10) is disclosed. The gas diffusion arrangement (22) has an inlet (26) and an outlet (28) for the gas, and comprises diffusion means (32) having an upstream region (38) and a downstream region (40). Distribution means (41) is arranged between the downstream region (40) and the outlet (28) to distribute the gas into a desired flow pattern. The area ratio of the cross-sectional area of the downstream region (40) to the cross-sectional area of the upstream region (38) is greater than 1.5 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Publication number: 20060117755
    Abstract: A wall element (29) for a wall structure (21) of a gas turbine engine combustor (15). The wall element (29) comprises a main member (36) with an upstream edge region (30) and a downstream edge region (31). A plurality of heat removal members (38) are provided on the main member (36). The downstream edge (35) of the wall element and/or the downstream facing surface of the heat removal members closest to the downstream edge (35) are provided with a thermally resistant coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 7000397
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P Spooner
  • Publication number: 20050262846
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael Spooner
  • Patent number: 6857275
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Publication number: 20050034399
    Abstract: A double wall structure (22) for a combustor (15) of a gas turbine engine (10) comprising an inner wall (28) and an outer wall (27), the inner wall (28) comprising a plurality of main tiles (50), the main tiles (50) are secured to the outer wall (27) by a securing means (35), wherein the inner wall (28) further comprises a plurality of edge tiles (52) which are secured to the outer wall (27) by securing means (35), each edge tile (52) overlapping at least one edge (30, 31, 54, 61) of a main tile (50) thereby further securing the main tiles (50) to the outer wall (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Publication number: 20040195396
    Abstract: A gas diffusion arrangement (22) for a gas turbine engine (10) is disclosed. The gas diffusion arrangement (22) has an inlet (26) and an outlet (28) for the gas, and comprises diffusion means (32) having an upstream region (38) and a downstream region (40). Distribution means (41) is arranged between the downstream region (40) and the outlet (28) to distribute the gas into a desired flow pattern. The area ratio of the cross-sectional area of the downstream region (40) to the cross-sectional area of the upstream region (38) is greater than 1.5 to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Publication number: 20040083739
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 6708499
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P Spooner
  • Publication number: 20040045298
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Publication number: 20040011043
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine pre-diffuser 40 is generally annular, including radially inner and radially outer walls 40 and 42 and a generally cylindrical midline 48 defined between the walls. The pre-diffuser 40 includes a central member 46 which forces air flowing through the pre-diffuser 40 to separate, initially to be directed away from the midline 48 before subsequently being allowed to diffuse back towards the midline 48. The majority of the diffusion takes place on the walls of the central member and is thus in an inner region of the annulus of air ejected from the pre-diffuser to pass to the combustor. Any boundary losses therefore do not significantly effect air at the extremities of this annulus, this air being destined for the annuli of the combustor and requiring relatively high energy levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 6666025
    Abstract: A wall element (29) for a wall structure (21) of a gas turbine engine combustor (15). The wall element (29) comprises a main member (36) with an upstream edge region (30) and a downstream edge region (31). A plurality of heat removal members (38) are provided on the main member (36). The downstream edge (35) of the wall element and/or the downstream facing surface of the heat removal members closest to the downstream edge (35) are provided with a thermally resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michael P Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Publication number: 20030145604
    Abstract: A double wall structure (22) for a combustor (15) of a gas turbine engine (10) comprising an inner wall (28) and an outer wall (27), the inner wall (28) comprising a plurality of main tiles (50), the main tiles (50) are secured to the outer wall (27) by a securing means (35), wherein the inner wall (28) further comprises a plurality of edge tiles (52) which are secured to the outer wall (27) by securing means (35), each edge tile (52) overlapping at least one edge (30, 31, 54, 61) of a main tile (50) thereby further securing the main tiles (50) to the outer wall (27).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 6470685
    Abstract: A wall structure for a gas turbine combustor arranged to have a general direction of fluid flow therethrough includes inner and outer walls defining a space therebetween. The inner wall is made up of a plurality of tiles having axial edges aligned generally with the direction of fluid flow, a gap being defined between axial edges of adjacent tiles. Orifices are provided within the axial edges to direct leakage air passing through the gaps to give the leakage air a flow component in the general direction of fluid flow through the combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P Spooner
  • Publication number: 20020124572
    Abstract: A wall element for use as part of an inner wall of a gas turbine engine combustor wall structure is of cast construction and includes a plurality of cooling apertures provided therethrough and formed during the casting process. The cooling apertures may be located in positions where they could not be conventionally formed by laser drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 6408628
    Abstract: A wall element (29A, 29B) for a combustor (20) of a gas turbine engine (10). The wall element (29A, 29B) defines an axis. In use, the axis is arranged generally parallel to the principal axis of the engine (10). In one aspect, the length of the wall element (29B) along the axis is at least substantially 20% of the length of the wall element (29B) transverse to the axis. In another aspect, the wall element (29A, 29B) has a first pair of opposite edges extending transverse to the axis and a second pair of opposite edges (48, 50) extending transverse to the first pair, at least one of the second pair of edges (48, 50) being angled relative to the axis of the wall element (29A, 29B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close, Michael P. Spooner
  • Patent number: 6334297
    Abstract: A combustor arrangement (8) for a gas turbine engine (3) comprising a combustion chamber, fuel nozzles(52a,52b), and a bled diffuser (7) located upstream of said combustion chamber to, in use, direct an airflow from an upstream compressor (6) into the combustor (8). The fuel nozzles (52a,52b) arranged in use to supply fuel into the combustion chamber where it is mixed and combusted with the airflow from the compressor (6). The bled diffuser (7) adapted to bleed off a portion of said airflow from a main airflow into the combustion chamber. At least one bleed duct (46) is connected to the bled diffuser (7) to return and direct the air bled from the diffuser (7) to a main gas flow through the engine (3) at a location downstream of the fuel supply means (52a,52b). The bled air from the diffuser (7) preferably providing cooling of a part of the gas turbine engine (3), for example part of the turbine (10) or combustor outlet vane (58), downstream of the combustor (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Geoffrey M Dailey, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close
  • Patent number: 6324830
    Abstract: A fuel injector assembly designed to withstand a predetermined impact load resulting from ingestion of a bird or other foreign object into the combustion stage of a gas turbine engine comprises a body member adapted to be mounted adjacent to and to extend into the combustion chamber and an abutment member disposed downstream of the injector assembly in the direction of air flow through the combustion stage, the arrangement being such that the body member moves into contact with the abutment member when subjected to an impact load in excess of the impact load it is designed to withstand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michael P Spooner, Anthony Pidcock, Desmond Close