Patents by Inventor Douglas David Dierksmeier

Douglas David Dierksmeier 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: 20220349308
    Abstract: A turbine wheel for a gas turbine engine including a compressor impeller and a radial inflow turbine integral to or attached to the compressor impeller is provided. A compressor turbine wheel including features to increase surface area of a surface of the compressor impeller and/or the radial inflow turbine and/or a passage to flow air between the compressor impeller and the radial inflow turbine is further provided. Methods for cooling radial inflow turbines integral to compressor impellers are further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Michael A. Karam
  • Patent number: 11300049
    Abstract: A system includes a housing for a gas turbine engine, and a fan disposed in the housing to rotate coaxially with a gas turbine included in the housing. The system also includes an inlet guide vane disposed in the housing in axial alignment with the fan and configured to have an open position where a first flow of air is received by the fan through the inlet guide vane, and a closed position where airflow through the inlet guide vane is obstructed. The system further includes a heat exchanger disposed in a supply passage in fluid communication with a second flow of air received by the fan. The second flow of air is received by the fan via the supply passage with the inlet guide vane in the open position or in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Douglas Boyd, Douglas J. Snyder, Graham Burkholder, William Barry Bryan
  • Publication number: 20220034227
    Abstract: A turbine wheel for a gas turbine engine including a compressor impeller and a radial inflow turbine integral to or attached to the compressor impeller is provided. A compressor turbine wheel including features to increase surface area of a surface of the compressor impeller and/or the radial inflow turbine and/or a passage to flow air between the compressor impeller and the radial inflow turbine is further provided. Methods for cooling radial inflow turbines integral to compressor impellers are further provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Michael A. Karam
  • Publication number: 20210277827
    Abstract: A system includes a housing for a gas turbine engine, and a fan disposed in the housing to rotate coaxially with a gas turbine included in the housing. The system also includes an inlet guide vane disposed in the housing in axial alignment with the fan and configured to have an open position where a first flow of air is received by the fan through the inlet guide vane, and a closed position where airflow through the inlet guide vane is obstructed. The system further includes a heat exchanger disposed in a supply passage in fluid communication with a second flow of air received by the fan. The second flow of air is received by the fan via the supply passage with the inlet guide vane in the open position or in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Douglas Boyd, Douglas J. Snyder, Graham Burkholder, William Barry Bryan
  • Patent number: 11028715
    Abstract: An air seal for a jet turbine engine with an upper stator, lower stator and finned turbine disk. The thermal expansion of the stators may be regulated by a control ring, which has a lower rate of thermal expansion that the stators, to prevent rubbing between the stator and fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 11008882
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for adjusting the radial position of one or more blade tracks radially encasing the blades of a turbine stage in a gas turbine engine. The assembly comprises a static turbine casing, a plurality of blade track carriers, an annular control ring, an actuator, and a plurality of blade tracks. The blade tracks have a radially inner surface that defines a flowpath boundary of the turbine stage. The blade tracks are carried by the blade track carriers, which are engaged with the annular control ring. Actuation of the actuator moves the control ring in an axial dimension and this movement is translated into an adjustment of the radial position of the blade track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 11008881
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 10989062
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for adjusting the radial position of a blade track relative to a blade of a turbine stage in a gas turbine engine. The assembly comprises a static turbine casing, a blade track carrier, a blade track support assembly, an actuator, and a blade track. The blade track carrier comprises a pair of radially extending flanges each defining at least one bore in radial and axial alignment with each other forming a pair of bores. The blade track support assembly comprises a portion extending through each bore in a pair of bores, and one or more cam-shaped portions rotatable about an axis of rotation. The blade track has an arcuate flange and a support flange, the support flange being carried by the cam-shaped portion of the blade track support assembly such that rotation of the cam-shaped portion effects radial movement of the blade track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10907493
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a rotatable turbine in a gas turbine engine comprising a carrier, a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment, and an elongated pin. The carrier defines a pin-receiving carrier bore and the CMC seal segment defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore. The pin-receiving carrier bore includes a cantilevered member such that the carrier bore has a length sufficient to effect radial flexion between the carrier bore and the pin received within the carrier bore during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Publication number: 20200332671
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for adjusting the radial position of one or more blade tracks radially encasing the blades of a turbine stage in a gas turbine engine. The assembly comprises a static turbine casing, a plurality of blade track carriers, an annular control ring, an actuator, and a plurality of blade tracks. The blade tracks have a radially inner surface that defines a flowpath boundary of the turbine stage. The blade tracks are carried by the blade track carriers, which are engaged with the annular control ring. Actuation of the actuator moves the control ring in an axial dimension and this movement is translated into an adjustment of the radial position of the blade track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20200332672
    Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for adjusting the radial position of a blade track relative to a blade of a turbine stage in a gas turbine engine. The assembly comprises a static turbine casing, a blade track carrier, a blade track support assembly, an actuator, and a blade track. The blade track carrier comprises a pair of radially extending flanges each defining at least one bore in radial and axial alignment with each other forming a pair of bores. The blade track support assembly comprises a portion extending through each bore in a pair of bores, and one or more cam-shaped portions rotatable about an axis of rotation. The blade track has an arcuate flange and a support flange, the support flange being carried by the cam-shaped portion of the blade track support assembly such that rotation of the cam-shaped portion effects radial movement of the blade track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10704408
    Abstract: A blade track system includes an outer ring coupled with a blade track, and an inner ring positioned concentrically between the outer ring and the blade track. The outer ring designed to radially expand, at a first predetermined rate, in response to acceleration of a gas turbine engine. The segments of the blade track radially outwardly expanded away from a hub of the gas turbine engine by the radial expansion of the outer ring. The inner ring designed to radially contract inwardly toward the hub of the gas turbine engine at a second predetermined rate in response to deceleration of the gas turbine. The first predetermined rate being greater than the second predetermined rate, and radial contraction of the outer ring and the segments of the blade track constrained to the predetermined rate of contraction of the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20200102847
    Abstract: An air seal for a jet turbine engine with an upper stator, lower stator and finned turbine disk. The thermal expansion of the stators may be regulated by a control ring, which has a lower rate of thermal expansion that the stators, to prevent rubbing between the stator and fins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Publication number: 20200025012
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a rotatable turbine in a gas turbine engine comprising a carrier, a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment, and an elongated pin. The carrier defines a pin-receiving carrier bore and the CMC seal segment defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore. The pin-receiving carrier bore includes a cantilevered member such that the carrier bore has a length sufficient to effect radial flexion between the carrier bore and the pin received within the carrier bore during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Publication number: 20190338663
    Abstract: A blade track system includes an outer ring coupled with a blade track, and an inner ring positioned concentrically between the outer ring and the blade track. The outer ring designed to radially expand, at a first predetermined rate, in response to acceleration of a gas turbine engine. The segments of the blade track radially outwardly expanded away from a hub of the gas turbine engine by the radial expansion of the outer ring. The inner ring designed to radially contract inwardly toward the hub of the gas turbine engine at a second predetermined rate in response to deceleration of the gas turbine. The first predetermined rate being greater than the second predetermined rate, and radial contraction of the outer ring and the segments of the blade track constrained to the predetermined rate of contraction of the inner ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas David Dierksmeier
  • Patent number: 10370997
    Abstract: A segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a rotatable turbine in a gas turbine engine comprising a carrier, a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment, and an elongated pin. The carrier defines a pin-receiving carrier bore and the CMC seal segment defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore. The pin-receiving carrier bore includes a cantilevered member such that the carrier bore has a length sufficient to effect radial flexion between the carrier bore and the pin received within the carrier bore during operation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE HIGH TEMPERATURE COMPOSITES INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Publication number: 20180328213
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce Notth American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 10087770
    Abstract: A shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine is provided. The shroud comprises a carrier which defines a pin-receiving carrier bore, and a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment comprising an arcuate flange with a surface facing the turbine and a part that defines a pin-receiving seal segment bore. The seal segment bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange which extends radially outward from the arcuate flange to effect receipt within the seal segment bore of an elongated pin. The elongated pin extends through the carrier bore and the seal segment bore, and the elongated pin has a lateral cross-sectional dimension of at least three-eighths of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 9963990
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment for use in a segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The CMC seal segment comprises an arcuate flange having a surface facing the turbine and a portion defining a bore for receiving an elongated pin, with the bore having a length that is at least 70% of the length of the elongated pin received therein. The CMC seal segment is carried by the carrier by at least one of the elongated pins being received within the bore. The CMC seal segment portion defining a pin-receiving bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange extending radially outward from the arcuate flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Patent number: 9856884
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed having an air injection system useful to supply a relatively pressurized air to a flow path of a compressor. The air injection system includes a port cover operable to open and close a port through which the air can flow to the compressor from a relatively pressurized source. The port cover extends circumferentially around the gas turbine engine and can include a portion that is anchored and an opposite portion coupled to an actuator. Movement of the actuator causes the port cover to open and close the port. Biasing members can be used to urge the port cover into one of an open and closed position against the movement of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Daniel Kent Vetters