Patents by Inventor Duncan A MacDougall

Duncan A MacDougall 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: 12286895
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, comprising in axial flow series a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; a reduction gearbox that receives an input from the shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the shaft; wherein the compressor comprises a first stage at an inlet and a second stage, downstream of the first stage, comprising respectively a first rotor with a row of first blades and a second rotor with a row of second blades, the first and second blades comprising respective leading edges, trailing edges and tips, and wherein the ratio of a maximum leading edge radius of the first blades to a maximum leading edge radius of the second blades is greater than 2.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A Macdougall
  • Publication number: 20240426216
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, comprising in axial flow series a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; a reduction gearbox that receives an input from the shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the shaft; wherein the compressor comprises a first stage at an inlet and a second stage, downstream of the first stage, comprising respectively a first rotor with a row of first blades and a second rotor with a row of second blades, the first and second blades comprising respective leading edges, trailing edges and tips, and wherein the ratio of a maximum leading edge radius of the first blades to a maximum leading edge radius of the second blades is greater than 2.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J. Bousfield, Duncan A. Macdougall
  • Patent number: 12135313
    Abstract: A system for measuring loading on a test specimen. The system includes the test specimen arranged between a first loading bar and a second loading bar. The system further includes a first loading unit and a second loading unit configured to apply a first load and a second load to the first and second loading bars, respectively. The system further includes a first clamp and a second clamp configured to hold the first and second loading bars against the first and second loads, respectively. The system further includes a clamp actuating unit configured to selectively release at least the first clamp. The clamp actuating unit further includes a controller configured to electrically actuate at least one first electromechanical transducer from a retained state to a released state to release the first clamp, such that the first loading bar applies a first loading wave to the test specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Duncan A Macdougall, Julian M Reed, Sophoclis Patsias, Antonio Pellegrino, Clive R Siviour, Daniel Eakins, Yuan Xu, Junyi Zhou
  • Patent number: 12110804
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, comprising in axial flow series a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; a reduction gearbox that receives an input from the shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the shaft; wherein the compressor comprises a first stage at an inlet and a second stage, downstream of the first stage, comprising respectively a first rotor with a row of first blades and a second rotor with a row of second blades, the first and second blades comprising respective leading edges, trailing edges and tips, and wherein the ratio of a maximum leading edge radius of the first blades to a maximum leading edge radius of the second blades is greater than 2.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J. Bousfield, Duncan A. Macdougall
  • Patent number: 11920499
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a fan rotating about an engine main axis; a core duct; an engine core; an Engine Section Stator (ESS) including a plurality of ESS vanes and arranged in the core duct downstream of the fan; and a plurality of variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV) adapted to rotate about a pivot axis and arranged in the core duct downstream of the ESS. The VIGV vanes are arranged angularly rotated with respect to the ESS vanes such that the VIGVs are shielded by the ESS, thereby protecting the VIGVs from icing and from ice shedding from the ESS vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Geoffrey B Jones, Edward J Spalton, Duncan A Macdougall
  • Patent number: 11873731
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, comprising in axial flow series a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; a reduction gearbox that receives an input from the shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the shaft; wherein the compressor comprises a first stage at an inlet and a second stage, downstream of the first stage, comprising respectively a first rotor with a row of first blades and a second rotor with a row of second blades, the first and second blades comprising respective leading edges, trailing edges and tips, and wherein the ratio of a maximum leading edge radius of the first blades to a maximum leading edge radius of the second blades is greater than 2.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J. Bousfield, Duncan A. Macdougall
  • Publication number: 20230314249
    Abstract: A system and a method of testing a specimen. The system includes an endcap, a plurality of bars, a plurality of strain gauges, and a gas gun. The endcap includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface is curved. Each bar is disposed in contact with the second surface of the endcap and extends along a longitudinal axis. Each strain gauge is disposed on a surface of a corresponding bar from the plurality of bars. At least one strain gauge is disposed on the surface of each bar. The gas gun is configured to fire a specimen towards the first surface of the endcap such that the specimen impacts the first surface at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Zhen ZHOU, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL, Julian M. REED
  • Patent number: 11775662
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device searches encrypted objects stored in a secure virtual storage space is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives a search query that includes a set of tokens and encrypts the set of tokens. The device further creates a hashed set of encrypted tokens using a second hash function. In addition, the device sends the hashed set of encrypted tokens to a first search server as a query. Furthermore, the device receives, from the first search server, a first set of encrypted object names as a search result. The device additionally determines a set of client-side indexes to search by hashing at least some of the first set of encrypted object names using a first hash function. The device further decrypts the set of encrypted object names. The additionally searches the set of client-side indexes using the set of decrypted object names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Duncan MacDougall Greatwood
  • Patent number: 11732603
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, including a compressor, a combustor, and turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft, and reduction gearbox; wherein the compressor includes a plurality of stages, each stage including a respective rotor and stator, a first stage of the plurality of stages being arranged at an inlet and including a first rotor with a plurality of blades; each blade extending chordwise from a leading edge to a trailing edge, and from root to tip for a span height, wherein 0% of the span height corresponds to the root and 100% of span height corresponds to tip; wherein a ratio of a leading edge radius of each of the plurality of first rotor blades at 0% span height to a minimum leading edge radius is comprised between 1 and 1.50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20230228196
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, comprising in axial flow series a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; a reduction gearbox that receives an input from the shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the shaft; wherein the compressor comprises a first stage at an inlet and a second stage, downstream of the first stage, comprising respectively a first rotor with a row of first blades and a second rotor with a row of second blades, the first and second blades comprising respective leading edges, trailing edges and tips, and wherein the ratio of a maximum leading edge radius of the first blades to a maximum leading edge radius of the second blades is greater than 2.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J. BOUSFIELD, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL
  • Publication number: 20230220780
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a fan rotating about an engine main axis; a core duct; an engine core; an Engine Section Stator (ESS) including a plurality of ESS vanes and arranged in the core duct downstream of the fan; and a plurality of variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV) adapted to rotate about a pivot axis and arranged in the core duct downstream of the ESS. The VIGV vanes are arranged angularly rotated with respect to the ESS vanes such that the VIGVs are shielded by the ESS, thereby protecting the VIGVs from icing and from ice shedding from the ESS vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. JONES, Edward J. SPALTON, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL
  • Patent number: 11686248
    Abstract: A core duct assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a core duct including an outer and an inner wall, the outer wall having an interior surface; a gas flow path member extending across the gas flow path at least partly between the inner and outer walls, the rotor blade having a radial span extending from a blade platform to a blade tip, wherein an upstream wall axis is defined as an axis tangential to a point on a first portion of the interior surface of the outer wall of the core duct extending downstream from the gas flow path member, the upstream wall axis lying in a longitudinal plane of the gas turbine engine containing the rotational axis of the engine, and wherein the upstream wall axis intersects the rotor blade at a point spaced radially inward from the blade tip of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20230133728
    Abstract: A system for measuring loading on a test specimen. The system includes the test specimen arranged between a first loading bar and a second loading bar. The system further includes a first loading unit and a second loading unit configured to apply a first load and a second load to the first and second loading bars, respectively. The system further includes a first clamp and a second clamp configured to hold the first and second loading bars against the first and second loads, respectively. The system further includes a clamp actuating unit configured to selectively release at least the first clamp. The clamp actuating unit further includes a controller configured to electrically actuate at least one first electromechanical transducer from a retained state to a released state to release the first clamp, such that the first loading bar applies a first loading wave to the test specimen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Duncan A MACDOUGALL, Julian M REED, Sophoclis PATSIAS, Antonio PELLEGRINO, Clive R SIVIOUR, Daniel EAKINS, Yuan XU, Junyi ZHOU
  • Patent number: 11634993
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a fan rotating about an engine main axis; a core duct; an engine core; an Engine Section Stator (ESS) including a plurality of ESS vanes and arranged in the core duct downstream of the fan; and a plurality of variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV) adapted to rotate about a pivot axis and arranged in the core duct downstream of the ESS. The VIGV vanes are arranged angularly rotated with respect to the ESS vanes such that the VIGVs are shielded by the ESS, thereby protecting the VIGVs from icing and from ice shedding from the ESS vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Geoffrey B Jones, Edward J Spalton, Duncan A MacDougall
  • Patent number: 11634994
    Abstract: A nozzle guide vane for a gas turbine engine having a combined side wall thickness value which varies within a cavity region so as to provide a point with a maximum value of combined side wall thickness, which is advantageous for capturing debris travelling through the engine core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Duncan A MacDougall, Jaime Terron Fraile
  • Patent number: 11619135
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, comprising in axial flow series a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; a reduction gearbox that receives an input from the shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the shaft; wherein the compressor comprises a first stage at an inlet and a second stage, downstream of the first stage, comprising respectively a first rotor with a row of first blades and a second rotor with a row of second blades, the first and second blades comprising respective leading edges, trailing edges and tips, and wherein the ratio of a maximum leading edge radius of the first blades to a maximum leading edge radius of the second blades is greater than 2.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20230045400
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, including a compressor, a combustor, and turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; and reduction gearbox; wherein the compressor includes a plurality of stages, each stage including a respective rotor and stator, a first stage of the plurality of stages being arranged at an inlet and including a first rotor with a plurality of blades; each blade extending chordwise from a leading edge to a trailing edge, and from root to tip for a span height, wherein 0% of the span height corresponds to the root and 100% of span height corresponds to tip; wherein a ratio of a leading edge radius of each of the plurality of first rotor blades at 0% span height to a minimum leading edge radius is comprised between 1 and 1.50.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Ian J. BOUSFIELD, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL
  • Patent number: 11512607
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan mounted to rotate about a main longitudinal axis; an engine core, including a compressor, a combustor, and turbine coupled to the compressor through a shaft; and reduction gearbox; wherein the compressor includes a plurality of stages, each stage including a respective rotor and stator, a first stage of the plurality of stages being arranged at an inlet and including a first rotor with a plurality of blades; each blade extending chordwise from a leading edge to a trailing edge, and from root to tip for a span height, wherein 0% of the span height corresponds to the root and 100% of span height corresponds to tip; wherein a ratio of a leading edge radius of each of the plurality of first rotor blades at 0% span height to a minimum leading edge radius is comprised between 1 and 1.50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
  • Publication number: 20220372886
    Abstract: A nozzle guide vane for a gas turbine engine having a combined side wall thickness value which varies within a cavity region so as to provide a point with a maximum value of combined side wall thickness, which is advantageous for capturing debris travelling through the engine core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Duncan A. MACDOUGALL, Jaime TERRON FRAILE
  • Publication number: 20220162953
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a fan rotating about an engine main axis; a core duct; an engine core; an Engine Section Stator (ESS) including a plurality of ESS vanes and arranged in the core duct downstream of the fan; and a plurality of variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV) adapted to rotate about a pivot axis and arranged in the core duct downstream of the ESS. The VIGV vanes are arranged angularly rotated with respect to the ESS vanes such that the VIGVs are shielded by the ESS, thereby protecting the VIGVs from icing and from ice shedding from the ESS vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Geoffrey B JONES, Edward J SPALTON, Duncan A MACDOUGALL