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).
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Patent number: 12286895Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 5, 2024Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A Macdougall
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Publication number: 20240426216Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2024Publication date: December 26, 2024Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J. Bousfield, Duncan A. Macdougall
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Patent number: 12135313Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 3, 2022Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Duncan A Macdougall, Julian M Reed, Sophoclis Patsias, Antonio Pellegrino, Clive R Siviour, Daniel Eakins, Yuan Xu, Junyi Zhou
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Patent number: 12110804Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 30, 2023Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J. Bousfield, Duncan A. Macdougall
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Patent number: 11920499Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 17, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Geoffrey B Jones, Edward J Spalton, Duncan A Macdougall
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Patent number: 11873731Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2023Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J. Bousfield, Duncan A. Macdougall
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Publication number: 20230314249Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Zhen ZHOU, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL, Julian M. REED
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Patent number: 11775662Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 9, 2020Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Inventor: Duncan MacDougall Greatwood
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Patent number: 11732603Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 20, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
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Publication number: 20230228196Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J. BOUSFIELD, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL
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Publication number: 20230220780Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Geoffrey B. JONES, Edward J. SPALTON, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL
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Patent number: 11686248Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
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Publication number: 20230133728Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Duncan A MACDOUGALL, Julian M REED, Sophoclis PATSIAS, Antonio PELLEGRINO, Clive R SIVIOUR, Daniel EAKINS, Yuan XU, Junyi ZHOU
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Patent number: 11634993Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Geoffrey B Jones, Edward J Spalton, Duncan A MacDougall
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Patent number: 11634994Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 16, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Duncan A MacDougall, Jaime Terron Fraile
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Patent number: 11619135Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
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Publication number: 20230045400Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Ian J. BOUSFIELD, Duncan A. MACDOUGALL
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Patent number: 11512607Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLCInventors: Ian J Bousfield, Duncan A MacDougall
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Publication number: 20220372886Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Duncan A. MACDOUGALL, Jaime TERRON FRAILE
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Publication number: 20220162953Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2021Publication date: May 26, 2022Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plcInventors: Geoffrey B JONES, Edward J SPALTON, Duncan A MACDOUGALL