Patents by Inventor Edward C. Rice

Edward C. Rice 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: 20170363089
    Abstract: An axial compressor comprises a plurality of compressor stages positioned axially adjacent each other within a casing. Each of the plurality of compressor stages includes a rotor segment and a banded stator segment. An annulus is formed between the casing and an outer flowpath ring of the banded stator segment. A pathway may be provided that establishes an air flowpath between the annulus and another annulus formed by an adjacent stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Edward C. Rice, Ryan C. Humes
  • Patent number: 9845831
    Abstract: A clutch for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The clutch is adapted to selectively transmit rotation from a first shaft of the clutch to a second shaft of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin C. Beckner, Edward C. Rice, John M. Flynn, Andrew D. Copeland, Matthew T. Bouton
  • Publication number: 20170350459
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a clutch mechanism includes a control member. The control member is adapted to receive motive power and includes a first dry clutch member and a first viscous clutch member. The clutch mechanism further includes an output member that includes a second dry clutch member and a second viscous clutch member. The first and second dry clutch members form a dry clutch and the first and second viscous clutch members form a viscous clutch. The clutch mechanism further includes an actuation arm coupled to at least one of the control and output members. The actuation arm is selectively controllable to effect relative movement of the control and output members such that one of the dry and viscous clutches is selectively engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Edward C. Rice, Ryan C. Humes
  • Publication number: 20170342849
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a blade track, a support assembly, and a seal system. The blade track is arranged around a central axis of the gas turbine engine to direct gasses through the gas turbine engine. The support assembly is arranged around the blade track to support the blade track relative to the central axis. The seal system is configured to block fluid communication between pressurized cavities formed in the support assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Edward C. Rice, Daniel K. Vetters
  • Publication number: 20170234240
    Abstract: A high-Mach engine includes a gas turbine core, an inlet assembly, and a transmission. The inlet assembly including an inlet turbine and the transmission configured to couple the inlet turbine and a core turbine of the gas turbine core cooperate to control air moving through the high-Mach engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Edward C. Rice, Steven W. Tomlinson, Bradley E. Auker, Donald Klemen
  • Publication number: 20170211476
    Abstract: An inlet assembly for a high-mach engine includes a gas turbine core, an inlet turbine, and a core-flow director. When in a closed position, the core-flow director forces air to interact with the inlet turbine before entering the gas turbine core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Edward C. Rice, Steven W. Tomlinson, Bradley E. Auker, Donald Klemen
  • Publication number: 20170058690
    Abstract: A system for directing the flow of a fluid and controlling the rate of flow of the fluid. The system comprises a channel for directing the flow of the fluid; at least a pair of articulating vanes positioned within the channel for controlling the flow rate of the fluid within the channel; and a linkage between the vanes coupling the articulation of each of the vanes to the other of the vanes, wherein each vane imparts a force on the linkage when the relative angle of attack is greater than zero, wherein the force imparted on the linkage by one of the vanes is at least partially cancelled by the force imparted on the linkage by the other of the vanes during the articulation of the vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Edward C. Rice, Bradley S. Sumner
  • Publication number: 20170058691
    Abstract: A system for directing the flow of a fluid which comprises a channel for containing the fluid; an articulating vane positioned within the channel for directing the flow of the fluid, the vane comprising a fixed segment rigidly connected to the channel and a first moveable segment operably connected to the fixed segment by a first hub, the first hub configured to allow relative articulation between the segments; an actuator member operably connected to the moveable segment to articulate the moveable segment about the first hub; and wherein the vane further comprises a second moveable segment operably connected to the vane by a second hub, wherein the actuator member articulates the first and second moveable segments by applying a single moment to the first hubs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170058831
    Abstract: An apparatus for the control of fluid flow in a gas turbine engine comprises a first plurality of inlet guide vanes disposed upstream of a fan, a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine; at least one airflow splitter adapted to split air admitted through the first plurality of inlet guide vanes into a core airflow which flows through the fan, the compressor, the combustor, and the turbine and a bypass airflow which flows through the fan; wherein the first plurality of inlet guide vanes comprise a radially-inward first portion adapted to direct air admitted through the first plurality of inlet guide vanes to the core airflow and a radially-outward second portion adapted to direct air admitted through the first plurality of inlet guide vanes to the bypass airflow, and wherein the first portion comprises a fixed vane and the second portion comprises a variable vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: William Barry Bryan, Edward C. Rice, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Kyle Jameson Martin, Charles L. McNeil
  • Publication number: 20170058826
    Abstract: A propulsive force imparted to an object is vectored using rotatable members arranged in one or more arrays disposed in the path of a fluid ejected by a fluid accelerator unit, such as air ejected by a fan driven by a gas turbine engine. The propulsive force is vectored by changing the rotation of one or more of the rotatable members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170058832
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A fluid passage is defined between the splitters. The turbofan engine has a plurality of high pressure fluid jets originating from a trailing edge of the upstream splitter, the jets restricting the migration of the core stream into the bypass stream through the fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls Royce North American Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170058766
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A fluid passage is defined between the splitters. The turbofan engine has a plurality of surface interruptions on a core side surface of the upstream splitter and a plurality of vortices originating from the surface interruptions, thereby restricting the migration of the core stream into the bypass stream through the fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls Royce North American Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170058676
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A fluid passage is defined between the splitters. The turbofan engine has a plurality of high pressure fluid jets originating from the low pressure side of the fan blades, the jets restricting the migration of the core stream into the bypass stream through the fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls Royce North American Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170057649
    Abstract: An integrated propulsion system comprising at least two gas turbine engines, at least one fan, and a transmission assembly coupling the at least two gas turbine engines to the at least one fan wherein the at least two gas turbine engines are disposed within a main body of an airframe comprising the main body and a pair of wings, and wherein the number of gas turbine engines is greater than the number of fans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Edward C. Rice, Richard K. Keller, William B. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20170058677
    Abstract: Methods are provided for creating a fluidic barrier between the core stream and the bypass stream in a turbofan engine. A method comprises compressing the bypass and core streams with a fan between an upstream splitter and a downstream splitter which divides the bypass and core streams, and imparting a first momentum into the air stream proximate the fan in a region between the core and bypass streams and the upstream and downstream splitters to form a fluid barrier, wherein the first momentum of the air stream in the region is higher than a second momentum of the air stream adjacent the fluid barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170058833
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A fluid passage is defined between the splitters. The turbofan engine has a plurality of vortex generators, each of the vortex generators positioned on the leading edge of a respective fan blade proximate the upstream splitter and the core stream restricting the migration of the core stream into the bypass stream through the fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls Royce North American Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20160348735
    Abstract: A clutch for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed herein. The clutch is adapted to selectively transmit rotation from a first shaft of the clutch to a second shaft of the clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin C. Beckner, Edward C. Rice, John M. Flynn, Andrew D. Copeland, Matthew T. Bouton
  • Publication number: 20160131177
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multiple use threaded fastener having a plurality of redundant locking features. The fastener includes a threaded hollow lock bolt having a tapered internal wall constructed to threadingly engage a threaded aperture in a housing. A threaded lock stud having a tapered external wall is constructed to fit at least partially within the hollow lock bolt and threadingly engage the threaded aperture of the housing and engage the tapered wall of the hollow lock bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Patent number: 6564555
    Abstract: The present invention contemplates an apparatus for forming a combustion mixture in a gas turbine engine. In one form, the apparatus includes a diffuser having at least two flowpath structures spaced apart to define a flowpath for directing fluid flow. At least one of the flowpath structures includes a flowpath surface and a plurality of edges disposed along a trailing end portion of the flowpath surface. The edges extend perpendicularly from the flowpath surface and are arranged generally parallel to the fluid flow to define a plurality of corners. A fluid vortex is generated as the fluid flow rolls over each of the corners. A spray ring is disposed along a trailing edge of one of the flowpath structures and is integrally attached to the diffuser. The spray ring includes a plurality of fuel delivery apertures adapted to spray fuel into respective ones of the fluid vortices to form the combustion mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Allison Advanced Development Company
    Inventors: Edward C. Rice, Brian P. King
  • Patent number: 6513330
    Abstract: An annular diffuser for a gas turbine engine includes inner and outer walls spaced apart to define a diffuser flow path, and a support member coupling the inner wall to the outer wall while allowing independent radial displacement therebetween. The support member includes a first end portion rigidly connected to the inner wall, and a second end portion extending outside of the diffuser flowpath and coupled to the outer wall by a radially extending pin. An aerodynamically-shaped shroud member surrounds the support member to thermally isolate the support member from the diffuser flowpath, thereby shielding the support member from transient thermal loads. The shroud member is pinned to the support member at a single axial location. A combustor dome panel is attached to the downstream end portion of the shroud member and is adapted to independently support inner and outer combustor liners in spaced relation to define a combustion chamber therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Allison Advanced Development Company
    Inventors: Edward C. Rice, Kenneth W. Froemming