Patents by Inventor Francis Heyes

Francis Heyes 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: 7949479
    Abstract: A rotating machine, has a rotary component, which includes a memory device for storing data relating to the past use of the component. The data are associated with rotational speed and ambient temperature, which are detected by detectors either on or off the rotary component. The stored data may be the raw temperature and speed data as sampled over time, which are then used to derive values of low-cycle fatigue and creep damage. These fatigue and creep values are, in turn, correlated with the load profiles of the component to arrive at a value of elapsed lifespan for the component. Alternatively, the stored data may be the fatigue and creep values and/or, preferably, values of elapsed and remaining lifespan of the component. In a second embodiment the detectors are located on the machine casing along with an evaluation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Napier Turbochargers Limited
    Inventors: James Brown, Francis Heyes, Ulf Nilsson, Stephen Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110008151
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a number of turbine blades of a turbine under operation conditions by means of a cleaning fluid which is sprayed onto the turbine blades by a number of nozzles is disclosed. The method is characterised in that the cleaning fluid is distributed to the nozzles such that only a fraction of the nozzles is used at any one time to spray the cleaning fluid onto the turbine blades. Furthermore, a turbine comprising a number of rotor blades, a number of stator blades and a number of nozzles is described. Each nozzle is connected to a cleaning fluid supply. The turbine further comprises at least one distribution unit which is configured such that the cleaning fluid can be distributed to only a fraction of the nozzles at any one time. Moreover, a turbocharger comprising an inventive turbine is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Napier Turbochargers Limited
    Inventors: Francis Heyes, Ian Pinkney
  • Publication number: 20100322781
    Abstract: An impeller having a rotation axis, a radial direction, a backplate and a number of vanes which are connected to the backplate at a line of connection is provided. Each vane has an upstream side, a downstream side and an outer side. The downstream side of each vane has an edge portion which is located near the outer side. The vanes project radially over the backplate and the downstream side further includes a connecting portion connecting the edge portion to the backplate and including an angle with the radial direction. The connecting portion includes a convex rounded portion which is located near the line of connection. Moreover, a turbocharger having an inventive impeller is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: NAPIER TURBOCHARGERS Limited
    Inventors: Francis Heyes, Paul Roach, Ian Brown, Geoffrey Ngao
  • Publication number: 20100215506
    Abstract: An impeller is provided with a back surface that is at least partly coated with a thermal barrier coating. The thermal barrier coating includes an anodized layer, polymer or polymer-based ceramics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: NAPIER TURBOCHARGERS Limited
    Inventors: Francis Heyes, Ulf Nilson
  • Publication number: 20100170245
    Abstract: A turbocharger configuration, particularly in or for a motor vehicle, includes at least one turbocharger stage, which has a turbine and a compressor that are mechanically decoupled from each other. A turbochargeable internal combustion engine having such a turbocharger configuration, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Dick Amos, Ulrich Bast, Francis Heyes, Norbert Huber, Andre Kaufmann, Achim Koch, Georg Mehne, Gerhard Schopp, Udo Schwerdel, Markus Teiner
  • Publication number: 20100139269
    Abstract: A turbochargeable internal combustion engine contains a motor which has an exhaust manifold on the exhaust gas side, a turbocharger which has at least two turbocharger stages and, on the exhaust gas side, has an exhaust gas inlet and an exhaust gas outlet. The engine further has a primary catalytic converter, which is arranged on the exhaust gas side between the exhaust manifold of the engine block and the exhaust gas inlet of the turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Francis Heyes, Norbert Huber, Achim Koch, Georg Mehne, Gerd Rösel, Gerhard Schopp, Markus Teiner
  • Publication number: 20090301085
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine comprising: a turbine driven by exhaust gas from the engine; a compressor for supplying compressed air to the engine, the compressor including an impeller driven by the turbine; an arrangement upstream of the impeller suitable for directing air such that it is swirling in a rotational sense on reaching the impeller; and control means arranged to control said arrangement such that as the speed of the impeller approaches a predetermined maximum speed limit the arrangement directs air such that it is swirling in the opposite rotational sense to that in which the impeller is being driven by the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Francis Heyes
  • Publication number: 20090287448
    Abstract: A rotating machine, has a rotary component, which includes a memory device for storing data relating to the past use of the component. The data are associated with rotational speed and ambient temperature, which are detected by detectors either on or off the rotary component. The stored data may be the raw temperature and speed data as sampled over time, which are then used to derive values of low-cycle fatigue and creep damage. These fatigue and creep values are, in turn, correlated with the load profiles of the component to arrive at a value of elapsed lifespan for the component. Alternatively, the stored data may be the fatigue and creep values and/or, preferably, values of elapsed and remaining lifespan of the component. In a second embodiment the detectors are located on the machine casing along with an evaluation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: James Brown, Francis Heyes, Ulf Nilsson, Stephen Wilson