Patents by Inventor George F. Griffiths

George F. Griffiths 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: 11208917
    Abstract: A turbine engine fleet wash management system is configured to electronically communicate with a turbine engine system, a fleet management service, and a cleaning management service. The turbine engine fleet wash system causes a cleaning of a turbine engine to occur based on information received from the turbine engine system and other sources. The turbine engine fleet wash management system includes a cleaning schedule optimizer that generates a cleaning schedule based on engine health monitoring data, engine operation data, maintenance schedules for the turbine engine, and cleaning regimen data. The cleaning schedule optimizer estimates turbine engine performance improvements based on the selected cleaning regimen, and calculating an estimate of carbon credits earned based on the predicted improvement in turbine engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad Rao Dilip Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 10981674
    Abstract: A method for performing a cleaning cycle on a turbine engine mounted to an airframe includes conducting a cleaning agent from a cleaning agent supply into the gas turbine engine. The method further includes conducting compressed air from a cleaning air supply into the gas turbine engine to dry motor the gas turbine engine while the cleaning agent is conducted from the cleaning agent supply into the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 10837302
    Abstract: A blade track assembly is disclosed having a variety of features. The assembly can have annular or segmented components, or a combination of the two. In one form the assembly includes blade tracks having a forward and aft edge that can be received in an opening of respective hangers. The hangers can include anti-movement features to discourage movement of a blade track. A rib can extend between hangers and in one form can be used as part of a seal assembly. Clips can be used to secure the blade track in openings of the respective hangers, as well as to discourage movement of the blade track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton C. Smith, George F. Griffiths, Ted Joseph Freeman, William Westphal
  • Patent number: 10773283
    Abstract: Wands are used as parts of cleaning systems to conduct cleaning agents into gas turbine engine cores. Wands according to the present disclosure include inlet assemblies adapted to connect to cleaning agents, dispensers adapted to discharge cleaners into gas turbine engines, and conduits that extend from the inlet assemblies to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 10654079
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a clutch included in a drive train is disclosed in this paper. The method includes dispensing a cleaning agent, preferably a foamed cleaning agent, into the clutch. The clutch optionally includes clutch plates with evacuation channels formed in the clutch plates designed to carry cleaning agent and/or debris away from engagement surfaces of the clutch plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: George F. Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20190330998
    Abstract: A turbine engine fleet wash management system is configured to electronically communicate with a turbine engine system, a fleet management service, and a cleaning management service. The turbine engine fleet wash system causes a cleaning of a turbine engine to occur based on information received from the turbine engine system and other sources. The turbine engine fleet wash management system includes a cleaning schedule optimizer that generates a cleaning schedule based on engine health monitoring data, engine operation data, maintenance schedules for the turbine engine, and cleaning regimen data. The cleaning schedule optimizer estimates turbine engine performance improvements based on the selected cleaning regimen, and calculating an estimate of carbon credits earned based on the predicted improvement in turbine engine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad Rao Dilip Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Publication number: 20190291896
    Abstract: A cleaning system for performing a cleaning cycle on a turbine engine mounted to an airframe includes a mobile supply unit. The mobile supply unit includes a cleaning agent supply that introduces cleaning agent into the turbine engine. The aircraft includes at least one valve configured to block cleaning agent from moving from the turbine engine into a passenger cabin of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R.D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 10392964
    Abstract: A turbine engine fleet wash management system is configured to electronically communicate with a turbine engine system, a fleet management service, and a cleaning management service. The turbine engine fleet wash system causes a cleaning of a turbine engine to occur based on information received from the turbine engine system and other sources. The turbine engine fleet wash management system includes a cleaning schedule optimizer that generates a cleaning schedule based on engine health monitoring data, engine operation data, maintenance schedules for the turbine engine, and cleaning regimen data. The cleaning schedule optimizer estimates turbine engine performance improvements based on the selected cleaning regimen, and calculating an estimate of carbon credits earned based on the predicted improvement in turbine engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 10364048
    Abstract: A cleaning system for performing a cleaning cycle on a turbine engine mounted to an airframe includes a mobile supply unit. The mobile supply unit includes a cleaning agent supply that introduces cleaning agent into the turbine engine. The aircraft includes at least one valve configured to block cleaning agent from moving from the turbine engine into a passenger cabin of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Publication number: 20190168270
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a clutch included in a drive train is disclosed in this paper. The method includes dispensing a cleaning agent, preferably a foamed cleaning agent, into the clutch. The clutch optionally includes clutch plates with evacuation channels formed in the clutch plates designed to carry cleaning agent and/or debris away from engagement surfaces of the clutch plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventor: George F. Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20190076894
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a clutch included in a drive train is disclosed in this paper. The method includes dispensing a cleaning agent, preferably a foamed cleaning agent, into the clutch. The clutch optionally includes clutch plates with evacuation channels formed in the clutch plates designed to carry cleaning agent and/or debris away from engagement surfaces of the clutch plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventor: George F. Griffiths
  • Patent number: 10226797
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a clutch included in a drive train is disclosed in this paper. The method includes dispensing a cleaning agent, preferably a foamed cleaning agent, into the clutch. The clutch optionally includes clutch plates with evacuation channels formed in the clutch plates designed to carry cleaning agent and/or debris away from engagement surfaces of the clutch plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: George F. Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20180051589
    Abstract: A turbine engine fleet wash management system is configured to electronically communicate with a turbine engine system, a fleet management service, and a cleaning management service. The turbine engine fleet wash system causes a cleaning of a turbine engine to occur based on information received from the turbine engine system and other sources. The turbine engine fleet wash management system includes a cleaning schedule optimizer that generates a cleaning schedule based on engine health monitoring data, engine operation data, maintenance schedules for the turbine engine, and cleaning regimen data. The cleaning schedule optimizer estimates turbine engine performance improvements based on the selected cleaning regimen, and calculating an estimate of carbon credits earned based on the predicted improvement in turbine engine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R.D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Publication number: 20180043400
    Abstract: Wands are used as parts of cleaning systems to conduct cleaning agents into gas turbine engine cores. Wands according to the present disclosure include inlet assemblies adapted to connect to cleaning agents, dispensers adapted to discharge cleaners into gas turbine engines, and conduits that extend from the inlet assemblies to the dispensers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R.D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 9874108
    Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine engine for use in an aircraft includes a fan, an engine core, and a cleaning system. The fan and engine core cooperate to provide thrust for an aircraft when in use but may suffer performance degradation when dirty. The cleaning system is configured to conduct a cleaning agent from a supply into the turbofan gas turbine engine to clean the turbofan gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Publication number: 20180010474
    Abstract: A blade track assembly is disclosed having a variety of features. The assembly can have annular or segmented components, or a combination of the two. In one form the assembly includes blade tracks having a forward and aft edge that can be received in an opening of respective hangers. The hangers can include anti-movement features to discourage movement of a blade track. A rib can extend between hangers and in one form can be used as part of a seal assembly. Clips can be used to secure the blade track in openings of the respective hangers, as well as to discourage movement of the blade track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Clayton C. Smith, George F. Griffiths, Ted Joseph Freeman, William Westphal
  • Patent number: 9835048
    Abstract: A turbine engine fleet wash management system is configured to electronically communicate with a turbine engine system, a fleet management service, and a cleaning management service. The turbine engine fleet wash system causes a cleaning of a turbine engine to occur based on information received from the turbine engine system and other sources. The turbine engine fleet wash management system includes a cleaning schedule optimizer that generates a cleaning schedule based on engine health monitoring data, engine operation data, maintenance schedules for the turbine engine, and cleaning regimen data. The cleaning schedule optimizer estimates turbine engine performance improvements based on the selected cleaning regimen, and calculating an estimate of carbon credits earned based on the predicted improvement in turbine engine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 9821349
    Abstract: Wands are used as parts of cleaning systems to conduct cleaning agents into gas turbine engine cores. Wands according to the present disclosure include inlet assemblies adapted to connect to cleaning agents, dispensers adapted to discharge cleaners into gas turbine engines, and conduits that extend from the inlet assemblies to the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R. D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green
  • Patent number: 9784115
    Abstract: A blade track assembly is disclosed having a variety of features. The assembly can have annular or segmented components, or a combination of the two. In one form the assembly includes blade tracks having a forward and aft edge that can be received in an opening of respective hangers. The hangers can include anti-movement features to discourage movement of a blade track. A rib can extend between hangers and in one form can be used as part of a seal assembly. Clips can be used to secure the blade track in openings of the respective hangers, as well as to discourage movement of the blade track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton C. Smith, George F. Griffiths, Ted Joseph Freeman, William Westphal
  • Publication number: 20170210491
    Abstract: A cleaning system for performing a cleaning cycle on a turbine engine mounted to an airframe includes a mobile supply unit. The mobile supply unit includes a cleaning agent supply that introduces cleaning agent into the turbine engine. The aircraft includes at least one valve configured to block cleaning agent from moving from the turbine engine into a passenger cabin of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: George F. Griffiths, Prahlad R.D. Heggere, Jeffrey A. Green