Patents by Inventor Jeff Crutchfield

Jeff Crutchfield 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: 11286798
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a vane that includes an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil. The outer platform defines an outer boundary of a gas path. The inner platform is spaced apart axially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends axially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform. Force loads caused by gases interacting with the airfoil are configured to be transmitted from the airfoil assembly to a case arranged around the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters, Ted J. Freeman, Eric Koenig, Jeff Crutchfield, Jeffrey A. Walston, David J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 11149560
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a vane that includes an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil. The outer platform defines an outer boundary of a gas path. The inner platform is spaced apart axially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends axially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters, Ted J. Freeman, Eric Koenig, Jeff Crutchfield, Jeffrey A. Walston, David J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210062663
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a vane that includes an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil. The outer platform defines an outer boundary of a gas path. The inner platform is spaced apart axially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends axially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform. Force loads caused by gases interacting with the airfoil are configured to be transmitted from the airfoil assembly to a case arranged around the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters, Ted J. Freeman, Eric Koenig, Jeff Crutchfield, Jeffrey A. Walston, David J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20210054748
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a vane that includes an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil. The outer platform defines an outer boundary of a gas path. The inner platform is spaced apart axially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends axially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel K. Vetters, Ted J. Freeman, Eric Koenig, Jeff Crutchfield, Jeffrey A. Walston, David J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10907651
    Abstract: A machine having a rotor that is radially bounded at least in part by a containment assembly. The containment assembly may comprise a casing and a containment liner. The casing may have a radially inner surface facing a rotor of the machine. The containment liner may be formed form a plurality of panels bonded to the radially inner surface of the casing. The panels may form joints between adjacent leading and trailing panels relative to the direction of rotation of said rotor. At least one joint includes a portion of a trailing panel positioned radially outboard of a portion of the leading upstream panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeff Crutchfield
  • Patent number: 10731662
    Abstract: A containment assembly for a machine having a rotor radially bounded at least in part by the containment assembly. The containment assembly may comprise and inner casing member formed from a composite material, a containment liner bonded to a radially inner surface of the inner casing member, an outer casing member formed from a composite material and positioned radially outward of the inner casing member, and a containment core embedded between the inner and outer casing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Crutchfield
  • Patent number: 10260512
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of releasing a fan blade for testing a turbofan engine includes arranging an external shaped charge about an airfoil and modifying the airfoil by extricating one or more portions of material from one or more sides of the airfoil. The method further includes detonating the external shaped charge such that the airfoil is released at a selected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Graham Burkholder, Xuekun Sun, Jeff Crutchfield, Ben Hodgson
  • Patent number: 10113442
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of releasing a fan blade for testing a turbofan engine includes providing an internal passage with a constant arc through an airfoil arranged about a blisk such that the constant arc of the internal passage aligns with a contour of the blisk. The method further includes packing the internal passage with a charge, modifying the airfoil such that the airfoil is released from the blisk evenly along a chordwise length of the airfoil, and detonating the charge such that the airfoil is released from the blisk at a selected time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Graham Burkholder, Xuekun Sun, Jeff Crutchfield, Ben Hodgson, Dennes Kyle Burney
  • Publication number: 20180016934
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of releasing a fan blade for testing a turbofan engine includes providing an internal passage with a constant arc through an airfoil arranged about a blisk such that the constant arc of the internal passage aligns with a contour of the blisk. The method further includes packing the internal passage with a charge, modifying the airfoil such that the airfoil is released from the blisk evenly along a chordwise length of the airfoil, and detonating the charge such that the airfoil is released from the blisk at a selected time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Graham Burkholder, Xuekun Sun, Jeff Crutchfield, Ben Hodgson, Dennes Kyle Burney
  • Publication number: 20180017065
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a method of releasing a fan blade for testing a turbofan engine includes arranging an external shaped charge about an airfoil and modifying the airfoil by extricating one or more portions of material from one or more sides of the airfoil. The method further includes detonating the external shaped charge such that the airfoil is released at a selected time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Hall, Graham Burkholder, Xuekun Sun, Jeff Crutchfield, Ben Hodgson
  • Publication number: 20170198717
    Abstract: A machine having a rotor that is radially bounded at least in part by a containment assembly. The containment assembly may comprise a casing and a containment liner. The casing may have a radially inner surface facing a rotor of the machine. The containment liner may be formed form a plurality of panels bonded to the radially inner surface of the casing. The panels may form joints between adjacent leading and trailing panels relative to the direction of rotation of said rotor. At least one joint includes a portion of a trailing panel positioned radially outboard of a portion of the leading upstream panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Crutchfield
  • Publication number: 20170198716
    Abstract: A containment assembly for a machine having a rotor radially bounded at least in part by the containment assembly. The containment assembly may comprise and inner casing member formed from a composite material, a containment liner bonded to a radially inner surface of the inner casing member, an outer casing member formed from a composite material and positioned radially outward of the inner casing member, and a containment core embedded between the inner and outer casing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Crutchfield