Patents by Inventor Jeffrey F. Rhodes
Jeffrey F. Rhodes 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: 11859511Abstract: Airfoils and methods of cooling an airfoil are provided. The airfoil may comprise a spar; a coversheet on the spar; and a dual feed circuit between the spar and the coversheet. The dual feed circuit may include a first dam, a second dam spaced apart from the first dam along the chord axis of the spar, a first inlet disposed adjacent to the first dam, a second inlet disposed adjacent to the second dam, a circuit outlet disposed between the first inlet and the second inlet, and a plurality of diamond and/or hexagonal pedestals disposed on an outer surface of the spar. The diamond and/or hexagonal pedestals may form a plurality of cooling channels between the first inlet, the second inlet, and the circuit outlet. There may be no other circuit inlets are located between the first inlet and the second inlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATIONInventors: Brett Barker, Eric Koenig, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Publication number: 20230193768Abstract: A gas turbine nozzle guide vane structure includes a vane shaped as an airfoil and having a vane trailing edge, an endwall including an opening to receive an end of the vane, and an element securing the endwall and the vane to each other. Clearance remaining between the endwall and the vane defines a plenum to feed cooling air to the vane at a location adjacent the vane trailing edge. Certain arrangements may have a purge groove defined in at least one of the endwall and the vane and located between the endwall and the vane to receive cooling fluid supplied. In certain arrangements, the structure may include a cover sheet on the endwall defining a gap with the vane, the purge groove configured to receive cooling fluid that exits through the gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2021Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Jack Moody, Jerry Layne
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Publication number: 20230141484Abstract: Airfoils and methods of cooling an airfoil are provided. The airfoil may comprise a spar; a coversheet on the spar; and a dual feed circuit between the spar and the coversheet. The dual feed circuit may include a first dam, a second dam spaced apart from the first dam along the chord axis of the spar, a first inlet disposed adjacent to the first dam, a second inlet disposed adjacent to the second dam, a circuit outlet disposed between the first inlet and the second inlet, and a plurality of diamond and/or hexagonal pedestals disposed on an outer surface of the spar. The diamond and/or hexagonal pedestals may form a plurality of cooling channels between the first inlet, the second inlet, and the circuit outlet. There may be no other circuit inlets are located between the first inlet and the second inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Brett Barker, Eric Koenig, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Publication number: 20230141827Abstract: A dual-wall airfoil comprises a spar including pressure and suction side walls with raised features on outer surfaces thereof. A pressure side coversheet has an inner surface in contact with the raised features on the outer surface of the pressure side wall so as to define pressure side flow pathways between the pressure side wall and the pressure side coversheet, and a suction side coversheet has an inner surface in contact with the raised features on the outer surface of the suction side wall so as to define suction side flow pathways between the suction side wall and the suction side coversheet. The raised features on the outer surface of the pressure and/or suction side wall include an arrangement of pedestals, where each pedestal comprises an aspect ratio in a range from about 1:1 to about 5:1. The aspect ratio of the pedestals is varied within the arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Brett J. Barker, Eric Koenig, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 11635000Abstract: An endwall may be disposed at one end of a vane assembly. The endwall may comprise an endwall spar and a coversheet on the hot surface of the endwall spar. The endwall may further comprise a cooling fluid channel between the hot surface of the endwall spar and the cold surface of the coversheet. The cooling fluid channel may include a cooling fluid inlet disposed in the endwall spar, and a cooling fluid outlet. The cooling fluid outlet may be formed at an angle with the axis of the endwall spar. A plurality of pedestals may be disposed on the hot surface of the endwall spar extending into the cooling channel. The pedestals may be formed at an angle with the axis of the endwall spar to direct a cooling fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Jack Moody, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Brett Barker, Eric Koenig
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Patent number: 11536143Abstract: An endwall assembly disposed at one end of a vane assembly may comprise an endwall spar that includes an cold side, an hot side, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an axis extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge perpendicular to the leading edge. The endwall assembly may include a coversheet on the hot side of the endwall spar and a cooling channel that includes a cooling fluid inlet disposed in the endwall spar, and a cooling fluid outlet. The endwall assembly may include a structure protruding from the cold side of the endwall spar, wherein the structure is located between the cooling fluid inlet and the cooling fluid outlet along the axis; and a cooling fluid source cavity on the cold side of the wall, the cooling fluid source cavity in fluid communication with the cooling fluid channel via the cooling fluid inlet.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2021Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATIONInventors: Jack Moody, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Brett Barker, Eric Koenig
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Patent number: 10876413Abstract: A blade used in a gas turbine engine includes a pair of pedestals and an airfoil coupled between the pedestals. The airfoil includes cooling features to cool the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Brett J. Barker, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 10810730Abstract: In some examples, a method for nondestructive testing of a component may include flashing the component using a flash lamp configured for flash thermography, collecting first image data regarding the component using an infrared camera, flowing a fluid through the component, and collecting second image data regarding the component using the infrared camera. A system for nondestructive testing of a component may include a single inspection station and a flash lamp configured for flash thermography, means for supplying a fluid to the component, and an infrared camera disposed at the inspection station.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Joseph Peter Henderkott, Pramod Khandelwal, Danny Ray Carr, Timothy Paul Fuesting, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 10648341Abstract: An airfoil including a spar and a cover sheet. Standoffs, a leading edge wall, and a separator wall extend away from an outer surface of the spar. The standoffs are arranged to define leading grooves disposed at the pressure side of the leading edge. The cover sheet is coupled to the leading edge wall and the standoffs over the leading grooves to define cooling passageways. The cooling passageways are in communication with one or more inlet ports formed in the spar, which are in communication with a plenum disposed within the spar. The cover sheet is arranged to define outlet ports or a slot in communication with the cooling passageway. Cooling air is delivered from the cooling air plenum through the inlet port for impingement cooling at the cover sheet, and traverses downstream through the cooling passageway to the outlet ports or slot for film cooling of the leading edge.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATIONInventors: Brett J. Barker, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 10450872Abstract: Methods of providing an undercut on a support member for a coversheet and coversheet support systems having undercuts are provided. A coversheet support system may include a spar. The spar may include a support member on an outer surface of the spar. The support member may extend outward from the outer surface of the spar. The support member may include an outer surface and an undercut. The undercut may be located in a portion of the support member between the outer surface of the spar and the outer surface of the support member. In addition, the coversheet support system may include a coversheet. The coversheet may be metallurgically bonded to the outer surface of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATIONInventors: Eric Koenig, Charles A. Bulgrin, Mike Engle, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Publication number: 20190292919Abstract: A blade used in a gas turbine engine includes a pair of pedestals and an airfoil coupled between the pedestals. The airfoil includes cooling features to cool the airfoil.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Brett J. Barker, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 10329924Abstract: A blade used in a gas turbine engine includes a pair of pedestals and an airfoil coupled between the pedestals. The airfoil includes cooling features to cool the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Brett J. Barker, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 10196904Abstract: An airfoil may include a spar comprising a passageway inside of the spar for a cooling fluid, a pedestal on an outer surface of the spar, and an inlet configured to direct the cooling fluid from the passageway to the outer surface of the spar. The airfoil may further include a coversheet, wherein an inner surface of the coversheet is positioned on the pedestal of the spar and an edge of the coversheet is positioned along an end of the spar. The inner surface of the coversheet, the pedestal, and the outer surface of the spar may define a cooling path from the inlet to an outlet at the edge of the coversheet. The outlet at the edge of the coversheet may be configured to direct cooling fluid onto the end of the spar, onto a footing, and/or onto a fillet positioned along an intersection of the footing and the spar.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC., ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATIONInventors: Tab M. Heffernan, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Douglas D. Dierksmeier, Okey Kwon
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Patent number: 10195707Abstract: In one example, a method including controlling milling of a component via a milling system, the milling system including a spindle, a tool holder coupled to the spindle, the tool holder configured to receive a milling tool; and the milling tool configured to remove at least a portion of the component via milling while the milling tool is rotated by the spindle and tool holder, wherein the milling system is configured to conduct an electrical signal between the milling tool and component during milling of the component when the milling tool is not broken; monitoring the electrical signal conducted between the milling tool and component; and determining whether the milling tool is broken based on the monitored electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Bruce Allan Crook
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Patent number: 10060264Abstract: Apparatus and systems for a cooled gas turbine engine flowpath component are disclosed. In some embodiments, the flowpath component includes a spar and a coversheet. The spar may include a suction-side wall extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge and a pressure-side wall extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, each wall having an outer surface. The coversheet may be positioned on the spar to at least partially enclose the spar, the coversheet having an engagement surface positioned to face the outer surface of the suction-side wall and the outer surface of the pressure-side wall. The spar and the coversheet cooperate to form a number of passageways configured to cool the flowpath component.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2011Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Corina Moga, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 10030524Abstract: A component comprises a set of thin film cooling holes formed therein. Each of the thin film cooling holes provides a passage between a first surface of the component and a second surface of the component. Each of the thin film cooling holes includes a smooth transition between the first surface of the component and the surface the passage, and a progressively steeper flow path relative to the first surface of the component and between the smooth transition and the second surface of the component.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Clinton A. Hammes, Rusty M. Garner
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Patent number: 9982541Abstract: A gas turbine engine flow path member is disclosed which includes an extending end portion capable of contacting a surface of the turbine engine. The flow path member includes openings to pass a cooling fluid to cool the extending end portion. The flow path member, furthermore, can be made using a variety of approaches. To set forth just two non-limiting examples, the flow path member can be cast and it can be a laminated construction.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Publication number: 20180135424Abstract: An airfoil including a spar and a cover sheet. Standoffs, a leading edge wall, and a separator wall extend away from an outer surface of the spar. The standoffs are arranged to define leading grooves disposed at the pressure side of the leading edge. The cover sheet is coupled to the leading edge wall and the standoffs over the leading grooves to define cooling passageways. The cooling passageways are in communication with one or more inlet ports formed in the spar, which are in communication with a plenum disposed within the spar. The cover sheet is arranged to define outlet ports or a slot in communication with the cooling passageway. Cooling air is delivered from the cooling air plenum through the inlet port for impingement cooling at the cover sheet, and traverses downstream through the cooling passageway to the outlet ports or slot for film cooling of the leading edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Brett J. Barker, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Publication number: 20180128111Abstract: Methods of providing an undercut on a support member for a coversheet and coversheet support systems having undercuts are provided. A coversheet support system may include a spar. The spar may include a support member on an outer surface of the spar. The support member may extend outward from the outer surface of the spar. The support member may include an outer surface and an undercut. The undercut may be located in a portion of the support member between the outer surface of the spar and the outer surface of the support member. In addition, the coversheet support system may include a coversheet. The coversheet may be metallurgically bonded to the outer surface of the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2016Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Eric Koenig, Charles A. Bulgrin, Mike Engle, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
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Patent number: 9879601Abstract: A gas turbine engine component is provided that can be cooled with a cooling media such as air using a variety of passages. In one form, cooling fluid is routed through a hole that exits at least partially through a pedestal formed between walls. A plurality of cooling holes can be provided through a trench face and in some forms can include a diffusion through a divergence in the hole exit. J-Hook passages can be provided through a trench face, and, in some forms, multiple trenches can be provided. A cooling hole having a neck portion can be provided, as can a cooling hole with one or more turns to reduce a total pressure. In one form, a corrugated cooling passage can be provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2013Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Peter C. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan, Brett J. Barker