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).

  • Patent number: 9874110
    Abstract: A gas turbine component having a cooling passage is disclosed. In one form, the passage is oriented as a turned passage capable of reversing direction of flow, such as a turned cooling hole. The gas turbine engine component can include a layered structure having cooling flow throughout a region of the component. The cooling hole can be in communication with a space in the layered structure. The gas turbine engine component can be a cast article where a mold can be constructed to produce the cooling hole having a turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Patent number: 9817393
    Abstract: In some examples, an adaptive machining system may include a model comparison unit, a compromise shape determination unit, and a program modification unit. The model comparison unit can be configured to compare electronic measured dimensional surface data of a component with an electronic surface model of the component. The compromise shape determination unit can be configured to determine a compromise shape for the component based on the comparison. The program modification unit can be configured to modify a machine tool program code based on the compromise shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Larry Allen Junod, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 9817389
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a design surface data set, obtaining a component surface data set from the inspection of a component, creating a modified surface data set in response to the design surface data set and the component surface data set, generating a machining path in response to the modified surface data set, and machining the component in response to the machining path to produce a machined component according to the modified surface data set. The machined component deviates from the design surface data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Timothy Paul Fuesting, Joseph Peter Henderkott, Ronald J. Snyder, John F. Click, Larry Allen Junod
  • Patent number: 9751147
    Abstract: A fixture may include a plurality of alloy pressure pads shaped to contact a component to be brazed or diffusion bonded, a plurality of springs, and at least one alloy support. In some examples, each spring of the plurality of springs is shaped to have a substantially constant stress throughout the spring. The plurality of springs may be between and contacting the at least one alloy support and the plurality of alloy pressure pads to exert spring forces on the plurality of alloy pressure pads. In some examples, the plurality of springs include a plurality of silicon nitride springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Christopher Owen Nash, Rusty M. Garner
  • Publication number: 20170211395
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: TAB M. HEFFERNAN, JEFFREY F. RHODES, DOUGLAS D. DIERKSMEIER, OKEY KWON
  • Publication number: 20170030199
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Brett J. Barker, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20160245092
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Clinton A. Hammes, Rusty M. Garner
  • Publication number: 20160153284
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20160136769
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Bruce Allan Crook
  • Publication number: 20150343547
    Abstract: A fixture may include a plurality of alloy pressure pads shaped to contact a component to be brazed or diffusion bonded, a plurality of springs, and at least one alloy support. In some examples, each spring of the plurality of springs is shaped to have a substantially constant stress throughout the spring. The plurality of springs may be between and contacting the at least one alloy support and the plurality of alloy pressure pads to exert spring forces on the plurality of alloy pressure pads. In some examples, the plurality of springs include a plurality of silicon nitride springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Christopher Owen Nash, Rusty M. Garner
  • Publication number: 20150300257
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Peter L. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan, Brett J. Barker
  • Patent number: 9085988
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20150016944
    Abstract: A gas turbine component having a cooling passage is disclosed. In one form, the passage is oriented as a turned passage capable of reversing direction of flow, such as a turned cooling hole. The gas turbine engine component can include a layered structure having cooling flow throughout a region of the component. The cooling hole can be in communication with a space in the layered structure. The gas turbine engine component can be a cast article where a mold can be constructed to produce the cooling hole having a turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Peter L. Vandervaart, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Okey Kwon, Tab M. Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20140267694
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Peter Henderkott, Pramod Khandelwal, Danny Ray Carr, Timothy Paul Fuesting, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20140257543
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a design surface data set, obtaining a component surface data set from the inspection of a component, creating a modified surface data set in response to the design surface data set and the component surface data set, generating a machining path in response to the modified surface data set, and machining the component in response to the machining path to produce a machined component according to the modified surface data set. The machined component deviates from the design surface data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Timothy Paul Fuesting, Joseph Peter Henderkott, Ronald J. Snyder, John F. Click, Larry Allen Junod
  • Publication number: 20140257551
    Abstract: In some examples, an adaptive machining system may include a model comparison unit, a compromise shape determination unit, and a program modification unit. The model comparison unit can be configured to compare electronic measured dimensional surface data of a component with an electronic surface model of the component. The compromise shape determination unit can be configured to determine a compromise shape for the component based on the comparison. The program modification unit can be configured to modify a machine tool program code based on the compromise shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Larry Allen Junod, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20120201653
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment of the present invention is a unique cooled gas turbine engine flowpath component. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and cooled gas turbine engine flowpath components. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Corina Moga, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20120189427
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Okey Kwon, Jeffrey F. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7789621
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine airfoil including at least one outer tile coupled to a supporting member. The outer tile is coupled to the supporting member by a pin passing though the supporting member and the outer tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Tab Michael Heffernan
  • Publication number: 20100074759
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine airfoil including at least one outer tile coupled to a supporting member. The outer tile is coupled to the supporting member by a pin passing though the supporting member and the outer tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Tab Michael Heffernan