Patents by Inventor Kenneth Franklin Udall

Kenneth Franklin Udall 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: 9809299
    Abstract: A propeller blade retention arrangement having a propeller blade comprising in radial sequence an aerofoil portion, a shank portion and a root portion. The root portion having first cross-sectional area close to the shank portion and second cross-sectional area at the end distal to the aerofoil portion, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. At least two cheeks each having an inner surface arranged to abut the root portion, an outer surface that is threaded and edge surfaces that abut another of the at least two cheeks; wherein the at least two cheeks are arranged to surround the root portion in circumferential abutment. A collar having a threaded inner surface arranged to threadingly engage the outer surfaces of the at least two cheeks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Franklin Udall, David Michael Beaven, Mark John Houle
  • Patent number: 9809317
    Abstract: An aircraft including a pylon attached to a gas turbine engine and a mounting system attaching the engine to the pylon. The mounting system including a first and a second frame each of three elongate members arranged in a triangle, each frame respectively arranged such that a core of the engine is positioned extending through an area defined between the three elongate members of each frame. Each frame forming at least part of a load bearing connection between the pylon and the engine. Each frame consisting of two portions, each portion corresponding to each side of the engine as attached to the pylon. The triangle formed by each frame being symmetrical about a plane separating the two portions. The engine is attached to the mounting system such that both frames are positioned axially forward of a radially extending projection of a first turbine stage in the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Geoffrey Stretton, Kenneth Franklin Udall
  • Patent number: 9701412
    Abstract: An engine mount, for mounting the casing of an aircraft engine to the fuselage or wing of an aircraft, e.g. via a pylon, including first and second links having connector formations for connection to respective mounting and support formations on the engine casing and aircraft mounting structure. Each of the first and second links is typically connected by a pin between the mounting and support formations. Each link has a further connector formation arranged such that the connector formation of the first link is offset from the connector formation of the second link. The connector formations are joined by an intermediate link. The mount allows lateral forces and torque to be resolved in such a way as to substantially avoid lateral displacement of the engine away from a central plane. The intermediate link may also provide a failsafe catcher arrangement in the event that the first or second link fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Geoffrey Stretton, Kenneth Franklin Udall
  • Patent number: 9434467
    Abstract: This invention relates to a blade assembly comprising: a hub which is rotatable about an axis; at least one blade having an aerofoil portion and a root, wherein the root is coupled to the hub using a primary retention device which prevents radial separation of the root and hub in normal use; and, a secondary retention device which comprises an annular catcher having a restriction through which the root portion cannot radially pass, the restriction being located radially outwardly and radially spaced from the root part during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Kenneth John Mackie, Kenneth Franklin Udall
  • Publication number: 20160167797
    Abstract: A mounting system is arranged in use for attaching a gas turbine engine to a pylon of an aircraft. The mounting system comprises a first frame of three elongate members arranged in a triangle. The first frame is arranged in use such that a core of the gas turbine engine is positioned extending through the area defined between the three elongate members. The first frame forms at least part of a load bearing connection between the pylon and gas turbine engine. The first frame consists of two portions, one corresponding to each side of the gas turbine engine when attached to the pylon. The triangle is symmetrical about a plane separating the two portions of the first frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Richard Geoffrey STRETTON, Kenneth Franklin UDALL
  • Patent number: 9039376
    Abstract: A support ring for a rotary assembly such as a propeller assembly includes support cups for receiving blade roots of propeller blades. The support cups are interconnected by bridging structures. Each bridging structure includes bridging walls which extend radially from a bridging web. The bridging structures thus have a channel-shaped cross-section. The bridging walls have a scalloped configuration at their radially outer edges. As a result of this configuration, the neutral axes of the bridging structures are straight, so that the support ring behaves, in structural terms, as a polygon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Kenneth Franklin Udall, Kenneth John Mackie
  • Publication number: 20150069176
    Abstract: An engine mount, for mounting the casing of an aircraft engine to the fuselage or wing of an aircraft, e.g. via a pylon, including first and second links having connector formations for connection to respective mounting and support formations on the engine casing and aircraft mounting structure. Each of the first and second links is typically connected by a pin between the mounting and support formations. Each link has a further connector formation arranged such that the connector formation of the first link is offset from the connector formation of the second link. The connector formations are joined by an intermediate link. The mount allows lateral forces and torque to be resolved in such a way as to substantially avoid lateral displacement of the engine away from a central plane. The intermediate link may also provide a failsafe catcher arrangement in the event that the first or second link fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Geoffrey STRETTON, Kenneth Franklin UDALL
  • Publication number: 20140314577
    Abstract: A propeller blade retention arrangement having a propeller blade comprising in radial sequence an aerofoil portion, a shank portion and a root portion. The root portion having first cross-sectional area close to the shank portion and second cross-sectional area at the end distal to the aerofoil portion, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area. At least two cheeks each having an inner surface arranged to abut the root portion, an outer surface that is threaded and edge surfaces that abut another of the at least two cheeks; wherein the at least two cheeks are arranged to surround the root portion in circumferential abutment. A collar having a threaded inner surface arranged to threadingly engage the outer surfaces of the at least two cheeks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Franklin UDALL, David Michael BEAVEN, Mark John HOULE
  • Publication number: 20130343896
    Abstract: This invention relates to a blade assembly comprising: a hub which is rotatable about an axis; at least one blade having an aerofoil portion and a root, wherein the root is coupled to the hub using a primary retention device which prevents radial separation of the root and hub in normal use; and, a secondary retention device which comprises an annular catcher having a restriction through which the root portion cannot radially pass, the restriction being located radially outwardly and radially spaced from the root part during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth John MACKIE, Kenneth Franklin UDALL
  • Publication number: 20130272871
    Abstract: In a turbofan gas turbine engine, a fan shaft is rotatably mounted and radially supported by a bearing in a bearing support structure-supported from a fixed engine structure by radially frangible bolts and radially extending spokes. The radially inner ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a common member that engages the bearing support structure. The radially outer ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on fixed structure of the engine located radially outwardly of the bearing support structure. The radially extending spokes are held in tension and include a super elastic material to exert a radially inward restoring force on the bearing support structure, subsequent to any radial excursion of at least part of the fan shaft relative to an engine rotational axis (X) following any fracture of the frangible bolts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: John Richard Webster, Kenneth Franklin Udall, James Martin Townsend
  • Patent number: 8430622
    Abstract: In a turbofan gas turbine engine, a fan shaft is rotatably mounted and radially supported by a bearing in a bearing support structure supported from a fixed engine structure by radially frangible bolts and radially extending spokes. The radially inner ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a common member that engages the bearing support structure. The radially outer ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a fixed engine structure located radially outwardly of the bearing support structure. The radially extending spokes are held in tension and include a super elastic material to exert a radially inward restoring force on the bearing support structure, subsequent to any radial excursion of at least part of the fan shaft relative to an engine rotational axis (X) following any fracture of the frangible bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: John Richard Webster, Kenneth Franklin Udall, James Martin Townsend
  • Patent number: 7597499
    Abstract: A disc arrangement for a gas turbine engine, the disc arrangement including a rotational axis, a disc, a coverplate, and a retainer to retain association between the disc and the coverplate by interference. The retainer is displaceable in a recess of the disc or the coverplate to allow release of the interference. The recess presents the retainer at an inclined angle to the rotational axis for the disc and/or the coverplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Franklin Udall
  • Publication number: 20080181763
    Abstract: In a turbofan gas turbine engine, a fan shaft is rotatably mounted and radially supported by a bearing in a bearing support structure supported from a fixed engine structure by radially frangible bolts and radially extending spokes. The radially inner ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a common member that engages the bearing support structure. The radially outer ends of the radially extending spokes are mounted on a fixed engine structure located radially outwardly of the bearing support structure. The radially extending spokes are held in tension and include a super elastic material to exert a radially inward restoring force on the bearing support structure, subsequent to any radial excursion of at least part of the fan shaft relative to an engine rotational axis (X) following any fracture of the frangible bolts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: John Richard Webster, Kenneth Franklin Udall, James Martin Townsend