Patents by Inventor Kerry J. Lighty

Kerry J. Lighty 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: 11702976
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a flow restrictor, an inertial separator, and a pressure relief valve cooperating to effect diversion of vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan, Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 11661856
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a sump housing, an electric generator, and a shaft assembly and includes features for directing lubrication fluid away from the electric generator. The sump housing is configured to collect the lubrication fluid and air used in the gas turbine engine. The electric generator is located in the sump housing and configured to produce electric energy during use of the gas turbine engine. The shaft assembly extends through the electric generator and may be coupled with the electric generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Kerry J. Lighty
  • Publication number: 20220298923
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a sump housing, an electric generator, and a shaft assembly and includes features for directing lubrication fluid away from the electric generator. The sump housing is configured to collect the lubrication fluid and air used in the gas turbine engine. The electric generator is located in the sump housing and configured to produce electric energy during use of the gas turbine engine. The shaft assembly extends through the electric generator and may be coupled with the electric generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventor: Kerry J. Lighty
  • Publication number: 20220205362
    Abstract: A rotor assembly adapted for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a wheel, and a retaining nut. The shaft extends along an axis and includes a first tapered surface. The wheel is arranged circumferentially around the shaft and includes a second tapered surface. The retaining nut is fastened to the shaft and applies an axial force to the wheel to couple the wheel with the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Brian R. Bennett, Matthew Jordan
  • Patent number: 11365630
    Abstract: A rotor assembly adapted for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a wheel, and a retaining nut. The shaft extends along an axis and includes a first tapered surface. The wheel is arranged circumferentially around the shaft and includes a second tapered surface. The retaining nut is fastened to the shaft and applies an axial force to the wheel to couple the wheel with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Brian R. Bennett, Matthew Jordan
  • Patent number: 11365682
    Abstract: A shaft assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shaft, a bearing, and an annular sump cover. The shaft is arranged along an axis and configured to rotate about the axis. The bearing is coupled to the shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft about the axis. The annular sump cover is fixed relative to the axis and is configured to allow a lubrication fluid and a buffer air into an air chamber formed between the shaft, the bearing, and the annular sump cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie
  • Patent number: 11365909
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a vapor/liquid separation feature configured to separate vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop also includes a pressure sensor configured to detect an increase in pressure in the first cooling loop that may result from a leak of second coolant into the first cooling loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan
  • Patent number: 11346284
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bypass duct, a compressor, and a pyrotechnic gas conduit. The bypass duct conducts bypass air between an outer bypass wall and an inner bypass wall. The compressor includes an impeller to compress engine air. The pyrotechnic gas conduit is configured to conduct a gas onto the impeller to start the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Jordan, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie
  • Patent number: 11300008
    Abstract: A lubricant scavenging system for a turbine engine having a pair of concentric, counter-rotating shafts. The system comprises a lubricant sump housing having a radially inner surface, a pair of pedestal mounts each adapted to receive a bearing assembly from a respective shaft, a lubricant collection point axially disposed between the pedestal mounts, and a pair of axial channels adapted to guide lubricant toward the lubricant collection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Ine., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
  • Publication number: 20210389028
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a vapor/liquid separation feature configured to separate vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop also includes a pressure sensor configured to detect an increase in pressure in the first cooling loop that may result from a leak of second coolant into the first cooling loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan
  • Publication number: 20210293174
    Abstract: A cooling system includes a first cooling loop, a second cooling loop and a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the first cooling loop to the second cooling loop. The first cooling loop includes a flow restrictor, an inertial separator, and a pressure relief valve cooperating to effect diversion of vapor present in the first cooling loop due to a leak between the first cooling loop and the second cooling loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan, Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 10815887
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The lubrication system is configured to provide pressurized air and lubricant to a bearing sump of the gas turbine engine to cool and lubricate a bearing included in the bearing sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Larry A. Junod
  • Publication number: 20200032671
    Abstract: A lubricant scavenging system for a turbine engine having a pair of concentric, counter-rotating shafts. The system comprises a lubricant sump housing having a radially inner surface, a pair of pedestal mounts each adapted to receive a bearing assembly from a respective shaft, a lubricant collection point axially disposed between the pedestal mounts, and a pair of axial channels adapted to guide lubricant toward the lubricant collection point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
  • Patent number: 10480348
    Abstract: A lubricant scavenging system for a turbine engine having a pair of concentric, counter-rotating shafts. The system comprises a lubricant sump housing having a radially inner surface, a pair of pedestal mounts each adapted to receive a bearing assembly from a respective shaft, a lubricant collection point axially disposed between the pedestal mounts, and a pair of axial channels adapted to guide lubricant toward the lubricant collection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
  • Patent number: 10047632
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a radially stacked intershaft bearing assembly. The assembly includes an outer stubshaft having outer and inner diameter surface portions disposed concentrically with respect to one another. The outer diameter surface portion is rotatably connected to a body of the engine, and the inner diameter surface portion is rotatably connected to an inner stubshaft of the engine, so as to provide a stacked configuration of the inner stubshaft, the outer stubshaft, and the body along a radial direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Jared I. Taketa
  • Publication number: 20180156118
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The lubrication system is configured to provide pressurized air and lubricant to a bearing sump of the gas turbine engine to cool and lubricate a bearing included in the bearing sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Larry A. Junod
  • Publication number: 20180087404
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing oil for lubrication and/or cooling to an engine component in a turbine engine. A system for directing oil flow across a radially inward facing surface of the engine component comprises a nozzle axially forward of the component which is configured to eject a stream of oil, a deflecting body having a deflecting surface positioned to receive the stream of oil incident thereon and configured to deflect the stream of oil axially rearward, and an oil catcher comprising an annular catching flange positioned to receive the deflected stream of oil incident thereon and defining a plurality of grooves configured to channel the incident oil axially rearward to the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Kerry J. Lighty
  • Patent number: 9915203
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The lubrication system is configured to provide pressurized air and lubricant to a bearing sump of the gas turbine engine to cool and lubricate a bearing included in the bearing sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Larry A. Junod
  • Publication number: 20170314418
    Abstract: A lubricant scavenging system for a turbine engine having a pair of concentric, counter-rotating shafts. The system comprises a lubricant sump housing having a radially inner surface, a pair of pedestal mounts each adapted to receive a bearing assembly from a respective shaft, a lubricant collection point axially disposed between the pedestal mounts, and a pair of axial channels adapted to guide lubricant toward the lubricant collection point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
  • Publication number: 20160146046
    Abstract: An exemplary gas turbine engine includes a radially stacked intershaft bearing assembly. The assembly includes an outer stubshaft having outer and inner diameter surface portions disposed concentrically with respect to one another. The outer diameter surface portion is rotatably connected to a body of the engine, and the inner diameter surface portion is rotatably connected to an inner stubshaft of the engine, so as to provide a stacked configuration of the inner stubshaft, the outer stubshaft, and the body along a radial direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Jared I. Taketa