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).
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Patent number: 11702976Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan, Alan W. Smith
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Patent number: 11661856Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventor: Kerry J. Lighty
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Publication number: 20220298923Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2021Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventor: Kerry J. Lighty
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Publication number: 20220205362Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Brian R. Bennett, Matthew Jordan
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Patent number: 11365630Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Brian R. Bennett, Matthew Jordan
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Patent number: 11365682Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2021Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie
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Patent number: 11365909Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan
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Patent number: 11346284Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 4, 2021Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Matthew Jordan, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie
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Patent number: 11300008Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Ine., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
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Publication number: 20210389028Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2020Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Alan W. Smith, Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan
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Publication number: 20210293174Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Paul O'Meallie, Sean Morgan, Alan W. Smith
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Patent number: 10815887Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Larry A. Junod
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Publication number: 20200032671Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2019Publication date: January 30, 2020Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
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Patent number: 10480348Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
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Patent number: 10047632Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Jared I. Taketa
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Publication number: 20180156118Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Larry A. Junod
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Publication number: 20180087404Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventor: Kerry J. Lighty
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Patent number: 9915203Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Larry A. Junod
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Publication number: 20170314418Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Phillip Burnside
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Publication number: 20160146046Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Jared I. Taketa