Patents by Inventor Michael J. WHITTLE

Michael J. WHITTLE 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: 11933195
    Abstract: A method of treating a component adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is described herein. The component may comprise ceramic matrix composite materials. The treatment to the ceramic matrix composite component may reduce or eliminate the wear or damage of crack propagation in the ceramic matrix composite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Louise J. Gale, Stephan J. Pattison, Anthony G. Razzell, Ian M. Edmonds, Michael G. Abbott
  • Patent number: 11834956
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shroud wall extending circumferentially partway around a central reference axis to define a gas path of the gas turbine engine. An attachment feature extends radially from the shroud wall. A foam is located at least on the shroud wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Stephen Harris
  • Patent number: 11773730
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a support and a turbine vane arranged around the support. The support is made of metallic materials. The turbine vane is made of ceramic matrix composite materials to insulate the metallic materials of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Steven Hillier, Stephen Harris, Sungbo Shim
  • Patent number: 11773735
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly for use in a gas turbine engine includes turbine vanes, a segmented inner vane support, and an outer vane support. The turbine vanes are arranged around a central axis of the engine. The inner vane support is arranged radially inwardly of the turbine vanes. The outer vane support includes a full-hoop outer support ring located radially outward of the plurality of turbine vanes and extends entirely circumferentially about the central axis. The outer vane support further includes a plurality of discrete support spars coupled to the full-hoop outer support ring and extending radially inward from the full-hoop outer support ring through an interior cavity of a respective turbine vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel Clark, Carl Boettcher, David Wright
  • Patent number: 11746660
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil extending radially relative to a central reference axis. A spar is located within the airfoil and spaced from the airfoil at all radial locations along the airfoil such that a gap is maintained between the airfoil and the spar. A foam is located between the airfoil and the spar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Stephen Harris
  • Publication number: 20230272752
    Abstract: A highly efficient gas turbine engine is provided. The fan of the gas turbine engine is driven from a turbine via a gearbox, such that the fan has a lower rotational speed than the driving turbine, thereby providing efficiency gains. The efficient fan system is mated to a core that has low cooling flow requirements and/or high temperature capability, and which may have particularly low mass for a given power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Pascal DUNNING, Roderick M. TOWNES, Michael J. WHITTLE
  • Patent number: 11732596
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of turbine vanes, an outer vane support, and an inner vane support. The plurality of turbine vanes comprise ceramic matrix composite material and are adapted to interact with hot gases flowing through a gas path of the gas turbine engine during use of the turbine vane assembly. A spar system couples the inner vane support with the outer vane support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Clark, Michael J. Whittle, Carl Boettcher, David C. Wright
  • Publication number: 20230193763
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil extending radially relative to a central reference axis. A spar is located within the airfoil and spaced from the airfoil at all radial locations along the airfoil such that a gap is maintained between the airfoil and the spar. A foam is located between the airfoil and the spar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, JR., Stephen Harris
  • Publication number: 20230193773
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of turbine vanes, an outer vane support, and an inner vane support. The plurality of turbine vanes comprise ceramic matrix composite material and are adapted to interact with hot gases flowing through a gas path of the gas turbine engine during use of the turbine vane assembly. A spar system couples the inner vane support with the outer vane support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Clark, Michael J. Whittle, Carl Boettcher, David C. Wright
  • Publication number: 20230193782
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a shroud wall extending circumferentially partway around a central reference axis to define a gas path of the gas turbine engine. An attachment feature extends radially from the shroud wall. A foam is located at least on the shroud wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, JR., Stephen Harris
  • Publication number: 20230193769
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly for use in a gas turbine engine includes turbine vanes, a segmented inner vane support, and an outer vane support. The turbine vanes are arranged around a central axis of the engine. The inner vane support is arranged radially inwardly of the turbine vanes. The outer vane support includes a full-hoop outer support ring located radially outward of the plurality of turbine vanes and extends entirely circumferentially about the central axis. The outer vane support further includes a plurality of discrete support spars coupled to the full-hoop outer support ring and extending radially inward from the full-hoop outer support ring through an interior cavity of a respective turbine vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Daniel Clark, Carl Boettcher, David Wright
  • Patent number: 11668246
    Abstract: A highly efficient gas turbine engine is provided. The fan of the gas turbine engine is driven from a turbine via a gearbox, such that the fan has a lower rotational speed than the driving turbine, thereby providing efficiency gains. The efficient fan system is mated to a core that has low cooling flow requirements and/or high temperature capability, and which may have particularly low mass for a given power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Pascal Dunning, Roderick M Townes, Michael J Whittle
  • Publication number: 20230130393
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a support and a turbine vane arranged around the support. The support is made of metallic materials. The turbine vane is made of ceramic matrix composite materials to insulate the metallic materials of the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Steven Hillier, Stephen Harris, Sungbo Shim
  • Patent number: 11591921
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a bladed wheel assembly and a vane assembly. The bladed wheel assembly is adapted to interact with gases flowing through a gas path of the gas turbine engine. The vane assembly is located upstream of the bladed wheel assembly and adapted to direct the gases at the bladed wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Andrew T. Holt, Roderick M. Townes
  • Patent number: 11560799
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a spar, a turbine vane, and load transfer pins. The spar comprises metallic materials and is configured to support other components of the turbine vane assembly relative to an associated turbine case. The turbine vane comprises ceramic matrix composite materials and is shaped to include an airfoil configured to direct the flow of hot gasses through a primary gas path of the turbine vane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Harris, Michael J. Whittle
  • Patent number: 11536205
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes an engine component comprising ceramic matrix composite materials, at least one control system configured to control at least a temperature of the engine component, and a controller. The controller includes a degradation map stored therein. The degradation map includes degradation fields, each field defined by a unique range of temperatures and stresses of the component and correlated to different types of degradation of the component. The controller is configured to determine a first temperature and stress of the component and a first field based on the first temperature and stress, determine a second field different from the first and a second temperature and stress that would locate the component in the second field, and instruct the control system to change the temperature of the component from the first to the second temperature to locate the component in the second field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Ian M. Edmonds, Stephen Harris
  • Patent number: 11519280
    Abstract: A vane assembly includes a vane that includes an outer platform, an inner platform, and an airfoil. The outer platform defines an outer boundary of a gas path. The inner platform is spaced apart radially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends radially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Robert S. Bainbridge, Oliver D. A. O'Carroll, Afzal Ali, Rachel Woodfield, Michael J. Whittle
  • Patent number: 11504813
    Abstract: A method comprises inspecting a ceramic matrix composite component assembled in a gas turbine engine to determine an extent of damage to the ceramic matrix composite component, determining a repair technique to repair the damage to the ceramic matrix composite component based on the extent of damage to the ceramic matrix composite component, and repairing the ceramic matrix composite component using the repair technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Stephen Harris, Keith Sadler, Matthew D. Thomason, Andrew Norton, James Kell
  • Patent number: 11466617
    Abstract: A highly efficient gas turbine engine includes the fan of the gas turbine engine driven from a turbine via a gearbox, such that the fan has a lower rotational speed than the driving turbine, thereby providing efficiency gains. The efficient fan system is mated to a core that has low cooling flow requirements and/or high temperature capability, and which may have particularly low mass for a given power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Pascal Dunning, Michael J Whittle, Roderick M Townes
  • Publication number: 20220307448
    Abstract: A highly efficient gas turbine engine is provided. The fan of the gas turbine engine is driven from a turbine via a gearbox, such that the fan has a lower rotational speed than the driving turbine, thereby providing efficiency gains. The efficient fan system is mated to a core that has low cooling flow requirements and/or high temperature capability, and which may have particularly low mass for a given power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Roderick M. TOWNES, Pascal DUNNING, Michael J. WHITTLE