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).

  • Publication number: 20210231019
    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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Louise J. Gale, Stephan J. Pattison, Anthony G. Razzell, Ian M. Edmonds, Michael G. Abbott
  • Patent number: 11073039
    Abstract: A turbine section of a gas turbine engine includes a vane assembly that redirects hot gases in the turbine section, a turbine shroud that extends around a turbine wheel to keep the hot gases from avoiding interaction with the turbine wheel, and a heat shield that provides parts of the vane assembly and the turbine shroud. The heat shield comprises ceramic matrix composite materials and is formed as a one piece component. The heat shield includes a vane portion that protects other vane assembly parts, a seal segment portion that protects other turbine shroud parts, and a forward turn-up and an aft turn-up. The forward turn-up and the aft turn-up couple the heat shield to other parts of the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Michael J. Abbott
  • Patent number: 11066942
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine arranged around an axis. The turbine includes a turbine vane assembly. A method for creating the turbine vane assembly includes fabricating a plurality of turbine vanes comprising ceramic matrix composite material and selecting and arranging the turbine vanes to form a turbine vane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Roderick M. Townes, Andrew Holt
  • Patent number: 11060409
    Abstract: A turbine blade of ceramic matrix composite material construction adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil assembly. The airfoil assembly includes an airfoil and at least one reinforcement inset coupled to the airfoil assembly. The reinforcement inset is configured to resist damage to the airfoil assembly due to objects impacting the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventors: Edward M. Jones, Michael J. Whittle, James C. Smith, Emma C. Steedman, Ian Edmonds
  • Publication number: 20210207486
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly includes a plurality of turbine vanes, an outer vane support, and an inner vane support. The turbine vanes are adapted to interact with gases flowing through a gas path of the gas turbine engine. The outer vane support is arranged radially outward of the turbine vane and configured to receive aerodynamic loads from the turbine vanes. The inner vane support is arranged radially inward from the outer vane support to locate the turbine vane assembly therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Sadler, Michael J. Whittle
  • Publication number: 20210207528
    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: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Pascal DUNNING, Roderick M. TOWNES, Michael J. WHITTLE
  • Patent number: 11047247
    Abstract: A turbine section for use in gas turbine engine includes a turbine case, a plurality of gas path components, a vane mount unit, and an inner vane static seal assembly. The turbine vane comprising ceramic matrix composite materials to insulate the metallic materials of the vane mount unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventor: Michael J. Whittle
  • Patent number: 11047258
    Abstract: A turbine assembly according to the present disclosure includes ceramic matrix composite vanes mounted to a metallic case. The turbine assembly includes a turbine case cooling system with a vane case cooling unit configured to manage the temperature and diameter of the metallic case at the location where the ceramic matrix composite vanes are mounted so as to control circumferential movement of the vanes relative to one another during heating and cooling of the turbine assembly when used in a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: Jade L. Whittle, Michael J. Whittle
  • Patent number: 11047301
    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: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Pascal Dunning, Michael J Whittle, Roderick M Townes
  • Publication number: 20210180521
    Abstract: A turbine assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a seal segment and a carrier. The seal segment includes a shroud wall that extends circumferentially partway around an axis and a mount post that extends radially outward away from the shroud wall. The carrier is shaped to define a channel that receives at least a portion of the mount post. A mounting insert is used to urge the carrier and mount post toward one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventor: Michael J. Whittle
  • Publication number: 20210172327
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to turbine vanes comprising ceramic matrix composite materials and vane ring assemblies including the same and adapted for use in gas turbine engines. The turbine vanes each include a platform that defines a gas path of the gas turbine engine and an airfoil that extends away from the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Ted J. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20210156275
    Abstract: A component for use in a gas turbine engine includes a component body, and a damage-indicative coating. The damage-indicative coating is configured to change from an intact state in which the damage-indicative coating has a first appearance to a damaged state in which the damage-indicative coating has a second appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Anthony G. Razzell, Stephen I. Harris
  • Patent number: 11008878
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine includes a root and an aerofoil. The root is configured to be coupled with a disc of the gas turbine engine and rotate with the disc about an axis during operation of the gas turbine engine. The aerofoil is coupled with the root of the turbine blade for movement with the root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander Wong, Michael J. Whittle, Anthony Razzell
  • Patent number: 11008880
    Abstract: A turbine assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed in this paper. The turbine assembly includes a turbine vane comprising ceramic matrix composite materials configured for use in high temperature environments. The turbine assembly further includes a vane-stage support for holding the turbine vane and other components in place relative to a turbine case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Anthony G. Razzell, Roderick M. Townes, David J. Shepherd, Duncan Forbes
  • Publication number: 20210140333
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for use with a gas turbine engine includes a bladed wheel assembly, a vane assembly, and an inner seal. 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. The inner seal is configured to block gases from passing around the vane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Keith Sadler, Ted J. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20210131353
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly includes a support carrier and an airfoil unit that includes a platform, an airfoil, and a mount. The platform defines a boundary of a gas path of the airfoil assembly. The airfoil extends away from platform and the mount extends away from the platform opposite the airfoil. The support carrier is coupled with the airfoil unit and engages the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Oliver D.A. O'Carroll, Robert S. Bainbridge, Afzal Ali, Rachel Woodfield, Michael J. Whittle
  • Publication number: 20210123352
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil and a spar. The airfoil is formed to define a cavity that extends into the airfoil. The spar is located in the cavity to define a cooling passage that extends around the spar between the spar and the airfoil. The turbine vane assembly includes cooling features to aid heat transfer of the turbine vane assembly during operation in the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Roderick M. Townes, Andrew T. Holt, Michael J. Whittle
  • Patent number: 10989112
    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: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Pascal Dunning, Roderick M Townes, Michael J Whittle
  • Publication number: 20210108524
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Keith Sadler
  • Patent number: 10975709
    Abstract: An airfoil 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 axially from the outer platform relative to an axis and defines an inner boundary of the gas path. The airfoil extends axially between and interconnects the outer platform and the inner platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: Rachel Woodfield, Robert S. Bainbridge, Afzal Ali, Oliver D. A. O'Carroll, Michael J. Whittle