Patents by Inventor Michael L. Carlisle

Michael L. Carlisle 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: 9051850
    Abstract: A method of forming an annular support structure for fastening a component of a gas turbine engine to a static part of the engine is provided. The support structure has a substantially frustoconical skin portion which, in use, extends inwardly from the static part. The support structure further has a flange portion which extends inwardly from an inner edge of the skin portion. In use, a mating flange extending outwardly from the component is attached to the flange portion. The flange portion has an engagement face against which a corresponding face of the mating flange is secured. The flange portion further has an inwardly-facing land at an outer edge of the engagement face which restrains the component against radial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Michael L. Carlisle
  • Patent number: 8701417
    Abstract: A head part of an annular gas turbine combustion chamber including: an end wall with a passage opening for accommodating a burner, the end wall including a set back portion adjacent the passage opening; a heat shield covering a back side of the end wall which faces towards the combustion chamber, the heat shield including a protruding portion shaped to cooperate with the set back portion of the end wall; and a burner collar adapted to fit within the passage opening and receive a burner, the burner collar including a protruding portion radially protruding from an outer surface of the burner collar; wherein the head part of the annular gas turbine combustion chamber is configured such that in an installed configuration the protruding portion of the burner collar is held between the protruding portion of the heat shield and the set back portion of the end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Andrew Nicholls, Michael L Carlisle, Ian M Garry, Michael N Wybrow
  • Patent number: 8572987
    Abstract: A combustor is provided for mounting a fuel injector to a gas turbine engine. The combustor comprises an engine casing having an aperture formed therein. The system further comprises a fuel injector having a flange for mounting the fuel injector to the casing at the aperture so that the fuel injector extends into the engine. The flange is dismountably sealed to an inner side of the casing. The aperture and flange are configured so that, when dismounted, the fuel injector can be rotated into an orientation relative to the aperture which allows the flange to pass though the aperture and the fuel injector to be withdrawn from the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Michael L Carlisle
  • Patent number: 8539774
    Abstract: A system is provided for mounting fuel injectors to a gas turbine engine, including an engine casing having an aperture formed therein and a plurality of fuel injectors, each fuel injector having a respective flange for mounting the fuel injectors to the casing at the aperture so that the fuel injectors extend side-by-side into the engine. The flanges are dismountably sealed to an inner side of the casing. The aperture and the flanges are configured so that, when dismounted, each fuel injector is configured to rotate into an orientation relative to the aperture which allows each of the respective flanges to pass though the aperture and the fuel injector to be withdrawn from the casing. The flanges have respective sealing formations which engage with their neighboring flanges when the fuel injectors are mounted to the casing to close off the aperture and to form seals between the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Carlisle
  • Patent number: 8448449
    Abstract: A system is provided for mounting fuel injectors to a gas turbine engine. The system comprises an engine casing having a plurality of apertures formed therein. The system further comprises a plurality of first and second fuel injectors. Each fuel injector has a respective flange for mounting the fuel injector to the casing at a respective aperture so that the fuel injector extends into the engine. The first fuel injectors have flanges which are dismountably sealed to an inner side of the casing. The second fuel injectors have flanges which are dismountably sealed to an outer side of the casing. The flanges of the first fuel injectors are configured to allow them to pass through the apertures of the second fuel injectors. A first fuel injector can be dismounted from the casing and withdrawn therefrom through the aperture of a dismounted second fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Michael L. Carlisle
  • Patent number: 5590530
    Abstract: An annular combustion chamber for a gas turbine engine is provided with a plurality of fuel injection nozzles at its upstream end to direct swirled flows of fuel and air into the chamber. Ports in the combustion chamber walls direct air into the combustion chamber to oppose the swirling fuel and air flows from the fuel injection nozzles to achieve better fuel and air mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Ashley J. Owen, Michael L. Carlisle, Christopher S. Parkin