Patents by Inventor Michiel Kopmels

Michiel Kopmels 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: 20150251371
    Abstract: A method of sealing a gap between an aerofoil component and a further component. The method comprises placing the aerofoil component in close proximity with the further component to define a gap therebetween, applying a thermoplastic material to the gap in a molten phase and cooling the thermoplastic material to set the thermoplastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michiel KOPMELS, Simon CROWTHER
  • Patent number: 9061347
    Abstract: A method of selectively sealing at least one cooling hole provided on an aerofoil component (10). The method comprises applying a thermoplastic material to one or more selected cooling holes (12, 14) in a molten phase, and cooling the thermoplastic material to set the thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Simon John Crowther, Michiel Kopmels
  • Patent number: 8650940
    Abstract: A master component is provided for use in checking for any variation in the performance of a gas turbine test facility. The master component replaces a standard component, which is typically a turbine blade, vane or segment in the test facility. The master component is attached to the test facility in the same manner as the standard component. The flow rate through the master component is substantially the same as the flow rate through the standard component for a given inlet and outlet temperature and pressure. The flow through the master component is simpler than the flow through the standard component. This means that the flow through the master component is less likely to vary over time. As such, the master component is more suitable for use in checking for any variation in the performance of a test facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Darren L. Howard, Andrew Hewitt, Philip Ridland, Michiel Kopmels
  • Publication number: 20130025351
    Abstract: A master component is provided for use in checking for any variation in the performance of a gas turbine test facility. The master component replaces a standard component, which is typically a turbine blade, vane or segment in the test facility. The master component is attached to the test facility in the same manner as the standard component. The flow rate through the master component is substantially the same as the flow rate through the standard component for a given inlet and outlet temperature and pressure. The flow through the master component is simpler than the flow through the standard component. This means that the flow through the master component is less likely to vary over time. As such, the master component is more suitable for use in checking for any variation in the performance of a test facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Darren L. HOWARD, Andrew HEWITT, Philip RIDLAND, Michiel KOPMELS
  • Patent number: 8277171
    Abstract: An aerofoil comprising a pressure-side wall, a suction-side wall and an intermediate wall extending from a free end of the pressure-side wall at an acute angle relative thereto towards the suction-side wall. A cooling fluid passageway extends through a region where the intermediate wall meets the pressure-side wall at an apex. The fluid passageway has an opening, at least in part, in the face of the pressure-side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Michiel Kopmels
  • Patent number: 8262355
    Abstract: A component, such as a turbine blade of a gas turbine engine, has an internal cooling system which includes a passage (28) having a passage inlet (22) and a passage exit (30), which may be in the form of passageways at or adjacent to the trailing edge of the component. The passage (28) is divided into chambers (52, 54, 56, 58) by partitions (40, 42, 44) which extend from one wall (34) of the component and terminate short of the opposite wall (36) to provide gaps (46, 48, 50) to permit chord-wise cooling air flow from the passage inlet (22) to the passage exit (30). The gaps (46, 48, 50) force the cooling air to pass adjacent the hot walls (34, 36), so increasing the heat transfer coefficient between the cooling air and the material of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Michiel Kopmels
  • Patent number: 8052389
    Abstract: A shroudless, air cooled gas turbine blade has an internal structure including load-carrying members that support the blade outer wall and divide the blade interior into cooling passages. The dimensions of the structure in particular the load-carrying members are chosen with respect to inward heat flow during operation to tend to reduce heat transfer from the outer wall to the load-carrying members and with respect to mass distribution in the structure to reduce centrifugal forces during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Michiel Kopmels
  • Patent number: 7976277
    Abstract: A component such as a turbine blade of a gas turbine engine has a cooling arrangement comprising a cascade impingement array in which cooling air flows from a supply chamber through impingement passages in webs to an internal passageway comprising first and second limbs. The cooling air flow through the limbs, provides improved heat transfer compared with continued impingement cooling in the chordwise direction of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Mark T Mitchell, Peter J Goodman, Keith C Sadler
  • Publication number: 20100047057
    Abstract: An aerofoil comprising a pressure-side wall, a suction-side wall and an intermediate wall extending from a free end of the pressure-side wall at an acute angle relative thereto towards the suction-side wall. A cooling fluid passageway extends through a region where the intermediate wall meets the pressure-side wall at an apex. The fluid passageway has an opening, at least in part, in the face of the pressure-side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Michiel Kopmels
  • Patent number: 7507071
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement is provided in which an incident coolant flow is presented to a passage such that a proportion of that flow is diverted in order to create a standing relative overpressure in a chamber compared to the actual static pressure of the flow in the passage. In such circumstances through flow transfer apertures in the walls of the chamber forced coolant flows are presented for impingement upon surfaces and therefore greater heat transfer. Generally, coolant flow is presented to both ends of the chamber in order to create the relative standing overpressure in the chamber relative to the current static pressure presented in the passage through the incident flow. In such circumstances through utilizing the dynamic rotation or other motion of a component incorporating the arrangement a higher relative pressure is achieved for greater force coolant flow projection compared to the incident or actual static pressure of the incident coolant flow in the.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Michael Jago, Keith Sadler, Peter Goodman
  • Publication number: 20090060715
    Abstract: A component, such as a turbine blade of a gas turbine engine, has an internal cooling system which includes a passage (28) having a passage inlet (22) and a passage exit (30), which may be in the form of passageways at or adjacent to the trailing edge of the component. The passage (28) is divided into chambers (52, 54, 56, 58) by partitions (40, 42, 44) which extend from one wall (34) of the component and terminate short of the opposite wall (36) to provide gaps (46, 48, 50) to permit chord-wise cooling air flow from the passage inlet (22) to the passage exit (30). The gaps (46, 48, 50) force the cooling air to pass adjacent the hot walls (34, 36), so increasing the heat transfer coefficient between the cooling air and the material of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Michiel Kopmels
  • Patent number: 7442008
    Abstract: An internal fluid cooling system for a gas turbine aerofoil comprises a plurality of multi-pass cooling arrangements each of which consists of a serpentine passage in the interior of the aerofoil. The cooling fluid—in particular air—is supplied to an inlet end of each passage and exhausted through a multiplicity of discharge holes to provide tip, leading edge, trailing edge and surface film cooling. The inlet end of a first serpentine passage is positioned close to the leading edge and flows rearwards while the inlet end of the second serpentine passage is positioned close to the trailing edge and flows forwards. These serpentine passages are disposed side-by-side, one adjacent the pressure surface and the other adjacent the suction surface on opposite sides of a main load carrying member which comprises a major part of the internal structure of the aerofoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Ian Tibbott, Edwin Dane, Timothy M Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7438528
    Abstract: A component such as a turbine blade for a gas turbine engine has a cooling arrangement comprising a supply passage 18 within the blade from which extend cooling passages 28 of a first array which open at discharge openings 29, for example at a trailing edge of the blade. Cooling passages 30 of a second array extend into the blade from discharge openings 31, and intersect the passages 28. The passages 30 terminate short of the supply passage 18. As a result of this arrangement, the limiting flow area for cooling air is defined by the cooling passages 28 of the first array, and is not affected by the accuracy with which the cooling passages 30 of the second array intersect the cooling passages 28 of the first array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Peter J. Goodman, Keith C. Sadler, Michiel Kopmels
  • Publication number: 20080112816
    Abstract: A component such as a turbine blade of a gas turbine engine has a cooling arrangement comprising a cascade impingement array in which cooling air flows from a supply chamber through impingement passages in webs to an internal passageway comprising first and second limbs. The cooling air flow through the limbs, provides improved heat transfer compared with continued impingement cooling in the chordwise direction of the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Mark T. Mitchell, Peter J. Goodman, Keith C. Sadler
  • Publication number: 20070286729
    Abstract: A shroudless, air cooled gas turbine blade has an internal structure including load-carrying members (36,38,40) that support the blade outer wall (10) and divide the blade interior into cooling passages (28,30,32,34). The dimensions of the structure in particular the load-carrying members (36,38,40) are chosen with respect to inward heat flow during operation to tend to reduce heat transfer from the outer wall (10) to the load-carrying members (36,38,40) and with respect to mass distribution in the structure to reduce centrifugal forces during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Michiel Kopmels
  • Publication number: 20070253815
    Abstract: An internal fluid cooling system for a gas turbine aerofoil (2) comprises a plurality of multi-pass cooling arrangements each of which consists of a serpentine passage (50,52,54 & 48,56,58) in the interior of the aerofoil (2). The cooling fluid—in particular air—is supplied to an inlet end (22,24) of each passage (50,52,54 & 48,56,58) and exhausted through a multiplicity of discharge holes (60,62,64,68) to provide tip, leading edge, trailing edge and surface film cooling. The inlet end (22) of a first serpentine passage (50,52,54) is positioned close to the leading edge (26) and flows rearwards while the inlet end (24) of the second serpentine passage (48,56,58) is positioned close to the trailing edge (28) and flows forwards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Ian Tibbott, Edwin Dane, Mark Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7273351
    Abstract: A component such as a turbine blade of a gas turbine engine includes a film cooling arrangement which is optimized by a process in which a component is manufactured having a film cooling arrangement of an initial design and evaluation of the performance of the film cooling arrangement is conducted, for example on the basis of the blowing rate of cooling holes present in the initial design. The configuration of a cooling hole of the initial design is subsequently modified in order to improve the performance of the film cooling arrangement and a component is manufactured in accordance with the modified design. By way of example, the initial design may provide a single cooling hole 128 and the modification may comprise the provision of additional cooling holes 126, 130, each intersecting the initial cooling hole 128 adjacent its inlet end which opens into a source of cooling fluid 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventor: Michiel Kopmels
  • Patent number: 7273350
    Abstract: A heat transfer arrangement comprises a target member (28 or 30), and an impingement member (32). The impingement member (32) defines a fluid path (38 or 40) there through to direct fluid onto the target member. The arrangement includes a fluid directing formation (42) on the impingement member (32). The fluid path (38 or 40) extends through the fluid directory formation (42) such that the fluid path directs fluid to exit there from at an exit angle that is substantially orthogonal to the fluid directing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Keith C. Sadler
  • Publication number: 20060140763
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement 11 is provided in which an incident coolant flow 23 is presented to a passage 14 such that a proportion of that flow is diverted in order to create a standing relative overpressure in a chamber 24 compared to the actual static pressure of the flow 23 in the passage 14. In such circumstances through flow transfer apertures in the walls of the chamber 24 forced coolant flows are presented for impingement upon surfaces 26, 27 and therefore greater heat transfer. Generally, coolant flow is presented to both ends of the chamber 24 in order to create the relative standing overpressure in the chamber 24 relative to the current static pressure presented in the passage 14 through the incident flow 23.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Michael Jago, Keith Sadler, Peter Goodman
  • Publication number: 20060104814
    Abstract: A heat transfer arrangement comprises a target member (28 or 30), and an impingement member (32). The impingement member (32) defines a fluid path (38 or 40) there through to direct fluid onto the target member. The arrangement includes a fluid directing formation (42) on the impingement member (32). The fluid path (38 or 40) extends through the fluid directory formation (42) such that the fluid path directs fluid to exit there from at an exit angle that is substantially orthogonal to the fluid directing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Michiel Kopmels, Keith Sadler