Patents by Inventor Nicholas B Orchard

Nicholas B Orchard 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: 8718975
    Abstract: A method and system for accepting or rejecting a curved surface of a body under evaluation involves conducting a comparison between the curvature of a surface profile for the surface under evaluation and higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries. The higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries are determined from a desired surface profile. The curvature at a plurality of locations on the curve profile under evaluation may be defined with reference to a geometric variable for said curved surface and may be plotted on a graph. The higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries may also be plotted on the graph so as to determine whether the plot of curvature for the surface under evaluation falls within the bounds of the higher and lower tolerance boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventors: Hugo M P Lobato, Ian R Gower, Christopher A Powell, Nicholas B Orchard
  • Patent number: 8175842
    Abstract: A method for measuring the profile of a component in the region of an edge of the component comprises the following steps: determining the position of an edge point of the component; defining a center line for the component in the region of the edge; and measuring at least one dimension of the component with reference to the center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Mitchel Cameron, Hang W Lung, Nicholas B Orchard, Michael J S Gooder
  • Publication number: 20110301915
    Abstract: A method and system for accepting or rejecting a curved surface of a body under evaluation involves conducting a comparison between the curvature of a surface profile for the surface under evaluation and higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries. The higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries are determined from a desired surface profile. The curvature at a plurality of locations on the curve profile under evaluation may be defined with reference to a geometric variable for said curved surface and may be plotted on a graph. The higher and lower curvature tolerance boundaries may also be plotted on the graph so as to determine whether the plot of curvature for the surface under evaluation falls within the bounds of the higher and lower tolerance boundaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Hugo M. P. Lobato, Ian R. Gower, Christopher A. Powell, Nicholas B. Orchard
  • Publication number: 20090306930
    Abstract: A method for measuring the profile of a component in the region of an edge of the component comprises the following steps: determining the position of an edge point of the component; defining a centre line for the component in the region of the edge; and measuring at least one dimension of the component with reference to the centre line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Mitchel Cameron, Hang W. Lung, Nicholas B. Orchard, Michael J.S. Gooder
  • Publication number: 20090178482
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring wall thicknesses of objects, comprises: a coordinate measuring machine comprising a probe holder and an object support, the coordinate measuring machine being configured to provide relative movement between the probe holder and the object support in three dimensions; and an ultrasonic test probe which is held by the probe holder. The coordinate measuring machine brings the transducer of the ultrasonic test probe into contact with a position on a surface of an object at the object support so that the probe can measure an object wall thickness at the probe contact position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Gerald W Hough, Nicholas B Orchard, Dean S R Whiteside
  • Publication number: 20070271995
    Abstract: A calibration block for use in calibrating a thickness gauge having a diameter d, wherein the block has a measurement face and a recess extending inwardly of the block from a face opposite the measurement face, the recess having a maximum transverse dimension at the opposite face which is not less than 3 d, and in that the bottom of the recess is inclined relative to the measurement face in all directions from a central region of the bottom of the recess, the measurement face comprising a reference feature, the location of which corresponds to a specific point on the bottom of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Nicholas B. Orchard