Patents by Inventor Nicholas M. BROWN

Nicholas M. BROWN 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: 20240142980
    Abstract: Annotations for a map of a worksite are generated by a controller. The controller receives georeferenced crop state data and georeferenced agricultural characteristic data, collectively referred to as agronomy data. The georeferenced crop state data and georeferenced agricultural characteristic data are analyzed by the controller to determine relationships therebetween. The controller generates the annotations based on the determined relationships. The controller generates explanations, which are type of annotation, based on determined relationships between current agronomy data and historical agronomy data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Baltz, Adam J. Royal, Duane M. Bomleny, Kent S. Brown, Noel W. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20230358405
    Abstract: A fuel spray nozzle includes a fuel circuit having in series a gallery, circumferentially spaced passages arranged in a row around the nozzle, and an annular spin chamber. Each passage has an inlet for receiving a respective portion of the fuel from the gallery and a metering orifice for discharging its portion of the fuel. The passages are configured such that, when the flow of liquid fuel to the inlet port is shut off, a respective differential static pressure develops across stagnant liquid fuel remaining between the inlet and the metering orifice of each passage, and the passages are further configured such that one or more selected passages develop a different differential static pressure to the remaining passages causing a flow of purging air to enter the gallery from the combustor through the selected passages and exit through the remaining passages, thereby purging the gallery and the passages of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Jonathan KNAPTON, Nicholas M. BROWN
  • Patent number: 11085643
    Abstract: An air swirler arrangement comprises a coaxial arrangement of an inner and an outer air swirler passage. Each air swirler passage comprises a radial flow swirler. Air swirler arrangement comprises a coaxial arrangement of first, second and third members. Second member has radially extending upstream portion spaced axially from first member and a convergent portion. Third member has a radially extending upstream portion spaced axially from the upstream portion of second member and a radially inner surface having convergent and divergent downstream portions and a radially outer surface having a divergent downstream portion. First, second and third members the vanes of the radial flow swirlers is a monolithic structure. Plurality of circumferentially spaced passages are provided within the third member and each passage has an inlet in the surface and an outlet arranged to direct fluid onto the divergent portion of the surface or the surface of the third member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard Freeman, Christopher Rafferty, Thomas Jones, Matthew Murphy, Nicholas M. Brown
  • Patent number: 10712008
    Abstract: A combustion chamber comprises an upstream end wall, at least one fuel injector and at least one seal. Each fuel injector is arranged in a corresponding aperture in the wall. Each seal is arranged in a one of the apertures in the wall and around one of the fuel injectors. Each seal has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The second portion abuts the corresponding fuel injector. The third portion is arranged at the downstream end of the seal and increases in diameter in a downstream direction. The first portion is arranged upstream of the second portion and has a plurality of coolant apertures extending there-through. The coolant apertures extend through the first portion with axial, radial and tangential components. The seals produce better mixing between the coolant and the fuel and air mixture from the fuel injectors to reduce emissions produced in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: Emmanuel V. Aurifeille, Nicholas M. Brown, Murthy V V S Ravikanti
  • Patent number: 10408452
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-wall casing for a combustor comprises an outer wall and an inner wall defining a channel therebetween. The walls are fastened together by a bolt which extends from the inner wall and across the channel. In use, the inner wall is exposed to combustion products. Cooling is provided by a primary inlet hole extending through the outer wall and arranged upstream (with respect to the direction of flow of coolant in the channel) of the bolt and an array of effusion holes extending through the inner wall and positioned with their inlet in line of sight of the primary inlet hole. The primary inlet hole is sized with respect to the array of effusion holes such that it has a flow area which causes locally negligible flow restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: John E. T. Rimmer, Nicholas M Brown
  • Publication number: 20190249876
    Abstract: An air swirler arrangement comprises a coaxial arrangement of an inner and an outer air swirler passage. Each air swirler passage comprises a radial flow swirler. Air swirler arrangement comprises a coaxial arrangement of first, second and third members. Second member has radially extending upstream portion spaced axially from first member and a convergent portion. Third member has a radially extending upstream portion spaced axially from the upstream portion of second member and a radially inner surface having convergent and divergent downstream portions and a radially outer surface having a divergent downstream portion. First, second and third members the vanes of the radial flow swirlers is a monolithic structure. Plurality of circumferentially spaced passages are provided within the third member and each passage has an inlet in the surface and an outlet arranged to direct fluid onto the divergent portion of the surface or the surface of the third member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Richard FREEMAN, Christopher RAFFERTY, Thomas JONES, Matthew MURPHY, Nicholas M. BROWN
  • Publication number: 20180106481
    Abstract: A combustion chamber comprises an upstream end wall, at least one fuel injector and at least one seal. Each fuel injector is arranged in a corresponding aperture in the wall. Each seal is arranged in a one of the apertures in the wall and around one of the fuel injectors. Each seal has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The second portion abuts the corresponding fuel injector. The third portion is arranged at the downstream end of the seal and increases in diameter in a downstream direction. The first portion is arranged upstream of the second portion and has a plurality of coolant apertures extending there-through. The coolant apertures extend through the first portion with axial, radial and tangential components. The seals produce better mixing between the coolant and the fuel and air mixture from the fuel injectors to reduce emissions produced in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Emmanuel V. AURIFEILLE, Nicholas M. BROWN, Murthy V V S RAVIKANTI
  • Publication number: 20170108219
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-wall casing for a combustor comprises an outer wall and an inner wall defining a channel therebetween. The walls are fastened together by a bolt which extends from the inner wall and across the channel. In use, the inner wall is exposed to combustion products. Cooling is provided by a primary inlet hole extending through the outer wall and arranged upstream (with respect to the direction of flow of coolant in the channel) of the bolt and an array of effusion holes extending through the inner wall and positioned with their inlet in line of sight of the primary inlet hole. The primary inlet hole is sized with respect to the array of effusion holes such that it has a flow area which causes locally negligible flow restriction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: John E. T. RIMMER, Nicholas M. BROWN