Patents by Inventor Norman J. Wedlake

Norman J. Wedlake 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: 7905325
    Abstract: A pumped oil delivery system for delivering oil to moving parts of an aircraft jet engine includes a scoop delivery pump and an accumulator oil reservoir to maintain oil feed to the pump at all times. The system includes a first line to feed oil from the scoop pump to the oil reservoir, a second line to return oil from the oil reservoir to the scoop pump, and pressurized air for pressurizing the oil within the oil reservoir so as to maintain a continuous feed of oil to the pump. The system includes further lines for delivering oil from the scoop pump to the moving parts and for returning oil from the moving parts to the scoop pump. Moving parts include a self scavenging gear box utilizing the centrifugal pumping action of its gears to return oil to the scoop pump, and self scavenging bearing chambers using centrifugal effects of their rotating parts also to return oil to the scoop pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Norman J Wedlake, Christopher Wright, Robin M Coleman, John A Rumbelow
  • Patent number: 5107676
    Abstract: A turbofan gas turbine engine (10) comprises a fan rotor (32) driven by a core engine (11) via a shaft (36) and a reduction gear (38). A lubricant source (63) is arranged to supply lubricant to the reduction gear (38) to lubricate gear teeth and bearings (52) in the reduction gear (38). An annular collector (76) is positioned coaxially around the reduction gear (38) and is secured to the fan rotor (32) and is driven by the reduction gear (38). The annular collector (76) is arranged to collect lubricant leaving the reduction gear (38) on its inner surface. A number of static scoops (82) collect lubricant from adjacent the inner surface of the annular collector (76) to return the lubricant to valves (86). The valves (86) allow the lubricant to return to the lubricant source (63) in normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Edward S. Hadaway, Norman J. Wedlake