Patents by Inventor Robert C. Dalley

Robert C. Dalley 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: 12590850
    Abstract: A system for detecting a failure in a thermocouple array may comprise the thermocouple array. The thermocouple array may comprise a plurality of thermocouples. The system may comprise an impedance determination circuit. The impedance determination circuit may include a capacitor that has a capacitance equal to an expected capacitance of one of the plurality of thermocouples. The one of the plurality of thermocouples may be connected to test nodes of the impedance determination circuit. The system may comprise a comparator circuit connected to the impedance determination circuit, where the comparator circuit includes an amplifier and a comparator. The system may comprise an excitation circuit connected to the impedance determination circuit, where the excitation circuit includes a waveform generator and an amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Costello, Robert C. Dalley, Douglas Schetzel
  • Publication number: 20250044159
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a health of a temperature system may comprise selecting a temperature sensor of a plurality of temperature sensors arranged in an array, where each temperature sensor corresponds to an address within the array. The method may comprise identifying the address corresponding to the single temperature sensor, sending the address to a multiplexer, and selecting the single temperature sensor using the identified address. The method may comprise testing the selected single temperature sensor calculating an average temperature detected by the plurality of temperatures sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: John Costello, Robert C. Dalley, Douglas Schetzel
  • Publication number: 20250044168
    Abstract: A system for detecting a failure in a thermocouple array may comprise the thermocouple array. The thermocouple array may comprise a plurality of thermocouples. The system may comprise an impedance determination circuit. The impedance determination circuit may include a capacitor that has a capacitance equal to an expected capacitance of one of the plurality of thermocouples. The one of the plurality of thermocouples may be connected to test nodes of the impedance determination circuit. The system may comprise a comparator circuit connected to the impedance determination circuit, where the comparator circuit includes an amplifier and a comparator. The system may comprise an excitation circuit connected to the impedance determination circuit, where the excitation circuit includes a waveform generator and an amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: John Costello, Robert C. Dalley, Douglas Schetzel
  • Patent number: 11662256
    Abstract: A temperature drift compensation method includes pre-aging a thermocouple, during which the thermocouple is subjected to temperatures and/or pressures that cause or facilitate an oxidation growth on the conductor elements of the thermocouple. During the pre-aging, temperature readings of the thermocouple are recorded, and a model including a time-based exponential expression is derived from the temperature readings. In addition, a temperature sensor system includes a pre-aged thermocouple, and a temperature compensation circuit that modifies initial temperature readings from the pre-aged thermocouple according to a model including a time-based exponential expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Joseph Costello, Robert C. Dalley, Kenneth L. Graham
  • Patent number: 11348705
    Abstract: A coaxial cable system includes an electric conductor to conduct electric power in a gas turbine engine. The system also includes a dielectric tape helically wound to contiguously surround the electric conductor and a flexible conduit disposed to surround and contiguously contact the dielectric tape. A dielectric liquid may be impregnated within the dielectric tape, and a flexible protective cover may concentrically disposed to surround the flexible conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Joseph Costello, Robert C. Dalley
  • Publication number: 20210372858
    Abstract: A temperature drift compensation method includes pre-aging a thermocouple, during which the thermocouple is subjected to temperatures and/or pressures that cause or facilitate an oxidation growth on the conductor elements of the thermocouple. During the pre-aging, temperature readings of the thermocouple are recorded, and a model including a time-based exponential expression is derived from the temperature readings. In addition, a temperature sensor system includes a pre-aged thermocouple, and a temperature compensation circuit that modifies initial temperature readings from the pre-aged thermocouple according to a model including a time-based exponential expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Costello, Robert C. Dalley, Kenneth L. Graham
  • Publication number: 20200126689
    Abstract: A coaxial cable system includes an electric conductor to conduct electric power in a gas turbine engine. The system also includes a dielectric tape helically wound to contiguously surround the electric conductor and a flexible conduit disposed to surround and contiguously contact the dielectric tape. A dielectric liquid may be impregnated within the dielectric tape, and a flexible protective cover may concentrically disposed to surround the flexible conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: John Joseph Costello, Robert C. Dalley
  • Patent number: 10605175
    Abstract: A method of managing the thermal output of a gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones uses a temperature control system integrated with the engine to provide digital thermal signals to a control unit. The control unit determines when to adjust an engine operating parameter based on an analysis of the thermal signals. The temperature control system includes a plurality of smart thermal sensors with at least one sensor for each combustion zone, a communication bus, and a control unit. Each smart thermal sensor converts the measured temperature from an analog thermal signal to a digital thermal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert C. Dalley, John J. Costello
  • Patent number: 10415484
    Abstract: An example engine control system may include an oxygen intake sensor; a fuel delivery device to control a rate of fuel delivery to the engine combustor; a combustor pressure sensor; a combustor temperature sensor; and a controller to receive at least one of an oxygen intake signal, a combustor pressure signal, and a combustor temperature signal; determine at least one of a reference specific fuel consumption (SFC) of the engine or a reference amount of a respective exhaust gas of a plurality of exhaust gases based on the oxygen signal, the pressure signal, and the temperature signal; compare at least one of the reference SFC or the reference amount of a respective exhaust gas to a respective threshold value; and control the fuel delivery device to control the rate of fuel delivery based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Graham, Robert C. Dalley, John Joseph Costello
  • Publication number: 20190063334
    Abstract: An example engine control system may include an oxygen intake sensor; a fuel delivery device to control a rate of fuel delivery to the engine combustor; a combustor pressure sensor; a combustor temperature sensor; and a controller to receive at least one of an oxygen intake signal, a combustor pressure signal, and a combustor temperature signal; determine at least one of a reference specific fuel consumption (SFC) of the engine or a reference amount of a respective exhaust gas of a plurality of exhaust gases based on the oxygen signal, the pressure signal, and the temperature signal; compare at least one of the reference SFC or the reference amount of a respective exhaust gas to a respective threshold value; and control the fuel delivery device to control the rate of fuel delivery based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Graham, Robert C. Dalley, John Joseph Costello
  • Publication number: 20190032575
    Abstract: A method of managing the thermal output of a gas combustion engine having a plurality of combustion zones uses a temperature control system integrated with the engine to provide digital thermal signals to a control unit. The control unit determines when to adjust an engine operating parameter based on an analysis of the thermal signals. The temperature control system includes a plurality of smart thermal sensors with at least one sensor for each combustion zone, a communication bus, and a control unit. Each smart thermal sensor converts the measured temperature from an analog thermal signal to a digital thermal signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Robert C. Dalley, John J. Costello