Patents by Inventor Robert Lee Wolford

Robert Lee Wolford 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).

  • Thermal system for a working member of a power plant
    Patent number: 8246291
    Abstract: A working member for a power plant is disclosed herein. The working member includes a body defining at least one working surface of the working member. The at least one working surface is operable to contact a working fluid. The body also includes at least one inner surface opposite the at least one working surface. The working member also includes an interior chamber defined within at least part of the body proximate to the at least one working surface. The working member also includes at least one inlet to the interior chamber. The working member also includes at least one outlet from the interior chamber. The working member also includes a quantity of open-cell foam positioned in the interior chamber between the inlet and the outlet. The quantity of open-cell foam fills less than all of the interior chamber such that at least one empty space is defined in the interior chamber between the at least one inner surface and the quantity of open-cell foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Lee Wolford
  • THERMAL SYSTEM FOR A WORKING MEMBER OF A POWER PLANT
    Publication number: 20100296910
    Abstract: A working member for a power plant is disclosed herein. The working member includes a body defining at least one working surface of the working member. The at least one working surface is operable to contact a working fluid. The body also includes at least one inner surface opposite the at least one working surface. The working member also includes an interior chamber defined within at least part of the body proximate to the at least one working surface. The working member also includes at least one inlet to the interior chamber. The working member also includes at least one outlet from the interior chamber. The working member also includes a quantity of open-cell foam positioned in the interior chamber between the inlet and the outlet. The quantity of open-cell foam fills less than all of the interior chamber such that at least one empty space is defined in the interior chamber between the at least one inner surface and the quantity of open-cell foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: ROBERT LEE WOLFORD