Patents by Inventor Stephen J. Mills

Stephen J. Mills 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: 10533746
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustion chamber arrangement includes an annular outer wall and annular inner wall including an upstream and a downstream row of tiles. The downstream end of each tile in the upstream row of tiles has a rail extending towards and sealing with the outer wall and a lip extending in a downstream direction towards the tiles in the downstream row of tiles. The outer wall has a row of apertures to direct coolant onto the lips of the tiles in the upstream row of tiles. The downstream end of each tile in the upstream row of tiles has a plurality of fences extending in a downstream direction from the rail and each fence extends from the outer surface of the lip towards the outer wall. The row of apertures in the annular outer wall is arranged to direct coolant onto the lip between two circumferentially adjacent fences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: John E Rimmer, Michael A Macquisten, Stephen J Mills, Jochen Rupp, Lynn I Steward, Murthy V Ravikanti
  • Publication number: 20170176005
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine combustion chamber arrangement includes an annular outer wall and annular inner wall including an upstream and a downstream row of tiles. The downstream end of each tile in the upstream row of tiles has a rail extending towards and sealing with the outer wall and a lip extending in a downstream direction towards the tiles in the downstream row of tiles. The outer wall has a row of apertures to direct coolant onto the lips of the tiles in the upstream row of tiles. The downstream end of each tile in the upstream row of tiles has a plurality of fences extending in a downstream direction from the rail and each fence extends from the outer surface of the lip towards the outer wall. The row of apertures in the annular outer wall is arranged to direct coolant onto the lip between two circumferentially adjacent fences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: John E RIMMER, Michael A. MACQUISTEN, Stephen J. MILLS, Jochen RUPP, Lynn I. STEWARD, Murthy V. RAVIKANTI
  • Patent number: 8650882
    Abstract: A wall element of a gas turbine engine having an inner hot surface, and an outer cooler surface, during use. A plurality of projections is provided on the outer surface to facilitate heat transfer to a coolant flow during use. The projections are arranged in a first density pattern and in a second higher density pattern for increased cooling. The second higher density pattern is positioned adjacent a hotter region of the tile than the first density pattern to reduce the thermal gradient throughout the wall element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: James R Woolford, Stephen J Mills, Kevin A White
  • Patent number: 8024933
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wall element for a wall structure of a gas turbine engine combustor. The wall element has an inner, in use, hot surface, and an outer, in use, cooler surface. A plurality of projections is provided on the outer surface to facilitate heat transfer to a coolant flow. The wall element comprises a means to direct more coolant flow at a hot-spot on an adjacent tile than the remainder of the adjacent tile and thereby reducing the thermal gradient across the adjacent tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: James R Woolford, Stephen J Mills, Kevin A White
  • Patent number: 7919543
    Abstract: Compositions for inkjet inks, methods for applying the ink to a surface of a substrate, and articles that include indicia printed with the ink. The inkjet inks include a cellulose polymer and a liquid carrier. Unlike currently available commercial inks, the inkjet inks of this invention can be formulated with less toxic ingredients, thus reducing the risks of negative impact on environmental quality and the health and safety of workers who use the inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Beck, Stephen J. Mills
  • Patent number: 7886541
    Abstract: A combustor wall element arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises an upstream wall element (50A) overlapping a downstream wall element (50B) and defining a gap (37) and an outlet (35) therebetween. In use, a coolant flow exits the outlet (35) to provide a coolant film (D) across at least a part of the downstream wall element (50B). The outlet (35) has a smaller dimension, normal to the downstream wall element (50B), than the gap (37) thereby increasing the velocity of the coolant flow across at the downstream wall element (50B). The resultant film coolant flow is effective further across the downstream wall element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: James R Woolford, Stephen J Mills, Kevin A White
  • Publication number: 20100251722
    Abstract: A combustor wall element arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises an upstream wall element (50A) overlapping a downstream wall element (50B) and defining a gap (37) and an outlet (35) therebetween. In use, a coolant flow exits the outlet (35) to provide a coolant film (D) across at least a part of the downstream wall element (50B). The outlet (35) has a smaller dimension, normal to the downstream wall element (50B), than the gap (37) thereby increasing the velocity of the coolant flow across at the downstream wall element (50B). The resultant film coolant flow is effective further across the downstream wall element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: James R. Woolford, Stephen J. Mills, Kevin A. White
  • Publication number: 20100229563
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wall element for a wall structure of a gas turbine engine combustor. The wall element has an inner, in use, hot surface, and an outer, in use, cooler surface. A plurality of projections is provided on the outer surface to facilitate heat transfer to a coolant flow. The wall element comprises a means to direct more coolant flow at a hot-spot on an adjacent tile than the remainder of the adjacent tile and thereby reducing the thermal gradient across the adjacent tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: James R. Woolford, Stephen J. Mills, Kevin A. White
  • Patent number: 7600867
    Abstract: A printing system that includes a source which emits UV radiation to polymerize a fluid that is deposited onto a substrate by one or more print heads. The source emits low energy UV radiation sufficient to set the fluid to a quasi-fluid, non-hardened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Mills, Michael D. Mills, Adam C. Lahut, Arthur L. Cleary, Joseph A. Lahut
  • Patent number: 7073901
    Abstract: A printing system that includes a source which emits UV radiation to polymerize a fluid that is deposited onto a substrate by one or more print heads. The source emits low energy UV radiation sufficient to set the fluid to a quasi-fluid, non-hardened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Electronics For Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Mills, Michael D. Mills, Adam C. Lahut, Arthur L. Cleary, Joseph A. Lahut
  • Publication number: 20030035037
    Abstract: A printing system that includes a source which emits UV radiation to polymerize a fluid that is deposited onto a substrate by one or more print heads. The source emits low energy UV radiation sufficient to set the fluid to a quasi-fluid, non-hardened state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Applicant: Vutek, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Mills, Michael D. Mills, Adam C. Lahut, Arthur L. Cleary, Joseph A. Lahut
  • Patent number: 6268056
    Abstract: In a seal assembly having a support member made of either metal or plastic, and an elastomeric sealing material bonded by an adhesive composition to said support member, said composition being an epoxy resin stabilized silane adhesive composition made up from the following materials in parts by volume, (a) 1 to 80 parts organosilane material, which also includes a silane coupling agent, and a hydrolyzing agent for the organosilane, (b) 0.5 to 70 parts epoxy resin material, which includes an amine curing agent for the epoxy resin, (c) 50 to 3000 parts of aqueous fluid carrier medium for the composition, (d) 0.05 to 20 parts of additive material selected from the group consisting of a surfactant material and a rust inhibitor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Stephen J. Mills
  • Patent number: 5351732
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a casing cooling system which operates in one of two conditions, the first being operational at engine cruise, where all of the cooling air is initially directed onto a specific region of the casing; under full power conditions, some of the cooling air is directed onto the specific casing region and the reminder directed onto the reminder of the casing; the cooling system operates to optimize turbine blade/casing radial clearances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Stephen J. Mills, Robin D. Monico, Andrew J. Bradley
  • Patent number: 5064343
    Abstract: The problem of excessive clearances being generated by rub occurring between the tips of turbine blades and the linings on shroud segments which surround the blades is addressed by way of providing a valve 42 of a metal of different coefficient of expansion than the shroud control ring 24. On ground running prior to take off of an associated aircraft, the valve diverts a cooling airflow away from the ring 24, thus causing it to run hot and expand radially. The shrouds 22 are thus moved away from the blade tips 40 and on take off, are sufficiently far away from the tips 42 as to avoid deep penetration of the lining 38 thereby. The higher temperature generated by take off affects the valve 40 and makes it expand rapidly, to open the cooling airflow paths to the ring 24 via the holes 46 and 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Inventor: Stephen J. Mills