Rolls-royce Corporation

Rolls-royce North American Technologies Inc.

Other

Patrick E Bailey

Samuel J Lacombe

Eric William Engebretsen

Matthew J Kappes

Rodney D Conrad

Timothy Unton

Mark N Harris

Ford McClure

Drew Weibel

Felipe Gomez Del Campo

David Monk

An ignition and combustion assist system and method comprising a plasma igniter and electronic driver unit for use with gas turbine engines operating under low air densities, reduced voltage conditions and overall pressure ratios of 3:1 to 7:1. The plasma igniter has an inner chamber housing a centrally positioned and electrically isolated electrode attached to an electrical lead, driver unit, and AC or DC power supply. The electrode features a corner positioned near an outlet end of the igniter, where a plasma arc ignites a fuel-air mixture creating a flame extending into a primary burn region of a combustor of the gas turbine. The driver unit is in two embodiments and configured with low-cost microsecond voltage wave time periods or energy-efficient nano-second pulses. The method uses the plasma igniter and the electronic driver units described herein separately with other components or together.

Plasma ignition and combustion assist system for gas turbine engines

A blade retainer adapted for use in a gas turbine engine is configured to block axial movement of a blade. The blade retainer includes a first brace, a second brace, and a web that extends between the first brace and the second brace. The blade retainer is configured to block axial movement of a root of the blade out of a blade receiver slot.

Blade retainer for gas turbine engine

A fan assembly for use in a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes a fan disk having a number of fan blades and a windage shield coupled to the fan disk to move therewith. The fan assembly supplies air for use in the engine. The windage shield rotates with the fan disk during operation of the gas turbine engine and directs air supplied by the fan blade.

Attachment of piloting feature

A walker comprising a handle base and a frame. The handle base is configured to be gripped by a user of the walker. The frame is coupled with the handle base and configured to support the handle base above ground underlying the walker. The handle base and the frame cooperate to define a user space sized to allow the user of the walker to stand in the user space.

Walker

Method to pilot using flexible profile

A variable pitch blade holder for use with a gas turbine engine. The variable pitch blade holder is configured to retain a blade and to rotate about a center axis with the blade during operation of the gas turbine engine. The blade holder is adapted to rotate about a pitch change axis to vary a pitch of the blade.

Variable pitch blade holder for gas turbine engine

A gas turbine engine includes a fan having a plurality of fan blades configured to rotate about a central axis of the gas turbine engine. Each fan blade is configured to pivot about a pivot axis that extends radially away from the central axis to vary a pitch of the fan blade. The fan further includes a counterforce system configured to resist forces that urge the fan blades away from their pitch positions during operation of the gas turbine engine.

Variable pitch change control method

A gas turbine engine according to the present disclosure includes a first component, a second component coupled to the first component, and a pilot unit. The pilot unit provides means for maintaining a pilot-setting force between the first and second component to retain alignment of the first component with the second component.

The present disclosure is directed toward airfoils used in gas turbine engines. More specifically, the present disclosure teaches airfoils with fillets for managing stresses in airfoils during use in gas turbine engines.

Airfoil with stress-reducing fillet adapted for use in a gas turbine engine

An improved structure and method of manufacturing a structure such as a guide vane for a gas turbine engine includes an improved guide vane having a stress transition section called a fillet that is positioned between an airfoil and a hub. The fillet includes a constant radius section and a compound radius portion that is collectively configured to handle the stress loads of the guide vane as well as to provide aerodynamic efficiencies. An improved method of manufacturing an airfoil is provided that employs a single pass manufacturing process whereby a single tool is used to generate a resulting fillet having a constant radius and compound radius portion.

Compound fillet varying chordwise and method to manufacture

A board game is provided which involves competition between the players to achieve a particular status level, the first player to achieve the particular status level being the winner. The board has marked squares which constitute a path extending around its periphery. Status cards, Bank cards and Jet Set cards are provided, each with specific instructions and each designating status points gained or lost by the selection of the particular card. Gold Street areas, each including a group of exclusive retail stores, are provided on the board, and when a particular store in such an area is entered, the needle on a status wheel is spun which refers the player to a number in an indexed booklet which, in turn, designates the purchase to be made in the particular store. Status cars may be purchased at car dealerships within the Gold Street areas, and these may be traded in for higher status cars.

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Plainfield, IN, United States of America

Patrick E Bailey