# US 2019/0376399 A1 · Gimbals and methods of manufacturing gimbals > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0376399 A1 - Document ID: US20190376399A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/406,560 - Filed: 2019-05-08 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-07 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Applicants: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Inventors: Richard N. MARCH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190376399A1 ## CPC - F01D 9/06: Fluid supply conduits to nozzles or the like - F16L 51/025: {with several corrugations} - B23K 20/129: {specially adapted for particular articles or work} - F02K 3/06: with front fan - F16L 27/02: Universal joints, i.e. with mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction - F16L 27/0857: {with hinge and bellows sealing} - F16L 27/11: the sleeve having the form of a bellows with multiple corrugations - F16L 27/111: the bellows being reinforced - F16L 51/026: {with interior reinforcement} - B23K 2101/001: {Turbines} - B23K 2103/08: Non-ferrous metals or alloys - F05D 2230/239: Inertia or friction welding - F05D 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position - F05D 2260/60: Fluid transfer - F16C 11/06: Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16) - F16L 13/007: specially adapted for joining pipes of dissimilar materials {(joints between metal and plastic pipes F16L47/24)} - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - F02K: JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (features of jet-propulsion plants common to gas-turbine plants, air intakes or fuel supply control of air-breathing jet-propulsion plants F02C7/00, F02C9/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract Disclosed herein is a gimbal body comprising: an end part (51) for use in welding the gimbal body to a pipe; and a main body (53) attached to the end part (51); wherein: the end part (51) is made of a first material; and the main body (53) is made of a second material that is different from the first material. Embodiments provide a new method of manufacturing a gimbal that allows the use of the most appropriate materials for high temperature and high pressure performance whilst overcoming manufacturing and installation problems experienced by known gimbals constructed with such materials. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gimbal body comprising: an end part for use in welding the gimbal body to a pipe; and a main body attached to the end part; wherein: the end part is made of a first material; and the main body is made of a second material that is different from the first material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gimbal body according to claim 1, wherein the end part and main body are attached to each other by a solid state joint, such as a friction weld. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gimbal body according to claim 1, wherein: the first material is a material that is easier to arc weld to than the second material, such as a solid solution strengthened nickel alloy; and the second material is a material that is more difficult to arc weld to than the first material, such as a precipitation hardened nickel alloy. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gimbal body according to claim 1, further comprising: a second end part for use in welding the gimbal body to a second pipe; and a second main body attached to the second end part; wherein: said main body is attached to the second main body by one or more pivot mechanisms; the second end part is made of the first material; and the second main body is made of the second material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gimbal body according to claim 4, wherein the second end part and the second main body are attached to each other by a solid state joint, such as a friction weld. ### Claim 6 A method of manufacturing a gimbal body, the method comprising: solid state welding an end part of the gimbal body to a main body of the gimbal body; wherein: the end part is for use in welding to a pipe; the end part is made of a first material; and the main body is made of a second material that is different from the first material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein: the first material is a material that is easier to arc weld to than the second material, such as a solid solution strengthened nickel alloy; and the second material is one or more of: a material that is more difficult to arc weld to than the first material; a precipitation hardened nickel alloy; and a pre-heat treated nickel alloy that will become a precipitation hardened nickel alloy after it has been heat treated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the solid state welding is friction welding, such as rotary friction welding. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, further comprising heat treating at least the main body before and/or after the end part and main body have been solid state welded together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, further comprising: solid state welding a second end part of the gimbal body to a second main body of the gimbal body; and providing one or more pivot mechanism attachments between said main body and the second main body; wherein: the second end part is for use in welding to a second pipe; the second end part is made of the first material; and the second main body is made of the second material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising heat treating at least the main body before and/or after the end part has been solid state welded to the main body and before and/or after the second end part has been solid state welded to the second main body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) A gimbal body manufactured according to the method according to claim 6. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A gimbal comprising: a gimbal body according to claim 1; and a flexible bellows for providing a stiffness the relative movement of each end of the gimbal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gimbal according to claim 13, further comprising: a liner that is an inner tube through the gimbal; wherein the liner is arranged so that a fluid may flow from a first end of the gimbal to a second end of the gimbal via the liner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A gas turbine engine for an aircraft comprising: an engine core comprising a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan comprising a plurality of fan blades; and a gearbox that receives an input from the core shaft and outputs drive to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the core shaft, wherein: the gas turbine engine comprises one or more gimbals according to claim 13. ### Claim 16 The gas turbine engine according to 15, wherein: the turbine is a first turbine, the compressor is a first compressor, and the core shaft is a first core shaft; the engine core further comprises a second turbine, a second compressor, and a second core shaft connecting the second turbine to the second compressor; and the second turbine, second compressor, and second core shaft are arranged to rotate at a higher rotational speed than the first core shaft.