Patents Examined by Alexander A White
  • Patent number: 10119423
    Abstract: A fan hub assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a fan hub that is configured to rotate about an axis. The fan hub has an axially extending aperture and a platform. A fastener is received in the aperture in a slip fit relationship to secure the platform to the fan hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Colin J. Kling, Charles W. Brown, Christopher M. Quinn, Shelton O. Duelm, Peter V. Tomeo, Corey L. Hubbert
  • Patent number: 10107114
    Abstract: An exemplary turbomachine rotor assembly includes a pair of spaced rails that extend around a cylindrical surface to define a rotor hub. The rails define a space for receiving blades. Load slots are formed in one of the rails. A relief feature is formed in an opposite surface of an opposing rail. The load slots and relief feature utilized to move at least one of the blades into the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Aiello, James Cosby
  • Patent number: 10107306
    Abstract: A housing for a fan or blower, in particular an axial fan, includes a wall ring (2) having an inlet nozzle section (3), an outer diffuser (6) having an inlet flow opening (7) and an outlet flow opening (8), and a holder for an electric motor (9) of the fan. The holder is arranged in an inner space of the housing. The outer diffuser (6) is formed by at least two partial ring sections that are connected to the outer circumferential surface via mechanical connection elements. The holder includes several struts (14) that are fastened to an inner circumferential surface of the outer diffuser (6) by one end, are circumferentially spaced apart, and are fastened in the edge region of the inlet flow opening (7). The struts can be installed by their other end to a motor flange (16) of the motor housing (17) of the electric motor (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: EBM-PAPST MULFINGEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Haaf, Matthias Maschke, Dieter Best, Thomas Sauer, Sebastian Bundschuh, Sven Beck, Markus Engert, Jürgen Schöne, Alexander Lust, Sebastian Hoss
  • Patent number: 10107122
    Abstract: A shroud supports one of an inner and an outer trunnion on a variable vane. The shroud is provided by a first and a second axial half. Each of the axial halves is provided by a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments. Circumferential edges are defined on each of the plurality of circumferentially spaced segments. Edges between adjacent ones of the circumferentially spaced segments on the first half are circumferentially offset from the edges on adjacent ones of circumferentially spaced segments of the second half, such that no direct leakage path exists across an axial width of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: David Maliniak
  • Patent number: 10082081
    Abstract: A turbine engine cooling arrangement according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a core passage for receiving a core flow for combustion, a first airflow source including a first passage adjacent the core passage for conveying a first airflow, a second airflow source including a second passage adjacent the first passage for conveying a second airflow, and a heat exchanger that is thermally connected with the first passage and the second passage for transferring heat between the first airflow and the second airflow. The first airflow and the second airflow stream over the heat exchanger in a parallel radial direction and a parallel axial direction. An engine inlet divides inlet air into the core flow, the first airflow, and the second airflow. A method of providing cooling air is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Murphy, Sean P. Zamora
  • Patent number: 10072510
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a core and a variable pitch fan arranged in flow communication with the core. The variable pitch fan has a disk and at least nine fan blades coupled to the disk for rotation together with the disk. The gas turbine engine further includes a rotatable nacelle covering the disk such that the engine has a fan hub radius ratio of between about 0.1 and about 0.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon Wayne Miller, Ian Francis Prentice, Daniel Alan Niergarth
  • Patent number: 10054127
    Abstract: A ventilation assembly having a main housing that can be pre-installed in a wall or ceiling aperture. A fan assembly can be inserted through the aperture and releasably mounted within the main housing. The fan assembly can be removed from the main housing and replaced without removing the main housing from the wall or ceiling. An accessory component can be releasably mounted to the fan assembly either through the aperture when the fan assembly is mounted or prior to installation of the fan assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Broan-NuTone LLC
    Inventors: Daniel L. Karst, Benjamin Thorpe Puffer, Brent Elliott Coffey
  • Patent number: 10041473
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the power recovered by a wind turbine by reducing the mechanical impact on the structure is disclosed. A first angle of inclination of the blades allowing the recovered power to be optimized is determined. The aerodynamic force produced on the nacelle when the blades are directed with a first angle is determined. A second angle of inclination of the blades allowing obtaining an aerodynamic force setpoint value is then determined by inverting the aerodynamic force model and using a wind velocity measurement, a rotor velocity measurement and the aerodynamic force setpoint value. Finally, the blades are directed to the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Jonathan Chauvin, Yann Creff
  • Patent number: 10036395
    Abstract: A compressor control device includes an inlet guide vane opening degree control unit configured to control an opening degree of an inlet guide vane. The inlet guide vane opening degree control unit includes an inlet guide vane opening degree command value calculation unit configured to calculate an inlet guide vane opening degree command value based on an outlet pressure detection value and a plurality of inlet guide vane opening degree correction units each configured to correct the inlet guide vane opening degree command value based on the post-merger pressure detection value and a corresponding inlet flow rate detection value for each of a plurality of upstream-most compressor bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takeda, Yosuke Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Miyata, Naoki Mori
  • Patent number: 10024168
    Abstract: A structural duct apparatus includes a cross flow turbine for use in a fluid flow. The turbine has at least one straight vertical aerofoil blade and at least one helical aerofoil blade slanted toward the direction of rotation. Inner and outer walls of the duct apparatus provide an inner diffuser flow passageway that houses turbine power take off modules with the outer surfaces of the duct influencing flow direction so that where there are at least two ducts an open flow barrage is advantageously formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Axis Energy Group PTY LTD
    Inventor: Peter John Kittel
  • Patent number: 10024177
    Abstract: A fan section for a gas turbine engine includes a hub. A fan blade is secured to the hub. A platform is removably secured to the hub and is arranged adjacent to the fan blade. The platform has a body with lateral sides that each include a channel. A seal is removably received in each of the channels, with one of the seals abutting the fan blade. A method of repairing the fan blade platform includes the steps of removing a nose cone to provide access to a hub, detaching a platform from the hub, and pulling the seal from a groove in the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Charles W. Brown
  • Patent number: 10018052
    Abstract: A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a wall and a hollow vascular engineered lattice structure formed inside of the wall. The hollow vascular engineered lattice structure has an inlet hole and an outlet hole that communicate fluid into and out of the hollow vascular structure. The hollow vascular engineered lattice structure further has at least one resupply inlet hole between the inlet hole and the outlet hole to communicate additional fluid into the hollow vascular engineered lattice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Snyder, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Dominic J. Mongillo
  • Patent number: 10018060
    Abstract: A computer-based method of designing a guide vane formation is provided. The vane formation is for use in a gas turbine engine which has a cascade of circumferentially arranged identical guide vane formations. The vane formation has radially inner and radially outer chordal seals. The method allows the elimination of “saw-tooth” leakage gaps between inner chordal seals of neighboring vane formations and between outer chordal seals of neighboring vane formations even when the inner and outer chordal seals are axially offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Caner Hasan Helvaci, Brian Guy Cooper
  • Patent number: 10018203
    Abstract: An aluminum alloy cast impeller has a stable high-temperature strength (e.g., 0.2% proof stress value of 260 MPa or more) at about 200° C. A boss part, blade parts, and a disc part have secondary dendrite arm spacings of 20 to 50 ?m, 10 to 35 ?m, and 5 to 25 ?m, respectively, and satisfy the relationship Amax>Bmax>Cmax, where Amax, Bmax, and Cmax are the maximum values of the secondary dendrite arm spacings of the boss part, the blade parts, and the disc part, respectively. During casting, Al alloy molten metal is pressure injected into a 200 to 350° C. plaster mold. A 100 to 250° C. chill occurs on a surface in contact with an impeller disc surface, so that the chill temperature (° C.)<(plaster mold temperature?50° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: UACJ Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Takahashi, Toshio Ushiyama
  • Patent number: 10005549
    Abstract: A reliable reduced weight coaxial lifting system includes a reducing gear with two shafts rotating in opposite directions, upper and lower rotor hubs mounted on the respective shafts and upper and lower swashplates connected to one another, which are movable in the axial direction and are kinematically linked to guides of blades positioned on the upper and lower rotor hubs. Guides of the blades are connected to the upper swashplate by rockers mounted on a slide block located above the upper rotor hub and guides of the blades of the lower rotor hub are connected by tie rods directly to the lower swashplate. The lower swashplate is connected to control systems of a collective and a cyclical pitch and the slide block is connected to a control system of a differential pitch of the upper rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: RS Helikopter GmbH
    Inventors: Vitali Brandt, Andrei Alexandrovich Vlasov, Vladimir Yurievich Ivanov
  • Patent number: 9982679
    Abstract: A ceiling fan comprising a motor system. The motor system is mounted around a motor shaft. The motor shaft couples to a downrod for suspending the ceiling fan from a structure. The motor shaft and motor are encased by a motor housing. The motor housing comprises hub arms for mounting a plurality of blade holders. The blade holders coupled to a plurality of blades rotatable about the motor during operation. The downrod comprises a wire disk mounting guy wiring to the downrod. A retention rod is utilized internal of the motor and downrod as a secondary retention method. An electrical connector is internal of the motor shaft and electrically couples to the stator to power the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventors: Phillip Santolucito, Agustin Chacon
  • Patent number: 9964041
    Abstract: A case structure interposed between the engine and the nacelle of the aircraft is provided. The case structure includes: a ferrule surrounding the engine and including a plurality of segments; at least one radial arm ensuring connection to the nacelle; and a plurality of attachment devices for securing the plurality of ferrule segments together or with at least one radial arm. The plurality of attachment devices includes an articulation device configured for ensuring coupling of the lifted-rotated-pushed type ensuring after disengagement of the ferrule segment, its pivoting about a pivot axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the engine and then its blocking in a disengagement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Ceddric Beljambe, Frederic Dautreppe, Noel Robin
  • Patent number: 9963974
    Abstract: A reduction in excitation amplitudes affecting turbine blade durability in a turbine nozzle assembly having a plurality of vanes and turbine blades, includes: identifying a turbine blade design of the turbine nozzle assembly; performing a modal model analysis of at least one of the turbine blades in the turbine blade design; reducing aerodynamic impact by ensuring that each of the turbine blades is free of aero-excitation from an upstream flow at the vanes in an operating speed range; identifying blade natural frequencies with respect to the nozzle vanes; and modifying a trailing edge of at least one of the vanes to reduce the excitation amplitudes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Loc Quang Duong, Xiaolan Hu, Gao Yang, Steven R. Falconer, Ralph E. Gordon, Jesus A. Garcia, Dan G. Sapiro, Ulrike Kaul, Gregory G. Johnson, Benjamin E. Fishler
  • Patent number: 9963988
    Abstract: A self-adjusting device for controlling the clearance (C), especially in the radial direction, between rotating and stationary components of a thermally loaded turbo machine, changes clearance (C) in a linear and/or non-linear way during transition of the machine between standstill and steady-state operation. Simple and effective control can be achieved, even in the case of a nonlinear variation of the clearance during transitional operation, by the self-adjusting device including at least two different driving elements (A, B) to move the rotating and fixed components relative to each other in order to change the clearance (C) between them, and by the different driving elements (A, B) being configured to be activated at different times during the transition of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Jaroslaw Leszek Swedowicz, Alexey Mozharov, Florian Schiedeck, Jonas Boettcher
  • Patent number: 9957817
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an airfoil having a tip wall that joins outer spanwise ends of a suction sidewall and a pressure sidewall, a tip leakage control channel recessed into an outer surface of the tip wall, a tip leakage control vane integrally formed on the tip wall adjacent to the tip leakage control channel and an air seal radially outward of the tip wall and positioned to minimize leakage at the tip wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Andrew S. Aggarwala