Patents Examined by Christopher M. Verdier
  • Patent number: 5141390
    Abstract: A vertical-axis cantilevered-shaft centrifugal pump having an impeller within a pump casing, an intake end in fluid communication with a fluid supply, and a dischage end, in which is provided an integral by-pass. The pump is operated at a speed representing a relatively high level of pump efficiency to produce a relatively stable fluid flow from the fluid supply through the casing. The first portion of the fluid flow from the casing is directed through the discharge end of the pump, while a second portion of the fluid flow is diverted from the casing back to the fluid supply. The second diverted portion may be returned to the supply through a plurality of outlets located on volutes of the pump casing. The discharge from the pump can be controlled using a variable control valve adjacent the discharge end of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Inventor: Walter D. Haentjens
  • Patent number: 5141392
    Abstract: The driving shaft (3) of a pump impeller (4) is extended beyond the impeller and supports the mixer (5) at its end. In order to minimize the risk for extensive damage if the mixer should hit a solid body, the shaft (6) of the mixer is very slim and manufactured of an elastic material such as spring steel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: ITT Flygt AB
    Inventor: Peter Uvemo
  • Patent number: 5139391
    Abstract: A rotary machine, having non-positive, displacement, which can be used as a pump, compressor, generator or drive turbine wherein the rotor is form by a particular combination of paddles and blades which improves fluid flow through the rotary machine. The paddle and blade configuration of the rotor utilizes the Archimedes screw principal to enhance the fluid flow characteristics and resist cavitation in the rotor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: Pierre Carrouset
  • Patent number: 5137422
    Abstract: An improved erosion resistant coating for a gas path component of a turbo machine which comprises the thermal spraying of a chromium carbide, such as Cr.sub.3 C.sub.2, and an age hardenable nickel base alloy, such as Inconel 718, onto the gas path component and then, preferably, heat treating the deposited coating to harden the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Union Carbide Coatings Service Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Marianne O. Price, John E. Jackson, Jean M. Quets
  • Patent number: 5135355
    Abstract: A heated rotor is provided to heat and circulate a substance comprising a shaft and at least one electrically heated rotor member supported on the shaft. The rotor member comprises an outer electrically conductive casing and at least one inner electrical conductor, electrically insulated from the casing. The or each inner conductor is electrically connected to the outer electrically conductive casing at an unsupported extremity of the rotor member. The shaft provides separate electrical connections to the or each inner conductor and the casing to enable an electric heating current to flow in the inner conductor between the or each unsupported blade extremity and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Electricity Association Technology Limited
    Inventors: Michael I. Colley, John T. Griffith, Charles A. Rowbottom
  • Patent number: 5133640
    Abstract: A thermal shield for a steam turbine inner cylinder surrounding a plurality of turbine blade stages and having an outer cylinder substantially enclosing the inner cylinder. A steam inlet is connected to the inner cylinder through an outer cylinder for admitting high temperature steam into the inner cylinder to effect rotation of the turbine blade stages and a steam exit emits cooled steam from the inner cylinder into a space between the inner and outer cylinders. The shield reduces thermal stress on the inner cylinder from contact on an inner surface with the high temperature steam and contact on an outer surface with the cooled steam. The thermal shield is attached to the outer surface of the inner cylinder and spaced therefrom by a predetermined spacing. The thermal shield extends about all surfaces of the inner cylinder and forms a substantially closed inner space between the shield and the inner cylinder to prevent the flow of the cooled steam over the outer surface of the inner cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John C. Groenendaal, Jr., David M. Parker
  • Patent number: 5133642
    Abstract: A pipe joint for a pump including a pump casing having a pipe connecting flange, comprising a flange body produced from a steel plate such that the inner peripheral portion thereof that defines a water passage is extended toward the casing body and secured by welding to an outlet/inlet opening in the casing body directly or through a cylindrical member, the flange body having a plurality of bolt holes provided in a flange face thereof, and a retainer plate being installed in such a manner as to abut against the reverse side of the flange face, the retainer plate having an annular rib with a square outer shape and a U-shaped cross section which projects toward the casing body, the annular rib being provided in the bottom of the U-shaped cross section with a plurality of bolt holes respectively corresponding to the bolt holes, the retainer plate further having a raised face formed integral with the annular rib at the inner side thereof or at each of the outer and inner sides thereof such that the raised face ab
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Kajiwara
  • Patent number: 5131420
    Abstract: A dishwashing machine has a single motor pump unit, including a circulating centrifugal pump and a peripheral outflow drain pump mounted on a common shaft of a reversible drive motor to alternately deliver a washing fluid to and drain fluid from the dishwashing machine. The two pumps are connected by openings in their respective pump chambers communicating with an annular chamber between the two pumps. The annular chamber has a vent fluidly connecting the chamber with a washing water circuit of the dishwashing machine. Preferably the annular chamber has an impeller therein mounted on the drive shaft of the motor, forming a further centrifugal pump with the annular chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Zanussi Elettrodomestici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ugo Favret, Gianni Santarossa, Sergio Tassotti
  • Patent number: 5129782
    Abstract: A sealing device has two circumferentially fixed sealing rings which, together with a common ring groove in a turbo-machine shaft for both sealing rings, result in a labyrinth seal between the sealing gas space and the lubricating-oil relief space and between the sealing gas space and the rotor disk space. In the event of a disturbance of the sealing gas supply, both sealing rings are supported at a gradation of a shaft lead-through bore which prevents a total wearing-out of the sealing rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: MTU Motoren-und Turbinen-Union Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Ruetz
  • Patent number: 5129787
    Abstract: A lightweight propulsor blade (10) is constructed 10 of a hollow internal spar (30) and an exterior airfoil shell (20) which defines and encompasses a hollow interior cavity (26). The internal spar (30) is disposed within the cavity 26 and extends spanwisely from its tip portion to terminate in a spar root portion (40). The spar has at least forward and aft spanwisely extending, chordwisely spaced, hollow box-like cavities (52A, 52B), a leading edge shear web (53) projecting chordwisely forward from the forward cavity (52A), a trailing edge shear web (55) projecting chordwisely rearward from the aft cavity (52B), and an intermediate chordwise shear web (57) spanning the space between and interconnecting the forward and aft cavities (52A, 52B). An additional intermediate box-like cavity (52C) may be incorporated in the intermediate chordwise shear web (57) in spaced relationship between the forward and aft cavities (52A, 52B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Violette, Eugene J. Delgrosso
  • Patent number: 5127795
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine stator and method are disclosed which are effective for controlling non-axisymmetric radial running clearance between a stator flowpath surface and rotor blade tips. A coating of preselected thermal conductivity is predeterminedly disposed along the circumference of the stator to control circumferential thermally induced distortion and thereby control non-axisymmetric radial running clearance. In preferred embodiments of the invention, a high thermal conductivity coating may be applied to an annular flange for reducing temperature gradients therein. In another embodiment of the present invention, low thermal conductivity coatings may be applied to a stator to preferentially insulate the stator for reducing circumferential thermal distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Larry W. Plemmons, William C. Oakes, Ralph A. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 5127800
    Abstract: Uniquely contoured interior surfaces have been found to stabilize the flow patterns through centrifugal pumps of the volute type, especially pumps having wide impellers and wide volutes for pumping slurries. The contoured interior surfaces may be provided in the pump casing, but are preferably defined by a volute liner. The interior surfaces comprise a volute region and a discharge nozzle region which both are at least in part contoured interior surfaces and which cooperate to provide a flowingly contoured interior surface of changing axial cross-section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: John Hyll, Harold Basmadjian
  • Patent number: 5123812
    Abstract: A detachable apparatus is provided which facilitates rotation and handling of an alignment dowel during its installation into a steam turbine cylinder. The apparatus consists of a body having a threaded portion and a handle. The threaded portion allows the apparatus to be attached to the dowel prior to assembly. An elongated nut is threaded onto the body of the apparatus and, after being tightened down against the dowel, locks the apparatus onto the dowel. The dowel can be rotated in the cylinder by applying torque to the handle of the apparatus or by engaging a wrench onto the elongated nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John C. Groenendaal, Jr., Daniel T. Brantley
  • Patent number: 5118252
    Abstract: The noise of operation of a fan assembly having a fan blade which rotates in a predetermined direction upon operation of the fan assembly may be reduced by the use of an intake grill including an inner central portion, ring elements disposed in mutually spaced, concentric relation to one another about the central portion, and spirallly-extending support elements connected to the central portion and to the ring elements. The intake grill further includes mutually circumferentially-spaced finger elements connected to and projecting away from a grill mounting surface which are also connected to the outermost ring element and thereby support the interconnected ring elements, central portion, and support elements in spaced relation to the grill mounting surface. Stiffening elements may be disposed between adjacent support elements and connected to selected adajcent ones of the ring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: The W. B. Marvin Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: David B. Chaney
  • Patent number: 5116199
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling clearance between rotor blade tips and shroud segments of a turbine engine casing includes an annular channel extending about the blade tips and having an annular opening located outwardly of and adjacent the blade tips, and separate shroud segments composing the shroud and disposed across the channel opening in circumferential spaced relation. Inlet and outlet tubular members mounted to the casing have inner portions projecting radially inwardly into the annular channel. An annular hollow ring disposed in the annular channel mounts the shroud segments across the channel opening and are mounted to the tubular member inner portions for undergoing movement radially outwardly and inwardly relative to the inner portions in response to thermal expansion and contract of the annular ring. Tubular inlet members introduce a cooling gas into the annular channel from the exterior and tubular outlet members exhausts the cooling gas from the annular channel to the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John J. Ciokajlo
  • Patent number: 5114311
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump with an outer casing which has one or more discharge branches, with an inner casing which is installed in the outer casing and rotatably surrounds a pump shaft, and an impeller which is mounted on the shaft at the inlet of the outer casing has one or more fluid flow guiding inserts, one for each discharge branch, in an annular chamber between the inner and outer casings. The inserts are offset relative to the respective discharge branches in the direction of rotation of the shaft and have front faces provided on spur-shaped front portions immediately behind the exit end of the impeller. The inserts further have guide surfaces including first sections adjacent the inner casing, second sections adjacent the outer casing, and third sections which direct a portion of the fluid medium directly from the exit end of the impeller to the corresponding discharge branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karlheinz Becker, Gunter Pfeiffer-Muller
  • Patent number: 5114320
    Abstract: A housing 3 disposed below the rotor accommodates a driving motor 13, shaft bearings 14, 15 and an oil sump 21. An evacuating line 31 which traverses the wall the housing 3 connects a vacuum pump to the interior 18 of the housing. In order to avoid the loss of oil in the housing or the bearings, the evacuating line 31 and the oil sump 21 are directly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Leybold AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Kabelitz, Martin Muhlhoff, Hans Kriechel, Wolfgang Maas, Dieter-Martin Kolvenbach
  • Patent number: 5110260
    Abstract: An articulated helicopter rotor wherein the blade-to-hub connection consists of a spherical elastomeric bearing connected to the hub and a composite yoke connected thereto in series and consisting of a plurality of unidirectional high strength fibers bonded together to form a continuous strap which passes through a central opening in the elastomeric bearing and is pin-wrap connected to the hub at a single station and to the blade at two spaced stations produces a construction which is light in weight, easy to manufacture, ballistrically tolerant, redundant, and readily visually inspectable for structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Francis E. Byrnes, Edward S. Hibyan, William L. Noehren
  • Patent number: 5106263
    Abstract: A small-sized centrifugal pump is improved in its efficiency and performance by having an impeller the height of which is higher than theoretically calculated value and decreases in the circumferential direction from the central portion, and which has a flow channel with a narrow and constant width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Masao Irie
  • Patent number: 5104288
    Abstract: A steam turbine is disclosed which eliminates the transfer of thermal deformation from the inner cylinder to the stationary blade assemblies. A dual plane bolted connection and a free floating tongue and groove interface formed between the outer ring of the stationary blade assemblies and the turbine inner cylinder provided the clearance necessary to remove the deformation associated with the stationary blade assemblies, while supporting them within the turbine assembly. The outer ring of the stationary blade assemblies may either be formed as an integral component of formed from two sections which are then welded together. The present invention also permits the rotational blades of the turbine to be placed in close proximity to the outer ring of the stationary blade assemblies and the positioning of the flow guide on the outer ring, since the deformations due to the thermal deformation of the inner cylinder are now isolated and the deformation due to the stationary blade assemblies is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John C. Groenendaal, Jr., David M. Parker