Patents Examined by Christopher R Legendre
  • Gas turbine rotor, gas turbine, and gas turbine equipment
    Patent number: 10738618
    Abstract: A ventilation flow path, a cooling air flow path, a mixing space, and a mixed air flow path are formed in a gas turbine rotor. The ventilation flow path guides compressed air farther on an axially upstream side than an air discharge port of a compressor to an interior of a compressor rotor as compressor extracted air. The cooling air flow path guides cooling air to a part farther on an axially downstream side than the air discharge port. The compressor extracted air and the cooling air are mixed in the mixing space. The mixed air flow path guides mixed air containing the compressor extracted air and the cooling air into a turbine rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hashimoto, Keita Takamura
  • Unmanned aerial vehicle propeller assembly
    Patent number: 10737774
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an unmanned aerial vehicle are disclosed. In some embodiments, the UAV includes a motor assembly rotatable about a rotation axis and a propeller hub assembly removably engageable with the motor assembly. The propeller hub assembly includes a retainer configured and dimensioned for engagement with the motor assembly such that rotation of the motor assembly causes corresponding rotation of the propeller hub assembly. The retainer includes a pair of deflectable arms resiliently repositionable between a first position and a second position, for engagement and disengagement with the motor assembly, respectively. The arms are movable inwardly towards the rotation axis from the first position to the second position upon application of an external force and movable outwardly away from the rotation axis from the second position to the first position upon removal of the external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Michael Goldstein, David Milton
  • Shroud for gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 10738651
    Abstract: A turbine that includes an inner shroud segment having a cooling configuration in which interior channels are configured to receive and direct a coolant. The cooling configuration may include a pair of counterflowing crossflow channels in which a first crossflow channel extends side-by-side with a neighboring second crossflow channel; and a feed and outlet channel configuration comprising neighboring feed and outlet channels. The feed channel may connect at a first connection to an upstream end of the first crossflow channel and the outlet channel may connect at a second connection to a downstream end of the second crossflow channel. The feed channel may extend in an inner radial direction from an inlet to the first connection. The outlet channel may extend in an outer radial direction from the second connection to an outlet. The feed channel may include a section that undercuts the outlet channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brad Wilson VanTassel, Joseph Anthony Weber, Bryan David Lewis, Travis J Packer
  • Vane device for a wind turbine apparatus
    Patent number: 10724498
    Abstract: A vane device includes a rotary shaft and a plurality of vane units angularly spaced apart from each other relative to the rotary shaft. Each of the vane units includes a grid frame that has grid spaces, and a plurality of vanes respectively disposed adjacent to the grid spaces. Each vane is swingable between a cover position and an open position. The size of the vanes decreases along a radial direction from a vicinity of the rotary shaft to a distance away from the rotary shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Inventor: Kuo-Chang Huang
  • System and method to retain a turbine cover plate with a spanner nut
    Patent number: 10718220
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a gas turbine engine is presented. The engine has at least one turbine stage and each stage has a turbine disc concentric with the axis of the engine. The turbine disc has a turbine arm positioned axially from the disc and rigidly attached thereto. The drive arm is also concentric with the turbine axis and has an outer surface. The turbine stage also has a cover plate concentric with the turbine axis and covering at least a portion of the turbine disc. An arrangement of turbine blades are positioned around the periphery of the disc and are retained on the turbine disc at least partially by the cover plate. The system includes a spanner nut, and threads on a portion of the turbine drive arm. The spanner nut is threaded onto the turbine arm which applies an axial force on the cover plate, thereby retaining the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Brandon R. Snyder
  • Fluid pump
    Patent number: 10711793
    Abstract: A fluid pump includes a fluid pump inlet and a fluid pump outlet. A motor includes an armature and a stator such that the armature rotates about an axis. A pump section includes a pump section having a pumping element coupled to the armature such that rotation of the armature rotates the pumping element such that the pumping element pumps fluid from the fluid inlet to a pump section outlet of the pump section. A fluid passage within the fluid pump provides fluid communication from the pump section outlet to the fluid pump outlet such that the fluid passage is radially between the armature and the stator. The armature includes a surface of which faces toward the pump section and includes a plurality of recesses extending thereinto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES IP LIMITED
    Inventors: Francisco Romo, Daniel J. Moreno
  • Gas turbine engine vanes
    Patent number: 10697471
    Abstract: An annular array of turning vanes 200 is provided in a duct 100 of a gas turbine engine 10. The annular array of turning vanes 200 comprises aerodynamic vanes 220 and strut-vanes 240. The strut-vanes 240 have greater chord length and extend further axially downstream than the aerodynamic vanes 220. The leading edge of the strut-vanes 240 is upstream of the trailing edge of the aerodynamic vanes 220. The strut-vanes provide flow turning. The arrangement allows the duct 100 to be axially short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Richard Northall, Anthony J. Rae, Michael S. Krautheim, Alastair D. Walker, Jonathan F. Carrotte, Ian Mariah
  • Method of controlling a wind turbine and related system
    Patent number: 10690117
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, in particular a method for controlling pitch of one or more blades of a wind turbine and related system. The method comprises collecting first data indicative of a dynamic condition of the first wind turbine blade and the rotor, the first data comprising rotor data and first deflection data, the rotor data being indicative of the azimuth position and rotational velocity of the rotor in a rotor plane perpendicular to the rotor axis, and the first deflection data being indicative of the position, speed and acceleration of one or more parts of the first wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LM WP PATENT HOLDING A/S
    Inventor: Mark Olaf Slot
  • Optimized aerodynamic profile for an arm of a structural casing of a turbine, and structural casing having such an arm
    Patent number: 10669871
    Abstract: When cold and in the non-coated state, the aerodynamic profile is substantially identical to a nominal profile determined by the Cartesian coordinates X,Y, Zadim given in Table 1, in which the coordinate Zadim is the quotient D/H where D is the distance of the point under consideration from a first reference plane P0 situated at the base of the nominal profile, and H is the height of said profile measured from the first reference plane to a second reference plane P1. The measurements D and H are taken radially relative to the axis of the turbine, while the X coordinate is measured in the axial direction of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Maxime Didier Delabriere, Daniel Marius Man, Pascal Pierre Nicolas Routier, Guillaume Jochen Scholl, Renaud Gabriel Constant Royan
  • Stator shroud systems
    Patent number: 10662814
    Abstract: A shroud for a turbomachine stator includes a first portion and a second portion configured to sandwich around at least a portion of a stator vane assembly, a first pin hole defined in the first portion at an angle relative to an axial direction of the turbomachine, and a second pin hole defined in the second portion at the angle of the first portion, wherein the first pin hole is aligned and in communication with the second pin hole to accommodate a pin configured to be seated in the first and second pin holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Maliniak
  • Rotor hub for a wind turbine having pre-positioned fasteners and related method
    Patent number: 10662919
    Abstract: A rotor hub for a wind turbine includes a hub frame having a blade attachment site configured for attachment of a wind turbine blade to the hub frame, and a dispenser coupled to the hub frame and containing one or more fasteners, wherein the one or more fasteners is selectively releasable from the dispenser to facilitate attachment of the wind turbine blade to the hub frame. A plurality of dispensers may be provided, each having a plurality of fasteners disposed therein. The dispensers may be coupled to the hub frame and distributed about the periphery of the blade attachment site. A method of attaching a blade to a rotor hub includes positioning the blade adjacent the attachment site on the hub frame, and securing the blade to the hub frame at the attachment site using the fasteners from the dispensers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Høgne Joensen
  • Spinner shaft attachment
    Patent number: 10647410
    Abstract: A spinner assembly includes a cone-shaped member having a plurality of blade openings. The cone-shaped member is receivable about a shaft at a first location. A bulkhead frame is connected to the cone-shaped member. At least one strut is configured to couple the bulkhead frame to the shaft at a second location. The at least one strut includes at least one arm having a longitudinal rigid member and at least one flexure region that defines an axis about which the at least one arm bends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Higbie, David Littlejohn
  • Compressor
    Patent number: 10641275
    Abstract: This compressor is provided with a motor, a plurality of shafts each having a gear, a housing (30), and a plurality of impeller sections. The housing (30) includes a first housing element (31) and a second housing element (32) connectable to the first housing element from above and separable from the first housing element. A first upper end surface support section (41) is formed on an upper end surface of the first housing element (31). The housing (30) has at least one insertion support section (40A) having a shape that enables insertion of the gear and that supports the shaft, at a height position different from a height position of the first upper end surface support section (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koumei Fujioka
  • Compressor-impeller fixing nut, impeller assembly, and supercharger
    Patent number: 10626881
    Abstract: A compressor-impeller fixing nut has a tubular shape, and includes: a curved-surface shaped portion disposed in a first range from a first end side in an axial direction, the curved-surface shaped portion having an outer diameter which increases toward a second end side in the axial direction and including an outer peripheral surface having a curved shape which protrudes outward in a radial direction in a cross section along the axial direction; and a nut portion disposed in a second range closer to the second end side from the first range in the axial direction, the nut portion having an outer peripheral surface with a nut shape. An expression (D1max?D1min)/2<L is satisfied, where L is a length of the first range in the axial direction, and D1max is a maximum value and D1min is a minimum value of the outer diameter of the curved-surface shaped portion in the first range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tanabe, Yasuhiro Wada
  • Thrust-ring and rotor fan system
    Patent number: 10605257
    Abstract: A fan system includes a rotor having plurality of blades and a ring airfoil, the plurality of blades being rotatably joined to a hub and the ring airfoil. The fan system may include a second contra-rotationally disposed rotor having a plurality of blades and a ring airfoil. The first and second ring airfoils having a cambered shape and an angle of attack between about ?5 degrees and about 45 degrees, more preferably between about 5 degrees and about 30 degrees. Optionally, an outlet guide vane may be mounted rearward of the one or more rotors having a ring airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Bronwyn Power, Jonathan M. Rivers
  • Telescoping propeller blades for aerial vehicles
    Patent number: 10583914
    Abstract: Sounds are generated by an aerial vehicle during operation. For example, the motors and propellers of an aerial vehicle generate sounds during operation. Systems, methods, and apparatus may actively adjust the position and/or configuration of one or more propeller blades of a propulsion mechanism to generate different sounds and/or lifting forces from the propulsion mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Beckman, John Raymond Brodie, Vedran Coralic, Taylor David Grenier, Gur Kimchi, Dominic Timothy Shiosaki, Ricky Dean Welsh, Richard Philip Whitlock
  • Airfoil assembly with a scalloped flow surface
    Patent number: 10577955
    Abstract: A stage for a compressor or a turbine in a turbine engine can include an annular row of airfoils radially extending from corresponding platforms, where each platform can include a fore edge and aft edge and each airfoil can include a leading edge and trailing edge. At least one of the platforms can have a scalloped flow surface including a bulge and a trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Connor Marie Shirley, Harjit Singh Hura, Paul Hadley Vitt
  • Fan blade with composite cover
    Patent number: 10570917
    Abstract: A fan blade includes a metallic body, a first composite cover, and a second composite cover. The metallic body may have a first side, a second side, a plurality of first retention slots, and a plurality of second retention slots, in accordance with various embodiments. The first and second retention slots may extend from the first side to the second side of the metallic body. The first composite cover may be coupled to the first side of the metallic body and may include a plurality of first fingers that extend through the first retention slots and are coupled to the second side of the metallic body. The second composite cover may be coupled to the second side of the metallic body and may include a plurality of second fingers that extend through the second retention slots and are coupled to the first side of the metallic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael A. Weisse
  • Gas turbine engine trailing edge ejection holes
    Patent number: 10563518
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for an airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a trailing edge cooling circuit utilizing a plurality of trailing edge ejection holes. The ejection holes can include a circumferentially radiused inlet, a converging section, a metering section, and a diverging section to improve airfoil cooling as well as castability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas Gerard Konitzer, Matthew Lee Krumanaker, Weston Nolan Dooley, James Herbert Deines
  • Exhaust diffuser
    Patent number: 10563543
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an exhaust diffuser for a gas turbine engine. The exhaust diffuser may include a hub, a casing, and a strut extending between the hub and the casing. The hub may include an angled configuration about the strut and a substantially flat configuration downstream of the angled configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Santhosh Kumar Vijayan, Deepesh Dinesh Nanda, Manjunath Bangalore Chengappa