Patents Examined by Courtney D Heinle
  • Patent number: 11859625
    Abstract: A neck fan, configured to be worn around a neck of a user, includes: an inner shell, disposed near the neck; an outer shell, connected to the inner shell and disposed opposite to the inner shell and away from the neck, wherein the outer shell and the inner shell cooperatively define a receiving space; a plurality of fan assemblies. Each fan assembly is received in the receiving space and connected to the inner shell and the outer shell. Each of the inner shell and the outer shell defines a plurality of air inlets, each fan assembly corresponds to both the air inlets in the inner shell and the air inlets in the outer shell, each of the plurality of fan assemblies is configured to intake air from an outside of the neck fan into the receiving space through the corresponding plurality of air inlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN JISU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Xiangfu Li
  • Patent number: 11852018
    Abstract: A nozzle includes an endwall connected to an airfoil at one of a tip and root of the airfoil. The endwall includes a first and second side slash faces at respective circumferential edges thereof. The endwall also includes an inner surface extending between the first and second side slash faces. The inner surface includes a first planar surface portion adjacent to the first side slash face, a second planar surface portion adjacent to the second side slash face, and an arcuate surface portion extending between the first and second planar surface portions. The planar surface portions reduce a chute height by reducing hot gas path curvature locally along the side slash faces, which reduces working fluid ingestion between endwalls of the adjacent nozzles. The planar surface portions can be applied to an inner and/or an outer endwall of a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob John Kittleson
  • Patent number: 11852160
    Abstract: A fan includes a motor, a rotatable hub coupled to the motor, and at least one fan blade. The at least one fan blade includes a first end coupled to the rotatable hub, a second end, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a passage extending from the first end to the second end, and a winglet attached to the second end. At least one flexible strap extends through the passage of the at least one fan blade. The flexible strap is coupled at a first end to the rotatable hub and coupled at a second end to the winglet, such as to an inner portion thereof within the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA T, LLC
    Inventors: Jason H. Fizer, Michael S. Fay, Matthew Mattingly, Richard W. Fizer
  • Patent number: 11851158
    Abstract: A variable pitch fan assembly includes a plurality of rotating trunnion assemblies, a plurality of counterweight assemblies, a first unison ring gear engaged with the trunnion assemblies, and a second unison ring member that restricts out of synch movement of the counterweights relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Daniel A. Niergarth
  • Patent number: 11852019
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a seal comprising an annular ring comprising: an outer diameter surface having an outer diameter, an inner diameter surface, a first height measured from the outer diameter surface to the inner diameter surface, wherein a first ratio of the outer diameter to the first height is greater than 10:1; and a cross-sectional shape comprising: a central beam extending from an inner end to an outer end, the central beam including a central axis that defines an angle with a neutral axis of the cross-sectional shape, the angle being between 5 degrees and 25 degrees; a first flange extending axially from the inner end of the central beam in a first axial direction; and a second flange extending axially from the outer end of the central beam in a second axial direction, the second axial direction being opposite the first axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 11846202
    Abstract: A method for cooling a high-temperature radial gas turbine engine increases turbine thermal efficiency and/or extends turbine operational lifetime. A bleed flow path enables cooling air to flow from a compressor outlet and along surfaces of the gas turbine rotors. The amount of cooling increases in proportion to a bleed fraction, which is defined as the ratio of mass flow in the bleed flow path to total mass flow in the compressor outlet. The heated air in the bleed flow path is mixed with the main mass flow into the turbine engine, so as to restore mass flow into the turbine, while maintaining a high turbine operating temperature and thermal efficiency. The thermal efficiency of a recuperator also increases in proportion to the bleed fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Turbogen Ltd.
    Inventor: David Lior
  • Patent number: 11840930
    Abstract: A vane for a gas turbine engine, the vane including: an inner diameter platform and an outer diameter platform and an airfoil that extends between the inner diameter platform and the outer diameter platform, the airfoil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side and a suction side, the inner diameter platform has a suction side mate face and a pressure side mate face, wherein the suction side mate face and the pressure side mate face of the inner diameter platform have an axial feather seal slot and a radial seal slot, the axial feather seal slot includes a leading edge portion that extends from the radial seal slot towards a leading edge of the inner diameter platform and a trailing edge portion that extends from the radial seal slot towards a trailing edge of the inner diameter platform, and a chamfer extends between the radial seal slot and the trailing edge portion of the axial feather seal slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Craig R. McGarrah, Kyle J. Brevick, Egon Salimusaj
  • Patent number: 11840936
    Abstract: A turbine shroud assembly includes a carrier assembly, a blade track segment, a retainer, and a clip shim. The carrier assembly is arranged circumferentially at least partway around an axis. The blade track segment is supported by the carrier assembly to locate the blade track segment radially outward of the axis and define a portion of a gas path of the turbine shroud assembly. The retainer extends into the carrier assembly and the blade track segment. The clip shim is located between the carrier assembly and the blade track and configured to urge the blade track segment axially toward the carrier assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Aaron D. Sippel
  • Patent number: 11840965
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft configured with an engine core that has a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor. A fan located upstream of the engine core, that has a plurality of fan blades. A gearbox arranged to receive an input from the core shaft and to output to the fan so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the core shaft. The gearbox being an epicyclic gearbox having a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear, and a planet carrier on which the planet gears are mounted. The gearbox having an overall gear mesh stiffness, and wherein the overall gear mesh stiffness of the gearbox is greater than or equal to 1.05×109 N/m and less than or equal to 8.0×109 N/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Mark Spruce
  • Patent number: 11840030
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a structural component of a blade segment for a rotor blade includes providing a mold of the structural component having an outer wall that defines an outer surface of the structural component. The method also includes laying up one or more fiber layers in the mold so as to at least partially cover the outer wall. As such, the fiber layer(s) form the outer surface of the structural component. Further, the method includes providing one or more metal mesh layers having one or more ends. Moreover, the method includes providing a cover material to the end(s) of the metal mesh layer(s). In addition, the method includes placing the metal mesh layer(s) with the covered end(s) atop the fiber layer(s). Thus, the method includes infusing the fiber layer(s) and the metal mesh layer(s) together via a resin material so as to form the structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Mitchell Rodwell, Xu Chen, Julie Ann Shepherd, Scott Iverson Shillig
  • Patent number: 11835027
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to supporting structures for a central frame of a direct-drive wind turbine and methods for managing such structures. A supporting structure is configured to assume a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the supporting structure has a shape and size such that the supporting structure can be introduced into the central frame from an outside. In the deployed configuration, the supporting structure has one or more increased dimensions with respect to the stowed configuration, and comprises a working platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventor: Alejandro Hernandez Ferre
  • Patent number: 11834952
    Abstract: Exhaust frequency mitigation apparatus, exhaust diffusers, and turbomachines are provided. An exhaust frequency mitigation apparatus includes a main body extending along an axial centerline from a base to a tip. the base defines a first diameter and the tip defining a second diameter. the main body converges from the first diameter to the second diameter with respect to the axial centerline. The base is configured to extend from an inner shell of a turbomachine exhaust diffuser. The exhaust frequency mitigation apparatus further includes at least one rib extending from a root coupled to the main body to a free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joshy John, Srinivas Pakkala, Prabaharan K, Satish Kumar, Prakash Bavanjibhai Dalsania
  • Patent number: 11835034
    Abstract: A lightning bypass system for a blade (22) of a wind turbine (10), the lightning bypass system comprising a blade connector (110) comprising an electrically insulating material (114) and configured to be located substantially in a rotational axis (R) of a blade root (24) of a wind turbine blade (22). The blade connector (110) is configured to be electrically connected to a down conductor cable (100) of the blade (22), and comprises a core configured to be electrically connected to a first end (111) and a second end (112) of the blade connector (110). The present disclosure further relates to methods for providing lightning bypass systems and to wind turbine hub assemblies comprising a lightning bypass system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventor: Raul Gracia Suberviola
  • Patent number: 11834962
    Abstract: A turbine stator vane includes; an airfoil portion; a shroud disposed on at least one of the side of a tip end portion or the side of a root end portion of the airfoil portion; and a protruding portion protruding toward the opposite side to the airfoil portion across a gas path surface in a radial direction. The shroud includes: a circumferential-direction passage disposed at the side of a trailing edge and extending in a circumferential direction; and a plurality of trailing edge end portion passages arranged in the circumferential direction at the side of the trailing edge, each trailing edge end portion passage having a first end portion connected to the circumferential-direction passage and a second end portion having an opening on a trailing edge end surface of the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI POWER, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Hada, Yoshifumi Okajima, Kunihiko Waki
  • Patent number: 11834992
    Abstract: A turbofan engine having one or more heat exchangers tied to an accessory gearbox is provided. The accessory gearbox is mechanically coupled with a spool, and a hydraulic pump is mechanically coupled with the accessory gearbox. The one or more heat exchangers have a heat exchanger capacity defined by a product raised to a half power, the product being determined by multiplying a resultant heat transfer surface area density of the one or more heat exchangers by a heat conductance factor that relates an accessory gearbox heat load, a power of the hydraulic pump, a diameter of a fan, and a bypass ratio of the turbofan engine. The heat exchanger capacity is between 23.9 and 97.7 for a rotational speed of the spool between 7,500 and 35,000 revolutions per minute at one hundred percent capacity and a resultant heat transfer surface area density being between 4,000 m2/m3 and 13,000 m2/m3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eyitayo James Owoeye
  • Patent number: 11830467
    Abstract: An acoustic attenuation structure for a gas turbine engine includes a periodic structure having a first unit cell, the first unit cell having a first central body and a first axial tube disposed on the first central body and a second axial tube disposed on the first central body, opposite the first axial tube, each of the first axial tube and the second axial tube being in fluid communication with one another through the first central body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: RTX COROPORATION
    Inventors: Craig Aaron Reimann, Julian Winkler, Kenji Homma, Jeffrey Michael Mendoza, Ramons A. Reba
  • Patent number: 11828182
    Abstract: A method for producing an integrally bladed rotor includes providing imaginary front and rear lattice points on the ridges of the front and rear edges; providing a first imaginary line on positive-pressure and negative-pressure surfaces to connect a first imaginary front lattice point and a first imaginary rear lattice point; providing a second imaginary line on the positive-pressure and negative-pressure surfaces to connect a second imaginary front lattice point next to the first imaginary front lattice point and a second imaginary rear lattice point next to the first imaginary rear lattice point; providing a spiral path on the positive-pressure and negative-pressure surfaces by connecting the first and second imaginary lines with a spiral curve; and cutting the positive-pressure and negative-pressure surfaces by moving a cutting point corresponding to a cutting edge of a turning tool along the spiral path. point around the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAZAKI MAZAK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihide Harada, Tetsuji Fujita
  • Patent number: 11821331
    Abstract: This steam turbine comprises: a rotating shaft that extends along an axis; a plurality of rotor blades that are arranged in the circumferential direction and that extend in a radial direction from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft; a casing body that covers the rotating shaft and the rotor blades from the outer circumference side; and a plurality of stationary blades that extend in the radial direction from a position on the inner circumferential surface of the casing body on the upstream side of the rotor blades and that are arranged in the circumferential direction. A plurality of microgrooves that extend in the steam flow direction are formed on the surface of the rotor blades and/or the stationary blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeki Senoo, Soichiro Tabata
  • Patent number: 11821326
    Abstract: A turbine containment system is provided. The turbine containment system includes a first containment member surrounding a portion of a turbine including a plurality of rotor disks and rotor blades; and a second containment member in communication with the first containment member, wherein the first containment member and the second containment member together contain each of the rotor disks and the rotor blades therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Veeraraju Vanapalli, Bhaskar Nanda Mondal, Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, Kenneth E. Seitzer
  • Patent number: 11814974
    Abstract: A tip shroud, comprising a plurality of tip shoes encircling a rotor assembly, in a turbine may deform due to thermal gradients experienced during operation of the turbine. Accordingly, a tip shoe is disclosed that utilizes an internal cooling cavity to supply coolant throughout the interior of the tip shoe, as well as to the slash faces of the tip shoe. In addition, features are described that increase the surface area exposed to the coolant, while remaining suitable for additive manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Sudhakar Bollapragada, Xiaoqiang Zeng, Michael D. Fox, Branden R. Elam, Daniel Ryan, Karen A. Thole, Thomas M. Corbett