Patents Examined by Eric J Zamora Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11725518
    Abstract: A method for machining a blade and a blade for a turbomachine comprising a shroud which is positioned on a tip side of the blade. The shroud has an outer surface with at least one circumferential fin arranged thereon, whereby at least one section of the outer surface beside the at least one fin is processed in at least two manufacturing steps. At least one first section of the outer surface is processed to have a first shape and at least one second section of the outer surface is processed to have a second shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Krzysztof Skura, Martin Pernleitner, Christian Eichler, Lutz Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11725520
    Abstract: An airfoil for use in a gas turbine engine is formed to define cavities formed in the airfoil and a passage that extends between and fluidly interconnects the cavities. The airfoil further includes damping fluid located in the cavities and the damping fluid is adapted to flow between the cavities via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Christopher D. Hall
  • Patent number: 11719247
    Abstract: A reverse flow gas turbine engine has a low pressure (LP) spool and a high pressure (HP) spool arranged sequentially in an axial direction. The LP spool comprises an LP compressor disposed forward of an LP turbine and drivingly connected thereto via an LP compressor gear train. The HP spool comprises an HP compressor in flow communication with the LP compressor, and an HP turbine disposed forward of the HP compressor and drivingly connected thereto via an HP shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ghislain Plante, Patrick Valois
  • Patent number: 11708767
    Abstract: The variable vane arm mechanism can have an actuator ring defined around a main axis, a set of vanes having a plurality of vanes circumferentially distributed around the main axis, each vane having a vane axis extending from an inner end to an outer end and being rotatable around the vane axis, each vane having a vane arm, a plurality of pins circumferentially distributed around a main axis, slide blocks engaged with corresponding ones of the pins in a manner to rotate around the pins, and guide slots having a length extending away from corresponding ones of the vane axes, each guide slot slidingly receiving a corresponding slide block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Edward Cox, Daniel Poick
  • Patent number: 11708764
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a TiAl alloy impeller includes a blank preparation step in which a blank of the TiAl alloy impeller is prepared, wherein the blank has a shaft portion and a plurality of blades, and a thickness of an outer edge of each of the blades of the blank is set so as to be larger than a thickness of an outer edge of a blade of the TiAl alloy impeller, and an additional work step in which an additional work is performed on each of the blades of the blank. In the additional work step, the additional work is performed on a first surface of a portion that includes at least the outer edge of each of the blades or the first surface and a second surface of the portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Tatsuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11698001
    Abstract: A containment system for a gas turbine engine includes an outer containment ring having a first projection that extends radially inward and an inner containment ring having at least a second projection that extends radially outward toward the outer containment ring. The second projection is offset and spaced apart from the first projection to define a chamber in a first state. The containment system includes a lattice defined within the chamber that spans the chamber, and the lattice is integrally formed with each of the outer containment ring and the inner containment ring. A density of the lattice varies in at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction. The second projection is configured to interlock with the first projection in a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yathiraj Kasal, Reha Gomuc, Abhay Naik, Donald G. Godfrey
  • Patent number: 11680487
    Abstract: A turbine rotor includes a base and a plurality of blades. A central nose is radially inward of the blades and defines an axis of rotation. A plurality of cooling manifolds is disposed within the turbine rotor and includes impingement cooling jets extending through a rear surface of the turbine rotor. An internal cooling manifold extends radially inward of the impingement cooling jets and extends between the base and the rear surface of the turbine rotor. A central nose cooling manifold extends into the central nose and is fluidically connected to the internal cooling manifold. A base cooling manifold is fluidically connected to the central nose manifold and extends radially outward from the central nose cooling manifold. A blade cooling manifold is fluidically connected to the base cooling manifold and extends within the blade. Trailing edge jets extend from the blade cooling manifold and through the trailing edge of blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Zhongtao Dai, Ram Ranjan, Robert H. Dold
  • Patent number: 11674520
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a main plate, a blade connected to the main plate, and a shroud having an annular shape and connected to a shroud-side end of the blade that is an end opposite a main-plate-side end of the blade connected to the main plate. The centrifugal fan rotates about a rotation axis to suction a fluid through an opening of the shroud and discharge the fluid through the blade in a radial direction. A leading edge of the blade includes a recess located next to a point at which a shroud inner surface of the shroud that faces the main plate is connected to the leading edge and curving inwardly from the point toward a trailing edge and a projection located closer to the main plate than is the recess and projecting in the rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeishi, Makoto Tanishima, Tomoya Fukui, Hiroki Fukuoka, Makoto Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11674496
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade is bonded together at the leading and trailing edges, and including a shear web or webs (the main vertical stiffening member that runs the span of the rotor blade) as an integral part, sharing the inner and outer skins of one or both sides of the blade. The integrated shear web(s) is made into the skin shell, and is an uninterrupted, continuous extension of the shell laminate that is joined to the shell component/components without requiring a secondary bond of any sort. The laminates in the shell and the shear web(s) may differ or be the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TPI Composites, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachary Brekenfeld
  • Patent number: 11672968
    Abstract: A blood pump includes a housing having an inlet. A rotor disposed in the housing and configured to rotate substantially about the axis to pump blood from the inlet to the outlet. A stator is disposed within the housing and configured to drive rotation of the rotor about the axis. A bearing mechanism for supporting the rotor inside the housing includes a magnetic bearing configured to magnetically support the rotor inside the housing in a radial direction from the axis. The bearing mechanism includes a sliding bearing configured to physically support the rotor inside the housing in an axial direction along the axis of the housing and allow rotation of the rotor substantially about the axis, the sliding bearing comprising at least one point of contact where the rotor is configured to physically contact a trunnion affixed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventor: James F. Antaki
  • Patent number: 11668200
    Abstract: A vane arc segment includes an airfoil fairing that has first and second fairing platforms and a hollow airfoil section that extends there between. A spar has a spar platform adjacent the first fairing platform and a spar leg that extends from the spar platform and through the hollow airfoil section. The spar leg has an end portion that is distal from the platform and that protrudes from the second fairing platform. The end portion has a clevis mount. There is a support platform adjacent the second fairing platform. The support platform has a through-hole through which the end portion of the spar leg extends such that the clevis mount protrudes from the support platform. A pin extends though the clevis mount and locks the support platform to the spar leg such that the airfoil fairing is trapped between the spar platform and the support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jon E. Sobanski, Howard J. Liles, Bryan P. Dube, Wojciech Lipka
  • Patent number: 11661922
    Abstract: Disclosed is a support element for a lightning protection system of a wind turbine blade comprising: a first surface configured to face towards the suction side or the pressure side of the wind turbine blade; a second surface opposite the first surface; a root side surface configured to face towards the root of the wind turbine blade; and a tip side surface configured to face towards the tip of the wind turbine blade; wherein the first surface comprises a first receptor base recess configured to receive a first receptor base for coupling with a first receptor of the lightning protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LM WIND POWER INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY II APS
    Inventors: Mathilde Aubrion, Boas Eiriksson
  • Patent number: 11655718
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a blade tip for a turbine engine can include an blade, such as a cooled turbine blade, having a tip rail extending beyond a tip wall enclosing an interior for the blade at the tip. A plurality of film-holes can be provided in the tip rail. A flow of cooling fluid can be provided through the film-holes from the interior of the blade to cool the tip of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Earl Dyson, Nicholas William Rathay, Brendon James Leary, Gregory Terrence Garay, Gustavo Adolfo Ledezma, David Wayne Weber, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Patent number: 11649830
    Abstract: A method of making an impeller includes building the impeller in a layer by layer process in a build direction along the rotational axis starting from a base of the hub. The plurality of blades includes a plurality of perforated blades that support the shroud during additively manufacturing the impeller. The method can include installing the impeller in a fuel pump, air compressor, or the like, without removing the perforated blades from the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Ryon, Jacob Greenfield, Adrian L. Stoicescu
  • Patent number: 11643932
    Abstract: A rotor blade includes an airfoil having an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape has a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in one of Table I, Table II, Table III, Table IV, Table V, Table VI, Table VII, Table VIII, or Table IX. The Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances expressed in a unit of distance by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a scaling factor of the airfoil in the unit of distance. The X and Y values, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each Z value. The airfoil profile sections at Z values are joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Dutka, Nandakumar A R
  • Patent number: 11635092
    Abstract: A rotating device includes a housing; a variable guide vane module provided on a surface of the housing; and a housing cover covering the variable guide vane module. The variable guide vane module includes a first module, which comprises a vane case that has a cylinder shape and that is provided in the housing, and further comprises a first link that is provided on the vane case; and a second module, which comprises a shroud case that is seated between the housing and the vane case, and further comprises a second link that is provided in the shroud case and is configured to be driven in accordance with driving of the first link. The variable guide vane module is configured to be separable into at least two modules, including the first module and the second module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HANWHA POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Dong Hun Lim
  • Patent number: 11634988
    Abstract: A turbomachine rotor blade is formed of plural blade sections stacked along an axis extending from a blade root to a blade tip. Each blade section located at various heights along the blade is designed to have a given ratio between a maximum thickness, which is measured between a suction side and pressure side of the blade, and a chord, which is defined by a line connecting a leading edge and a trailing edge of the blade. Each blade section is further designed to have a ratio of the maximum thickness to the chord at a given height of the blade relative to a ratio of the maximum thickness to the chord of another blade section located at a different height of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Sadim Dieudonne, Mickaƫl Cavarec, Guillaume Pascal Jean-Charles Gondre, Nicolas Pierre Alain Edme De Cacqueray-Valmenier
  • Patent number: 11634993
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes: a fan rotating about an engine main axis; a core duct; an engine core; an Engine Section Stator (ESS) including a plurality of ESS vanes and arranged in the core duct downstream of the fan; and a plurality of variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV) adapted to rotate about a pivot axis and arranged in the core duct downstream of the ESS. The VIGV vanes are arranged angularly rotated with respect to the ESS vanes such that the VIGVs are shielded by the ESS, thereby protecting the VIGVs from icing and from ice shedding from the ESS vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Geoffrey B Jones, Edward J Spalton, Duncan A MacDougall
  • Patent number: 11634990
    Abstract: A hot gas path component assembly includes a first component portion that includes a first set of interlocking features and a second component portion that includes a second set of interlocking features mechanically coupled to the first set of interlocking features. A fill material is disposed at an interface between at least one surface of the first set of interlocking features and at least one surface of the second set of interlocking features. The fill material is disposed during a joining process. The second component portion is joined to the first component portion via both the fill material and the first and second sets of interlocking features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Earl Thomas Dyson, Tyler Henson, Brendon Leary, Zachary Snider, Gregory Thomas Foster, Victor Morgan, James Tallman
  • Patent number: 11629600
    Abstract: An airfoil member having a root end, a tip end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the airfoil member including an upper skin; a lower skin; and a support network having a plurality of interconnected support members in a lattice arrangement and/or a reticulated arrangement, the support network being configured to provide tailored characteristics of the airfoil member. Also provided are methods and systems for repairing an airfoil member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Nissen, Jared M. Paulson, Thomas S. Chiang