Patents Examined by Everette A. Powell, Jr.
  • Methods and apparatus for preventing or retarding fruit and vegetable freezing
    Patent number: 4838761
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for protecting crops such as fruit tree groves from frost damage in the form of a vertical tower fixed to the earth against gyration, a rotor on top with two airfoil blades extending upward at a conical angle and drive means drivingly connected to the rotor through a vertical shaft, said tower projecting substantially above the level of the trees to be protected and sufficient to pick up air in the inversion layer and deliver it to the ground in a generally cylindrical mass to provide a ground effect causing the air to spread out radially along the surface beneath a grove's foliage and then flow upwardly through the foliage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventor: Alan R. Sheppard
  • Fan body and rotor cup assembly
    Patent number: 4838762
    Abstract: This fan cage is formed from a plastics material and locking, locator and drive devices integral with the cage and extend from one edge thereof into a "snap fit" connection with a motor driven rotor plate. With this construction, the fan cage can be readily removed from the rotor plate for inspection and replacement as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jack W. Savage, Lloyd L. Kuck
  • Wind turbine system using a savonius type rotor
    Patent number: 4838757
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination of a Savonius type rotor (20) and a deflector plate device (101) which serves as an augmentation apparatus which considerably increases the power output of the Savonius type rotor and also improves its self-starting ability and smoothness of operation. The invention also describes a novel Savonius type rotor (20) of greater efficiency than existing Savonius type rotors. In connection with the rotor-deflector combination, the present invention also teaches a simple, automatic speed control mechanism (107) which additionally can be used to facilitate stopping the rotor if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventor: Alvin H. Benesh
  • Fan with motor cooling enhancement
    Patent number: 4838760
    Abstract: A fan (10) adapted to be driven by an electrical motor (12), the motor of the type having openings (14) to permit the flow of air therethrough to cool internal components of the motor. The fan comprising a cup-shaped hub (20) adapted to be driven by the motor and including a plurality of arcuately shaped webs (44, 70) for inducing the flow through the motor and through a plurality of openings (40) formed in a axially extending wall (28) of the hub (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Bendix Electronics Limited
    Inventor: Stephen E. Brackett
  • Ring propeller
    Patent number: 4836748
    Abstract: A ring propeller has a frusto-conical shroud disposed co-axially about a boss, and a plurality of blades extending between the boss and the shroud thereby dividing the shroud into equal sectors. The blades have parallel edges and are of constant corss section between the boss and the shroud. The reversing characteristics of the propeller are substantially improved by having a plurality of apertures disposed equally around the shroud and passing through it. There is at least one aperture in each sector, and the apertures are disposed at an angle to the central axis of the propeller of from 2.degree. to 65.degree.. The walls of the apertures are disposed at an angle to the outer surface of the shroud to thrust water on the trailing faces of the blades when the propeller is rotated in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Church Holdings
    Inventor: Leslie G. Church
  • Pre-load device for a turbomachine rotor
    Patent number: 4836749
    Abstract: The pre-load device for a turbomachine rotor according to the invention has a shank formed of a superplastic material which is axially insertable in a shank bore formed between confronting notches formed on a rotor disk and a blade root portion. In one embodiment, the notches extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the rotor disk. The shank defines an interior chamber in which is located a low-melting point material. An electrical resistance heating element is located in the low-melting point material and has means to be connected to an electrical source. The device also includes headed portions attached to each end of the shank, each of the headed portions bearing against axially facing surfaces of the rotor disk and the blade root so that, when the head means are attached, relative axial movement between the elements is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: William A. Gavilan
  • Wind processing air turbine, and methods of constructing and utilizing same
    Patent number: 4834610
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a windmill capable of utilizing a broad range of wind speeds, comprising, a central axial shaft, a first flywheel attached to the upper portion of said central axial shaft, a second flywheel attached to the lower portion of said central axial shaft, a plurality of rotor blades operably connected to said first flywheel and said axial shaft, a supporting structure for rotatably supporting said shaft, a top structure and a base structure, a plurality of stator blades movably fitted between said top structure and said base structure, said stator blades being capable of rotational, inward and outward movement relative to said axial shaft, and a plurality of wind processing blades rotatably fitted between said top structure and said base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Inventor: Frederick W. Bond, III
  • Fan blade cover
    Patent number: 4832572
    Abstract: A fan blade cover for use on fans having a plurality of fan blades, where one size cover fits many sizes and contours of fan blades. The cover includes a sleeve manufactured from a flexible material in a tubular configuration where one end of the sleeve is closed and an opposite end is open for mounting the cover on the fan blade. The open end of the sleeve includes a closure for closing off the open end to securely maintain the cover on the fan blade during fan operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventors: Doris A. Prucha, Lois M. Sedlak
  • Boat propeller having counter-rotating screws and provided with a nozzle
    Patent number: 4832570
    Abstract: A screw propeller (10) for boats includes two counter-rotating screws (12, 16) coaxial with an annular nozzle (20). The aft screw (16) has a smaller diameter than the forward screw (12) and the nozzle (20) has an annular duct (B) situated upstream of the rear screw (16) and arranged to discharge the exhaust gases from the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Akzo S.r.l.
    Inventor: Franco Solia
  • Flexible tethered wind turbine
    Patent number: 4832571
    Abstract: This invention relates to a flexible tethered wind turbine useful, among other things, for generating electricity. A flexible shaft supported by guy wires is provided at its upper end with a flexible rotor and an airfoil assembly. Rotation of the airfoils in response to wind creates centrifugal force and tension which causes the rotor to become rigid during use. The light flexible shaft easily follows the rotating sails, which permits the entire turbine to automatically track the wind as it changes direction. As the rotor spins, its rotational energy is transferred to the shaft, which rotates along its entire flexible length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventor: Frank L. Carrol
  • Spiral grooves in a turbine rotor
    Patent number: 4830575
    Abstract: A spiral groove machined in the end face of a turbine rotor disc accelerates boundary layer fluid flow from the interior of the turbine rotor to the compression chamber. This flow cools the rotor disc and vanes. A transverse axial passageway may be provided beneath the vane roots. Radial extensions from this transverse passageway act to divert cool air through the rotor vanes. Abradable rings may be provided to the stator assemblies adjacent the spiral grooves which act to minimize wear between the sharp edges of the spiral grooves and the stator assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Phiroze Bandukwalla
  • Wind turbine system using twin savonius-type rotors
    Patent number: 4830570
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination of two vertical axis Savonius-type rotors (20,120) mounted on a support structure (210) and a deflector plate (200). The deflector plate serves an an augmentation apparatus which considerably increases the power output of both Savonius-type-rotors and also improves their self-starting ability and smoothness of operation. The support structure is mounted for rotation about a central vertical shaft (242) so that the rotor-deflector combination can be properly positioned. The invention also provides a partition plate (236) positioned between the rotors to give rigidity to the deflector plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: Alvin H. Benesh
  • Auxiliary helicopter rotor
    Patent number: 4828458
    Abstract: An auxiliary helicopter rotor on which at least two blades extend radially from a hub, each of which blades presents a root connecting it to the hub, and a beam having two wings extending respectively along the back and face of the blade; the wings of the beam diverging along the root in such a manner as to form a fork engaged both by a center plate on the hub, to which the fork is connected via a spherical joint, and by a flexible leaf extending from the center plate inside the fork and connected to the beam of the blade by means of an axial joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Giovanni Agusta S.p.A.
    Inventor: Emilio Pariani
  • Turbine
    Patent number: 4826403
    Abstract: A power turbine (12) comprises alternate annular arrays of contra-rotatable turbine blades. Two arrays of turbine blades (30) and (47) have annular arrays of aerofoil propulsion blades (17,18) respectively attached thereto. Alternate arrays of turbine blades are attached to a primary drum member (55) in such a manner that below normal operating temperatures, limited relative radial movement is permitted between them. However when the normal operating temperature is reached, the relative radial movement is inhibited in such a manner that the rigidity of the power turbine (12) enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Ronald Catlow
  • Marine propeller and hub assembly
    Patent number: 4826404
    Abstract: A hub assembly comprising a driver telescoped within a driven member is disclosed. A plurality of elastomeric members are disposed between the driving and driven members within mating parallel semi-circular grooves in the opposed surfaces of the driving and driven members of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Inventor: Alan E. Zwicky
  • Gas turbine engine oil drain slot
    Patent number: 4824327
    Abstract: A spillage oil drain from the volume between a conical hub and a disk is comprised of a radial slot in the edge of the hub flange where it abuts the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: George F. Titterton, III
  • Autogyro
    Patent number: 4824326
    Abstract: An autogyro has rotor blades carried by a rotor head mounted on a support member (10) rotatable about a pitch axis (18) and independently rotatable about a roll axis (22) for control of the autogyro in pitch and roll respectively. The pitch and roll axes intersect one another in order to overcome the problem of rotation about one axis affecting the radius of rotation about the other axis. Means are provided to prevent rotation of the rotor head and support member about an axis orthogonal to both the pitch and roll axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Property Associates Limited
    Inventor: James A. Watts
  • Bladed rotor assemblies and control means therefor
    Patent number: 4822243
    Abstract: A bladed rotor assembly and a control means therefor, which comprises a bladed rotor, a fluid-pressure-operable actuator for effecting a change of blade pitch, a first valve member connect to, and movable with the actuator and a second valve member co-operable with the first valve member, both valve mebmers having fluid passageways therein for supplying fluid to the actuator, and override means being provided to control the position of the second valve member relative to the first valve member, wherein safety means are provided to cause, in the event of failure of the over-ride means, the actuator to effect increased blade pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Dowty Rotol Limited
    Inventor: Michael Poucher
  • Rotor for a wind-driven generator
    Patent number: 4822247
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a rotor for a fluid-kinetic machine comprising a rotatably supported hub, the support being provided with axial bearing means, an outer ring which is indirectly supported on said hub, and rotor blades which are arranged in an area between said hub and said outer ring. In order to provide a possibility of utilizing the influence of the gyroscopic effects, which occur during operation of the rotor, for the purpose of stabilizing the rotor, it is suggested in accordance with the invention that the outer ring should be composed of a plurality of arcuate sections in the circumferential direction and should be arranged essentially in the plane of rotation of the axial bearing means, and that the arcuate sections of the outer ring should be under the action of flexible tension elements which embrace said arcuate sections at least partly and which are secured to a carrier ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventor: Alberto K. Heinz
  • Fan for moving fluid axially and radially
    Patent number: 4822246
    Abstract: A fan includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades fixed on an end of a motor shaft. Each of the blades includes a series of radially interconnected oblique planes which are all inclined circumferentially of the motor shaft in a direction so as to press or suck fluid when the motor shaft rotates. The outer one of any adjacent two of the oblique planes extends radially outwardly from the inner adjacent plane toward the other end of the motor shaft at an angle of less than 90 degrees so that the blades are generally L-shaped. The outermost one of the oblique planes of each of the blades is generally parallel to the motor shaft. Thereby, fluid can be pressed or sucked axially and radially of the motor shaft to establish a generally semi-spherical fluid flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventor: Yun-Tung Hsu