Patents Examined by Matthew T. Shanley
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Patent number: 6065936Abstract: This invention provides a compact, flat axial fan which is not limited by the shape of an incorporated rotor magnet and ensures a sufficiently large air flow and wind pressure, wherein the slide (under) piece of a mold that forms the under-molding portions of the vanes of the impeller of the axial fan is pulled out while being twisted (while performing a helical motion) in the direction of central axis of the base portion of the impeller, so that the mold can be formed simple to realize a multi-cavity mold, and the vanes can be formed into an ideal form by setting vane angles depending on different rotating peripheral velocities of the vanes, so that air can be supplied form the under-molding portions of the vanes to the vanes on the outer circumferential side during rotation of the impeller and a method of manufacturing an impeller for the axial fan.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1998Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha CopalInventors: Hiroyuki Shingai, Yukihide Umeda
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Patent number: 6062811Abstract: A monitor for detecting overheating of a critical component in a combustion turbine is provided. The monitor, when used in conjunction with a closed-loop cooling system, comprises a coating comprising an indicator material having an activation temperature. The coating is situated on the internal cooling passages of the critical component. The monitor further comprises a sensor connected to an outlet conduit of the cooling system for determining the amount of degradation of indicator material by monitoring the cooling fluid flowing through the outlet conduit. Embodiments further comprising "sniffer" tubes for use with open-loop air cooling systems also are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power CorporationInventors: Paul J. Zombo, Brij B. Seth, Kent G. Hultgren, Michael A. Burke
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Patent number: 6059523Abstract: The present invention is addressed to a multiple layer blade burst control system for use in turbine engines. The system utilizes a first inner containment ring and a second outer containment ring separated by a layer of thin ductile material. The inner containment ring and outer containment ring are each mounted to an engine housing by the use of a plurality of supporting legs. The first inner containment ring and the second outer containment ring each have complementary ribs and grooves on their respective inner and outer surfaces, so that when broken blades or blade fragments strike the inner surface of the inner containment ring, this ring absorbs the transfer of energy and moves towards the second containment ring. The movement of the inner containment ring also deforms the thin ductile material which creates an additional energy transfer. The system may also be utilized without the thin ductile layer, and a set of intermeshing protrusions and recesses.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Inc.Inventors: Mario Modafferi, Reha Gomuc
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Patent number: 6059525Abstract: The flow path shroud includes a plurality of generally channel-shaped shroud segments having forward and rearward rails interconnected by a flow path section along radial innermost portions of the rails. The volume bounded by the forward and rear rails and flow path sections is unbounded at the ends and the shroud therefore is without side walls. The free ends of the front and rear rails have relief cuts such that thermal induced bowing of the front and rear rails in the axial direction limits the mechanical stress applied to the turbine casing hooks. The thickness of the front and rear walls lies in an approximately 1:1 thickness ratio with the thickness of the flow path section.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Chris Basil Jiomacas, Peter Galen Stevens
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Patent number: 6050775Abstract: A radial-flow exhaust-gas turbocharger turbine is provided with a row of adjustable guide blades which are rotatable via adjusting shafts mounted in a casing. The guide blades are each provided with sealing discs on their longitudinal sides running at right angles to the adjusting-shaft axes. The diameter of the sealing discs is a multiple of the thickness of the guide blades. The sealing discs which are located on the side remote from the adjusting shafts form bearing points for the guide blades in the casing.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Wolfgang Erdmann, Siegfried Sumser
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Patent number: 6050774Abstract: A modular fan filter unit designed to supply process control air to mini-enclosure clean rooms. The modular fan filter unit is easy to remove, repair, and replace in the clean room environment. It has a readily accessible filter mounted across its bottom surface and an internal variable frequency drive fan. The fan pushes air through the filter into a clean room. Multiple numbers of modular fan filter units may be connected together as an array.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1998Date of Patent: April 18, 2000Assignee: Huntair Inc.Inventor: James F. LeBaron
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Patent number: 6048174Abstract: A hollow airfoil (34) for a gas turbine engine having a leading edge (50), a trailing edge (52), a pressure side (54), and a suction side (56) includes a solid region of enhanced chordal thickness (78), and buttresses (82, 84, 86, 88). The present invention airfoil is preferentially strengthened so as to reduce the risk of airfoil fracture due to impact of airfoil with successive airfoils during an airfoil loss condition.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1997Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Marc Samit, Douglas A. Welch, Paul W. Duesler, Patrick D. Markham, Allan R. Penda
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Patent number: 6048171Abstract: The invention is a valve system particularly useful as a bleed valve system in a gas turbine engine. The valve system includes a valve ring or partition (44) that bounds a plenum (52). The valve ring has a set of two or more fluid flow regulating apertures (46), and one or more chains (60L, 60R) of metering plates (56). Each metering plate is pivotably supported relative to one of the apertures (46) to regulate fluid flow through the aperture. A coupling system that includes a series of transfer links (76) extending between neighboring metering plates successively conveys pivotal motion and angular orientation from each metering plate to the successive metering plate in the chain. An actuation system (90) includes a drive system (94) responsive to an actuator (92) for governing the angular orientation of the metering plates.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1997Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Brian G. Donnelly, Robert L. Gukeisen, John S. Jenkins
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Patent number: 6042336Abstract: A damper for the blades of a turbine rotor for attenuating the vibrations excited in a radial direction by configuring the damper to have at least two legs bearing against the blade and the disc supporting the blade for grounding the radial vibrations transmitted radially through the damper and offsetting the center of gravity of the damper from the point of contact with the blade.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Charles A. Bulgrin, John O. Struthers
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Patent number: 6042335Abstract: A centrifugal fan including a fan hub lying generally in a plane normal to the axis of fan rotation and having a central opening for receiving a motor housing, and a plurality of fan blades of substantially identical construction spaced circumferentially evenly around the fan hub and extending away from the fan hub in a direction parallel to the axis of fan rotation. Each fan blade includes a leading edge at its innermost radial periphery, and the leading edge, at least at the axially upper one-half section thereof, is convexly curved in the shape of a quarter ellipse having a major axis, Mg, substantially parallel to the axis of fan rotation and a minor axis, mh, normal to the major axis Mg. The fan also includes a continuous shroud joined to each fan blade at an axially upper section of the radially outer portion thereof and the shroud is concave in cross-section.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventor: Yehia M. Amr
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Patent number: 6039542Abstract: A fan blade includes a metal airfoil having first and second opposite sides extending radially between a root and a tip, and axially between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoil further includes a pocket disposed in the first side having an elastomeric filler bonded therein. A panel is bonded to the filler along the pocket for allowing differential movement therebetween for damping vibratory response of the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 1997Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jan C. Schilling, Jay L. Cornell, Joseph T. Stevenson
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Patent number: 6039534Abstract: An inlet guide vane assembly for a centrifugal compressor includes a guide vane housing having an inlet side for receiving a fluid passing through the compressor at a first flow angle, an outlet side remote from the inlet side and a central axis extending between the inlet and outlet sides of the housing. The assembly has a first set of inlet guide vanes pivotally mounted within the guide vane housing, between the inlet side and the outlet side thereof, for impinging upon the fluid passing through the housing. The assembly includes a second set of inlet guide vanes pivotally mounted within the guide vane housing, between the first set of inlet guide vanes and the outlet side of the housing, for impinging upon the fluid passing through the housing after the fluid has passed through the first set of inlet guide vanes.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: March 21, 2000Assignee: Northern Research and Engineering CorpInventors: George S. Stoner, Peter M. Schoonmaker
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Patent number: 6036432Abstract: A fluid passage extends through the compressor casing from a point near the tip of the impeller to a transducer located externally of the compressor casing. Responsive to fluctuations of pressure sensed by the transducer indicative of rotating stall, the compressor is controlled by varying the diffuser or shutting down the compressor, as is appropriate.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Vishnu M. Sishtla, Joost J. Brasz
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Patent number: 6036441Abstract: A gas turbine engine airfoil includes first and second sidewalls joined together at opposite leading and trailing edges, and extending longitudinally from a root to a tip. The sidewalls are spaced apart from each other to define in part first and second adjoining flow chambers extending longitudinally therein, and defined in additional part by corresponding first and second partitions disposed between the sidewalls. The second partition is common to both chambers, and both partitions include respective pluralities of first and second inlet holes sized to meter cooling air therethrough in series between the chambers.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert F. Manning, Paul J. Acquaviva, Daniel E. Demers
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Patent number: 6033183Abstract: The invention relates to an impeller of a rotary pump having an annular upper part defining a central inlet opening, a drive-adjacent disk-shaped lower part, and a plurality of blades secured between the upper and lower parts. The upper and lower parts are separate parts which secure together. Each blade is integrally formed with either the upper part or the lower part. Every other blade is formed with the upper part, and the remaining blades are formed with the lower part. Each blade has a free edge, remote from a base thereof, which has a projection which extends into a recess or opening formed in the part to which it is not integrally molded. After the upper and lower parts are assembled together, free spaces around the projections are filled with injected plastic, thereby securing the upper and lower parts together and securing the free ends of the blades.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Wilo GmbHInventor: Albert Genster
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Patent number: 6033182Abstract: The non-rotating plate of the device is stopped from rotating around the rotor axis by a stop arm with at least one rigid stop track extending substantially axially and secured to the structure of the rotor aircraft. The track works together with a stop pin, integral with the non-rotating plate to stop the latter from rotating. The track has two flanges between which the pin is engaged so as to follow on this track a straight trajectory, parallel to the rotor axis and a circular arc trajectory centered on this axis, in the case of variation in the collective and cyclic pitch respectively. The stop pin includes a pad sliding between the two flanges of a slide constituting the said track and hinged around its fastening axis on the non-rotating plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: EurocopterInventor: Etienne Rampal
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Patent number: 6033185Abstract: A rotor blade includes an airfoil, an integral platform, and a dovetail integrally joined to the platform. The dovetail includes a neck extending between a pair of dovetail lobes configured to engage a complementary slot in a rotor disk. The dovetail includes an undercut extending between an outer face of the dovetail lobes and the neck for introducing a stress concentration thereat. The stress concentration relieves stress at the outer face at the expense of the neck for increasing the high cycle fatigue life of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Andrew J. Lammas, William T. Dingwell, Anthony E. Hungler
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Patent number: 6027310Abstract: The present invention is directed to the general field of ceiling fans and more particularly to the field of ceiling fans with easy install features. Such a fan includes an electrical quick connect device and an articulating fan blade assembly. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration enabling the fan to easily connect to an electricity supply while providing the gravitational and rotational support required by the fan. The fan blade assembly includes a drive hub having a series of slots to receive the neck of a fan blade. The fan blade neck is secured in the slot in a fashion that allows for articulation of the blade relative to the fan or removal of the fan blade from the fan.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1999Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: Angelo Fan Brace Licensing, L.L.C.Inventors: Jack Russell Kerr, Jr., Cullyn B. Winn
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Patent number: 6027309Abstract: A free-standing overhead fan apparatus includes a stand and a fan mounted on the stand. The stand includes a base positioned on ground level and an elongated member extending upwardly from the base. The fan is mounted at the upper end of the elongated member, preferably about seven feet above ground level. The fan includes a housing containing an electric motor and a rotating shaft extending from the motor. The fan also includes fan blades radially extending from the motor shaft. The fan is mounted on the stand such that the motor shaft and fan blades are rotatable about a vertical axis to emulate a ceiling fan.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Inventors: Ronald Wayne Rawls, Peggy Nell Rawls, John William Cook, Jr., Joan Marie Cook
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Patent number: 6024536Abstract: The object of the invention is to prevent the quantity of airflow by a fan from decreasing in dependence on the distance between the fan and obstacles such as an engine in a device for introducing and discharging cooling air having a shroud with a high covering rate. In the device for introducing and discharging cooling air having the shroud with the high covering rate, an airflow direction changing member is provided downstream of the fan, and each fixed blade of the member has a shift angle in the radial direction and an attack angle in a rotation direction of the fan, so that the air tends to be discharged outward in the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 1997Date of Patent: February 15, 2000Assignee: Zexel CorporationInventors: Toshio Tsubakida, Yoshinori Hashimoto