Patents Examined by Matthew T. Shanley
  • Patent number: 6022191
    Abstract: A fan blade mounting system for large air-moving fans includes a radially extending hub strut, a blade root member pivotally coupled to an end of the hub strut for receiving a blade skin, and a tube end located between the blade root member and the hub strut. A pair of resilient mounts are utilized in the blade root member to effectively pivotally couple the blades to the hub, thus relieving most of the vertical bending moment transferred to the hub and eliminating critical frequencies associated with the fan. The hub strut is connected to the hub of the fan by a stud having right- and left-handed threads and a wall thickness adjacent to the threads sufficient for distributing the stresses substantially uniformly on the threads, thereby improving fatigue resistance. The resilient mounts comprise a metal core and metal sleeve with a resilient elastomeric layer between the core and sleeve. The sleeves are connected to the blade root member and the cores of the two mounts are clamped to the tube end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: The Moore Company
    Inventors: R. David Moore, John D. Moore, Joseph Parker, John E. Dowell, Kenneth E. Jay, John P. Haynes
  • Patent number: 6022190
    Abstract: In connection with a turbine rotor disk in whose disk grooves air-cooled turbine blades have been inserted, at least two cooling air channels, respectively extending from the same disk front face, terminate in each disk groove. The outlet openings of two cooling air channels in each disk groove preferably lie essentially next to each other in a common sectional plane, which is normal to the disk axis. Because of this it is possible to supply a larger cooling air flow without drastically increasing the weakening, or respectively the stress of the disk in the groove bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Schillinger
  • Patent number: 6022192
    Abstract: An automatic cleaning system for a ceiling fan having a plurality of fan blades extending outwardly from a central motor driven hub comprising a plurality of cleaning units, each in a cleaning engagement with a top surface and a bottom surface of a different one of the plurality of fan blades; and a plurality of recoil units, each connected to the different one of the plurality of fan blades adjacent the central motor driven hub and an associated one of the plurality of cleaning units to enable each of the plurality of cleaning units to travel from a point adjacent the central motor driven hub to an outward end of the different one of the plurality of fan blades due to the centrifugal force when the ceiling fan is running and to retract each of the plurality of cleaning units to the point from the outward end of the different one of the plurality of fan blades when the ceiling fan is not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventors: Herman H. DeLaHoz, Martin Hupfl
  • Patent number: 6019580
    Abstract: A turbine or compressor disk assembly comprises a plurality of blades attached to a central hub by means of the blade root of each blade engaging a corresponding slot in the hub. According to the principles of the present invention, a turbine or compressor disk assembly includes one or more locally bulging regions extending axially away from the surface of the disk in the vicinity of the bottom contact plane of the disk attachment firtree. The locally bulging regions reduce the peak Macke stress in the disk bottom fillet and blade attachment root. In an illustrative embodiment, two locally bulging regions are incorporated into the disk and the corresponding blades, one of which extends forward from the leading edge of the disk and the other of which extends rearward from the trailing edge of the disk. The rearward locally bulging region has an exaggerated extension which allows the stress reduction ring to form an aft flow discourager as well as functioning to reduce peak stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Barr, Frederick G. Borns, Mark C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6019571
    Abstract: Side channel compressor, in which the gap (7) existing between the rotor (2) and the housing parts (1) surrounding the rotor (2) is sealed off using a sealing tape (8) introduced into a peripheral groove (9) provided in the corresponding wall regions of the housing parts (1). An impairment of the operability of the side channel compressor by a sealing tape attached to the housing is largely ruled out, in that the sealing tape (8) is held by a solidifying compound (10) which is introduced into groove widenings (11) provided at a plurality of points located in a distributed manner over the circumference of the peripheral groove (9) and which makes a positive connection with the sealing tape (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter Fischer
  • Patent number: 6017190
    Abstract: An apparatus for detachable connection of a ceiling fan motor housing to a ceiling mounting assembly. The ceiling fan downrod provides a standardized elongated tube that is connectable to a multitude of ceiling fan housings and assemblies, and provides a universal ground wire connection through a plurality of holes for electrical grounding of the apparatus. The downrod is an elongated tube with a hollow center, having a plurality of pairs of holes near each end of the downrod. Each open end of the downrod has a plurality of threads on the exterior surface of each end, the threads providing one connecting method to attach one end of the downrod to a ceiling mounting assembly, and the second end of the downrod to a motor housing of the ceiling fan. The downrod provides numerous options for connecting the downrod to ceiling fan assemblies, and provides versatility for attachment of electrical ground wires through the plurality of holes in the downrod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Prime/Home Impressions, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Lackey
  • Patent number: 6017191
    Abstract: This invention relates to an axial fan housing having a metallic shielding grating covering an air passage opening, wherein the grating is formed with a series of vane-like guide bars arranged in two or more concentric circular series. The number of guide bars in each circular concentric series increases from the radially inner series to the radially outer series of guide bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Papst-Motoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Siegfried Harmsen
  • Patent number: 6017188
    Abstract: A patio table and fan combination. The device uses a fan mounted on a pole that passes through the center of the patio table. The pole also supports an umbrella that can be used for shade when the table is located outside. The fan motor is mounted co-axially with the fan. The device includes pole mounted lights and a mist device. The patio table fan combination is powered by conventional household electrical outlet or by solar panels mounted on the patio umbrella. The central pole for the device comes in three pieces to facilitate shipping and assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: Carolyn Benton
  • Patent number: 6017183
    Abstract: In connection with a flow pump, particularly for the conveying of fuel from a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, with a pump chamber embodied in a pump housing which is bordered by two radially extending lateral walls (12), spaced apart from each other, and a peripheral wall, connecting the lateral walls (12) along their periphery with each other, with at least one groove like lateral channel (20) disposed in one of the lateral walls (12), open toward the pump chamber, which extends, related to the flow direction in the lateral channel (200, concentrically in relation to the pump axis (22), with an interrupting strip (35), remaining between a lateral channel end (202) and a lateral channel start (201), and having a rotating impeller wheel disposed in the pump chamber, a damping groove (36), open in the direction toward the pump chamber, has been cut into the interrupting strip (35) near the lateral channel end (202), which approximately extends over the width of the lateral channel, for reducing the locally very h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Dobler, Michael Huebel, Willi Strohl, Jochen Rose
  • Patent number: 6015258
    Abstract: Wind turbine apparatus is described for converting wind energy into electrical energy. The apparatus includes a rotatable central shaft, a plurality of rotor blades attached to the central shaft, and a plurality of convex airfoils spaced around the periphery of the rotor blades. The ratio of the number of rotor blades to the number of airfoils is at least 1.25 to 1. The size of the apparatus may vary, and the apparatus is useful in a variety of applications and environments. It is very efficient in converting wind energy to electrical energy. It may be operated even in very high wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventor: Ronald J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6015262
    Abstract: A fan apparatus includes a housing with front and rear parts and two swivel joints, a driving motor disposed in the housing, inner and outer annular members, a transmission member, and an anchoring member. The motor has a rear portion provided with a worm section extending toward the rear part. The inner annular member is sleeved on the front part and is connected to the joints so as to swivel relative to the latter. The outer annular member is sleeved retainingly on the inner annular member and is angularly adjustable relative to the same. A swing rod has a first proximate end relative to the worm section and mounted pivotally on the rear part, and a first distal end which extends toward the front part. The transmission member is disposed in the rear part to transmit an axial rotation of the worm section to swing the first distal end of the swing rod relative to the first proximate end in a plane parallel to the worm section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventor: Kuo-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 6007296
    Abstract: A guide blade for steam turbines, having in the blade interior a cavity (18) to which a vacuum is applied, is provided with an opening (3) for drawing off fluid in the region of the trailing blade edge (4). This opening is provided with a porous cover (7). The cover is dimensioned in such a way that, during operation, all its capillaries are filled with the fluid to be drawn off. It is anchored in the guide blade by a mechanical fastening element (20).The mechanical fastening element (20) is a spring-loaded quick-acting lock and comprises a bush (21) which fixes the cover in the blade opening (3) and projects with its cylindrical part (24) into the blade cavity (18), and a pin (25) which is axially displaceable in the interior of the bush, is equipped with spring means (26) and is provided at its end with a cap (28), which rests on the inner wall of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Peter Ernst, Kurt Faller, Reinhard Fried
  • Patent number: 6004093
    Abstract: A portable air-blowing working machine includes a prime mover and an air-blowing system. The air-blowing system incorporates first-stage and second-stage centrifugal air-blowing sections, which are rotatably driven by an output shaft of a prime mover and are interconnected by an air-blowing passage for delivering air discharged from the first-stage air-blowing section to the intake of the second-stage air-blowing section. The first-stage air-blowing section and the second-stage air-blowing section share a common unitary double fan, which includes fore and rear centrifuged fan blades mounted on the fore (first stage) and rear (second stage) faces of a main disk plate integrally mounted on the output shaft of the prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6004098
    Abstract: An engine plant for aircraft comprising a multicylinder internal combustion engine (1) whose crankshaft drives an adjustable pitch propeller (5), mechanisms for adjusting the engine speed and a common power stick (4) that controls the operation of the engine and of the adjustment mechanisms, characterized in that said engine is a compression ignition engine (1) that cooperates with an electronic control system (3) controlling the quantity of the fuel injected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Renault Sport
    Inventors: Marc Chevallier, Jean-Philippe Mercier
  • Patent number: 5997246
    Abstract: There is disclosed a housing for a centrifugal fan or blower or the like. The housing includes a wedge member for reducing the tonal noise generated during operation of the fan or blower. The wedge member is disposed on an interior surface of the housing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Niranjan Gendilal Humbad
  • Patent number: 5997245
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooled shroud in a gas turbine stationary blade which is able to flow a cooling air in the entire area of an inner shroud for cooling thereof. Three stationary blades are fixed to the inner shroud 2, a cover 13, 14 is provided to form a space 21 and space 22a, 22b and 22c, respectively. The cooling air is introduced through an independent air passage 3A of a leading edge of each stationary blade into the spaces 22a, 22b and 22c and is flown therefrom through a tunnel 18 and air reservoirs 19-2, 19-3 and 19-4 to be blown out of a trailing edge while cooling surfaces of the shrouds and the trailing edges. Also, a portion of the cooling air from the space 22b is flown into the space 21 through a tunnel 11, a leading edge side passage 12 and an endmost tunnel 11 and is then blown out of the trailing edge through a tunnel 18 and an air reservoir 19-1, so that the leading edge portion, the endmost portion and the endmost trailing edge portion are cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuoki Tomita, Hiroki Fukuno, Hideki Murata, Kiyoshi Suenaga
  • Patent number: 5988982
    Abstract: A method of modifying the vibration resonance characteristics of a workpiece includes the steps of determining a vibratory resonance condition frequency of the workpiece, determining the mode shape of said vibratory resonance condition, locating an area on the workpiece that includes a maximum curvature for the determined mode shape and vibratory resonance condition frequency; then laser shock peening the located area to create residual compressive stresses within the workpiece to shift the determined vibratory resonance condition frequency. A workpiece such as a gas turbine engine blade is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: LSP Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan H. Clauer
  • Patent number: 5984635
    Abstract: A helicopter aircraft with an upper hollow center circular plenum in gaseous communication with a plurality of hollow hinged attached rotor blades. Below the plenum and in gaseous communication with it are two fan jet engines whose gaseous output can be inputted to the plenum and their attached hollow rotor blades through a operator controlled valve system. This same valve system can be adjusted to completely or partially by-pass the plenum and discharge the jet engines' gas to a common rear rudder located on the aircraft's to provide directional control to the aircraft when in flight. The plenum is shaped lenticular in cross section similar to an airplane wing to provide a lifting body when the helicopter is in forward flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Merrill Manson Keller
  • Patent number: 5984640
    Abstract: A suspension assembly includes an upper suspension subassembly with an upper end secured to a ceiling, a connecting device including an upper end having a spherical surface engagement relationship with a lower end of the upper suspension subassembly, and a lower suspension subassembly including an upper end having a spherical surface engagement relationship with a lower end of the connecting device and a lower end securely attached to a motor for driving a ceiling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Sen-Kun Hsu
    Inventor: Yuh-Shyong Wang
  • Patent number: 5984637
    Abstract: A cooling medium path structure for cooling a gas turbine blade. The structure includes a disk-side cooling medium path, a blade-side cooling medium path formed at the root portion of the blade and a delivery block disposed between the two cooling medium paths so as to establish communication therebetween. The delivery block is provided with an elastic engaging section which comes into elastic and line-contact with the disk-side cooling medium path and the blade-side cooling medium path. Thus, the sealing property of the contact portions of the structure is secured so as to allow a cooling medium to be supplied without leaking from the cooling medium paths. The heat of the cooling medium, generated as a result of cooling the high-temperature portion of the gas turbine, can be recovered so as to make the best use of the heated medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Asaharu Matsuo