Patents Examined by Maxime Adjagbe
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Patent number: 8932021Abstract: A fan rotor includes a rotor body that has plurality of fan blades for rotation about a central axis. An annular wall extends radially inward from the rotor body. A hub body extends axially from the annular wall and defines a central hub bore with a hub bore diameter Db. The hub body further defines a first cylindrical hub portion on one axial side of the annular wall and a second cylindrical hub portion on an opposite side of the annular wall. A ratio of the outer diameter of the first cylindrical hub portion to a diameter of the central hub bore is 1.996-2.007, and a ratio of the second cylindrical hub portion outer diameter to the hub bore diameter is 2.051-2.063.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Darryl A. Colson, Brent J. Merrritt
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Patent number: 8915709Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optically detecting an angle of attack for an airfoil using light detection and ranging (LIDAR). To determine the angle of attack, one or more light beam pulses may be emitted from the leading edge of the airfoil into an (apparently) flowing fluid at various emission angles. The emitted pulses may be backscattered by particles in the fluid, and the backscattered light may be received by a detector at the airfoil. By range gating the returning pulses of backscattered light, a fluid velocity may be determined for each of the emission angles. The angle of attack is identified as the emission angle corresponding to the maximum velocity. A parameter (e.g., pitch or speed) of the airfoil may be controlled based on the angle of attack. In this manner, the airfoil may be manipulated or the shape of the airfoil may be adjusted for increased performance or efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Carsten Hein Westergaard
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Patent number: 8915715Abstract: The invention is directed to a high-power wind energy installation, wherein the rotor blades, to minimize the static and/or dynamic structural load and/or to damp vibrations, for example by generating counterforces to compensate for interference forces and moments, can be adjusted even when a constant wind velocity v? does not warrant it, and to a method for operating such a wind energy installation; it is provided according to the invention to configure at least one rotor blade bearing therein as a rolling bearing that is optimized for a high number of inner race revolutions in that the total dynamic axial load rating Ca,total, defined according to DIN ISO 281, of all those rows (?) of a utilized rolling bearing according to DIN ISO 281 which participate in force transmission in an axial direction is at least 1.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: IMO Holding GmbHInventor: Werner Schröppel
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Patent number: 8899934Abstract: The rotor structure is provided with a rotation shaft body in which a blade groove is formed at an outer circumference part, and extends in a circumferential direction of the axis line, and a plurality of blade bodies which are arrayed in the circumferential direction at the outer circumference part of the rotation shaft body, wherein a blade fixing piece is installed so as to be a positioned between at least one set of adjacent two blade bodies in the circumferential direction inside the blade groove, a projected part is formed at where either an opening wall part or the groove opening side of the blade groove and the blade fixing piece, and a recessed part which is fitted into the projected part is formed at where the other one of them.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Hirata, Kazuharu Hirokawa, Yoshimasa Takaoka
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Patent number: 8894356Abstract: A gas turbine inlet heat exchange coil assembly includes a gas turbine inlet housing formed to include an inlet and an outlet and a flow path therebetween. A plurality of adjacent coils are located in proximity to the inlet, and moveable between a closed operative position where the coils are aligned substantially in a plane so as to maximize resistance to flow along the flow path, and an open inoperative position where said coils are individually rotated substantially 90° such that the coils lie in individual, parallel planes so as to minimize resistance to flow along the flow path.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Eric Milton Lafontaine, Michael Adelbert Sullivan, Huong Van Vu, Bhalchandra Arun Desai, Mark Andrew Cournoyer
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Patent number: 8894361Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor has a compressor case comprising spaced apart inner and outer walls. An axial rotor is positioned within the outer wall. A bearing structure supports the axial rotor for rotation. A plurality of inlet guide vanes are coupled to the outer wall of the compressor case and radially extend inwardly, wherein each of at least a sub-set of said inlet guide vanes comprises a radial bore. Nested tie rods are received within a respective one of the inlet guide vane radial bores. Each tie rod comprises an outward end attached to the compressor case outer wall and an inward end attached to the compressor case inner wall.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Jose L. Rodriguez, Joseph L. Evins
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Patent number: 8888458Abstract: A turbine rotor balancing system comprises a circumferential array of mounting features. One or more balance weights are each mounted to the respective associated said mounting feature. Each balance weight comprises: a front wall along the forward face of the mounting feature; an aft wall along the aft face of the mounting feature; and a radially inboard wall. One or more fasteners each extend at least partially through holes of the front wall and rear wall of an associated said balance weight and through a hole of the associated said mounting feature. An abutment surface of the rotor is positioned to engage an outboard end of at least one of the front wall and aft wall of each said balance weight to resist outward radial movement of the weight.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Scott C. Billings, Zhen Wu, Konstantinos P. Giannakopoulos
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Patent number: 8882462Abstract: A rotor system includes a lead stop mounted to a spindle and a lead stop plate mounted to a rotor hub arm, the lead stop operable to contact the lead stop plate over a lead angle range.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2008Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft CorporationInventors: David N. Schmaling, Ryan Thomas Casey
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Patent number: 8882458Abstract: A compressor with a housing having an air guide section and a bearing section, and a moving part having a compressor wheel and a shaft connected to the compressor wheel in a pivot-proof manner. The shaft is pivot-supported in the bearing section, and the compressor wheel is accommodated in a first chamber of the air guide section in a pivoting manner. The shaft is driveable by an electric motor and at least one radial bearing and one axial bearing are provided for supporting the shaft in the bearing section, wherein the axial bearing has at least one magnetic bearing. The axial bearing includes at least one first bearing and a second bearing, the first bearing configured in the region of the compressor wheel and the second bearing is configured in the region of an end of the moving part facing away from the compressor wheel.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2009Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Andreas Knoop, Juergen Leitz
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Patent number: 8864460Abstract: A bearing assembly that includes a first bearing, a second bearing, a spring and a sleeve. The spring applies a preload to each of the bearings, and the sleeve surrounds the spring and the bearings. The sleeve includes an end portion that extends axially beyond the first bearing. The end portion includes a step down in the outer diameter that defines a seat for an o-ring.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: Matthew John Childe, Geoffrey Michael Burlington, David Michael Jones
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Patent number: 8864456Abstract: A turbine nozzle for an air cycle machine includes a base with a multiple turbine vanes which each extend for a vane height H, a throat width W defined between each of the multiple of turbine vanes, wherein a ratio W/H is 0.101-0.112.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Craig M. Beers, Harold W. Hipsky
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Patent number: 8864469Abstract: An air cooled turbine rotor blade with a leading edge region cooling circuit having pressure and suction side feed channels separated by a rib, where the feed channels are connected to metering and diffusion cooling channels formed in the pressure and suction side walls and the middle rib that discharge into three rows of exit slots on the leading edge of the blade. The trailing edge region cooling circuit includes rows of serpentine flow circuits each having an impingement channel along a suction side and a return channel in a middle that opens into metering and diffusion channels on the pressure side that discharges into exit slots on the pressure side of the trailing edge region. The middle of the blade is cooled with a multiple pass aft flowing serpentine flow circuit with metering and diffusion film cooling slots.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: George Liang
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Patent number: 8858172Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rotor assembly in which a first impeller and a second impeller are fixed to a rotation shaft which is supported by a bearing so as to be rotatable, the method including: fixing the second impeller to the rotation shaft; fitting and fixing a sleeve to the rotation shaft after fixing the second impeller; fitting and fixing the bearing to the sleeve after fitting and fixing the sleeve; and fixing the first impeller after fitting and fixing the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: IHI CorporationInventors: Kazuaki Kurihara, Kentarou Oda, Noriyasu Sugitani, Minoru Tsukamoto, Nobusada Takahara
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Patent number: 8851838Abstract: The present invention relates to a displayable wind turbine. The displayable wind turbine includes a central shaft arranged vertically to a flow direction of fluid. Radially extending upper spokes are coupled to an upper hub. Radially extending lower spokes are coupled to a lower hub. Blades have first ends connected to an end of the upper hub and second ends connected to an end of the lower hub. A pitch control unit adjusts a blade pitch angle. A detection unit includes a fluid direction detection unit, a fluid velocity detection unit, a central shaft speed detection unit, and a central shaft position detection unit. A light emitting unit includes a printed circuit board and light emitting devices. A control unit controls operations of the pitch control unit and the light emitting unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Snu R&DB FoundationInventor: Seung Jo Kim
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Patent number: 8851849Abstract: A pitch change apparatus is provided for a propeller assembly having a row of propeller blades which rotate around an axis of the assembly. The apparatus has a unison ring which is coaxial with the propeller assembly. The unison ring is movable to drive respective mechanisms for varying the pitch of the blades. The apparatus further has a plurality of pitch lock assemblies circumferentially distributed around the unison ring. Each pitch lock assembly has a free state which allows movement of the unison ring and a locked state which prevents or limits movement of the unison ring and thus prevents or limits variation of the pitch of the blades. The pitch lock assembly moves from the free to the locked state when the assembly receives a signal to lock the blades.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2010Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Andrew Swift, Antony Morgan
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Patent number: 8851832Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique vane actuation system. In one form, the actuation system includes a four bar linkage. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for turbine engines and vane actuation systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2010Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Dawn Kay Andrus
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Patent number: 8827631Abstract: The invention relates to a turbine engine that includes at least first and second lift turbine stacks with transverse flow. The shafts of adjacent turbines in the first stack are connected by a first coupling device adapted for compensating space misalignments, and the shafts of adjacent turbines in the first stack are connected by a second coupling device adapted for compensating for space misalignments. The turbine engine includes a device for supporting the first and second turbine stacks, which is symmetrical to said plane, and a control device adapted for permanently maintaining the symmetry between the first and second turbine stacks relative to the plane, and for maintaining the rotation speeds of the first and second turbine stacks at equal values in opposite rotation directions.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2008Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignees: Institute Polytechnique de Grenoble, Electricite de FranceInventors: Jean-Luc Achard, Didier Imbault, Ali Tourabi
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Patent number: 8821113Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a bearing housing with a shaft bore. A rotor shaft is arranged in the shaft bore and includes knife edges extending from the rotor shaft. A seal engages the shaft bore and includes an outer diameter and an inner diameter providing a seal land axially aligned with the knife edges. A radial clearance between the seal land and the knife edges is nominally 0.006 inch. The inner diameter is arranged between lateral sides of the seal that define a width. In one example, a tapered surface extending at an angle relative to the outer diameter from the lateral side to the seal land, the tapered surface facing the large end. The outer diameter to the inner diameter provides a first ratio of 1.25-1.28, and the inner diameter to the width provides a second ratio of 4.33-5.58.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Victoria S. Richardson, Lawrence Binek, Craig M. Beers
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Patent number: 8814495Abstract: A wind blade device for rotating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine generates wind-generated electric power in residential, business, industrial, and electric utility applications. The wind blade device comprises a drive shaft mountable to the wind turbine. A first wing extends from one side of the drive shaft and a second wing extends from an opposite side of the drive shaft. At least a portion of the first wing distant from the drive shaft is curved in a first direction and at least a portion of the second wing distant from the drive shaft is curved in a second direction. The first wing and the second wing maximize surface area to the wind and receive the wind from any direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Inventor: Douglas Soucy
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Patent number: 8814510Abstract: A turbine nozzle for an air cycle machine includes a disk section with a multiple turbine vanes which each extend for a vane height H, a throat width W defined between each of the multiple of turbine vanes, wherein a ratio W/H is 0.745-0.769.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Darryl A. Colson, Harold W. Hipsky