Patents by Inventor Jeffrey A. Kain

Jeffrey A. Kain has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9739160
    Abstract: An adjustable blade root spring device for turbine blade fixation in turbomachinery. The device is designed to be placed in a space in a rotor disk cavity adjacent to a tip of a blade root fir tree, where the device applies a radial outward force on the turbine blade to fix the blade position in the rotor disk. The device includes an accordion-shaped spring which is compressed by a bolt and a coil spring. When the accordion spring is compressed in length, it increases in height and makes contact with the rotor disk and the turbine blade. The force of the accordion spring on the turbine blade can be adjusted via the bolt, and the coil spring provides an increased compliance range. The device can be inserted into the space without scraping against the blade root or the rotor disk, and expanded once it is in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Kain, Mohit Gupta, Leonard J. Meyer, Ryan S. Yamane, James A. Chonody, Charalambos Polyzopoulos
  • Patent number: 9540941
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for a turbine engine and includes an annular labyrinth seal holder supported on a radially inner end of vanes A plurality of radially extending labyrinth seal elements are supported on the labyrinth seal holder, and a brush seal assembly is supported to the labyrinth seal holder downstream from the labyrinth seal elements. The brush seal assembly includes a brush seal holder and a brush seal located adjacent to an axially rearward one of the rotor arms. The brush seal holder is attached to an axially facing surface of the labyrinth seal holder. A seal plate defining a detachable labyrinth seal element extends radially inward from the axially facing surface of the labyrinth seal holder to the rearward rotor arm at a location upstream of the brush seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahesh Janarthanan, Jeffrey A. Kain, Mushtaq Kazi
  • Publication number: 20150300189
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided for a turbine engine and includes an annular labyrinth seal holder supported on a radially inner end of vanes A plurality of radially extending labyrinth seal elements are supported on the labyrinth seal holder, and a brush seal assembly is supported to the labyrinth seal holder downstream from the labyrinth seal elements. The brush seal assembly includes a brush seal holder and a brush seal located adjacent to an axially rearward one of the rotor arms. The brush seal holder is attached to an axially facing surface of the labyrinth seal holder. A seal plate defining a detachable labyrinth seal element extends radially inward from the axially facing surface of the labyrinth seal holder to the rearward rotor arm at a location upstream of the brush seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Mahesh Janarthanan, Jeffrey A. Kain, Mushtaq Kazi
  • Publication number: 20150110635
    Abstract: An adjustable blade root spring device for turbine blade fixation in turbomachinery. The device is designed to be placed in a space in a rotor disk cavity adjacent to a tip of a blade root fir tree, where the device applies a radial outward force on the turbine blade to fix the blade position in the rotor disk. The device includes an accordion-shaped spring which is compressed by a bolt and a coil spring. When the accordion spring is compressed in length, it increases in height and makes contact with the rotor disk and the turbine blade. The force of the accordion spring on the turbine blade can be adjusted via the bolt, and the coil spring provides an increased compliance range. The device can be inserted into the space without scraping against the blade root or the rotor disk, and expanded once it is in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Kain, Mohit Gupta, Leonard J. Meyer, Ryan S. Yamane, James A. Chonody, Charalambos Polyzopoulos
  • Patent number: 5557920
    Abstract: An apparatus for causing a portion of the compressed air from the compressor section of a gas turbine to bypass the combustor. The apparatus comprises a clamping ring and a rotating ring. The clamping ring joins the aft end of the combustor to the front end of a duct that directs the hot gas from the combustor to the turbine section. The rotating ring encircles the clamping ring. When the rotating ring is rotated into a first position, ports disposed in the rotating ring are aligned with ports in the clamping ring so that air can flow into the hot gas flowing between the combustor and the duct. However, the ports in the rotating ring are completely blocked by the clamping ring when the rotating ring is rotated into a second position and partially blocked when the rotating ring is rotated into intermediate positions. An actuating ring that encircles the combustion chamber controls the rotation of the rotating ring by means of an actuating rod that extends into the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Kain