Patents by Inventor Ronald G. Mulholland

Ronald G. Mulholland 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).

  • Method of enhancing the aerodynamic performance of a fan
    Patent number: 6971840
    Abstract: A fan is modified by replacing its rigid rotor shaft by a flexible shaft so the normal operating speed range is above the first transverse critical speed. During run-up, the assembly of the fan impeller 12 and the drive shaft 11 is accelerated rapidly through the first critical speed at which the peak transverse vibrations could be encountered, and during run-down the shaft 11 is braked to minimize the same exposure to transverse vibrations. The use of a more flexible fan drive shaft of smaller diameter, allows a higher fan operating speed to be used without risk of detrimental shaft aerodynamic chokage effects, and the utilization of the existing fan foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Howden Power Limited
    Inventor: Ronald G. Mulholland
  • Method of enhancing the aerodynamic performance of a fan
    Publication number: 20040042893
    Abstract: A fan is modified by replacing its rigid rotor shaft by a flexible shaft so the normal operating speed range is above the first transverse critical speed. During run-up, the assembly of the fan impeller 12 and the drive shaft 11 is accelerated rapidly through the first critical speed at which the peak transverse vibrations could be encountered, and during run-down the shaft 11 is braked to minimise the same exposure to transverse vibrations. The use of a more flexible fan drive shaft of smaller diameter, allows a higher fan operating speed to be used without risk of detrimental shaft aerodynamic chokage effects, and the utilization of the existing fan foundation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventor: Ronald G. Mulholland