Patents by Inventor Ulrich Rathmann

Ulrich Rathmann 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).

  • Publication number: 20050084371
    Abstract: A base material (2) with a cooling air hole (1) is disclosed, means being present which prevent particles (5), which are located in the cooling air (4) which flows through the cooling air hole (1) during the operation of the cooling air hole (1), from closing the cooling air hole (1). In this arrangement, the means can consist in the edge of the cooling air hole (1) being uneven or having a ridge (3) or the cooling air hole (1) being star-shaped, ellipsoidal or linear or the cooling air hole (1) being circular and having lateral slots (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Reinhard Fried, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20040258517
    Abstract: A hot gas path assembly, suitable for use in the hot gas path of a gas turbine, has as a hot gas duct wall an impact-cooled gas-impermeable element and a transpiration-cooled gas permeable element. The gas-permeable element is a run-on covering for the sealing tip, and the gas-impermeable element is a blade foot of a turbine blade. Coolant is led in series through an impact-cooling element to cool the gas-impermeable element, and through the gas-permeable element for transpiration cooling and, if appropriate, also cools the sealing tip. Coolant thus is utilized particularly efficiently. Subdividing walls are arranged for the lateral subdivision of the coolant path, particularly in the circumferential direction, into segments. Because of the subdivision, in the event of damage to the gas-permeable element in one segment, the other segments remain essentially uninfluenced. Redundant cooling orifices may ensure coolant flow even when flow resistance in a transpiration-cooled element rises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Shailendra Naik, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20040258523
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for contactless sealing between static components and moving components of a gas turbine comprises a gas-permeable, abrasion-tolerant sealing element arranged opposite a sealing tip and secured in a support. In operation, a coolant can flow through the sealing element, for example a honeycomb element, due to its gas permeability, so the sealing element is cooled. A redundant coolant passage opens upstream of the sealing element on the hot-gas side of the assembly, so that coolant emerging therefrom flows over the sealing element on its hot-gas side. If the flow of coolant through the sealing element fails because flow through the sealing element becomes blocked, cooling is taken over by film coolant flowing out of the redundant cooling passage. Coolant mass flow is metered in via feeds, which effect the primary pressure loss in the device. The feeds may be designed as through-openings in an impingement cooling element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Shailendra Naik, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20040226682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an emergency cooling system (17) for a component (1) which is subject to thermal load in operation, in particular a component belonging to a turbine. The component (1) has a wall (3) which, in operation, is acted on by heat on a first wall side (14) and is acted on by a flow of cooling fluid (11) on a second wall side (15). The wall (3) has at least one emergency cooling opening (12) which is closed off by a plug (16) and through which cooling fluid flows from the second wall side (15) to the first wall side (14) when the plug (16) is absent. The plug (16) is designed so as to melt at a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Jan Ehrhard, Maxim Konter, Shailendra Naik, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20040179937
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for reducing the seal gaps within a rotary flow machine, preferably an axial turbomachine, having rotor blades and guide vanes, which are respectively arranged in at least one rotor blade row and guide vane row and have respective blade/vane roots (2,3) which protrude into fastening contours within the rotor blade and guide vane rows, is described. The invention is characterized in that a sealing element (4) in plastically deformable material is provided between at least two adjacent blade/vane roots (2,3) along a rotor blade row or guide vane row or between a blade/vane root (2,3) of a rotor blade or guide vane and a rotary flow machine component directly adjoining the blade/vane root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventors: Erhard Kreis, Markus Oehl, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6739594
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement between two radially adjoining components of an assembly that rotates during operation, in particular between the rotor and the rotating blade of a gas turbine component includes a sealing element in a depression of an inner one of the two components at the boundary surface to the outer one of the two components. The sealing element is designed in such a way that it does not or does only slightly project beyond the depression during assembly and that, during rotation of the assembly, the centrifugal force acting on it produces a sealing joint between the components. The present sealing arrangement permits an easy installation of rotating blades to the rotor of a gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6726391
    Abstract: A device for fastening and fixing components to a cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall may be both the convex-cylindrical outer contour of a cylinder and the concave-cylindrical inner contour of a hollow cylinder, in which the component is fixed in the radial, axial and circumferential directions. The fastening and fixing is effected by shaped elements which are attached to the component and by a counterpart to each shaped element on the wall. In each case a shaped element and a counterpart interlock, such that the component has at least three shaped elements, of which at least one shaped element has a defined accuracy of fit with its associated counterpart in the radial direction and has clearance in the axial and circumferential directions. At least one shaped element has a defined accuracy of fit with its associated counterpart in the axial direction and has clearance in the radial and circumferential directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Erhard Kreis, Christoph Nagler, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6712581
    Abstract: A process for producing a groove-like recess which is part of a strip seal between two components which enclose a gap, uses a material-removing process technology to create the groove-like recess in the two components in such a manner that the groove-like recess in each of the two components, after orientation with respect to one another, lie substantially opposite one another in an end position in which they enclose the gap between them, and that a strip element can be introduced into the groove-like recesses in such a manner that the strip element at least partially projects into both groove-like recesses and, under the action of a force, forms a substantially gastight joint with the groove-like recesses in the two components. Furthermore, a groove-like recess of this type is part of a strip seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology LTD
    Inventors: Stefan Florjancic, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20040012151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sealing arrangement which is formed between a rotating assembly (4, 6) and a static assembly (3, 14, 15). In this sealing arrangement, the rotating assembly (4, 6, 16) has at least one cutting element (1) which engages in a counterpart surface on the static component. The present sealing arrangement is distinguished by the fact that the cutting element (1) is designed as a chipping device with a geometrically determined cutting edge with respect to the counterpart surface (2) or forms a chipping device of this type when the rotating assembly is rotating. The proposed sealing arrangement reduces the wear to the cutting element even in the event of adverse rotation or temperature conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Bruno Benedetti, Andreas Kieninger, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6672831
    Abstract: A device for setting the gap dimension for a turbomachine, in particular a gas turbine, with heat accumulation segments which are arranged on the guide-vane carrier of the rotor arrangement. At least one drive device projects radially through the turbine casing and the guide-vane carrier and is operatively connected kinematically to at least one heat accumulation segment and which, when actuated, causes a radial spacing of the heat accumulation segment. The heat accumulation segment has, in the flow direction of the turbomachine, a conical contour facing the rotor arrangement and is arranged so as to be displaceable parallel to the flow direction, and in that the drive device is connected to the heat accumulation segment directly or via an eccentric unit, in such a way that, when the drive device is actuated, the heat accumulation segment is displaced, with the result that a radial spacing between the heat accumulation segment and the moving-blade tips can be set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Herbert Brandl, Armin Busekros, Peter Marx, Ulrich Rathmann, Ulrich Wellenkamp
  • Patent number: 6575698
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure is arranged on a stator of a gas turbine and is arranged opposite the moving blades of the gas turbine. The honeycomb structure is composed of metal sheets in such a way that webs having double the sheet thickness are obtained and connections of single thickness are obtained between the webs. The angle &agr; between the circumferential direction of the stator and the webs of double thickness is 5° to 175°. This serves to avoid undesirable efforts such as, for example, overheating during friction at the honeycomb structure of the moving blades of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Ulrich Rathmann, Hans E. Wettstein
  • Publication number: 20030057654
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing a groove-like recess which is part of a strip seal between two components which enclose a gap, using a material-removing process technology to create the groove-like recess in the two components in such a manner that the groove-like recess in each of the two components, after orientation with respect to one another, lie substantially opposite one another in an end position in which they enclose the gap between them, and that a strip element can be introduced into the groove-like recesses in such a manner that the strip element at least partially projects into both groove-like recesses and, under the action of a force, forms a substantially gastight join with the groove-like recesses in the two components. Furthermore, the invention describes a groove-like recess of this type as part of a strip seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Stefan Florjancic, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20030021685
    Abstract: A base material (2) with a cooling air hole (1) is disclosed, means being present which prevent particles (5), which are located in the cooling air (4) which flows through the cooling air hole (1) during the operation of the cooling air hole (1), from closing the cooling air hole (1). In this arrangement, the means can consist in the edge of the cooling air hole (1) being uneven or having a ridge (3) or the cooling air hole (1) being star-shaped, ellipsoidal or linear or the cooling air hole (1) being circular and having lateral slots (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Reinhard Fried, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6499944
    Abstract: A heat shield of a turbo machine is provided with a microstructure. In a preferred embodiment, the microstructure element comprises a plateau, which is arranged on a rib in such a way that the structure has a “T”-shaped cross section. The ribs are preferably embodied as plates set on edge on the heat shield and are aligned with their surface perpendicular to the circumferential direction (U) of the turbo machine. This results in low bending dimensional rigidity in the circumferential direction. In this way, it is possible to accommodate scraping of a component involved in relative motion in the circumferential direction without plastic deformation. Moreover this arrangement gives the maximum possible resistance to a leakage flow. When used at high temperatures, it is furthermore advantageous to provide ways to enable a coolant to be supplied to the microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Peter Ernst, Shailendra Naik, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6491093
    Abstract: In a heat shield (10), in particular for the stator of gas turbines, which heat shield (10) is composed of a plurality of individual segments (10a, b; 20a, b), whose end surfaces (15a, b) respectively abut one another so as to form a gap (12), and which have cooling holes (13a, b) for cooling purposes in the region of the end surfaces (15a, b), through which cooling holes (13a, b) a cooling fluid is blown out into the gap (12), cooling is ensured, even when the gap is closed, by a chamber (11), which is widened relative to the gap (12) and into which the cooling holes (13a, b) open, being arranged in the region of the gap (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: ALSTOM (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Erhard Kreis, Christof Pfeiffer, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20020071763
    Abstract: What is described is a device for setting the gap dimension for a turbomachine, in particular a gas turbine, with a multiplicity of moving blades arranged in at least one moving-blade row of a rotor arrangement, with a guide-vane carrier surrounding the rotor arrangement and a turbine casing surrounding the guide-vane carrier, with a multiplicity of heat accumulation segments which are arranged on the guide-vane carrier of the rotor arrangement and at least opposite the moving-blade tips and which, together with the moving-blade tips, enclose a gap, and with at least one drive means which projects radially through the turbine casing and the guide-vane carrier and is operatively connected kinematically to at least one heat accumulation segment and which, when actuated, causes a radial spacing of the heat accumulation segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Herbert Brandl, Armin Busekros, Peter Marx, Ulrich Rathmann, Ulrich Wellenkamp
  • Publication number: 20020061250
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement between two radially adjoining components of an assembly that rotates during operation, in particular between the rotor and the rotating blade of a gas turbine component includes a sealing element in a depression of an inner one of the two components at the boundary surface to the outer one of the two components. The sealing element is designed in such a way that it does not or does only slightly project beyond the depression during assembly and that, during rotation of the assembly, the centrifugal force acting on it produces a sealing joint between the components. The present sealing arrangement permits an easy installation of rotating blades to the rotor of a gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Patent number: 6361274
    Abstract: A fastening device for a heat-protection shield of a gas turbine is provided with a center mounting element which has a defined installation clearance with a mounting slot in the radial direction. In the normal operating state, this mounting element has no function, such that thermal differential expansions in the radial direction between the heat-protection shield and its counterpart are possible without impairment within the limits of this defined clearance. The mounting element does not start to bear against the counterpart until the radial differential expansion exceeds the size s. The deformation of the heat-protection shield toward a component moving in a relative manner is thus limited and excessive grazing of the components against one another is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Erhard Kreis, Christoph Nagler, Ulrich Rathmann
  • Publication number: 20020015641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a honeycomb structure (1) which is arranged on a stator of a gas turbine and which is arranged opposite the moving blades of the gas turbine. The honeycomb structure (1) is composed of metal sheets (5) in such a way that webs (3) having double the sheet thickness are obtained and connections (4) of single thickness are obtained between the webs (3). The angle (&agr;) between the circumferential direction (2) of the stator and the webs (3) of double thickness is 5° to 175°. This serves to avoid undesirable effects such as, for example, overheating during friction at the honeycomb structure (1) of the moving blades of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Alexander Beeck, Ulrich Rathmann, Hans E. Wettstein
  • Publication number: 20010005555
    Abstract: In a heat shield (10), in particular for the stator of gas turbines, which heat shield (10) is composed of a plurality of individual segments (10a, b; 20a, b), whose end surfaces (15a, b) respectively abut one another so as to form a gap (12), and which have cooling holes (13a, b) for cooling purposes in the region of the end surfaces (15a, b), through which cooling holes (13a, b) a cooling fluid is blown out into the gap (12), cooling is ensured, even when the gap is closed, by a chamber (11), which is widened relative to the gap (12) and into which the cooling holes (13a, b) open, being arranged in the region of the gap (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventors: Erhard Kreis, Christof Pfeiffer, Ulrich Rathmann