Impeller Making Apparatus Patents (Class 29/23.51)
  • Patent number: 11319931
    Abstract: A method for mounting a blade root of a blade on a blade flange of a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising:—attaching a control line between a hold structure at the blade flange and the blade root; —lifting the blade with a blade lifting crane while the blade root is guided towards the blade flange by use of said control line, and—connecting said blade root to said blade flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Ivar J. B. K. Jensen, Gunnar K. Storgaard Pedersen, Christian Skov Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 11299293
    Abstract: A bond fixture includes a frame defining a chamber for receiving a component. At least one bladder assembly is connected to the frame. The at least one bladder assembly includes a pad for contacting the component. A position of the pad relative to the component is controlled by a pressure of the bladder assembly. A caul assembly is adapted to thermally couple to the component to heat a localized portion of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Littlejohn, Sven Roy Lofstrom
  • Patent number: 11260491
    Abstract: When a tip of a blade cascade is ground with a grindstone, a jig is inserted between blade cascades of a blisk and a jig is inserted between blade cascades. A blade locking section of the jig locks with a side section in the width direction of a corresponding rotor blade via a damping member made from rubber or the like. A disk locking section of the jig locks with a disk of the blade cascade which the blade locking section locks with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Maruyama, Yu Eto, Yasutaka Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 11028833
    Abstract: A rotor lock system (20) for securing a main shaft assembly of a wind turbine (2) in a substantially stationary position, the main shaft assembly comprising a main rotor shaft (16) supported by a base frame (14), and the rotor lock system comprising: a locking disk (22), associated with the main rotor shaft (16), and provided with a plurality of locking apertures (26); and a locking unit (24) comprising a first end (28) arranged to engage with the locking disk (22), and a second end supported by a mounting feature (38) associated with the base frame (14), wherein the locking unit (24) is configured to be adjustable relative to the mounting feature (38) so that the first end (28) moves linearly with respect to the mounting feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Erik Markussen
  • Patent number: 10883386
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods of the present disclosure can include a guide for installing an airfoil component in a slotted component of a gas turbine engine. The guide can comprise a guide body, a guide slot and an alignment appendage. The guide body can comprise a slot-facing side, an entry side, and a radially outer side surface connecting the slot-facing side and the entry side. The guide slot can extend from the entry side to the slot-facing side and can penetrate the radially outer side surface. The guide slot can have a silhouette matching that of a root portion of the airfoil component. The alignment appendage can extend from the guide body and can have a geometry for axial engagement with a circumferential feature of the slotted component into which the airfoil component is to be installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Chartier
  • Patent number: 10864690
    Abstract: A positioning jig (25) and a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising moulding a first and a second blade shell portion in respective first and second mould tools; positioning a shear web (15) in a spanwise direction within a first shell portion (20) in a said first mould tool (7); anchoring said shear web in position in said first shell portion; and closing said second shell portion (21) over said first shell portion to thereby generate a wind turbine blade shell defining a chordwise extent between a in trailing edge and a leading edge thereof, and a spanwise extent between a root region and a tip thereof and wherein said shear web, bordered by a first (24) and a second longitudinal edge, extends in a thickness direction of said blade; said method further comprising: providing a positioning jig; and securing said positioning jig to said shear web, prior to its introduction into said first shell portion and guiding said shear web into its predetermined standing position in said first shell por
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Steve Wardropper, Stephen Sandercock
  • Patent number: 10533434
    Abstract: A device for dismantling a blade from a turbine, the turbine including a set of blades, the device including: a holding element including a blocking surface; a dismantling opening; an attachment system configured to attach the holding element to a shaft of the turbine, the attachment system producing a pivot connection between the holding element and the shaft of the turbine, the defining of an angular position of the holding element allowing a first function of dismantling at least one blade facing the dismantling opening to be carried out and allowing a second function of blocking a set of blades facing the blocking surface to be carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Jean Marie Frauca, Yann Merschaert
  • Patent number: 10286442
    Abstract: A press system for knocking out a work from a lower die attached to a press machine has a cam 22 mounted on a bed of the press machine; a servo motor 21 which drives the cam to be rotated with the same cycle time as that of a drive mechanism of a slide of the press machine; a knockout pin 23 moved with reciprocal linear motion by the rotation of the cam; a detector 25 configured to detect a present angle information 24 of the cam, a memory storing a target angle information of the cam, and a controller 28 configured to control the servo motor in accordance with the present angle information and the target angle information. The controller is further configured to change a basic motion of the knockout pin according to contour of the cam to a target motion obtained from the target angle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: AIDA ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ito Takao, Nishimura Tadashi
  • Patent number: 10144096
    Abstract: Methods are provided for securing a tool within a gas turbine engine. The method can include inserting a tool into the engine; inserting a bladder between a portion of the tool and a component in the engine; and inflating the bladder to temporarily secure the tool in its position. For example, two tools (or more) can be inserted into the engine and secured by the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Chidsey Roberts, David Scott Diwinsky
  • Patent number: 10125635
    Abstract: A fixture and method for installing turbine buckets is disclosed. The fixture is adapted for mounting a plurality of turbine buckets with dovetails to a rotor wheel of a turbomachine that is separated from an adjacent rotor wheel by a spacer wheel, the rotor wheel and the spacer wheel each having a plurality of circumferentially aligned dovetail slots, the fixture includes: a turbine bucket holder having a dovetail that is configured to engage with one of the dovetail slots of the spacer wheel. The profile of a bucket holder dovetail slot substantially aligns the dovetail of the turbine bucket with a dovetail slot of the rotor wheel for at least partial transfer of a turbine bucket thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Kevin Leon Bruce, Matthew Ryan Ferslew, Stuart Craig Hanson, Thomas Michael Merlau, Joshua Michael Oden, Christopher Michael Penny
  • Patent number: 9970326
    Abstract: A method for forming an in situ temporary barrier within a gas turbine engine is provided. The method can include installing a bladder within the gas turbine engine, wherein the bladder defines a bladder body, and inflating the bladder with an inflating fluid such that the bladder body forms a circumferential seal within the gas turbine engine. The bladder body can be positioned between a row of stator vanes and an annular array of rotating blades to form a circumferential seal therebetween. A second bladder may be positioned circumferentially within the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Chidsey Roberts, David Scott Diwinsky
  • Patent number: 9494133
    Abstract: A method of lowering a wind turbine blade after removal from a wind turbine lowers the blade in a vertical position to a point near the ground, and rotates it to a horizontal position for emplacement on a cradle. A winch is situated in the nacelle of the wind turbine. A cable extends downward from the winch to the blade root where it may be secured to a load cell. A tip end shoe is placed around the lower portion of the blade, and includes a crane hook receiving component that is used when the blade orientation is being changed. Tag lines are attached to the root and the tip end shoe, and extend to points on the ground where technicians manipulate them to prevent the blade from being blown into the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: INVENTUS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Martin E. Lohan, Henrik Pander, Daniel M. Brake
  • Publication number: 20150125303
    Abstract: Provided is an impeller in which a through hole is provided in a center of a base member of the impeller and a plurality of recessed parts are formed on a bottom surface of the base member. Meanwhile, a jig using in a cutting work of the impeller includes a seating part having a seating surface, a shaft part is erected from a central part of the seating part and is engageable with the through hole of the impeller, and protruded parts are formed on the seating surface and are engageable with the recessed parts provided on the base-member bottom surface of the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Takashi MASAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150113779
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for installing at least one sensor device within a rotor blade of a wind turbine. A first substantially planar light beam is emitted in the interior of the rotor blade. Finally, at least one second substantially planar light beam is emitted in the interior of the rotor blade, wherein the plane of the first planar light beam is oriented at a predetermined angle to the plane of the second planar light beam. Further, the planes of the first and second planar light beams are aligned on the blade flange of the rotor blade. At least one sensor device is subsequently aligned in reference to the planar light beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Thorbjörn Buck, Lars Hoffmann, Mathias Müller, Rolf Wojtech
  • Patent number: 8999136
    Abstract: A Method and machine tool for compensating a wear of an electrode that machines a workpiece. The method includes selecting a current pocket from plural pockets of the workpiece; updating a wear compensation to be applied to the electrode for the current pocket based on wear compensation of a previous pocket, where the previous pocket is adjacent to the current pocket; and applying the updated wear compensation to the electrode for machining the current pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Ugo Cantelli, Garth M Nelson, Yuanfeng Luo, Yimin Zhan, Roberto Ciappi, Massimo Arcioni, Renwei Yuan
  • Patent number: 8991021
    Abstract: A method for machining at least one aircraft gas turbine engine rotor blade wear indicator is provided. The method includes machining the wear indicator using a laser so as to melt part of the blade, and collecting the molten material of the blade. The method further includes fitting a plug into the bathtub squealer. The plug includes at least one cavity for receiving the molten blade material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Damien Hebuterne, Janvier Lecomte
  • Publication number: 20150013126
    Abstract: Device (1) for recontouring a gas turbine blade (2), comprising: at least one support (6a, 6b) configured to rest on an edge (3a) of the gas turbine blade (2) during the recontouring, at least one side bearing (5a, 5b) configured to rest on the suction- and/or pressure side (3b, 3c) of the gas turbine blade (2) in a lateral direction (7) during the recontouring, a machining unit (4) via which the gas turbine blade (2) is cutting machined in a machining direction (8) along the edge (3a), wherein the machining unit (4) can be displaced perpendicularly to the machining direction (8).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Stefan Czerner
  • Publication number: 20140255198
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a functionally graded turbine engine component is disclosed and includes the step of depositing layers of powder onto a base and solidifying/fusing each layer with a first directed energy beam to define a component. The method further includes varying a process parameter between deposited layers to define different material properties within the component. The method also proposes surface enhancement approach that can be used after depositing each layer to locally customize the material properties. The method also proposes machining the different internal surfaces to achieve the proper surface finishing required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tahany Ibrahim El-Wardany, Matthew E. Lynch, Daniel V. Viens, Robert A. Grelotti
  • Publication number: 20140245580
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting beam for lifting and handling a rotor blade of a wind energy plant, comprising a fastening means for fastening the lifting beam to a crane, at least one fastening means for fastening the lifting beam to the rotor blade a longitudinal pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade which is supported by the lifting beam about a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, and/or a transverse pivoting means for pivoting the rotor blade which is supported by the lifting beam about a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The invention further relates to a method for mounting rotor blades of a wind energy plant using a lifting beam according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Meyer, Gerrit Kuiper, Frank Knoop
  • Publication number: 20140223709
    Abstract: A turbomachine rotor blade milling machine system includes a fixture having a body including first and second opposing surfaces and a slot. The fixture is configured and disposed to connect with first and second rotor blade sections mounted in a rotor wheel. A mounting system includes at least one mounting element coupled to one of the first and second opposing surfaces of the body at the slot. A milling machine is coupled to the one of the first and second opposing surfaces through the at least one mounting element. The milling machine includes a cutter and is configured and disposed to form an opening extending axially through a dovetail portion of a third rotor blade section arranged between the first and second rotor blade sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Matthew Clark, John William Herbold, James Bradford Holmes
  • Patent number: 8800133
    Abstract: Gas turbine engine systems involving rotor bayonet coverplates and tools for installing such coverplates are provided. In this regard, a representative turbine assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a turbine disk operative to mount a set of turbine blades; and a coverplate having an annular main body portion and a spaced annular arrangement of tabs extending radially inwardly from the main body portion with open-ended gaps being located between the tabs, the tabs being operative to secure an inner diameter of the coverplate to the turbine disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Caprario, Daniel J. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20140215783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a production facility (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) for forming elongated products, in particular wind turbine blades, wherein elongated mould assemblies (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b, 310a, 310b, 410a, 410b, 510a, 510b) may be accessed on the basis of an appropriate transport system (150, 250, 350, 450, 550) comprising at least one support member (251a-h, 151, 251, 351, 451, 551) laterally positioned between the elongated mould assemblies. The support member (251a-h, 151, 251, 351, 451, 551) is positioned so as to enable a rotational movement of an arm (121a, 121b, 221a) or is configured to change position or comprises a rotatable carrier element (259). For example, an elongated support member (151, 251, 351, 451, 551) may be positioned in a non-interference position, in which one or both mould assemblies can be moved into a position so as to form a composite mould assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Anton Bech, Raul Garcia Tapia, Aksel Petersen
  • Publication number: 20140165347
    Abstract: A manufacturing system for manufacturing a rotor or parts thereof (rotor) includes a plurality of processing sections configured to process the rotor, and a plurality of maneuvering arrangements operatively configured to transport the rotor between and across the plurality of processing sections. The processing sections include a welding processing section to perform welding and related processes including testing, stacking, welding preparation, and welding. The processing sections further include a machining processing section to perform machining and related process including turning, milling and drilling on the rotor. The maneuvering arrangements include pallet and tilting units configured in the welding processing section to maneuver (tilt and transport) the rotor along a portion thereof. The maneuvering arrangements further include a transportation-setup station having work-piece and power shuttles to transport the rotor across the processing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Reiner WENN
  • Publication number: 20140150227
    Abstract: A lifting device 5 for connecting two rotor blade segments 4A, 4B of a wind turbine at the location of the wind turbine, said lifting device 5 being adapted for being moved in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade, the lifting device comprising: a frame structure 6, means for supporting and guiding the frame structure in relation to the rotor blade, means for lowering and/or lifting the frame structure in relation to the rotor blade, means 7 for lifting and/or lowering a rotor blade segment 4B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: PP ENERGY APS
    Inventor: Paul Teichert
  • Publication number: 20140143991
    Abstract: A method for machining a robot-guided component with a tool which is fastened in an articulated manner to a tool holder is disclosed. The method includes detecting a deflection of the tool with respect to the tool holder from a desired position and changing a pose of a robot that is guiding the robot-guided component on a basis of the detected deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicants: INSYS Industriesysteme AG, MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Windprechtinger, Daniel Hodel
  • Patent number: 8732920
    Abstract: The invention provides tooling and a method for hot forging pieces of sheet metal that are to form metal reinforcement mounted on the leading or trailing edge of a turbine engine blade, by means of bottom and top matrices each presenting a twisted elongate surface for use in shaping an initially plane piece of sheet metal, the shaping surface of the bottom matrix presenting a high portion, a low portion, and two end zones. The bottom matrix includes studs for positioning and guiding the piece, the studs being situated at the periphery of the corresponding shaping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Gilbert Michel Marin Leconte, Jean-Michel Patrick Maurice Franchet, Gilles Charles Casimir Klein, Dominique Magnaudeix
  • Publication number: 20140109365
    Abstract: A method of constructing a composite component includes at least one of laterally and longitudinally aligning a material strip relative to a concavity of a layup tool, at least one of laterally and longitudinally extending the material strip to a predetermined location relative to the layup tool, wherein the material strip is substantially rectangular, and vertically abutting the material strip to the concavity of the layup tool, wherein the longitudinally extending the material strip includes at least one of (1) measuring a longitudinal distance of the material strip and (2) aligning a longitudinal end of the material strip with a longitudinal distance indicium and wherein the laterally extending the material strip includes at least one of (1) measuring a lateral distance of the material strip and (4) aligning a lateral end of the material strip with a lateral distance indicium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Drew Sutton, Loan Thanh Vo, Frank Bradley Stamps, Nolan Phillips
  • Patent number: 8646177
    Abstract: An installation system and a method for mounting a rotor blade to a hub on a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes coupling a rotor and a stator together, the rotor rotatably connected to the hub. The method further includes rotating the stator in a first direction, wherein rotation of the stator causes the rotor and the hub to rotate in the first direction. The method further includes securing the hub to prevent rotation of the hub. The installation system includes a coupling device configured to releasably couple a stator and a rotor together and a securing device configured to releasably secure the hub. The installation system further includes at least one stator drive device operably connected to the stator, the stator drive device configured to rotate the stator between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Suresh S. Tirumalai, Bharat Bagepalli, Kurt J. Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20130333173
    Abstract: A blade root spring insertion jig and a blade root spring insertion method are provided for inserting a blade root spring into a gap between a bottom face of a blade groove formed in a rotor disk of a rotary machine and a blade root part of a blade which engages with the blade groove. The blade root spring has a blade contact face contacting the blade root part and a rotor contact face contacting the bottom face of the blade groove. The blade root spring insertion jig is provided with a first abutment face contacting a blade contact face side of the blade root spring and a second abutment face opposing the first abutment face and contacting a rotor contact face side of the blade root spring, and is configured so that the first abutment face and the second abutment face press the blade root spring so that the blade root spring is compressed to a height smaller than a natural height of the blade root spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8567058
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for surface treatment of a wind turbine rotor blade (1) comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge separating substantially opposing first and second surfaces of said rotor blade. The method comprises the steps of providing a wind turbine rotor blade, supporting said rotor blade at least at a root end and at a distal position along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade and providing moveably arranged first and second surface treatment devices (24, 25) adapted to provide surface treatment of the first and second surfaces of the rotor blade, respectively, wherein the first and second surface treatment devices are moved in opposite directions and towards the leading and trailing edges, respectively, during surface treatment of the first and second surfaces of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Hviid Keld Møller, Bjarne Siig, Angelo Sardellano
  • Patent number: 8555473
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a blade installation tool. The blade installation tool may include a vertical guide having a vertical ram path. A ram may be disposed along the vertical guide. The ram can move along the vertical ram path between a lower position and an upper position at a height above the lower position. Gravity may drive the ram from the upper position toward the lower position to provide an impact force of the ram against a blade segment of a turbine or a compressor. The height of the upper position is variable so as to control the impact force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Royce Howes, Eric Donald Anderson, Gregory Norman Fournier
  • Publication number: 20130239378
    Abstract: A rotor manufacturing apparatus includes a pusher and multiple blades. The pusher presses multiple magnets that are temporarily attached to a rotor core and arranged side by side in a circumferential direction of the rotor core from an outer side in a radial direction of the rotor core. The multiple blades are individually inserted into gaps between the magnets pressed by the pusher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Yasufumi KUROIWA, Kanta YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20130239379
    Abstract: An apparatus (60) is provided for forming a trailing edge (52) of a wind turbine blade having first and second shells (40, 42). The first and second shells define a gap therebetween, and the apparatus has a first mold component (62) that is adapted to form the first or second shell, and an engaging element (77). The engaging element is configured to securely support a trailing edge component to be coupled to the first and second shells. The engaging element is coupled to the first mold component. The apparatus may additionally include a second mold component (64) that is adapted to form the other of the first or second shells and which is coupled to the first mold component. In this embodiment, the first and second mold components have a closed position in which the first and second shells are closed over one another so as to define a generally closed profile of the wind turbine blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Damien Rajasingam, Richard Evans, Olav Davis, Stephen Sandercock
  • Publication number: 20130205554
    Abstract: Method for repairing a gas turbine component, which at least at the spot to be repaired consists of a ceramic composite material, where an energy beam locally heats the gas turbine component in a zone, and where one or more auxiliary materials and optionally fibers and/or particles are fed to this zone, wherein a ceramic is generated in the melting zone through the one or more auxiliary materials, and, optionally, the one or more auxiliary materials together with the fibers and/or particles forms a ceramic composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: LUFTHANSA TECHNIK AG
    Inventor: Stefan Czerner
  • Publication number: 20130199008
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for servicing a turbine are disclosed. Various embodiments of the invention include an apparatus adapted to service a turbine, where that apparatus includes: a base member fixedly mountable on an inlet of the turbine; an adjustment system mounted on the base member; a machining device operably connected to a first end of the adjustment system; and a control member operably connected to a second end of the adjustment system, the control member adapted to modify a position of the machining device to service a portion of the turbine inside the inlet of the turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jason Matthew Clark, Randall Stephen Corn
  • Publication number: 20130167337
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a predetermined contour of a turbine blade root including a main salient edge defined by a determined interior angle. The method includes: chamfering the main edge of the contour to obtain two auxiliary salient edges, associated interior angles of which are respectively greater than the interior angle of the main edge; and blunting the auxiliary edges obtained to fine-tune the contour of the blade root.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Olivier Dupouy, Christian Defrocourt, Thomas Marquoin, Pascal Paul
  • Publication number: 20130160292
    Abstract: Machine tools and methods for machining turbine rotor assemblies are disclosed. Some machine tools include a drill arm that pushes off of a turbine stage that is adjacent to a turbine stage to be machined. Some machine tools include a clamping arm that secures the machine tool to a turbine stage to be machined and an adjacent turbine stage. Some methods include pushing-off of a turbine stage that is adjacent to a turbine stage to be machined. Some methods include securing a machine tool to a turbine stage that is adjacent to a turbine stage to be machined. Some methods include monitoring at least one of a current delivered to a first motor and a voltage applied to the first motor and controlling a second motor in response to the monitoring. Some methods include sequentially machining a turbine stage with cutting tools having increasing lengths and/or diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Climax Portable Machine Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Richard Davis, David Loyd Sorensen, John Winfrey Dillman, John Rogers Brooks, Hitesh K. Patel, David Michael Briggs, Garrett Lindon Headrick, Andrew Gordon Thompson, David Ethan Ross, Jeremy Carl Conser
  • Publication number: 20130104356
    Abstract: Plural saddle shape patches are formed on a blank material for forming a blade using a manufacturing apparatus provided with a punch support having punches each with a holder attached to be opposite with one another at a predetermined interval corresponding to a thickness of the blank material. The punch support is mounted to a second ram via a second rotational mechanism which is rotatable in a direction in which the ram moves. The die is attached to the first ram via the first rotational mechanism. The actuator controls the rotating angles of both the rotational mechanisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventor: HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
  • Patent number: 8376211
    Abstract: A blade processing fixture has first and second jaws. The second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw from a disengaged position for accepting a root of the blade. The blade is accepted in a receiving area between the first and second jaws. The second jaw is movable to an engaged position clamping the blade between the first and second jaws. A gas flow path extends from an inlet port to an outlet port. The outlet port is positioned to introduce gas to a blade inlet port when the blade is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Rose
  • Publication number: 20120293038
    Abstract: A rotor disk for an electric motor including a shaft hole for receiving a shaft of the electric motor, a set of positioning holes around the shaft hole, each configured to receive a positioning pin. The shaft hole and the set of positioning holes are positioned in the rotor disk such that when the rotor disk is set to a rotated position with respect to another similar rotor disk, and the shaft and the positioning pins are penetrated to the respective holes of the two rotor disks, the disks cause a pressing force to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Jouni IKÄHEIMO, Jere KOLEHMAINEN
  • Patent number: 8291557
    Abstract: A method for repairing a turbine blade for a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes securing the blade into a clamping fixture, obtaining a zero reference from a gauging surface on the clamping fixture, coupling the clamping fixture to a grinding machine, and grinding the blade based on the zero reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Matthew Powers, Brian Dudley Dorrel
  • Publication number: 20120224972
    Abstract: A method for producing an integrally bladed rotor, in particular a gas turbine rotor, by means of joining, comprises the following steps:—Providing a blade (10) having a joining surface;—Providing a retaining mechanism having two clamping jaws (28);—Retaining the blade (10) at two opposite points of blade (10) by means of clamping jaws (28) in a purely force-closed manner; and—Pressing the blade (10) retained in a force-closed manner onto a basic rotor body, so that blade (10) is aligned independently in a joining position. A device for producing an integrally bladed rotor comprises a retaining mechanism for a blade (10) having two clamping jaws (28), and by pressing these jaws together, blade (10) is retained at two opposite points in a purely force-closed manner; and a mechanism for pressing blade (10) retained in a force-closed manner onto a basic rotor body, in such a way that blade (10) is aligned independently in a joining position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Stiehler, Hans Peter Borufka, Patrick Prokopczuk
  • Publication number: 20120213639
    Abstract: A method of contactlessly machining a workpiece (16) is disclosed. A tool (2) is advanced in a direction towards the face of the workpiece (20), thereby removing material from the face of the workpiece (20) by a change of state of the material induced by its proximity to the tool (2). Also disclosed are number of tools which allow rapid simultaneous machining of a plurality of bladed disks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: BLADON JETS HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Alan Noble, Christopher Bladon
  • Patent number: 8245375
    Abstract: A method for repairing a rotor of a turbine includes providing a rotor having a groove portion defined by a circumferential portion of the rotor. The circumferential portion of the rotor is removed to create an opening to provide access to the groove such that the opening, immediately adjacent the groove, is narrower than the groove. A guide block may be extended into a receiving slot separating a first protruding surface from a second protruding surface of the rotor such that a weld area slot of the guide block extends over at least a portion of the opening. The opening may be welded adjacent the guide block to close at least a portion of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis, Ltd.
    Inventors: James Harvey Coffey, Andrew Otto Ruehs
  • Publication number: 20120192391
    Abstract: This phase change method for a blade bearing, which has a race on the hub side that is fastened to the hub of a wind power generator and a race on the blade side that is fastened to the blade, is a method for changing the phase of the race on the blade side of the blade bearing with respect to the blade. In this method, when a blade is hanging downward, first jigs having spring elements that can expand under the weight of the blade and second jigs having jack mechanisms that are capable of separating the hub and blade are used to separate the blade and the race on the blade side, and the race on the blade side is rotated relative to the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ikuo TOBINAGA
  • Patent number: 8196276
    Abstract: A multi-functional rotary turning and positioning apparatus and method for performing multiple service operations on a turbomachinery rotor while the rotor remains continuously supported with the apparatus. The apparatus includes a platform, a rotary headstock mounted to the platform, a spindle coupled to and rotatably supported by the headstock and adapted for coupling to a turbomachinery rotor, bearing pedestals mounted to the platform and adapted for rotatably supporting the rotor, at least one motor for turning the spindle at least two different rotational speed ranges, equipment mountable to the platform for performing multiple service operations on the rotor, and equipment for controlling the rotational speed and position of the spindle for the purpose of performing the service operation with the operating equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Matthew Sassatelli, Mark Edward Burnett, Engelbert Paauwe, Aaron Paauwe, Lawrence Michael Grycko, Jeffrey Paul Cutler, Carter Steven Cook
  • Publication number: 20120137481
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an arrangement for in situ mounting of rotor blades to a rotor hub of a wind power plant comprising rotor blades, a rotor hub (40), a disc (1), a means for rotation (30) of the disc (1) around its axis. The disc (1) is in connection with the rotor hub (40) in such a way that when the disc (1) rotates a certain degree of angle around its axis (3) it will cause the rotor hub (40) to rotate the same degree of angle around the axis of the rotor hub. When the means for rotation (30) comes into a desired position, the disc (1) is secured by a securing means (20; 36, 37).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Mikael Lindberg, Johan Hedberg
  • Patent number: 8046886
    Abstract: A fixture and method for assembling axial entry buckets with complex geometry to a rotor wheel is provided. The fixture features an inner and an outer split ring shaft clamp, which is bolted together around the rotor wheel packing diameter and provides a mounting base. The transfer ring mounts around and abutting the rotor wheel. The transfer ring includes a circumferential slot to accept bucket-holders. The bucket holders loaded with turbine buckets, inserted onto the transfer ring and moved circumferentially around the transfer ring to align the turbine buckets to slots on the rotor wheel. Pressure is applied to spiral the buckets from the bucket-holders into final position in slots on the rotor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alan R. DeMania, Thomas J. Farineau, Keith A. Schoonmaker
  • Patent number: 7975354
    Abstract: A bladed disk assembly device includes a horizontal arm and a fixed vertical pivot bar that is perpendicularly attached to a first end of the horizontal rotating arm via a sliding coupling mechanism. A vibratory impact device is attached to a second end of the horizontal rotating arm and generates a vibrating motion via a power source. An impact shoe is attached to the vibratory impact device and drives a blade into a disk slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Greenberg, Keith E. Charette
  • Publication number: 20110162179
    Abstract: Systems are provided for a blade installation tool. The blade installation tool may include a vertical guide having a vertical ram path. A ram may be disposed along the vertical guide. The ram can move along the vertical ram path between a lower position and an upper position at a height above the lower position. Gravity may drive the ram from the upper position toward the lower position to provide an impact force of the ram against a blade segment of a turbine or a compressor. The height of the upper position is variable so as to control the impact force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Royce Howes, Eric Donald Anderson, Gregory Norman Fournier