Runner Supported Portion Engages Shaft Transmission Train (e.g., Peripheral Gear Drive, Etc.) Patents (Class 415/124.1)
  • Publication number: 20140219775
    Abstract: Provided is a compression system including: at least one impeller; a gear train configured to the at least one impeller; a main drive shaft configured to drive the gear train; and a housing comprising an impeller container configured to house the at least one impeller and a gear train container configured to house the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bong-Gun SHIN, Jin-Soo LEE, Jong-Jae CHO, Seung-hoon LEE
  • Publication number: 20140205439
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a housing including an inlet case and an intermediate case that respectively provide an inlet case flow path and an intermediate case flow path. A geared architecture is arranged within the inlet case. The geared architecture includes an epicyclic gear train. A fan is rotationally driven by the geared architecture. A shaft provides a rotational axis. A hub is operatively supported by the shaft. First and second bearings support the shaft relative to the intermediate case and the inlet case, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporaiton
    Inventors: Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, Karl L. Hasel
  • Publication number: 20140205438
    Abstract: Please replace the abstract with the following rewritten abstract. No new matter has been added. An example gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a geared architecture rotatably coupling a fan drive shaft to an engine fan, the geared architecture having a speed reduction ratio that is greater than or equal to 2.4. The gas turbine engine is configured so that an Exhaust Velocity Ratio, defined by a ratio of a fan stream exhaust velocity to primary stream exhaust velocity, is approximately in a range of 0.75 to 0.90.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Karl L. Hasel
  • Patent number: 8770922
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan shaft and a support which supports the fan shaft. The support defines at least one of a support transverse and a support lateral stiffness. A gear system drives the fan shaft. A flexible support at least partially supports the gear system, and defines at least one of a flexible support transverse and a flexible support lateral stiffness with respect to at least one of the support transverse and the support lateral stiffness. An input to the gear system defines at least one of an input transverse and an input lateral stiffness with respect to at least one of the support transverse and the support lateral stiffness. A method of designing a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband
  • Publication number: 20140186158
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core housing that includes an inlet case and an intermediate case that respectively provide an inlet case flow path and an intermediate case flow path. A geared architecture is arranged within the inlet case. A shaft provides a rotational axis. A hub is operatively supported by the shaft. A rotor is connected to the hub and supports a compressor section. The compressor section is arranged axially between the inlet case flow path and the intermediate case flow path. A bearing is mounted to the hub and supports the shaft relative to one of the intermediate case and the inlet case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu, Karl L. Hasel
  • Publication number: 20140178180
    Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a gear system that provides a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan and a mount flexibly supporting portions of the gear system. A lubrication system supporting the fan drive gear system provides lubricant to the gear system and removes thermal energy produced by the gear system. The lubrication system includes a capacity for removing thermal energy equal to less than about 2% of power input into the gear system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Publication number: 20140161588
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor, the capacity of which can be increased with keeping the diameter of the impeller at minimum, is provided. The centrifugal compressor includes: a drive gear (11); a drive shaft (3) protruding from one side of the drive gear (11) in a central axis direction of the drive gear (11); a no. 1 driven pinion gear (12) configured for rotation of the drive gear (11) to be transmitted thereto; a no. 1 driven pinion shaft (5) protruding from both sides of the no. 1 driven pinion gear (12) in a central axis direction of the no. 1 driven pinion gear (12); and a couple of first stage compressor sections (7a, 7b), each of which is provided in each end of the no. 1 driven pinion shaft (5) and is configured to compress fluid by rotation of the no. 1 driven pinion shaft (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyata, Naoto Yonemura
  • Publication number: 20140127000
    Abstract: A gas turbine AGB has a front lateral face, a rear lateral face opposite from the front lateral face, and a peripheral rim closing the box. At least one gear train is mounted in the AGB and is made up of a plurality of gearwheels meshing together, and designed to be coupled to a drive shaft for driving an accessory. The AGB further comprises, mounted between a central shaft carrying each gearwheel and the drive shaft, a decoupling unit for decoupling the accessory and constituted by a dog clutch having axial teeth co-operating with complementary teeth of the central shaft. The dog clutch includes internal fluting engaged with the corresponding external fluting of the drive shaft. The decoupling unit is controlled by an electric actuator acting on the movement of a plunger pin having one end co-operating with an outer helical groove in the dog clutch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: HISPANO SUIZA
    Inventors: Vincent Abousleiman, Romaric Fritz
  • Patent number: 8702373
    Abstract: The present disclosure is applicable to all gear trains using a journal bearing as a means of supporting gear shaft rotation. It is related in some embodiments to a system and method for supplying lubricant to the journal bearings of a gear-turbofan engine gear train when the fan rotor is subjected to a wind-milling condition in both directions, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Valva, Brian P. Cigal
  • Publication number: 20140003915
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a fan and a turbine having a fan drive turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine rotor drives a compressor rotor. A gear reduction effects a reduction in the speed of the fan relative to an input speed from the fan drive turbine rotor that drives the compressor rotor. The compressor rotor has a number of compressor blades in at least one of a plurality of rows of the compressor rotor. The blades operate at least some of the time at a rotational speed. The number of compressor blades in at least one row and the rotational speed are such that the following formula holds true for at least one row of the compressor rotor turbine: (number of blades×rotational speed)/60 s?5500 Hz, and the rotational speed is in revolutions per minute. A method of designing a gas turbine engine and a compressor module are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Bruce L. Morin
  • Publication number: 20130323015
    Abstract: A lubricant pump assembly for use with a power distribution unit for a vehicle, comprising a pump, a first rotating component, a second rotating component, and a lubricant. The pump has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication with a housing of the power distribution unit. The first rotating component is disposed in the housing of the power distribution unit. The second rotating component is disposed in the housing of the power distribution unit adjacent the first rotating component. The lubricant is disposed within the housing of the power distribution unit. The pump transfers a portion of the lubricant from the inlet to the outlet. The outlet is disposed adjacent the first rotating component and the second rotating component to dispose a portion of the lubricant therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: Gregory DeWald
  • Publication number: 20130315706
    Abstract: A power steering pump and water pump assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a power steering pump with a rotating shaft and a water pump. The water pump has a housing and a rotatable shaft for driving an impeller, which is mounted on an inner end of the shaft. An outer end of the water pump shaft engages the shaft of the power steering pump, and the power steering pump shaft drives the water pump shaft. The water pump may include a seal and a bearing having an inner race and outer race for supporting an outer end of the water pump shaft and cantilevering the shaft to support and journal the impeller. The shaft of the power steering pump may engage the shaft of the water pump through engagement of male and female torque transmitting profiles that axially slide together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: GKN SINTER METALS, LLC
    Inventors: Gustavo O. Colombo, Osvaldo P. Costa
  • Publication number: 20130312419
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core housing that has an inlet case and an intermediate case that respectively provide an inlet case flow path and an intermediate case flow path. The shaft supports a compressor section that is arranged axially between the inlet case flow path and the intermediate case flow path. A geared architecture is coupled to the shaft, and a fan coupled to and rotationally driven by the geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a sun gear supported on the second end. A first bearing supports the shaft relative to the intermediate case and a second bearing supporting the shaft relative to the inlet case. The second bearing is arranged radially outward from the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L Suciu
  • Publication number: 20130315715
    Abstract: An energy saving device rotating a half circle and turning back with the help of gravity is revealed. In the first half cycle of a circle movement, a transmission shaft of a motor rotor is controlled to rotate and further drive a first rotating shaft rotating in one direction by a first speed change gear mechanism. The transmission shaft synchronously drives the motor rotor to rotate a half circle, from a lowest position to a highest position on a circumference of the circle. In the other half cycle, the transmission shaft of the motor rotor stops rotating and the motor rotor returns from the highest position to the lowest position with the help of gravity. Thus the half circle rotation of the motor rotor is completed and the first rotating shaft is driven to rotate in one direction continuously so as to achieve energy saving effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Jui-An TSAI
  • Publication number: 20130309069
    Abstract: A segmented gear plate configured to be removably connected to a pitch bearing of a wind turbine has been described. The pitch bearing is present between a rotor hub and a plurality of blades. The pitch bearing axially pivots the plurality of blades between different pitch angles. The pitch bearing includes an inner bearing ring and an outer bearing ring rotatably interconnected to each other. The segmented gear plate is removably connected to at least one of the inner bearing ring or the outer bearing ring by at least one connecting element. The segmented gear plate having a plurality of gear teeth, the plurality of gear teeth configured to allow the rotation of a drive shaft of a motor to achieve different pitch angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: Bhavbhuti PANDYA
  • Patent number: 8579578
    Abstract: A fan biasing transmission mechanism includes gearbox affixed to the rear side of the housing of an electric fan's fan motor, a control rod pivotally and axially movably mounted in the gearbox. a power gear fixedly mounted on the control rod and meshed with a motor shaft worm wheel of the fan motor, a driving gear pivotally mounted in the gearbox, a gear-clutch gear fixedly mounted on the control rod and movable with the control rod into mesh with the gear-clutch gear, a first bevel gear fixedly mounted on the driving gear, a second bevel gear meshed with the first bevel gear, a bracket, a crank arm pivotally coupled between the gear shaft and the bracket, and an elastic member connected between the gear shaft and the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ching Lang TSAI
    Inventor: Jye-Liang Pan
  • Patent number: 8573926
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is coupled to the fan section via a geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a torque frame and a flex support spaced apart from one another at a location. A gear train is supported by the torque frame. A damper is provided between the torque frame and the flex support at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Patent number: 8529197
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is coupled to the fan section via a geared architecture. The geared architecture includes a torque frame and a flex support spaced apart from one another at a location. A gear train is supported by the torque frame. A damper is provided between the torque frame and the flex support at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Coffin, John R. Otto
  • Patent number: 8517671
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine generator in which, the specifications of the gears can be designed for the level of a maximum load during driving without decreasing the necessary strength and durability. A wind turbine generator in which a nacelle is installed at an upper end of a tower that is vertically erected on a foundation includes a yaw driving unit that yaws the nacelle and/or a pitch driving unit that controls pitch angles of the wind turbine blades, wherein a drive mechanism of the yaw driving unit and/or the pitch driving unit, which are equipped with an engaging portion of a slewing bearing (20) having internal teeth or external teeth and a pinion gear is equipped with a clutch mechanism, at the engaging portion, that slides when receiving an input larger than a maximum load during driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitomo Noda, Seita Seki, Akihiko Yano
  • Patent number: 8517672
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear train includes planetary gears rotatably mounted on spindles supported by an annular carrier and including axially spaced apart forward and aft sets of output teeth extending radially outwardly from a planetary gear hub and axially spaced apart forward and aft roller bearings disposed between planetary gears and spindles. The forward and aft roller bearings are axially aligned with or adjacent to spaced apart forward set of output teeth and input gear respectively. A ring gear meshes with forward set of output teeth and an external gear meshes with aft set of output teeth. An input gear fixedly attached to hub aft of aft set of output teeth and engaged with a sun gear. The output teeth, input gear, ring gear, external gear, and sun gear may all be helical. A turbofan gas turbine engine may include counter-rotatable first and second fan stages driven by a low pressure turbine through the gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Francis William McCooey
  • Patent number: 8511967
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an intermediate case and a gearbox. The intermediate case defines an annular transition duct. The gearbox comprises a plurality of lobes and is integrally formed with the annular transition duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 8439631
    Abstract: A shaft coupling arrangement and a corresponding method for coupling shafts are disclosed herein. The shaft coupling arrangement includes an input shaft operable to rotate about a first axis. The shaft coupling arrangement also includes an output shaft operable to rotate about a second axis. The shaft coupling arrangement also includes a gearing arrangement operable to engage the input and output shafts together for rotation in the same angular direction at different angular speeds. In one embodiment of the invention, the gearing arrangement includes a plurality of nested bevel gears. In another embodiment of the invention, the gearing arrangement can include a single layshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Mark E. Bartolomeo, Gregory Blake, Randal L. Renback, Tony R. McKenney
  • Patent number: 8414250
    Abstract: A machine train includes a drive unit, preferably a steam turbine with axial exhaust flow, a geared turbine machine, and an additional compressor. The geared turbine machine has an integrated gear train with a drive pinion for driving turbine machine rotors via a large gear, and an output pinion of a rotational speed reduction power gear for driving the additional compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Ole Hansen, Arindam Khan, Klaus-Dieter Mohr, Gerd-Ulrich Woelk, Hans-Otto Jeske
  • Patent number: 8382425
    Abstract: The inventive technology, in certain embodiments, may be described as a hydraulic energy converter 1 that comprises: a frame assembly 2 that itself comprises a first frame portion 3 and a second frame portion 4 that is positionally adjustable relative to said first frame portion, said first frame portion affixable in stationary position relative to a water channel structure 5; an axle 6 connected with said second frame portion 4; a driveshaft 7 established substantially orthogonally to said axle 6; waterwheels 8 connected with said axle 6; a gearbox 9 connecting said driveshaft 7 with said axle 6 and established between said waterwheels 8; and at least one rotational energy converting device 10 connected with said driveshaft 7 and said second frame portion 4. A related aspect of the inventive technology—a wind energy converter—may include rotors instead of waterwheels (in addition to perhaps reflecting other differences).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Ronald A. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20130039746
    Abstract: Provided is a turbocompressor (4) having a drive part (12) generating rotational power, an impeller (22a) to which the rotational power of the drive part (12) is transmitted to rotate, a plurality of gears (31, 32) transmitting the rotational power of the drive part (12) to the impeller (22a), and a drive part casing (13) in which the drive part (12) is installed. This turbocompressor (4) includes an impeller casing (22e) installed around the impeller (22a), and a gear casing (33) configured to be formed independently of the impeller casing (22e) and the drive part casing (13), to couple the impeller casing (22e) and the drive part casing (13), and to form an accommodation space (33a) in which the plurality of gears (31, 32) are accommodated. With this configuration, in manufacturing the turbocompressor, a working process can be simplified and working labor and cost can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventor: Kazuaki Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8337150
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine apparatus includes a stationary support platform having a platform pipe fixed to the platform. The platform pipe has an axis. The apparatus also includes a power ring dimensioned and configured for rotational movement about the platform pipe and having an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of the platform pipe. The power ring includes a sleeve concentric with the platform pipe that has a plurality openings therein. A plurality of rollers is carried on the power ring and each of the rollers extends through one of the openings and abuts the platform pipe thereby facilitating rotation of the power ring about the platform pipe. A plurality of elongated blades is carried on the power ring about the periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Malcolm G. Chapman
  • Publication number: 20120288358
    Abstract: A contra-rotating propeller system for an aircraft turbine engine, including a free power turbine including a first rotor and a second rotor contra-rotating relative to the first rotor, a first contra-rotating propeller and a second contra-rotating propeller to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the propeller system relative to a stator of the system, and a mechanical transmission device. The mechanical transmission system is provided between the first propeller and the second propeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventor: Wouter Balk
  • Patent number: 8297917
    Abstract: A geared architecture with a flex mount for a Fan Drive Gear System defined by a transverse stiffness relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband
  • Patent number: 8297916
    Abstract: A geared architecture with a flex mount for a Fan Drive Gear System defined by a lateral stiffness relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Jason Husband
  • Patent number: 8282351
    Abstract: A gearbox for a wind turbine, comprising a first planetary gear set; and a second planetary gear set having the same transmission ratio as the first planetary gear set; and, a load splitter to split the torque between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set, wherein the load splitter is adapted to provide slip for absorbing deviations in the rotational position between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set; and, wherein the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set are coupled in a split load arrangement for transmitting torque from a rotor shaft to a high speed shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jacob Johannes Nies
  • Patent number: 8258648
    Abstract: Biasing unit, a spindle member, and a link mechanism of a windmill for a wind power generator vary an angle of a blade in a first stage where the angle is made nearly parallel to the wind so that the blade easily rotates in light winds, a second stage where the angle is made nearly perpendicular to the wind so that the blade easily rotates at high speed when the wind speed increases, and a third stage where the blade is pushed back from the state of being nearly perpendicular to the wind to the state of being nearly parallel to the wind so as to prevent the excessive rotation in strong winds, without electrical control being not required. Accordingly this wind power generator has an excellent starting performance and can control the excessive rotation at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Birumen Kagoshima Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Nomoto, Kazuomi Nomoto, Manabu Yagi
  • Publication number: 20120167593
    Abstract: A gearbox support assembly for a turbine engine includes an epicyclic gear arrangement and a first tapered bearing and a second tapered bearing spaced apart from the first tapered bearing. The first tapered bearing and the second tapered bearing support the epicyclic gear arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian Merry, James W. Norris, Steven J. Sirica
  • Patent number: 8192143
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an intermediate case and a gearbox. The intermediate case defines an annular transition duct. The gearbox comprises a plurality of lobes and is integrally formed with the annular transition duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 8186956
    Abstract: A frame for supporting equipment arranged in a hub of a wind turbine is fixed to the hub at one end and flexibly connected to the hub at another end. The variation of the relative position between the hub and the frame caused by the deformation of the hub associated with a rotation of the wind turbine or the like is absorbed by the flexible connection. A wind turbine whose frame in the hub has high durability against the rotation can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Numajiri, Emi Torii
  • Patent number: 8172512
    Abstract: An accessory gearbox system for a gas turbine engine includes an accessory compressor mounted to a gearbox housing. The gearbox housing defines a seal air core, and the gearbox housing communicates a seal airflow through the seal air core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Keith E. Short, Jeffrey M. Makulec, Brian Kent Rockwell, Michael F. Cass, Gregory W. Vermillion
  • Patent number: 8161728
    Abstract: A representative gas turbine includes: a high pressure spool; a high pressure compressor; a high pressure turbine mechanically coupled to the high pressure spool; a lower pressure spool; a lower pressure turbine mechanically coupled to the lower pressure spool; a fan having a first set of fan blades and a second set of fan blades, the second set of fan blades being located downstream of the first set of fan blades and being operative to rotate at a rotational speed corresponding to a rotational speed of the lower pressure spool; and a gear assembly mechanically coupled to the lower pressure spool and engaging the first set of fan blades such that rotation of the lower pressure spool rotates the first set of fan blades at a lower rotational speed than the rotational speed of the second set of fan blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel B. Kupratis
  • Patent number: 8147183
    Abstract: A wind turbine and a drivetrain for a generator is provided. The drivetrain includes a hub configured to provide an input rotational speed, and a planetary gearbox in communication with the hub. The planetary gearbox includes a stationary or rotatable carrier and a plurality of planet gears. The planetary gearbox is configured to convert the input rotational speed to an output rotational speed, and includes at least one sun gear. The hub can be rigidly connected to the rotatable ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Henry Madge, Priyangu Chunilal Patel, Adam Daniel Minadeo
  • Patent number: 8118542
    Abstract: Methods of moving a rotating device of a wind turbine during transportation or standstill are provided. The methods include securing at least one auxiliary device to a position and connecting the device to one or more shafts of the rotating device at transportation or standstill. The auxiliary device is able to store, generate and/or convert energy during transportation, transferring energy continuously from at least one auxiliary device to one or more shafts of the rotating device during transportation or standstill, and moving one or more shafts of the rotating device continuously or discontinuously from a position to another. Also provided is a nacelle for a wind turbine, an auxiliary device, a control system for controlling moving of a rotating device of a wind turbine nacelle during transportation of the nacelle and use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Søren Damgaard, Arne Haarh, Nils Bjørn Jensen
  • Publication number: 20110206498
    Abstract: An epicyclic gear train includes planetary gears rotatably mounted on spindles supported by an annular carrier and including axially spaced apart forward and aft sets of output teeth extending radially outwardly from a planetary gear hub and axially spaced apart forward and aft roller bearings disposed between planetary gears and spindles. The forward and aft roller bearings are axially aligned with or adjacent to spaced apart forward set of output teeth and input gear respectively. A ring gear meshes with forward set of output teeth and an external gear meshes with aft set of output teeth. An input gear fixedly attached to hub aft of aft set of output teeth and engaged with a sun gear. The output teeth, input gear, ring gear, external gear, and sun gear may all be helical. A turbofan gas turbine engine may include counter-rotatable first and second fan stages driven by a low pressure turbine through the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Francis William McCooey
  • Patent number: 7993099
    Abstract: A helicopter gas turbine engine having a combustion chamber, at least one turbine arranged downstream from the combustion chamber to receive combustion gases emitted by the latter and a nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle has one part forming a diffuser, connected downstream from the turbine and an ejector which has an upstream part surrounding the downstream end of the diffuser and defining therewith an outlet passage for an engine compartment cooling air secondary flow, the ejector running in the downstream direction beyond the downstream end of the diffuser. The ejector has a wall formed at least partially by a sound attenuator calculated to attenuate sound frequencies generated by the rotation of the or each turbine and/or by the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Turbomeca
    Inventors: Pierre Michel Baude, Didier Jacques Andre Jouanchicot
  • Patent number: 7955046
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is disclosed that includes a spool having a compressor section. An inlet case is arranged axially upstream from the compressor section. A gearbox is secured to the inlet case. The gearbox couples the spool and a fan. A sealing assembly is arranged between the inlet case and the gearbox to provide a sealed bearing compartment. The inlet case, gearbox and seal assembly provide a module. A fastening element removably secures the module to the spool. The gas turbine engine can be serviced by disconnecting the fastening element from the engine core. The gearbox and inlet case can be removed as a module from the engine core without disassembling the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. McCune, Brian D. Merry, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 7841830
    Abstract: A river power generating apparatus is provided in which a plurality of angular baffles are configured to extract and combine the available energy from flowing river water into a force for rotating an electric generator to 1800 rpm to produce large quantities of electric current without using a hydro-electric dam thereby allowing wild salmon to spawn upstream of the river. The angular baffles can harvest and convert the energy of the ocean currents and tides into great amounts of electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: Leonardo M. Gasendo
  • Patent number: 7758302
    Abstract: A device for driving auxiliary machines of a double-shaft turbine engine with an LP shaft and an HP shaft is disclosed. The machines are installed in an accessory gearbox which includes a common drive shaft. The device includes a differential gear with a first input shaft and a second input shaft and an output shaft. The first shaft being connected via a selective coupling either to the LP shaft or to the HP shaft, the second input shaft is connected to the HP shaft, and the output shaft being connected to the drive shaft of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hispano-Suiza
    Inventors: Hugues Henri Raymond Linet, Cyril Franck Mouchnino, Serge Dominique Pettinotti
  • Patent number: 7722312
    Abstract: The invention provides a fuel cell compressor system that comprises a motor, including a motor shaft driven by the motor; a drive housing at least partially surrounding the motor shaft; a first gear set driven by the motor shaft; a carrier torque tube driven by the first gear set; and an impeller. The impeller includes an impeller shaft driven by the second gear set, so that the impeller shaft is configured to rotate at a speed greater than motor speed. Embodiments of the invention may also be used with a multi-stage compressor that allows, for example, first and second impellers to rotate at different speeds. Embodiments of the invention may also include removal of a gear set driving the carrier torque tube or the impeller shaft, so that the impeller shaft speed is divided between one or more bearings supporting the carrier torque tube and one or more bearings supporting the impeller shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William Nicholas Eybergen, Martin Dale Pryor, James Matthew Brown
  • Publication number: 20090314002
    Abstract: A bi-modal turbine assembly is provided for use in conjunction with a gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, the bi-modal turbine assembly includes a housing assembly having a flow passage therethrough, a turbine wheel rotatably mounted in the housing assembly and positioned so as to be driven by pressurized air flowing through the flow passage, an output shaft rotatably mounted in the housing assembly, and first and second gear trains disposed in the housing assembly. A switching device is also disposed in the housing assembly and configured to mechanically couple: (i) the first gear train between the turbine wheel and the output shaft in a first operational mode, and (ii) the second gear train between the turbine wheel and the output shaft in a second operational mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Libera, Peter Zeiner
  • Publication number: 20090041575
    Abstract: Driving apparatus for a wave power device, in which a turbine is placed in a substantially stationary open tubular element, the tubular element extending through the water surface into the water, and in which the amount of water flowing into and out of the tubular element due to a varying wave height around the tubular element, has to pass the turbine; alternatively, the tubular element being placed substantially horizontally below the water surface, a flow of water passing through it, the turbine being connected to a supported turbine shaft, and the turbine shaft being provided with a co-rotating eccentric part, the eccentric part being surrounded by a freely rotatable eccentric bearing connected to the eccentric part, and the eccentric bearing forming the driving part of a fluid pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Paul K. Morch
  • Publication number: 20090003992
    Abstract: An accessory system for use in a gas turbine engine, which system includes a gearbox adapted to be arranged radially outward of a main axis of the gas turbine engine and inside a nacelle, one or more engine accessories respectively connected to and driven by the gearbox, and a gas turbine engine oil system driven by a source other than the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Cloft
  • Patent number: 7396209
    Abstract: A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Miller, David J. Allen, Robert A. Smithson
  • Patent number: 7083378
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind generator. The wind generator comprises a body installed freely rotatably at a tower, blades installed at a leading end of the body, a gearbox for receiving rotational forces from the blades, and a generator connected to the gearbox for generating electricity. The blades are coupled with a blade angle adjustment unit so that the angles of the blades can be adjusted at predetermined angles according to the directions and velocities of winds. The gearbox comprises a planet gear coupled with a rotational shaft of the blades, a ring gear which has teeth formed on a radially inner surface thereof and engages with the planet gears, and a sun gear which engages with the planet gear and is connected with the generator. Teeth are formed on a radially outer surface of the ring gear so that teeth of a stop gear can be engaged therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventor: Jae Young Hur
  • Patent number: 6872049
    Abstract: A wind turbine with a rotor, a nacelle and a tower. The nacelle comprises a planetary gear (4) with a planetary holder (5), on which the hub (6) of the rotor is rigidly secured, and which can be connected to the shaft of an electric generator. The planetary gear (4) comprises a ring gear (7) fixedly mounted on an engine frame (9) in the nacelle or on the member (8) rigidly connected to said frame. The planetary wheels (17a, 17b) of the planetary gear can run around a centrally arranged sun wheel (14) while engaging the latter. The sun wheel is optionally connected to a parallel gear (30). The planetary holder (5) is rotatably mounted in the ring gear (7) by means of at least two sets (17) of planetary twin wheels (17a, 17b). Each set of planetary twin wheels is mounted on a bogie shaft (19) on the planetary holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Mogens Christensen