Relatively Angularly Adjustable Plural Blades Or Runners Patents (Class 415/130)
  • Patent number: 11739688
    Abstract: An aircraft turbojet engine comprising a fan configured to provide a reverse thrust and a nacelle comprising an air intake, the air intake comprising at least one circulation duct in the annular cavity opening, on the one hand, at the air intake lip and, on the other hand, at the inner wall and/or the outer wall so as to promote a reverse thrust phase, the air intake comprising at least one cover member mounted to move between a covered position, in which the cover member closes the circulation duct at the air intake lip and an uncovered position, in which the cover member opens the circulation duct at the air intake lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Daniel-Ciprian Mincu, Mathieu Patrick Jean-Louis Lallia, Nicolas Joseph Sirvin, Jagoda Alina Worotynska, Frédéric Dautreppe
  • Patent number: 11220913
    Abstract: A rotor for use in a gas turbine engine includes a wheel and a plurality of blades. The wheel is arrange about an axis of the gas turbine engine for rotation. The plurality of blades are arranged around the wheel and extend radially outward from the wheel to interact with gases flowing through the engine. One or more of the plurlaty of blades is formed to include a hole that extends into an external surface of the blade and a plug located in the first hole. The blade and the plug are made of different materials or have different densities to vary the frequency response of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11073160
    Abstract: Conventional gas turbine engines are generally optimized to operate at nearly a fixed speed with fixed blade geometries for the design operating condition. When the operating condition of the engine changes, the flow incidence angles may not be optimum with the blade geometries resulting in reduced off-design performance. By contrast, according to embodiments of the present invention, articulating the pitch angle of turbine blades in coordination with adjustable nozzle vanes improves performance by maintaining flow incidence angles within the optimum range at all operating conditions of a gas turbine engine. Maintaining flow incidence angles within the optimum range can prevent the likelihood of flow separation in the blade passage and also reduce the thermal stresses developed due to aerothermal loads for variable speed gas turbine applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Muthuvel Murugan, Anindya Ghoshal, Luis Bravo
  • Patent number: 10801339
    Abstract: A variable pitch fan assembly includes variable pitch fan blades circumscribed about engine centerline axis coupled to a drive shaft centered about the engine centerline axis. Each blade pivotable about pitch axis perpendicular to centerline axis and having blade turning lever connected thereto. One or more linear actuators non-rotatably mounted parallel to engine centerline axis and operably linked to fan blades for pivoting fan blades and connected to spider ring through thrust bearings for transmission of axial displacement of non-rotatable actuator rods of actuators while the fan blades are rotating. Spider arms extending away from spider ring towards blade roots and each spider arm connected to one of the turning levers. Turning levers may be connected and caromed to spider arms by pin and slot joint. Each spider arm may include joint pin disposed through joint slot of turning lever. Joint slot may be angled or curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aldo Daniel Lopez Guzman, Alberto del Angel Duran, Daniela Martinez Arteaga, Carla Garcia Lopez de Llergo, Ileana Prisabel Corona Acosta
  • Patent number: 10640198
    Abstract: In order to simplify the design of an aircraft turbo engine propeller while enhancing the safety function thereof related to control of the blade angle of attack, a propeller is provided comprising a secondary rotational coupling to couple in rotation, along the radial axis of the blade, the inner radial end of the blade root with a mechanical joining member of a blade angle of attack control device, the secondary coupling being designed and configured to be active in the event of failure of the main pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Jerome Colmagro
  • Patent number: 10590794
    Abstract: A turbine engine compressor includes a stator featuring an annular casing and at least one annular row of variable-pitch vanes, wherein each vane comprises a radially external end having a pivot mounted in an orifice in the casing and connected by a linking member to an control ring capable of pivoting axially in relation to the casing, where the linking member comprises a first end fixed to the pivot of the vane and a second end having a pin inserted in a hole in the control ring, where at least one of the holes in the control ring serves for insertion of the pins of the linking members, is oblong in shape and extends in the circumferential direction in order to allow movement of the pin in the oblong hole, during rotation of the control ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Aircraft Engines
    Inventors: Pierre-Alain Francis Claude Sebrecht, Sébastien Cochon, Arnaud Langlois
  • Patent number: 10502220
    Abstract: A method and device for retrofitting a gas turbine engine for improved hot day performance are disclosed. The method can include removing a first selected stator bladerow from the plurality of compressor stages, the first selected stator bladerow having a first inlet swirl angle and including a first plurality of fixed stator vanes. Each stator vane of the first plurality of fixed stator vanes can have a first stator vane angle. The method can also include providing a first improved stator bladerow to replace the first selected stator bladerow. The first improved stator bladerow can have a second plurality of fixed stator vanes, each having a second stator vane angle smaller than the first stator vane angle. The method can also include replacing the first selected stator bladerow with the first improved stator bladerow to produce an increased pressure ratio and flow rate compared to the first selected stator bladerow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventor: Bachar Adjan
  • Patent number: 10233869
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A fluid passage is defined between the splitters. The turbofan engine has a plurality of vortex generators, each of the vortex generators positioned on the leading edge of a respective fan blade proximate the upstream splitter and the core stream restricting the migration of the core stream into the bypass stream through the fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Patent number: 10040553
    Abstract: An aircraft assembly includes at least one first wing portion providing a lift force during a horizontal flight, at least one wing opening disposed on a vertical axis of the at least one first wing portion, at least one vertical thruster positioned inside the at least one wing opening to provide vertical thrust during a vertical flight, and a mounting system including an open frame portion in a frame of the aircraft and at least one attachment member disposed in the open frame portion to attach at least one pod to the open frame portion in the aircraft frame. The aircraft assembly can further include at least one pod including a mounting frame to attach to the mounting system and a cabin to contain at least one of cargo and passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SUNLIGHT PHOTONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sergey V. Frolov, Michael Cyrus, John Peter Moussouris
  • Patent number: 9708053
    Abstract: A device for supplying oil under pressure to a linear actuator of a turbine engine, in which the actuator includes an internal fixed portion and an external movable portion and a regulating device for regulating and supplying oil to chambers of the actuator, is provided. The regulating device is mounted radially outside the movable portion of the actuator, and the fixed portion of the actuator includes on its upstream end portion oil passage channels of which the outlets open radially outwards. The device further includes an oil distribution ring which is mounted on the upstream end portion of the fixed portion and which includes internal conduits of which the inlets communicate with the outlets of the channels of the fixed portion and the outlets open axially downstream and are connected to the regulating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Augustin Curlier, Gilles Alain Charier
  • Patent number: 9709023
    Abstract: A shut-off valve for a turbine of an oscillating water column may include a plurality of guide vanes configured to control a fluid flow into a flow passage defined by the turbine. The plurality of guide vanes may be at least partially disposed within the flow passage and may include a plurality of fixed guide vanes and a plurality of movable guide vanes. The plurality of fixed guide vanes and the plurality of movable guide vanes may be sequentially disposed in an alternating pattern in the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: Russell Hall, Shahab Natanzi
  • Patent number: 9617868
    Abstract: A variable geometry mechanism suitable for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed in which movable vane segments which are coupled to a rotatable ring, or rings, are used to change an aerodynamic property of a working fluid flowing through the gas turbine engine. The movable vane segments can be rotated through the ring, or rings, between a first position associated with the first vane and a second position associated with a second vane to place the movable vane segments in proximity to one or the other of the first and second vanes of the gas turbine engine. The movable vane segments can be used to alter, among other things, camber, exit flow area, and can be used to influence and/or accommodate such properties as incidence angle, and swirl angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Bloxham, Craig E. Heathco, Adam D. Ford, Robert T. Duge, Thomas I. Gorman
  • Patent number: 8641378
    Abstract: A present invention's object is to maintain a discharge performance by making a discharge flow rate constant in a low rotation region of an engine rotation speed and to reduce the discharge flow rate in a high rotation region. The present invention consists of a housing case, an impeller base provided with plural holes and plural elliptical elongated holes, a vane body provided with a rotary shaft on an inner peripheral side and a rocking shaft on an outer peripheral side, a plate cam in which an elongated groove is formed on an outer peripheral side of a disc portion and a single torsion spring. The spring and the plate cam are housed in the housing case and the impeller base. The rotary shaft is inserted rotatably into the holes, and the rocking shaft is movably inserted into the elliptical elongated holes and the elongated groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Song Fei, Masayuki Doki
  • Publication number: 20140010637
    Abstract: An assembly includes a torque box and a first bell crank. The torque box has a housing with an interior cavity. The first bell crank is pivotally supported from the housing and extends through the interior cavity. The first bell crank has three arms for transferring an actuating force to a plurality of variable guide vanes for positioning the guide vanes within a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bernard W. Pudvah, Eugene C. Gasmen, Stanley Wiecko
  • Publication number: 20130315716
    Abstract: A turbomachine having clearance control capability is provided and includes a turbine stage including a blade configured to rotate around a centerline, a movable portion of a casing circumferentially surrounding the turbine stage and a rotatable cam operably coupled to the movable portion and thereby configured to control an axial position of the movable portion. A radially outermost tip of the blade and an interior surface of the movable portion are sloped with respect to the centerline such that the controlled axial position of the movable portion is determinative of a clearance between the blade and the movable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony Cotroneo
  • Patent number: 8506233
    Abstract: An axial turbine (1) has a plurality of expansion stages (2) each defined by stator blades (13) and rotor blades. The expansion stages (2) are followed by an exhaust diffuser (4) for collecting the flow passing through the expansion stages (2) and discharging it to the outside. The expansion stages (2) and/or the diffuser (4) have at least a non-axial symmetric portion. The stator blades (13) define different openings (17) along the circumference of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Said Havakechian, Thomas Mokulys, Vishal Borikar, Patrick Vu
  • Publication number: 20130183143
    Abstract: A sealing device for passing a connecting rod of a system for controlling a pitch of fan blades of a turboprop through a partition. The device includes a tube for fastening to the partition that is to be sealed, and a frustoconical sheath through which the connecting rod is to pass, the sheath configured to slide axially inside the tube and including, at its wider end, a sealing mechanism co-operating with the tube, and, at its narrower end, a leaktight fastener fastening to a corresponding end of the connecting rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: SNEMCA
    Inventor: Francois Gallet
  • Patent number: 8475117
    Abstract: The present application provides a compressor for a gas turbine. The compressor may include a number of rotor wheels positioned about a compressor aft section having a low alloy material, a number of inlet guide vanes positioned about a compressor inlet section, and a wet compression system positioned about the compressor inlet section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Philip L. Andrew
  • Patent number: 8449243
    Abstract: A device and method for axially displacing at least one turbine rotor relative to at least one corresponding turbine stator in a multistage axial turbine is disclosed. The turbine shaft is provided with a split design and has a first axially displaceable shaft half, which is connected via a turbine disc to the turbine rotor and via a torque coupling to the second shaft half. By axially displacing the turbine rotor relative to the turbine stator and by controlling this axial displacement, the operation of the turbine is held in its possible optimum of efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Fiala, Michael Kremmer
  • Patent number: 8439626
    Abstract: A method of decreasing the operational stresses acting on a target airfoil row in a turbine engine; wherein the target airfoil row is bordered on each side by a first upstream airfoil row and a first downstream airfoil row; the first upstream airfoil row and the first downstream airfoil row having substantially the same number of similar airfoils and both comprising one of a row of rotor blades and a row of stator blades, and the target airfoil row comprising the other; the method comprising the step of: configuring the circumferential position of the airfoils of the first upstream airfoil row and the airfoils of first downstream airfoil row such that at least a portion of the airfoils of the first upstream airfoil row and at least a portion of the airfoils of the first downstream airfoil row comprise a clocking relationship of between 25% and 75% pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Ning, Michael E. Friedman, John F. Ryman
  • Patent number: 8061973
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a compressor having a compressor intake, and an intake system mounted upstream of the compressor intake. The intake system includes a housing and a plurality of selectively positionable vanes arranged within the housing. The plurality of selectively positionable vanes are moveable between a first position to remove a first amount of foreign particles, and a second position, to remove a second amount of foreign particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Henry Devine, II
  • Publication number: 20110272945
    Abstract: A turbine that will produce useful mechanical force from the dynamic force of the sea wave. This is done by rectifying the bidirectional force obtained from such wave. This turbine will produce a unidirectional rotation from the bidirectional force of the wave. The turbine will adjust the pitch of its blades automatically as the air flow inside the pipe changes direction, The air flow will change the pitch of the blade, because the blade is mounted on a shaft through ball bearings. Because the blade is acting like a flag on a pole that has a long tail and also the blade has a long tail and will always change its direction in accord to the direction of the air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Israel Ortiz
  • Patent number: 8016544
    Abstract: The vertical windmill includes a rotatable wind wheel column mounted to a base. The column includes a plurality of hollow wheel hubs stacked vertically atop each other. Each wheel hub includes a plurality of radiating mounting arms equidistantly spaced around the axis of the wheel hub such that the arms of an adjacent hub are angularly offset with respect to the other. A plurality of mounting assemblies is disposed on each of the mounting arms for mounting an array of wing blades. Each alternate stacked wheel hub and mounting arms together forms a wind wheel with vertically oriented wing blades mounted between upper and lower spaced arms such that the top wheel is interconnected with the lower wheel at a height less than the height of the blades. Each array of blades may freely rotate or be positively rotated to orient the blades for optimum usage of wind power in rotating the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Huy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7758299
    Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electricity is configured as a drum with a housing that has adjustable shutters to control the amount of wind reaching the turbine blades. Alternatively, the turbine blades can be pivotably mounted and opened and closed using a cam follower, cam track system to minimize wind exposure to downstream turbine blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventor: Frank Jarecki
  • Publication number: 20100108040
    Abstract: A supercharger system is disclosed herein having a front end, a rear end, an inlet and an outlet, the system contained within a housing, wherein the supercharger system includes a rotor assembly, and a plurality of intake runners that comprise an interlaced cross-runner pattern, wherein the supercharger system comprises a front drive, front inlet configuration and an inverted orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Simons, Chad Magana
  • Publication number: 20100077748
    Abstract: A novel technique for partially improving wear resistance of an input portion of a drive ring, where power of a shifting drive is input from an external actuator, in an adjustment mechanism incorporated in a VGS type turbocharger for concurrently rotating adjustable blades, without specifically attaching a separate member afterwards is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventor: Takahiro Akita
  • Publication number: 20100071360
    Abstract: An engine provides torque by transmitting power in a fluid using optimally positioned lift-to-drag ratio blades with air-foil shape sections. The fluid may be liquid or gas. Various considerations of engine configuration, fluid density, fluid pressure and fluid temperature are design parameters that can be tuned to achieve high performance. The fluid flow created can be used to drive rotary motion of an output axle, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Guy Silver, Juinerong Wu
  • Patent number: 7647666
    Abstract: Attachment apparatus and method for interlocking attachment of a scraper blade with a drive shaft of a scraped surface heat exchanger includes a blade having dual attachment beams and a central locking member, and at least one pin having dual fingers each for interlocking with a respective attachment beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Hardy, Drew Van Norman
  • Publication number: 20090097966
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines and related systems involving variable vanes are provided. In this regard, a representative vane assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: a first inner diameter platform; a first outer diameter platform spaced from the first inner diameter platform; and a variable vane airfoil rotatably attached to and extending between the first inner diameter platform and the first outer diameter platform such that at least a portion of the vane airfoil extends beyond a periphery of at least one of the first inner diameter platform and the first outer diameter platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 7325269
    Abstract: Attachment apparatus and method for interlocking attachment of a scraper blade with a drive shaft of a scraped surface heat exchanger includes a blade having dual attachment beams and a central locking member, and at least one pin having dual fingers each for interlocking with a respective attachment beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Hardy, Drew Van Norman
  • Patent number: 7066709
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a wind driven power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventors: Dong Yong Kim, Yeong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 6966757
    Abstract: An attachment apparatus and method for interlocking attachment of a scraper blade with a drive shaft of a scraped surface heat exchanger includes a blade having dual attachment beams and a central locking member, and at least one pin having dual fingers each for interlocking with a respective attachment beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Hardy, Drew Van Norman
  • Patent number: 6755609
    Abstract: A radial-flow pump (1), and especially a coolant pump for an internal combustion engine, comprising an impeller (2) provided with vanes (5) and a directing device (4) including at least one temperature- and/or speed-sensitive element for temperature-dependent control of the coolant flow, where at least one impeller vane (5) and/or the directing device (4) is configured as a speed-sensitive element. In order to increase efficiency, the proposal is put forward that the impeller vanes (5) should be elastically deformable by Coriolis forces of the coolant flow, the discharge angles (&agr;), which are preferably defined between impeller vanes (5) and impeller tangential planes (&egr;), decreasing with an increase in speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: TCG Unitech Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Preinfalk, Heinz Klaus, Fritz Atschreiter
  • Patent number: 6547517
    Abstract: A fluid impeller, such as a fan for moving air or gases, includes one or more rotatable fluid impelling blades; a flow guiding member adjacent to an edge of the blades, and at least one blade facing surface of the flow guiding member being formed substantially as a segment of a sphere of radius r1 about a center of curvature. Each blade has a flow guiding member abutting edge curved substantially to fit against a sphere of radius r1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Elta Fans Limited
    Inventors: David Peter-Fenner, Christopher Winston Lack
  • Patent number: 6398483
    Abstract: A protection device for protecting a control mechanism of inlet guide-vanes of a turbojet engine includes a narrowed section on a connecting rod. The connecting rod is for transmitting the movement of a spindle of a piston of the control mechanism or actuator to a control ring that directs all of the inlet guide-vanes. The narrowed section of the connecting rod is a frangible part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Eric Conete, François Marie Paul Marlin
  • Patent number: 5624226
    Abstract: A vertical-shaft multi-stage pump has adjustable vanes on its lower stage. A vane angle operating mechanism has an operating shaft extending through a hollow portion of the drive shaft of the upper stage and a link mechanism connected to the operating shaft and the adjustable vane impeller for converting axial motion of the operating shaft into vane angle rotational motion. The pump is particularly suited for use in an underground drainage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Yamada, Saburo Maru, Sumio Sudo
  • Patent number: 5209632
    Abstract: A hydroelectric power generator equipment includes a hydraulic turbine which has a runner with blades adjustable of opening thereof and a hollow turbine shaft mounting thereon the runner, a power generator having a hollow shaft connected to the turbine shaft, a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the runner to drive the blades, and first and second liquid passages each passing through the turbine and generator shafts and feeding oil to the hydraulic cylinder to adjust the opening of the runner blades. One of members defining the first and second liquid passages is screwed in the inner wall of the shafts around an axially middle portion of the first and second liquid passages to suppress radial movement of the passage defining member. Some of the members are slidably or firmly inserted in other members so that disassembly is easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 4842484
    Abstract: A lightweight counterrotatable propeller system driven by a rotatable shaft is disclosed. The system includes first and second counterrotatable propellers, each propeller including a plurality of blades mounted on first and second hubs, respectively. Each blade is attached to the hub by means of a ball screw which converts centrifugal force on each of the rotating propeller blades into a pitch changing force. Gearing means for operatively connecting the shaft with each propeller are located between the propellers with a carrying member for one of the propellers forming an outer wall which radially bounds the gearing means. Additionally, non-rotating actuating means for changing propeller pitch are operatively connected to the blades of each of said first and second propellers through first and second thrust bearings, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Kenneth O. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4657484
    Abstract: Blade pitch varying means for use in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. The blade pitch varying means may be used on an engine with a single row or two counterrotating rows of variable pitch blades which are disposed outwardly from an annular gas flowpath and which are connected with a rotating airfoil within the flowpath. The blade pitch varying means comprise actuation means, bearing means, and gearing means. The actuation means are in a nonrotating reference frame disposed inwardly from the flowpath and deliver an axial force. The bearing means transmit the axial force from the nonrotating into a rotating reference frame which contains both the propulsor blade and the airfoil in the gas flowpath. The gearing means are located in the rotating reference frame and convert the axial force into a force for varying the blade pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas G. Wakeman, Neil Walker
  • Patent number: 4610599
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a hydraulic turbine is disclosed comprising a hydraulic circuit to control the positioning of turbine runner blades and a hydraulic circuit to control the positioning of turbine wicket gates. The runner blade hydraulic circuit comprises a solenoid valve for normal operation of the blades and a slow rate servovalve for moving the blades when the actual blade position differs from a desired position by less than a predetermined tolerance. The wicket gate circuit comprises a solenoid valve for normal control of the gates. A diverter directs flow from the solenoid valve to a flow rate control valve when the difference between the actual and desired position of the gates is less than a second predetermined tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventor: Ray A. Long
  • Patent number: 4599041
    Abstract: Multiple flat-plate blade rows of pitch adjustable blades are offset mounted in a manner such that when flat-plate blades in adjacent rows are aligned at a specific pitch setting, respective flat-plate blades of the adjacent rows nearly mate. The offset between the flat-plate blade rows functions to produce unequal pitch angle settings of the blades of adjacent rows which, in turn, function to produce the result that the respective flat-plate blades which nearly mate, in combination, produce a blade configuration which has an effective camber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Inventor: John G. Stricker
  • Patent number: 4129786
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a hydroelectric machine set in which the electrical machine is in the form of a rim which surrounds a service water duct containing the bladed wheel of a hydraulic machine, and wherein the blades of said wheel are joined to the rotor of the electrical machine by torque-transmitting connections which allow free radial movement of the blades relatively to the rotor. Preferably, those connections also permit pivoting movement of the blades relatively to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Assignee: Escher Wyss Limited
    Inventor: Helmut Miller
  • Patent number: 4049361
    Abstract: A seal is provided between the turbine runner and the stationary structure which permits expansion of the runner without danger of contacting the stationary structure and thereby causing the seal to seize. The portion of the runner which defines the sealing passage faces radially inwardly. Therefore, if the runner expands, the sealing clearance will enlarge rather than decrease thereby overcoming the possibility of seizure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1977
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventor: Selim A. Chacour
  • Patent number: 3946554
    Abstract: Variable geometry guide vanes are provided in a variable pitch turbofan assembly. A method is disclosed for reducing aerodynamically induced stresses in the variable pitch fan blades as the blades are changed between the forward and reverse pitch modes. The guide vane geometry is scheduled to change in a manner to control the flow into and out of the fan blades in order to establish a favorable aerodynamic environment during the transition between the forward and the reverse pitch modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gerhard Neumann
  • Patent number: 3935704
    Abstract: This invention cures the problem attendant the ingestion of oil in the engine of a fan-turbine engine combustion propulsor should oil leak from the fan blade seal by capturing and judiciously venting the leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Philip E. Barnes
  • Patent number: 3932054
    Abstract: An axial fan operative to control the developed air volume and pressure by varying the pitch of the fan blades. The fan housing is adapted to be connected to the main air conduit as an axial continuation thereof and centrally mounts a fan motor which directly drives the fan. The blade pitch control mechanism adjacent the fan utilizes an axially reciprocable actuator coupled through linkages to each of the fan blades whereby the pitch of all of the blades is simultaneously changed upon movement of the actuator. The control mechanism is contained within the fan hub and within a cylindrical central fairing located adjacent the fan and radially inwardly of the blades. This protects the control mechanism and reduces drag. The actuator is moved axially by means located externally of the main air conduit and connected to the actuator by a single lever arm extending through the central fairing and main air conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1976
    Assignee: Western Engineering & Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Wilfred G. McKelvey