Upstream Of Runner Patents (Class 415/151)
  • Patent number: 11965470
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a turbocharger includes a compressor having a compressor wheel, a turbine provided within a housing, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow path. The EGR flow path includes a first fluid connection in the housing and located in proximity to the turbine, a second fluid connection located in proximity to a trailing edge of the compressor wheel, an EGR control valve disposed between the first fluid connection and the second fluid connection, the EGR control valve configured to selectively operate the turbocharger in a low-heat mode having an EGR up to 50% and an operational mode having an EGR rate typically less than 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Powell McHenry, Paul Troxler, Robert Malcolm Wallace, Michael Harris, Robert Lotz, Michael J. Burkett
  • Patent number: 11957079
    Abstract: A stand-on blower is provided that allows for fully powered nozzle angle adjustment. The blower may deliver an airflow for pneumatic cleanup tasks in different directions, including horizontal or left-right and vertical or up-down direction variability of the airflow. Position or angle of the blower's nozzle may be automatically reversed or driven to a rotational or angle limit upon demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Metalcraft of Mayville, Inc.
    Inventors: James Hall, Craig Antonioni
  • Patent number: 11780560
    Abstract: This present disclosure relates generally to propulsion systems and, more particularly, to adaptive ducted fan propulsion systems for use with aircraft such as unmanned aerial vehicles. Embodiments of ADF systems in accordance with the present disclosure feature automatic, fast operation, increase the intake section of the air mass fed to a propeller, and can increase thrust by 35%-40% as compared to existing ducted fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Alexandru Balan
  • Patent number: 11773747
    Abstract: A turbine rotor for aircraft turbine engine includes a mobile disc supporting mobile blades, the mobile disc including a plurality of slots into which are inserted the roots of the mobile blades a passage being formed between the bottom of the slots and the roots of the mobile blades inserted into the slots. The rotor also includes a circulation channel configured to allow circulation of fluid, the circulation channel including the passage, and a calibration device configured to allow the flow of a first fluid flow rate in the circulation channel when the temperature within the channel is less than a predetermined temperature threshold value, and to change state so as to allow the flow of a second fluid flow rate, greater than the first flow rate, in the channel, when the temperature within the channel is greater than or equal to said predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Eddy Stephane Joel Fontanel, Matthieu Etienne Attali, Gerard Philippe Gauthier, Wilfried Lionel Schweblen
  • Patent number: 11697997
    Abstract: A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotatable about a rotational axis of the turbine by at least 0.1 degrees. In use, the nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotated to bring one side of the vane into close contact with one surface of the slot, to inhibit leakage of gas between the vane and the slot surface. For this purpose the respective surfaces of the nozzle and slot can be configured to closely conform to each other. If there is differential thermal expansion of the shroud and nozzle ring, the nozzle ring and shroud can relatively rotate, to withdraw the vane from the edge of the slot to relieve the pressure between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew William Edwards, Karl Conlon, Simon David Moore, Christopher Parry, Andrew Sullivan, Paul Ghosh, Mark R. Holden, George E. Sandford, Nandakishore Arcot Madhusudan, Stephen David Hughes, Christopher J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 11549431
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine housing. The turbine housing includes a turbine inlet wall defining an inlet passage, an exducer shroud wall defining an exducer interior, a turbine outlet wall defining an outlet passage, a wastegate port wall defining a wastegate channel, and a bushing wall coupled to the wastegate port wall and defining a bushing boss extending along a bushing axis, and a valve seat disposed about the wastegate channel. The turbocharger also includes a wastegate assembly. The wastegate assembly includes a valve element engageable with the valve seat. The wastegate port wall is disposed outside of the exducer interior such that the wastegate port wall and the bushing wall are configured to be thermally decoupled from the turbine inlet wall and such that relative displacement between the valve seat and the bushing axis is reduced during operation of the turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Brian Cooley, Kai Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11434783
    Abstract: A bearing structure includes: a rotation member including a plurality of extended portions extending radially outward from a shaft portion and arranged separated away from each other in an axial direction of the shaft portion; and a bearing member in which a counterface surface facing one of the plurality of extended portions in the axial direction is included in one or a plurality of main bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Uneura, Jaemin Huh
  • Patent number: 11415018
    Abstract: A valve device includes a valve casing 21, an intermediate rod portion 29, and an intermediate actuator unit 30. In the valve casing 21, a rod insertion hole into which the intermediate rod portion 29 can be inserted is formed. The intermediate actuator unit 30 includes a hydraulic cylinder that causes a piston rod portion to advance and retreat in a direction orthogonal to a second center axis direction D2. The hydraulic cylinder includes a rod guide portion that guides movement of the piston rod portion. A gap between an inner circumferential surface of the rod insertion hole and an outer circumferential surface of the intermediate rod portion 29 is formed to be wider than a gap between an inner circumferential surface of the rod guide portion and an outer circumferential surface of the piston rod portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 11371369
    Abstract: A turbine for a turbo-machine is proposed in which, at a gas inlet for a turbine wheel, vanes extend from a nozzle ring though slots in a shroud. The nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotatable about a rotational axis of the turbine by at least 0.1 degrees. In use, the nozzle ring and shroud are relatively rotated to bring one side of the vane into close contact with one surface of the slot, to inhibit leakage of gas between the vane and the slot surface. For this purpose the respective surfaces of the nozzle and slot can be configured to closely conform to each other. If there is differential thermal expansion of the shroud and nozzle ring, the nozzle ring and shroud can relatively rotate, to withdraw the vane from the edge of the slot to relieve the pressure between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS LTD.
    Inventors: Matthew William Edwards, Karl Conlon, Simon David Moore, Christopher Parry, Andrew Sullivan, Paul Ghosh, Mark R. Holden, George E. Sandford, Nandakishore Arcot Madhusudan, Stephen David Hughes, Christopher J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 11359538
    Abstract: A turbine bypass valve comprising: a casing defining first and second casing ports; and a valve cartridge mounted to the casing; wherein the valve cartridge comprises: first and second valve ports; and a valve member, the valve member being movable between a first position in which there is a flow path between the first and second valve ports, and a second position in which the valve member substantially blocks said flow path between the first and second valve ports; and wherein the valve cartridge is mounted to the casing such that the first valve port is aligned with the first casing port, and the second valve port is aligned with the second casing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CUMMINS LTD
    Inventors: Nicholas Kenneth Sharp, Nicholas Browning
  • Patent number: 11319870
    Abstract: A turbocharger control valve having an extended feedback cap for altering the performance of a variable geometry turbocharger delivering boost pressure to an engine, the extended feedback cap has an increased cap length which displaces a spool within the turbocharger control valve to alter hydraulic fluid flow through the turbocharger control valve, causing the turbocharger to delay opening a variable inlet to release exhaust pressure, also causing the turbocharger to preemptively close the variable inlet to mitigate loss of exhaust back pressure and boost pressure without a command from a turbocharger control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Eyal Ezra
  • Patent number: 11255257
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine housing, an annular metal plate, and a scroll passage defining plate. The metal plate defines a connecting passage in the turbine housing. The connecting passage connects a turbine chamber and a turbine scroll passage to each other. The scroll passage defining plate includes a passage defining portion that defines the turbine scroll passage and an inner circumferential edge portion that extends from the inner circumferential edge portion of the passage defining portion and along the metal plate. The scroll passage defining plate has an inner circumferential edge that is fixed between the turbine housing and the metal plate. The scroll passage defining plate is arranged in the turbine housing such that the outer circumferential edge portion of the passage defining portion is movable relative to the turbine housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Akihito Uemura, Toshiya Kato, Shuichi Fujita, Katsumi Okayama
  • Patent number: 11174868
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a bearing housing, a turbine housing, a turbine chamber formed in the turbine housing, a turbine impeller rotating integrally with the impeller shaft by the exhaust gas flowing into the turbine chamber, a turbine scroll passage formed in the turbine housing, a communication passage, and a bearing housing side plate made of sheet metal and forming wall surfaces of the turbine scroll passage and the communication passage on the bearing housing side. The bearing housing side plate has an inner peripheral part of the bearing housing side plate is a stationary part relative to the bearing housing, and an outer peripheral end portion of the bearing housing side plate is a free end. The bearing housing side plate has an outer peripheral side surface of the bearing housing side plate is spaced from a first facing member that faces the outer peripheral wall side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Akihito Uemura, Shuichi Fujita, Toshiya Kato
  • Patent number: 10895266
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower assembly comprises a scroll wall and a pair of opposing sidewalls. The scroll wall is positioned between the pair of opposing sidewalls such that the scroll wall and opposing sidewalls together define a blower chamber and a blower outlet. The blower outlet defines a blower outlet area. An adjustable outlet plate is pivotably coupled to the pair of opposing sidewalls such that the adjustable outlet plate is moveable between a first position to define a first blower outlet area and a second position to define a second blower outlet area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Sahand Pirouzpanah, Joseph A. Henry
  • Patent number: 10808566
    Abstract: A valve device for installing in a cylinder of a turbine casing includes a plurality of valves arranged within a casing of a pressure receiving steam chamber, a plurality of steam channels fluidly communicating between the plurality of valves and the cylinder of the turbine casing, and a pressure receiving plate configured to receive pressure of steam in the pressure receiving steam chamber to hold at least two valve seats of the plurality of valves on the casing of the pressure receiving steam chamber. The pressure receiving plate has locking holes corresponding to the at least two valve seats, and the at least two valve seats are fully circumferentially locked by inner peripheral edges of the locking holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 10781704
    Abstract: When A is a flow-path cross-sectional area of the scroll part, and R is a distance from a centroid of a flow-path cross-section of the scroll part to a rotational axis of the turbine rotor blade, the scroll part is configured so that a first graph, having a horizontal axis representing an angular position ? in a circumferential direction of the scroll part and a vertical axis representing ratio A/R of the flow-path cross-sectional area A to the distance R, at least partially has a concave distribution. The scroll part includes a first section belonging to a first angular range in the circumferential direction, and a second section belonging to a second angular range downstream of the first angular range in the circumferential direction and having a smaller throat width than a throat width of the first section in an axial direction of the turbine rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Toyotaka Yoshida, Makoto Ozaki, Takao Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10767636
    Abstract: A multiple impeller type power generation turbine includes a body, at least a high pressure water tank, and two impellers, two first jet assemblies and two low pressure steam chambers installed in the body. The high pressure water tank is provided for containing a working fluid coming from a fluid source. The two impellers are synchronously and rotably linked with the power generator. The two first jet assemblies is provided for ejecting the working fluid contained in the high pressure water tank to fluid inlet ends of the two impellers and guiding the working fluid from the fluid outlet ends to the two low pressure steam chambers to drive the power generator to generate electric power, so s to improve the power generation efficiency and modularization and the convenience of installation and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: LANYANG GEOTHERMAL CORP.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yan Kao, Cheng-Jung Kao
  • Patent number: 10760449
    Abstract: A fixing device fixes a relative position in a rotational direction of an outer member and an inner member of a stationary body of the rotary machine, and includes: a radial pin that is inserted into a through hole passing through the outer member in a radial direction of a rotary machine and having a stepped portion formed therein to have a larger diameter at a portion on an outer side in the radial direction of the rotary machine than at a portion on an inner side in the radial direction, that has a part on the inner side in the radial direction of the rotary machine to be inserted into a concave portion of the inner member, and that has a flange portion on the outer side in the radial direction of the rotary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Shirota, Takeki Nakayama, Mitsuhiro Adachi, Hiroshi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 10677098
    Abstract: A pin insertion hole is formed in an outer member, and a pin groove is formed in an inner member. A positioning device includes a pin entering the pin insertion hole and the pin groove, and a groove contact member coming in contact with a groove side surface of the pin groove. In one member of the pin and the groove contact member, a position restriction concave portion recessed in a direction away from the other member is formed in a portion facing the other member. In the other member, a claw portion entering the position restriction concave portion and coming into contact with the position restriction concave portion is formed as a portion of the other member is plastically deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiko Shirota, Takeki Nakayama, Shinya Honda, Masaaki Sotokawa
  • Patent number: 10570812
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbine having a turbine wheel, an inlet passageway, a movable wall member being moveable axially to vary the width of the inlet passageway, an annular seal being mounted to the movable wall member or an adjacent housing member to provide a seal between adjacent surfaces of the movable wall member and housing member respectively, wherein a bypass passage is provided in the other of said movable wall member or housing member, extending from an inlet bypass port to an outlet bypass port, said ports being spaced from each other and provided in said adjacent surface of said other of the movable wall member or housing member, arranged such that as the movable wall member moves axially, the annular seal moves axially relative to the ports to vary the flow that may pass from a region of the cavity inboard of the seal, through the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Ltd.
    Inventors: Lisa Jane Hill, John F. Parker, John Bywater
  • Patent number: 10550761
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor for a turbocharger includes an inlet-adjustment mechanism operable to move between an open position and a closed position. The inlet-adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of blades disposed about the compressor air inlet and located within an annular space within the air inlet wall. The blades are pivotable about respective pivot points such that the blades extend radially inward from the annular space into the air inlet when the blades are in the closed position so as to form an orifice of reduced diameter relative to a nominal diameter of the inlet. The blades include lever arms that engage the outer periphery of a rotatable unison ring that is linked to a linear actuator for rotating the unison ring so as to pivot the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lombard, Stephane Pees, Hani Mohtar, Stephane Doise
  • Patent number: 10502089
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a stator stage arranged in a core flow path that includes a vane that is configured to be retractable from the core flow path during engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Loi Cheng, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley
  • Patent number: 10378432
    Abstract: A casing for a radial turbine in an exhaust gas turbocharger for a motor vehicle includes a gas duct having an inlet section and an adjoining spiral section, between which a casing tab is arranged. The spiral section features a radially inner turbine inlet, the axial width of which in the region of the casing tab circumferentially decreases toward an end face of the casing tab in a circumferential section. An end face of the casing tab is inclined relative to a rotational axis of the radial turbine in an axial section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Michael Franz, Hans-Joerg Heidermann
  • Patent number: 10227915
    Abstract: A turbocharger turbine (2) includes a wastegate subassembly (50) that includes a mounting plate (51) having a bore (55) therethrough, a valve shaft (60) disposed in the bore (55), and a wastegate valve (30) including a valve body (31) and a valve arm (36) that secures the valve body (31) to an end of the valve shaft (60). The wastegate subassembly (50) is preassembled prior to assembly with the turbocharger (1), and is detachably secured to an outer surface of the turbine exhaust gas inlet (10) such that valve body (31) is positioned to control exhaust gas flow through a bypass port (13) that extends between the exhaust gas inlet (10) and an exhaust gas outlet (12), and bypasses the turbine wheel (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Murphy, Rajmohan Chandramohanan
  • Patent number: 10132396
    Abstract: A stator wheel, located between a pump and a turbine of a torque converter, includes: a first annular portion configured to be rotatable about a center of rotation; a second annular portion away from the first annular portion in a radial direction of the first annular portion; and blades provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the first annular portion, extending between the first and second annular portions in the radial direction of the first annular portion, extending toward one side in the circumferential direction as it goes in an axial direction of a rotational shaft, being formed integrally with the first and second annular portions, and including a first surface provided on one side in the circumferential direction and a second surface located on an opposite side from the first surface in the circumferential direction configured to receive pressure from the operating fluid flowing from the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihisa Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 9995158
    Abstract: A turbocharger (10) for an internal combustion engine includes a symmetric twin-volute turbine housing (12) having first and second volutes (16, 18). A turbine wheel (22) is disposed within the symmetric twin-volute turbine housing (12) for rotation about a turbocharger axis (R1). A nozzle ring (42, 58) is fixedly secured to the symmetric twin-volute turbine housing (12). The nozzle ring (42, 58) includes a plurality of fixed vanes (44, 62, 66) disposed circumferentially around the turbocharger axis (R1). The plurality of fixed vanes (44, 62, 66) form nozzle passages leading from at least one of the first and second volutes (16, 18) to the turbine wheel (22) for directing exhaust gas against the turbine wheel (22) at an optimum angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Borg Warner Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Henderson, Rajendra Vemula
  • Patent number: 9896752
    Abstract: Disclosed is an austenitic stainless steel alloy that includes, by weight, about 22% to about 28% chromium, about 3.5% to about 6.5% nickel, about 1% to about 6% manganese, about 0.5% to about 2.5% silicon, about 0.5% to about 1.5% tungsten, about 0.2% to about 0.8% molybdenum, about 0.2% to about 0.8% niobium, about 0.3% to about 0.6% carbon, about 0.2% to about 0.8% nitrogen, and a balance of iron. The alloy is suitable for use in turbocharger turbine housing applications for temperature up to about 1020° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Pavan Chintalapati, Marc Wilson, Rayad Benchiheub, Philippe Renaud, Gary Agnew, Nicolas Devulder
  • Patent number: 9810143
    Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a branch communication and wastegate valve in a dual scroll turbocharger system are provided. In one example, a method may include adjusting the branch communication and wastegate valve in a passage connecting a first scroll, a second scroll, and a wastegate passage may control an amount of exhaust flow to a turbine during certain engine operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Patrick McConville, Daniel Joseph Styles, Brad Alan Boyer
  • Patent number: 9784118
    Abstract: A steam valve control device of this embodiment controls a steam valve. The steam valve has: an upper cover in whose through hole a bush is installed; and a valve rod which is installed so as to penetrate through the through hole of the upper cover via the bush. The valve rod has a contact surface which is formed so as to come into mechanical contact with the bush when the steam valve is opened to a maximum opening degree. The steam valve control device has a control part. When a governor free operation is performed, the control part controls the steam valve by setting a limited opening degree limited to be smaller than the maximum opening degree as an upper limit. When a load limiter operation is performed, the control part controls the steam valve by setting the maximum opening degree as the upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshikazu Otake, Makoto Takahashi, Hideo Hosaka
  • Patent number: 9689397
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a rotating assembly having a turbine wheel disposed inside a turbine housing and a compressor wheel disposed inside a compressor cover. The turbine housing defines a turbine outlet cavity, a turbine housing inlet, and a turbine housing outlet. The turbine housing inlet is configured to channel engine post-combustion gases to the turbine wheel and the turbine housing outlet is configured to exhaust the gases aft of the turbine wheel. A diffuser arranged inside the turbine outlet cavity is configured to channel the post-combustion gases aft of the turbine wheel and out to the turbine housing outlet, without discharging into the turbine outlet cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Edwards, Louis P. Begin, Carnell E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9534281
    Abstract: Disclosed is an austenitic stainless steel alloy that includes, by weight, about 22% to about 28% chromium, about 3.5% to about 6.5% nickel, about 1% to about 6% manganese, about 0.5% to about 2.5% silicon, about 0.3% to about 0.6% carbon, about 0.2% to about 0.8% niobium, about 0.2% to about 0.8% nitrogen, and a balance of iron. Molybdenum and tungsten are excluded. The alloy is suitable for use in turbocharger turbine housing applications for temperature up to about 980° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Pavan Chintalapati, Marc Wilson, Rayad Benchiheub, Philippe Renaud, Gary Agnew, Nicolas Devulder
  • Patent number: 9429169
    Abstract: A turbine engine including a stator including variable-pitch vanes that are controlled stage by stage. An actuator ring connected by crank-arms to the variable-pitch vanes is coupled to at least one adjacent specific drive unit in a general form of an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Michel Andre Bouru, Daniel Germain Alexis Kettler
  • Patent number: 9394855
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine, comprising a high-pressure turbine connected to a channel of a low-pressure turbine and a bypass line, branching from upstream the high-pressure turbine, connectable to the channels of the low-pressure turbine via a control element positioned within the bypass line, is provided. Adjusting the control element fluidly connects each of the channels of the low-pressure turbine to the bypass line responsive to the exhaust-gas flow rate to optimize the performance of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Kemmerling, Franz Arnd Sommerhoff, Vanco Smiljanovski, Helmut Matthias Kindl, Andreas Kuske
  • Patent number: 9359950
    Abstract: Embodiments of a Gas Turbine Engine (“GTE”) are provided, as are embodiments of a plasma flow-controlled intake system for deployment on a GTE. In one embodiment, the GTE includes a turbine section, a combustion section upstream of the turbine section, a compressor section upstream of the combustion section, and intake section upstream of the compressor section. The intake section includes a plenum, a first inlet fluidly coupled to the plenum, and a flow-obstructing structure projecting into the plenum and having an outer surface impinged by the airflow directed into the plenum through the first inlet during operation of the GTE. A first array of plasma actuators is disposed on flow-obstructing structure and, when activated, suppresses vortex shedding of the air flowing over the outer surface of the flow-obstructing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Mark Matwey
  • Patent number: 9303622
    Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine apparatus which comprises blades having an aerofoil profile. The apparatus is arranged to start up even in light wind conditions and to act as a lift type device at higher rotational speeds. The apparatus may comprise wind deflectors to concentrate wind through the apparatus. Further, the blades may be orientated at less than 90° to a radius line which leads to improved performance. Still further, the apparatus may be arranged to heat water by means of solar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Design Licensing International Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Graeme Scott Attey
  • Patent number: 9127692
    Abstract: A centrifugal blower including a hollow housing and an impeller having a plurality of blades disposed in the hollow housing, wherein the impeller causes a fluid received in a fluid inlet of the hollow housing to flow in a radially outward direction to a fluid outlet of the hollow housing. A guide device for directing the flow of the fluid in the blower is disposed in the fluid inlet of the hollow housing, the guide device including a shroud configured to militate against turbulence, noise, a recirculation of flow of the fluid at the fluid inlet, and interference between the guide device and balance weights of the blower during an assembly of the blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Halla Visteon Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Lakhi Nandlal Goenka
  • Publication number: 20150147163
    Abstract: Various fluid turbine systems and methods are described. The turbine can be a vertical axis wind turbine configured to generate power from wind energy. The turbine system can have a blade assembly. The blade assembly can have a plurality of blades rotatable about an axis. The turbine system can have a concentrator positionable upwind and in front of a return side of the blade assembly. The concentrator can define a convex surface facing the wind. The turbine system can also have a variable concentrator positionable upwind of a push side of the blade assembly. The variable concentrator can be adjustable between a first position and a second position, the variable concentrator being capable of deflecting more wind toward the turbine in the first position than in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: CALIFORNIA ENERGY & POWER
    Inventors: William DeRuyter, Michael Allawos, Peter L. Coye
  • Publication number: 20150110607
    Abstract: An inner surface of each first supporting hole of a shroud ring has on both sides in the axial direction of a turbine impeller two first bearing portions by which first nozzle shaft is rotatably supported. An inner surface of each second supporting hole of a nozzle ring has a second bearing portion by which a second nozzle shaft is rotatably supported. The fitting clearance between the second bearing portion and the second nozzle shaft is set larger than the fitting clearance between each of the first bearing portions and the first nozzle shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniaki IIZUKA, Yoshinari YOSHIDA, Yasushi ASADA, Osamu KAGIMOTO, Hideumi OHKUMA, Yohei SURUGA, Toshihiko KITAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9011081
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade of a turbomachine, in particular an adjustable guide blade or vane of a gas turbine, having at least one thickened area (18) on a pressure side (D) of the blade profile (P), wherein the thickened area (18) is disposed in a radially outer-lying, housing-side region of the blade (10), wherein the thickened area (18) is designed at a distance from a front edge (12) and a rear edge (14) of the blade (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Sergio Elorza Gomez, Rudolf Selmeier, Wilfried Schutte, Peter Eibelshauser, Harald Passrucker, Manfred Dupslaff
  • Patent number: 8997485
    Abstract: In a turbine for an exhaust gas turbocharger of an internal combustion engine comprising a turbine housing part, which has at least two spiral channels with respective inlets through which exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine is directed onto a turbine rotor disposed in the turbine housing part, the turbine housing part is disposed in an accommodating chamber, which is formed by a further housing part of the turbine, and from which accommodating chamber exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine can flow through the channel inlets into the spiral channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Sumser, Torsten Hirth
  • Patent number: 8984879
    Abstract: A variable geometry turbocharger is simplified yet able to maintain pulse energy. In a first embodiment, a turbine housing is provided with a pivoting wall which pivots about a point near the entry to the turbine housing. By moving the wall about the pivot point, the effective volume of the turbine housing volute is varied, thus effectively reducing the volume of exhaust gas in the volute, allowing control of exhaust gas flowing to the turbine wheel. In the second embodiment of the invention, a rotating wedge segment within the volute is rotated from a first position to a second position, changing the effective volume of the volute and allowing control of exhaust gas flowing to the turbine wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Watson, Tilman Bernauer, Kurtis E. Henderson, David G. Grabowska
  • Patent number: 8968437
    Abstract: An air inlet deflector for a structure having an air inlet. The deflector may be retractable within the structure, may be integrally formed with the structure, and may prevent the structure from ingesting foreign matter, such as birds. The deflector may include a series of ribs, spokes, or vanes that may vary in width and/or thickness from fore to aft, and/or may be curvilinear in one or more planes of view, and/or may serve double duty as inlet vanes for redirecting inlet air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Inventor: Michael J Kline
  • Publication number: 20150044034
    Abstract: An object is to provide a turbine housing assembly in which reduction of weight, facilitation of manufacture, cost-cutting, and reduction of heat capacity are further promoted compared to a conventional turbine housing made of sheet metal. A turbine housing assembly includes a plurality of constituent members connected to one another to constitute a turbine housing into which a turbine wheel is inserted. The turbine housing assembly at least includes a scroll part 2 and an exhaust part 8 of a tubular shape having a separate body separate from the scroll part 2. The scroll part 2 is formed by processing a single piece of sheet metal so that, on a back face side of a bottom face part 22 of the scroll part 2, a recess portion 22b on which a through-hole of an exhaust gas outlet 2B is formed and a projecting portion 22a formed by a bottom surface of an exhaust gas flow path 2A projecting toward the back face side are formed, the projecting portion 22a surrounding the recess portion 22b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Jinnai, Hiroyuki Arimizu, Koen Kramer
  • Publication number: 20150010391
    Abstract: An air shield apparatus includes a bracket and a number of baffles. The bracket includes a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to the first side plate. The first side plate defines a number of first shaft holes, and the second side plate defines a number of second shaft holes aligning with the first shaft holes. Each baffle includes a blocking piece between the first and second side plates, and two opposite posts protruding out from two opposite ends of the blocking piece. The posts of the baffles are pivotably received in the first shaft holes and the second shaft holes. An inner wall of each shaft hole defines a helical guiding groove. A helical sliding portion winds around each shaft. The sliding portion of each baffle is rotatably received in the corresponding guiding groove of the first and second side plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventor: XIAO-FENG MA
  • Publication number: 20150003968
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a nosecone assembly. The compressor section includes an inlet guide vane assembly including an inner shroud, an outer shroud, and an inlet guide vane extending from the inner shroud to the outer shroud. The nosecone assembly is attached to the inner shroud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: David Maliniak, Daniel J. Monahan, Jonathan D. Little, Veerachari J. Mayachari, Rakesh Sharma N. Dumavath, Arun Kumar Jayasingh, Herbert L. Walker
  • Publication number: 20140363269
    Abstract: A compressor control device includes an inlet guide vane opening degree control unit configured to control an opening degree of an inlet guide vane. The inlet guide vane opening degree control unit includes an inlet guide vane opening degree command value calculation unit configured to calculate an inlet guide vane opening degree command value based on an outlet pressure detection value and a plurality of inlet guide vane opening degree correction units each configured to correct the inlet guide vane opening degree command value based on the post-merger pressure detection value and a corresponding inlet flow rate detection value for each of a plurality of upstream-most compressor bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Takeda, Yosuke Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Miyata, Naoki Mori
  • Publication number: 20140356139
    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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Russell Hall, Shahab Natanzi
  • Publication number: 20140348641
    Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic cylinder for converting buoyancy energy of compressed gas into mechanical energy. The cylinder can include a pair of end plates disposed at opposite ends of the cylinder and a drive axle extending longitudinally through the cylinder and passing through the center of each end plate. The cylinder can also include a core support coupled to each end plate and centrally disposed in the cylinder and a plurality of vanes for promoting a low-drag flow. Each of the plurality of vanes is coupled to the core support and the pair of end plates. A bucket is defined by the core support, two of the plurality of vanes, and the pair of end plates. The cylinder further includes a vane support coupled to the plurality of vanes and the core support. The vane support defines a plurality of openings formed therein through which a gas can pass for equalizing pressure in the bucket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: GAVIN P. WILSON, SR., Conner C. Wilson, SR.
  • Publication number: 20140341706
    Abstract: A supersonic compressor provided may include an axial inlet and a centrifugal impeller fluidly coupled to the axial inlet. The centrifugal impeller may have a periphery and may be configured to impart energy to process fluid received via the axial inlet and discharge the process fluid from the periphery in at least a partially radial direction. The supersonic compressor may further include a static diffuser circumferentially disposed about the periphery of the centrifugal impeller and configured to receive the process fluid from the centrifugal impeller and convert the energy imparted. The static diffuser may include a plurality of diffuser vanes defining diffuser passageways therebetween. A supersonic ramp may be formed at an end of the at least one diffuser vane proximate the periphery of the centrifugal impeller. The supersonic ramp may be configured to generate a shock wave from the process fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Pascal Lardy, James M. Sorokes, Mark J. Kuzdzal
  • Publication number: 20140341710
    Abstract: A refrigerant compressor (10) for use in a chiller-heater system that can provide chilled water at less than 10° C. and hot water at more than 80° C. without the need for additional heat input, the compressor (10) being configured to provide a compression ratio of at least 18:1 and a temperature lift across the compressor of at least 80K, and the refrigerant fluid being selected to give the desired temperature lift without the pressure at the compressor outlet exceeding 25 bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Creamer