Resilient, Flexible, Or Resiliently Biased Patents (Class 415/174.2)
  • Patent number: 11408298
    Abstract: An assembly for a multistage turbine of a turbomachine has a static sealing device and a nozzle with a radially outer end and an outer casing surrounding the nozzle. The static sealing device is arranged radially between a radially outer end of the nozzle and the outer casing. The static sealing device includes an annular seal borne by the nozzle and an annular structure that defines a plurality of radial annular walls. The walls are axially spaced apart from one another, and at least one first wall is in annular contact radially inwardly with the annular seal. A longitudinal dimension of the annular contact is less than a longitudinal dimension of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventor: Frédéric Philippe Jean-Jacques Pardo
  • Patent number: 11221019
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes a radial impeller surrounded by a housing. The housing has a channel associated with a front side space between a cover of the impeller and the casing. Flow is led through the channel from a pressure region of the pump to a radial gap at a suction region of the pump. The flow in the channel reduces angular momentum and results in an increase in pressure in the front side space which acts of in the cover side of the impeller to offset axial force from a rear side of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: KSB SE & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Bjoern Will
  • Patent number: 11028718
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gas turbine engine including a turbine rotor, a turbine frame at least partially surrounding the turbine rotor, and an outer diameter seal assembly. The turbine rotor includes an inner shroud, an outer shroud, and at least one connecting airfoil coupling the inner shroud and the outer shroud. The outer shroud includes a plurality of outer shroud airfoils extended inward along a radial direction. The outer diameter seal assembly includes a sliding portion disposed between the turbine frame and the outer shroud of the turbine rotor. The outer diameter seal assembly defines a secondary tooth at the outer shroud radially inward of a longitudinal face of the sliding portion, and a primary tooth defined axially adjacent to a radial face of the sliding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson, Darek Tomasz Zatorski
  • Patent number: 11002364
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal includes a step-up structure step portion which is a step portion on a high-pressure side, a step-down structure step portion which is a step portion which is a step portion on a low-pressure side, a fin and an annular groove. The fin is arranged on the low-pressure side relative to the step-down structure step portion. The annular groove is arranged in at least a part of a region on the low-pressure side relative to the step-up structure step portion as well as on the high-pressure side relative to the third fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Morinaka
  • Patent number: 10724401
    Abstract: A turbine ring assembly includes both a plurality of ring sectors made of ceramic matrix composite material forming a turbine ring, and also a ring support structure. Each ring sector includes a portion forming an annular base with an inner face defining the inside space of the turbine ring and an outer face from which an attachment portion of the ring sector extends for attaching it to the ring support structure. The ring support structure includes two annular flanges between which the attachment portion of each ring sector is held. Each annular flange of the ring support structure presents at least one sloping portion bearing against the attachment portions of the ring sectors, the sloping portion, when observed in meridian section, forming a non-zero angle relative to the radial direction and relative to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Clement Roussille, Gael Evain, Adele Lyprendi, Lucien Quennehen
  • Patent number: 10428672
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a seal comprising: a shoe, and at least two beams coupled to the shoe, where a first width associated with the beams exceeds a second width associated with the shoe in a reference direction. Aspects of the disclosure are directed to an engine comprising: a compressor section, a turbine section, and a floating, non-contact seal that includes: a shoe, and at least two beams coupled to the shoe, where the beams extend past an edge of a flowpath surface associated with the shoe in a reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher J. Peters
  • Patent number: 10408074
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a seal comprising: a first leg that emanates from a center point of the seal and is configured to contact a first component, a second leg that emanates from the center point and is configured to contact a second component that is operative at a temperature that is within a range of 648 degrees Celsius to 1093 degrees Celsius, and a third leg that emanates from the center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Brian C. McLaughlin, Thomas E. Clark, Peter J. Milligan, Dairus Deylan McDowell, Jaimie Schweitzer, Jeremy Drake, Richard K. Hayford
  • Patent number: 10385711
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an elastic sheet used for a turbine follow-up suspended steam seal belt and a steam seal structure thereof, which comprises a plurality of elastic L-shaped metal sheets correspondingly overlapped on the same rim, one rim of the L-shaped metal sheet is a toothed rim, the toothed notches of the toothed rim extend laterally through the entire toothed rim so that the other rim of the L-shaped metal sheet can be bent longitudinally toward the toothed rim to form an arc shape; the toothed notches and the toothed tabs of the toothed rims of the plurality of L-shaped metal sheets are misoriented with each other to cover the toothed notches, and the other rim of the L-shaped metal sheet is fixed within the arc-shaped steam seal ring block along the steam seal ring teeth, the steam seal ring teeth extend out from the top of the toothed rim to seal the gap between the seal ring teeth and the turbine main shaft, and the toothed rims of the L-shaped metal sheet perform elastic beating recip
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: QINHUANGDAO YULIN ELECTRIC POWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hongcai Fan
  • Patent number: 10280929
    Abstract: A multistage centrifugal pump includes a housing, a rotatable shaft and first and second turbomachinery stages. The first turbomachinery stage includes a first diffuser connected to the housing, a first impeller connected to the rotatable shaft. The second turbomachinery stage includes a second diffuser connected to the housing and a second impeller connected to the rotatable shaft. The multistage centrifugal pump further includes an integral axial load and bearing system that includes at least one diffuser bushing and at least one impeller bearing. The integral axial load and bearing system permits the independent axial movement of the first and second impellers. The integral axial load and bearing system also provides an opposite force to up-thrust and down-thrust produced by the first and second turbomachinery stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS ESP, INC.
    Inventors: Vishal Gahlot, Colby Lane Loveless, Mark James
  • Patent number: 9404375
    Abstract: A shaft seal device includes a seal piece-laminated body with a plurality of thin seal pieces laminated in a circumferential direction along a rotating shaft. Outer ends of the plurality of thin seal pieces in the radial direction are connected to each other. Inner ends of the thin seal pieces in the radial direction are formed as free ends. A small gap is formed between each adjacent pair of the thin seal pieces. A small gap is formed between the rotating shaft and the seal piece-laminated body. A wear-resistant treatment layer is formed on a surface of a portion of each of the thin seal pieces close to the inner end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Uehara, Tanehiro Shinohara, Takashi Nakano, Shin Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 9017018
    Abstract: An annular seal positionable in a gap is disclosed herein. The annular seal includes a plurality of leaves positioned about a center axis. Each leaf extends to a distal end that is elastically deflectable relative to the center axis to accommodate changes in a size of the gap. The annular seal also includes a ring encircling the center axis and at least partially interconnecting the plurality of leaves together for concurrent installation and removal. The annular seal also includes a plurality of tabs projecting from the ring along the center axis. Each of the tabs is directly connected to at least one of the plurality of leaves such that elastic deformation of one of the plurality of leaves induces bending in the corresponding tab before inducing bending in the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Wade Alan Vest
  • Publication number: 20150104291
    Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing a fluid passageway from contaminants is disclosed. The fluid passageway is formed by a rotating shaft entering an opening in a housing. The fluid passageway connects an interior of the housing, and any exterior of the housing. The seal assembly includes a first sealing member and a second sealing member, which divides the fluid passage into an interior section, an open section, and a sealed section. The interior section is exposed to the interior of the housing. The sealed section is fluidly sealed between the interior section and the open section. A sensor is disposed within the sealed section. The sensor is configured to sense the contaminants within the sealed section and is electronically coupled to a controller configured to send an alarm signal. The sensor is a moisture sensor and extends into an annular recess formed in the stationary member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Randy J. Kosmicki, Michael L. Viken
  • Patent number: 8961116
    Abstract: An exhaust plenum for connection to an exhaust outlet portion of a gas turbine for receiving turbine exhaust gas. The exhaust plenum includes a first wall. The first wall includes a seal attachment component in thermal contact with an exterior shell of the first wall and is adapted for attaching an annular flex seal to the first wall. The seal attachment component extends generally around a perimeter of the inlet of the exhaust plenum, and is thermally insulated from an interior space of the exhaust plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Braden Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Laquinnia Lawson, Jr., Stephen W. Bigham
  • Publication number: 20150023782
    Abstract: A flow generator includes a housing, a blower structured to generate a flow of pressurized breathable air, and a suspension device to support the blower within the housing and provide a pressure seal between low and high pressure sides of the blower. The suspension device includes a bellows-like portion provided along the perimeter of the blower to absorb shock applied at least radially to the blower and one or more cones provided along upper and/or lower sides of the blower to absorb shock applied at least axially to the blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Allan Freas Velzy, Samuel Aziz Mebasser, Roman Vinokur, Kevin Gene McCulloh, Michael David Bednar, Karl Yutaka Iwahashi, David Brent Sears, Peter Jeffrey Thomas, Yeu-chuan Hsia, Hiroshi Suzuki, Benjamin An Shing Chao
  • Patent number: 8932001
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods and apparatus for providing a labyrinth seal. In an example embodiment, a method is provided for sealing a flow path between a stationary element and a rotating element of a turbomachine. The method can include disposing at least one fixture on an inner surface of a stationary element associated with the turbomachine; disposing a packing ring linked via a spring element to the fixture wherein the packing ring comprises at least one bore; and disposing, according to a predetermined profile, a plurality of interdigitated packing ring teeth and rotor teeth intermediate to the packing ring and the rotating element; wherein the bore, packing ring teeth, and rotor teeth, cooperate to counter a moment associated with one or more axial forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Hrishikesh Deo, Binayak Roy
  • Patent number: 8888441
    Abstract: Systems and devices for sealing portions of a rotary machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal assembly element includes: a head flange; an axial neck connected to the head flange, wherein the axial neck includes a mating flange extending circumferentially from a distal end of the seal assembly element, the mating flange configured to form a multidirectional seal with a recessed portion of a complementary seal assembly element; and a set of axial seal teeth connected to the axial neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Jordy, William Edward Adis, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Dexter Andrew Young
  • Patent number: 8882446
    Abstract: A bearing system for a rotor in rotating machines, such as compressors, pumps, turbines, expanders, has points of bearing and sealing for the rotor each being in the form of a combined bearing and sealing formed by a stator situated within a rotating machine house and surrounding the rotor. The stator is formed with a bore, whereby an annular clearance is created between stator and rotor, and the bore is having sectional area gradually increasing in the direction of larger pressure within the rotating machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Statoil Petroleum AS
    Inventor: Harald Underbakke
  • Patent number: 8882453
    Abstract: A rotor element including an annular surface portion about the rotor rotational axis, a fluid passage being formed through the surface portion, a passage-blocking mechanism including a blocking element that is deformable depending on the rotor rotating speed and arranged so as to adjust the fluid flow depending on the rotor rotating speed, and an annular collar with a free edge engaging with the blocking element so as to form the blocking mechanism. The free edge of the annular collar defines, together with the blocking portion of the blocking element, a diaphragm that blocks the fluid passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Stephane Rousselin
  • Patent number: 8864443
    Abstract: A sealing structure in which free-cutting spacers on a sealing base plate and sealing fins on a rotor are opposed to each other is provided. The sealing base plate is disposed so as to be movable in an axial direction of the rotor. When a steam turbine increases in load, a pressure head moves in an axial steam-pressure loading direction of the rotor and the sealing base plate connected to the pressure head moves in the axial steam-pressure loading direction. Since the free-cutting spacers at positions opposed to those of the sealing fins existing after the movement of the sealing base plate are maintained in a non-contact state, clearances between the sealing fins and the free-cutting spacers are dimensionally minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Narita, Haruyuki Yamazaki, Takeshi Kudo, Kenichi Murata
  • Patent number: 8845276
    Abstract: Fluid-powered devices are detailed. The devices may be utilized as motors or pumps, for example, and are capable to switching dynamically between these functions. They additionally may use surface-area, rather than solely pressure, differentials to produce rotary motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Johannes Van Der Meijden, Michael Edward Moore
  • Patent number: 8845284
    Abstract: An apparatus for restricting fluid flow in a turbo-machine is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a first inter-stage sealing member configured to be located between a first rotating airfoil stage and a second rotating airfoil stage attached to a rotor shaft, the first inter-stage sealing member including a segmented structure that includes a plurality of segments forming a circumferential surface, the first inter-stage sealing member including: a first base portion including a securing mechanism configured to at least substantially radially and tangentially secure the inter-stage sealing member to an inter-stage support structure; a first axial retention mechanism; and a first axially extending sealing portion configured to be outwardly radially loaded against at least one of the first rotating airfoil stage and the second rotating airfoil stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Raymond Farrell, Gary Charles Liotta, Ian David Wilson
  • Publication number: 20140271149
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique machine. A further embodiment is a unique self-aligning foil bearing system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for machines and self-aligning foil bearing systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Steven A. Klusman
  • Patent number: 8834101
    Abstract: An improved mechanical seal assembly is provided for hydro transport applications and other similar applications, such as large high pressure slurry pumps. This mechanical seal is used in large scale pumps having an axially adjustable shaft to accommodate high wear applications by maintaining suitable pump performance. The improved seal is a cartridge seal that includes a stationary seal adapter which is mounted to a pump casing and has a static gasket sealingly contacting a movable gland which non-rotatably supports the stationary seal rings of a mechanical seal. Additional seal rings are rotatably supported on the shaft wherein these rotatable and non-rotatable seal components are movable axially with the shaft to improve pump performance in high-wear conditions. The gland and non-rotatable seal rings are supported on and move with a bearing housing, along with the shaft and its seal rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventor: James A Monnot
  • Patent number: 8834106
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a seal body and a biasing support member. The seal body includes a generally annular shape that defines an outer diameter surface. The biasing support member is circumferentially disposed about the outer diameter surface of the ceramic matrix composite seal body and includes an array of spring fingers that circumferentially overlap about the biasing support member. The array of spring fingers contacts the seal body and centers the seal body relative to the centerline axis of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Blake J. Luczak
  • Publication number: 20140255170
    Abstract: A component of a gas turbine engine is formed from a continuous fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC). The component has a sealing portion which, in use, makes sealing contact with an adjacent component of the engine. The sealing portion comprises a recess formed in the CMC and filled with a finer grade ceramic relative to the surrounding CMC, a metal or an intermetallic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Steven Hillier
  • Patent number: 8821113
    Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a bearing housing with a shaft bore. A rotor shaft is arranged in the shaft bore and includes knife edges extending from the rotor shaft. A seal engages the shaft bore and includes an outer diameter and an inner diameter providing a seal land axially aligned with the knife edges. A radial clearance between the seal land and the knife edges is nominally 0.006 inch. The inner diameter is arranged between lateral sides of the seal that define a width. In one example, a tapered surface extending at an angle relative to the outer diameter from the lateral side to the seal land, the tapered surface facing the large end. The outer diameter to the inner diameter provides a first ratio of 1.25-1.28, and the inner diameter to the width provides a second ratio of 4.33-5.58.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Victoria S. Richardson, Lawrence Binek, Craig M. Beers
  • Patent number: 8813359
    Abstract: A process is provided for manufacturing leaf seals for effecting seals between coaxial, relatively rotating components. Each leaf seal has an annular pack of leaves which are stacked face-to-face, and are mountable to one of the components at respective root portions of the leaves. The annular pack has a pack radius at the wiping contact edges which is matched within tolerance limits to the radius of the sealing surface. The process includes: determining production parameters for the production of a plurality of leaf seals, the parameters being determined such that at least a portion of the produced leaf seals will have pack radii which violate the tolerance limit; producing the leaf seals using the determined production parameters; and modifying the pack radii of the portion of the produced leaf seals which violate the tolerance limit such that the modified pack radii match the sealing surface within the tolerance limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventor: Ingo Henry Johannes Jahn
  • Patent number: 8794632
    Abstract: A leaf seal assembly (20) for providing a seal between a first member and a second member (10), the leaf seal assembly comprising a plurality of leaf elements (22) and a first substantially planar cover plate (24a), the leaf elements being arranged in a pack, with a first edge of each leaf element being adjacent to the first cover plate, wherein each leaf element comprises a first shoulder (30a) in the first edge, the first shoulder being arranged so as to form a first gap (28a) between the first edge of each leaf element and the first cover plate over a portion of the first edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Ingo H. J. Jahn
  • Patent number: 8789833
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a first stationary component, a second stationary component positioned radially outside the first stationary component, a first key feature on the first stationary component configured to mate to a second key feature on the second stationary component and a seal assembly positioned between the first and second key features to reduce fluid flow between the first and second key features. The seal assembly includes a V-shape member and a second member adjacent to the V-shape member, the second member and V-shape member having different rates of thermal expansion. The seal assembly also includes a latch feature coupled to the V-shape member configured to expand the seal assembly from a compressed state to an expanded sealing state when the seal assembly is subject to an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqing Zheng, Mehmet Demiroglu, Guoqiang Lu, Michael Dennis Mack, Binayak Roy
  • Patent number: 8777563
    Abstract: A brush seal assembly for turbomachinery having a rotor can include a stationary seal component, a floating seal component coupled to the stationary seal component and circumferentially angled bristles arranged in a bristle pack, disposed in the floating seal component and extended axially with respect to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate, Norman Arnold Turnquist, William Edward Adis, Robert Gerard Baran, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Robbert Christiaan Pannekeet, Keith Michael Parker, Xiaoqing Zheng
  • Patent number: 8753073
    Abstract: A turbine shroud sealing apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) an arcuate shroud segment comprising a low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces of the segment; and (b) a first seal assembly received in at least one slot formed in the first end face, the first seal assembly comprising one or more spline seals which protrude from the first end face and which are arranged to define a continuous sealing surface around the perimeter of the first end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech
  • Patent number: 8752288
    Abstract: A first process is provided for forming a stack of leaves for use in a leaf seal which effects a seal between two components. Corresponding processes are provided for forming a leaf-spacer pair and then for forming a stack of leaves from such pairs. Each leaf of the stack has a leaf section which maintains wiping contact with one of the components and a root section which is fixed relative to the other component and from which the leaf section extends. The stack includes a plurality of spacers which interpose between the root sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: David S. Williams, Ingo H. J. Jahn, Gervas Franceschini
  • Patent number: 8721263
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes at least one impeller (4) and at least one sealing arrangement arranged between the impeller (4) and a housing wall. The sealing arrangement seals a suction side of the impeller (4) with respect to a pressure side of the impeller (4). The sealing arrangement including a seal (12) fastened on the impeller (4) in a rotationally fixed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventor: Jorgen Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8708638
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for active gap monitoring for a continuous flow machine, in particular an aircraft propulsion device, which has a rotor and a housing which surrounds the rotor forming a rotor gap, is disclosed. The apparatus having a cooling channel which is arranged on the external circumference of the rotor housing and is supplied with cooling air from a plenum. The cross section of the cooling channel decreases from the plenum in the circumferential direction. This ensures homogenous cooling and reduces the weight of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Morgenstern, Rudolf Stanka
  • Patent number: 8701415
    Abstract: A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a flexible metallic seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Scott Flanagan, Jeffrey Scott LeBegue, Kevin Weston McMahan, Daniel Jackson Dillard, Ronnie Ray Pentecost
  • Patent number: 8622691
    Abstract: The invention provides a supercharger which is provided with a thrust bearing in an outer side of a radial bearing, and can smoothly discharge a fed lubricating oil from a bearing portion so as to reduce a resistance generated by the lubricating oil. The supercharger is provided with a thrust bearing (30) rotatably supporting a thrust force applied to a turbine shaft (12). The thrust bearing (30) is constituted by a disc-shaped thrust collar (32) rotating together with the turbine shaft, and a turbine side thrust bearing (34) and a compressor side thrust bearing (36) inhibiting a movement in an axial direction of the thrust collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Eguchi, Kazuhiro Onitsuka, Masahiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8616840
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement is provided, including a sealing ring for sealing two machine elements from one another, the sealing ring being conFIGUREd in an installation space for the second machine element that is open toward the first machine element to be sealed, and sealingly contacting the surface to be sealed of the first machine element, by way of at least one dynamically loaded first sealing lip. The sealing ring is arranged under elastic axial and radial preloading within the installation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Ivan Ristic, Dieter Von Borstel
  • Patent number: 8613590
    Abstract: An article of manufacture has a body formed in part of a first metal alloy and in part of a second metal alloy, the second metal alloy having a thermal coefficient of expansion that is less than the thermal coefficient of expansion of the first metal alloy. A BOAS segment for a gas turbine engine is disclosed wherein the formation of cracks due to thermal mechanical fatigue in the body of the disclosed BOAS segment is minimized, if not eliminated, through a unique construction of the disclosed BOAS segment, whether original equipment manufacture or a repaired blade outer air seal. A method for manufacture of a BOAS segment and a method for modifying a BOAS segment are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Philip R. Belanger, Susan M. Tholen
  • Patent number: 8608436
    Abstract: A connection between an annular sleeve on a gas turbine engine first rotor component includes an annular tapered conical slot extending axially inwardly into the sleeve from an annular opening and tapers axially into the sleeve from the opening. An annular rim of a second rotor component is received within the conical slot and includes a rim inner conical surface mating with and contacting a sleeve inner conical surface in part bounding the conical slot. A sleeve cylindrical outer surface in part bounds the conical slot in the sleeve and a rim outer cylindrical surface on the annular rim contacts the sleeve cylindrical outer surface. An annular lip may extend radially inwardly from the sleeve and sleeve inner conical surface at the annular opening to the conical slot. The connection may be used between a first stage disk and an interstage seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Wines, James Hamilton Grooms, Craig William Higgins
  • Patent number: 8568092
    Abstract: A turbocharger including a sealing device for prevention of fluid leakage from high to low pressure sides through a radially extending annular gap formed between a shroud and a shroud-confronting portion which constitute the turbocharger is provided. The sealing device includes a frustoconical disc spring seal member arranged in a pressed manner in the gap between the shroud and the shroud-confronting portion. Accordingly, fluid leakage from high to low pressure sides through an annular gap formed between constructional members of a turbocharger and extending radially of a turbine shaft may be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 8534076
    Abstract: A combustor-turbine seal interface is provided for deployment within a gas turbine engine. In one embodiment, the combustor-turbine assembly a combustor, a turbine nozzle downstream of the combustor, and a first compliant dual seal assembly. The first compliant dual seal assembly includes a compliant seal wall sealingly coupled between the combustor and the turbine nozzle, a first compression seal sealingly disposed between the compliant seal wall and the turbine nozzle, and a first bearing seal generally defined by the compliant seal wall and the turbine nozzle. The first bearing seal is sealingly disposed in series with the first compression seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell Internationl Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory O. Woodcock, Bradley Reed Tucker, Jason Smoke, Stony Kujala, Terrel Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8517673
    Abstract: A lamellar seal for sealing a shaft which rotates around an axis, especially in a gas turbine, includes a multiplicity of lamella (13) which are spaced one beneath the other, arranged in a concentric circle around the axis, and fixed in their position, wherein the lamellae (13) by their surfaces are oriented essentially parallel to the axis. The lamellar seal is improved by the fact that the lamellae (13) have formed-on structures (19, 20, 21) in each case for positioning and retaining the lamellae (13) in the lamellar seal (12), which include one or more laterally projecting support arms (19, 20, 21) which engage in complementarily formed recesses (25, 26) of the end plates (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Günter Ambrosy, Matthias Höbel, Ernst Vogt, Josef Hafner
  • Publication number: 20130177387
    Abstract: A spring seal includes a split body portion with a first leg and a second leg that extend away from a plane and a projection portion which extends from the split body portion within the plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventor: Philip Robert Rioux
  • Publication number: 20130170964
    Abstract: The present application provides a stage of a turbine engine. The stage may include a bucket, a shroud facing the bucket, and a contoured honeycomb seal on the shroud. The contoured honeycomb seal may include a first step with a first shape and a second step with a contoured shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rohit Chouhan, Georgia L. Fleming, Sumeet Soni
  • Patent number: 8475118
    Abstract: Within such machines as gas turbine engines it is desirable to provide close association between rotating assemblies and a rotor path arrangement to reduce leakage. However, such arrangements of rotor assemblies and rotor path arrangements are subject to thermal cycling and differentials between the respective parts can lead to rub associations. In order to allow closer thermal responses between the respective rotor path arrangement and rotor assembly, a flexible assembly is provided for a liner. A face surface is presented upon a backer plate or floating ring such that the thermal response can be tuned to the reciprocal similar effects under the same conditions of the rotor assembly. In such circumstances, closer gap control can be achieved. Furthermore, rather than requiring an entire integral casing to be overhauled, generally only the face surfaces and/or the flexible assembly will require remedial action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Thomas Gerard Mulcaire, Steven Aleksy Radomski
  • Patent number: 8469656
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil seal system of a turbine engine having a seal base with a plurality of seal strips extending therefrom for sealing gaps between rotational airfoils and adjacent stationary components. The seal strips may overlap each other and may be generally aligned with each other. The seal strips may flex during operation to further reduce the gap between the rotational airfoils and adjacent stationary components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Ihor S. Diakunchak
  • Publication number: 20130142630
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil seal system of a turbine engine having a seal base with a plurality of seal strips extending therefrom for sealing gaps between rotational airfoils and adjacent stationary components. The seal strips may overlap each other and may be generally aligned with each other. The seal strips may flex during operation to further reduce the gap between the rotational airfoils and adjacent stationary components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS POWER GENERATION, INC.
    Inventor: Ihor S. Diakunchak
  • Patent number: 8434999
    Abstract: A spline seal for a hot gas path component is provided. The spline seal may include a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer may have a first volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The second metal layer may be disposed adjacent the first metal layer and have a second volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The second volumetric thermal expansion coefficient may be higher than the first volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. When the spline seal is exposed to a heat source, the first and second metal layers may deform to provide a seal between the hot gas path component and an adjacent hot gas path component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sergio Daniel Marques Amaral, Gary Michael Itzel, Xiuzhang James Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130108418
    Abstract: The present application provides a seal assembly for a turbine. The seal assembly may include a first metal shim, a second metal shim, and one or more flexible layers positioned between the first metal shim and the second metal shim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Victor J. Morgan, Neelesh N. Sarawate, David W. Weber
  • Patent number: 8425178
    Abstract: A fan casing (2) for a jet engine has a burst protection arrangement (7) made up of layers at least in an area of fan blades (5). To contain detached fan blades (5) within a fan casing (2) of a jet engine by use of a low-weight and easily manufacturable burst protection arrangement (7), the fan casing (2) is made of a fiber-composite material which itself forms at least one layer provided with at least one inorganic, non-metallic protective layer (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Olaf Lenk