Convolute Spring Coaxial With Impeller Shaft Patents (Class 416/137)
  • Patent number: 10975840
    Abstract: A wind power plant has at least one rotor. The rotor has at least two rotor blades and each rotor blade is rotatable about a substantially radially aligned adjustment axis. At least one angle adjustment device is provided for adjustment of the rotor blades. The angle adjustment device has a control disk and at least two cam disks interacting with the control disk. Each cam disk is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. The rotation axis of the respective cam disk coincides, and is in particular superimposed, together with the respective adjustment axis of the respective rotor blade. The noise development, the maintenance expense, and/or costs of a wind power plant are reduced in that the cam disks are functionally effectively permanently coupled via at least one coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: Klaus Krieger, Martin Van Egeren
  • Patent number: 10676201
    Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) actuator can include an actuator housing, an actuator rod configured to move relative to the actuator housing through several positions, and a first biasing member, a second biasing member, and a third biasing member positioned and configured to bias the actuator rod relative to the actuator housing. The first biasing member biases the actuator rod from a first position through a second position, the second biasing member biases the actuator rod from the first position through a third position, and the third biasing member biases the actuator rod from the first position through a fourth position. The three biasing members can be configured to bias a ram air turbine against an uplock hook with sufficient force to eliminate vibrational damage to the uplock hook while in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Harrington, Paul M. Reinhard
  • Patent number: 10421363
    Abstract: A drive for a boat, in particular a sailing boat, comprising an electric motor configured for the operation in the first quadrant and in the fourth quadrant, a propeller connected to the electric motor, and a control device. The control device is configured to operate the electric motor in the fourth quadrant in such a way that flow energy transmitted via the propeller to the electric motor is regenerated into electrical power. The control device is further configured to operate the electric motor such that a product of the propeller's pitch and rotational speed is smaller than a relative flow speed between the water and the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Biebach
  • Patent number: 10151323
    Abstract: A ceiling fan capable of adjusting angles of fan blades includes a hub, a downrod, a rotating motor selectively driving the hub to rotate relative to the downrod, multiple blade assemblies separately mounted on and arranged around the hub, and an adjusting assembly mounted in the hub and including an outer tube, an inner tube, a support, and a driving motor. A driving rod of each of the blade assemblies is mounted in a driving annular recess of the support. When a driving screw of the driving motor rotates, the driving screw drives the outer tube to rotate and drives the inner tube to move upwardly or downwardly accordingly, so as to provide an optimized volume of air current that meets power saving requirement under a constant revolution speed of the rotating motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Eten Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Hui-Tsu Chia
  • Patent number: 9884675
    Abstract: A system includes a linear-displacement fluidic actuator coaxial with the propeller, and a transmission device connecting the actuator to the blades that are to be controlled. The transmission device includes at least two radial arms arranged symmetrically with respect to the actuator and connected, on the inside, to a translationally mobile part of the actuator and, on the outside, to a translationally movable rotary transmission ring which is connected to the pivot pins of the blades by intermediate connecting mechanisms that convert the translational movement of the rotary ring brought about by the actuator into a rotation of the blades of the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Augustin Curlier, Olivier Belmonte
  • Patent number: 9598980
    Abstract: A ram air turbine assembly includes a governor shaft rotatable about an axis and a stop shaft coupled for rotation with the governor shaft. A rotatable housing portion surrounds at least a portion of the stop shaft. A lock plunger extends through an opening in the rotatable housing portion to prevent rotation of the rotatable housing portion and minimize vibration impact loading when stowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Bannon, David E. Russ
  • Patent number: 9567049
    Abstract: A self-adjustable pitch marine vessel propeller attached to a shaft is driven by an engine of a marine vessel, and includes a substantially cylindrical hollow hub and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and being capable of rotating around an axis being in a radial direction relative to the hub. The propeller comprises an actuator movable linearly along the axis of the hub and at least one motion transmission means communicating with the actuator and each blade for converting the linear motion of the actuator into the rotational motion of each blade in a radial direction relative to the axis of the hub and a resilient member communicating with the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: Mehmet Nevres Ulgen
  • Patent number: 9284063
    Abstract: A tail cone integrated ram air turbine (RAT) includes a rotatable segment of an aircraft tail cone configured to deploy a set of RAT blades. The tail cone integrated RAT also includes a power transfer shaft connected between the rotatable segment and configured to transfer power to from the rotatable segment to an auxiliary power unit (APU). The tail cone integrated RAT further includes a controller connected to the APU and configured to control power output from the APU. When emergency power for an aircraft is needed, the set of RAT blades is deployed from the rotatable segment of an aircraft tail cone. Mechanical power from the rotatable segment is transferred to an APU generator to produce emergency electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Himmelmann, Stephen E. Tongue
  • Patent number: 8876474
    Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) in which a cam follower is operably coupled to turbine blades such that a cam follower position determines turbine blade pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: David Everett Russ
  • Patent number: 8814520
    Abstract: A ram air turbine assembly includes a preferentially located mass that modifies the resonance frequency of the assembly so that vibration is reduced to desired levels. The example mass can be fixed in a specific location on the ram air turbine or can be deployable once the ram air turbine is moved to an operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David Everett Russ, David G. Bannon
  • Patent number: 8764398
    Abstract: A concentrated-mass device including a main oscillating mass held radially in a horizontal plane by main resilient means inside a casing suitable for being secured to the hub is provided. The device includes a secondary main oscillating mass suspended by secondary resilient means inside a recess in said main oscillating mass to oscillate along a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the secondary oscillating mass being constrained to move in translation together with the main oscillating mass in the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Vincent Girard, Stéphane Mazet
  • Patent number: 8142155
    Abstract: Provided are a wind turbine generator and a method for constructing a wind turbine generator that allow for alleviation of construction costs, particularly for large wind turbine generators, and alleviation of limitations on construction due to weather. Provided are a rotor head that has a plurality of wind turbine rotor blades and that is rotated by wind power received by the plurality of wind turbine rotor blades, a front segment disposed on top of a tower and constituting a nacelle to which the rotor head is attached, a rear segment attached to the front segment and constituting the nacelle, a front frame disposed in the front segment and positioned between the rotor head and the tower so as to support a load on the rotor head, a rear frame disposed in the rear segment and attached to the front frame, a front cover covering the periphery of the front segment, and a rear cover covering the periphery of the rear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Numajiri, Hisao Miyake, Masaaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8047791
    Abstract: Provided are a wind turbine generator and a method for constructing a wind turbine generator that allow for alleviation of construction costs, particularly for large wind turbine generators, and alleviation of limitations on construction due to weather. Provided are a rotor head that has a plurality of wind turbine rotor blades and that is rotated by wind power received by the plurality of wind turbine rotor blades, a front segment disposed on top of a tower and constituting a nacelle to which the rotor head is attached, a rear segment attached to the front segment and constituting the nacelle, a front frame disposed in the front segment and positioned between the rotor head and the tower so as to support a load on the rotor head, a rear frame disposed in the rear segment and attached to the front frame, a front cover covering the periphery of the front segment, and a rear cover covering the periphery of the rear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Numajiri, Hisao Miyake, Masaaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 7789624
    Abstract: The present invention is for an apparatus and method for a passive pitchable device for wind turbines comprising: a camshaft having cam grooves engraved; a cylindrical shell; an axial compression spring; said blade assembly and said cylindrical shell are fastened together by screws; a plurality of balls that roll along said cam grooves, and convert the axial displacement to rotation or pitch angle; and wherein the passive pitchable device ensures said blades are at the optimum angle of incidence in the stationary position; as the rotor turns, the net force between centrifugal force on said blade and the resistant force from said compression spring causes the device to move axially outward while rotating to adjust the pitch of the rotor blade so that angle of incidence is optimal for the given wind speed; as the wind speed exceeds the design speed and the centrifugal force on the rotor blade continues to increase, the device continues the move axially outward while rotating in the opposite direction as to adju
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventors: Kari Appa, Suri Appa
  • Patent number: 7179054
    Abstract: An axial fan has a blade support wheel coupled to a drive shaft. A disk is positioned about the drive shaft adjacent the wheel. A torsion spring is coupled to the wheel and to the disk. When the torsion spring is in tension, the disk is poised for a relative rotation about the drive shaft. A lock couples the disk to the wheel when the torsion spring is in tension. Fan blades are supported by the wheel, and are coupled to the disk. Rotation of the drive shaft rotates the fan blades generating a specific flow direction. To reverse the flow direction, a release mechanism uncouples the lock from the disk and wheel causing the disk to experience rotation about the drive shaft as tension in the torsion spring is released. The disk's relative rotation re-positions the fan blades reversing the flow direction as the drive shaft continues to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Guy F. Borges
  • Patent number: 6554573
    Abstract: A rotor is intended to rotate in a fluid flowing in a flow direction and comprises a plurality of rotor blades, at the most four blades, which are arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation. Each blade forms a single-curved surface, the generatrix of which extends in a plane normal to the axis of rotation, and an imaginary plane interconnecting the leading edge and trailing edge of the blade forms an acute angle with the axis of rotation. In addition, each blade is pivotally mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot shaft in order to adjust the acute angle, the pivot shaft extends in a plane that is normal to the axis of rotation and is parallel to and spaced a distance from an imaginary radius radiating from the axis of rotation. The rotor is very silent and provides efficient energy conversion, for example extraction of wind power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Vind-Och Vattenturbiner
    Inventor: Rikard Pedersen
  • Patent number: 6126399
    Abstract: A featherable propeller assembly for fitment to a drive shaft has a blade carrying assembly which is carried by a hub assembly. The blade carrying assembly is rotatable relative to the hub assembly within relative limits of rotation. Blades are pivotally mounted on the blade carrying assembly. The relative rotation of the hub assembly and blade carrying assembly provides for different positions of respective stop abutments, thus allowing the blades to assume each of the following conditions: (a) a forward drive condition under a forward drive rotation of the shaft; (b) a feathering condition when not under drive from the shaft where the blades are substantially free to move into an orientation which is aligned with the flow of water past the propeller; and (c) a reverse driving condition under a reverse drive rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventors: Bryan Allen Bartley, John McKenzie Blundell
  • Patent number: 5593280
    Abstract: In a propeller for a boat, a plurality of stationary blades and a plurality of variable blades are alternately disposed around an outer periphery of a propeller boss. Exhaust passages are formed in the propeller boss to axially pass through the propeller boss at location corresponding to the stationary blades. Despite the provision of the variable blade which is variable in diameter or pitch, the exhaust passage can be formed into a large sectional area in the blade boss without being obstructed by a blade shaft for the variable blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideaki Takada, Takao Aihara, Ikuo Nakazato
  • Patent number: 5562417
    Abstract: A control mechanism is provided which feathers the propeller blade pitch during stopping and stores restart energy in the blade pitch governor mechanism. Deceleration to the feathered mode is aided by the airstream. During restart, excess stored energy is used to increase reliability, but is then dissipated mechanically, as by a flywheel mechanism, to maintain low internal impact stresses. More specifically, where single governor spring is used for controlling the pitch of all propeller blades, a braked ball screw device is used to compress that spring during stoppage. Upon restart, the governor spring expands and causes blade pitch change. The ball screw arrangement then dissipates a large portion of the excess energy through torque transmission to mechanical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Grimm, David G. Bannon, Richard Walsh
  • Patent number: 5366343
    Abstract: A self-adjusting variable-pitch propeller has a drive shaft rotatable about a shaft axis in a predetermined forward rotational sense, a hub carried on the drive shaft and limitedly rotatable relative thereto about the shaft axis both in the forward rotational sense and in an opposite backward rotational sense, and a spring operatively braced between the hub and the shaft for rotationally urging the hub on the shaft in the forward rotational sense. A plurality of blades projecting radially from the hub are each rotatable about a respective blade axis generally perpendicular to the shaft axis. Respective rods extending axially in the hub each have an inner end at a respective one of the blades and an outer end. Respective linkages connecting the inner ends of the rods to the respective blades angular displace the blades about the respective axes on relative displacement of the rods and hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Dr. Alexander Landolt
    Inventor: Peter Muller
  • Patent number: 5290147
    Abstract: A marine propeller includes a hub rotatable about a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly therefrom and pivotable about respective radial pivot axes between a low pitch position and a high pitch position. A disc has a plurality of guide slots each receiving and retaining a respective lever arm extending rearwardly within the hub from a respective blade. A biasing spring coaxial with the longitudinal axis of rotation of the hub biases the disc to in turn bias the lever arms and blades to the low pitch position. The disc is a generally flat planar plate-like member extending radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis at the rear of the hub and includes a preload mechanism accessible at the rear of the hub for adjusting the bias. The disc restricts movement of the lever arms along the guide slots such that the lever arms can move only in unison, which prevents blade flutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Karls, Roger E. Koepsel, Ronald M. Steiner
  • Patent number: 5257907
    Abstract: An undesirably long axial length of a ram air turbine may be reduced in a construction including a hub (110) mounted for rotation about a rotational axis (112), at least one turbine blade (114) rotatably mounted on the hub (110) for rotation between coarse and fine pitch positions about a blade pitch axis (116) which is different from the rotational axis (112) and a counterweight assembly (120) for each turbine blade (114) and mounted on the hub (110) for rotation between coarse and fine pitch positions about the blade pitch axis (116) in spaced relation to the rotational axis (114) and disposed when rotated about the rotational axis (112) to bias the turbine blade (114) towards its coarse pitch position. A limited lost motion connection (143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150) is located between the turbine blade (114) and the counterweight assembly (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Seidel
  • Patent number: 5213470
    Abstract: A wind turbine assembly including a rotor body having mounted thereon a plurality of rotor blades. Each of the rotor blades may be joined at an inner extremity to a blade stem projection extending interiorly into the rotor body and secured to the rotor body by a torsional-spaced and axial-shock damping connection. The blade stem projection may also be secured within the rotor body in a manner allowing limited rotation of the blade stem projection relative to the rotor body, corresponding to a selective range of pitch of the associated rotor blade, with a system for rotating a blade stem projections of each of the rotor blades by corresponding degrees of rotation to provide a predetermined pitch of the rotor blades. Also disclosed are pitch-damping tower designs, and an integrated design wherein the tower is pitch- and yaw-damped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignees: Robert E. Lundquist, Steven J. Hultquist
    Inventor: Robert E. Lundquist
  • Patent number: 4743163
    Abstract: A blade pitch control mechanism for a ram air driven turbine blade mounted for rotation on a hub assembly having a central axis. A governor control member, including a seat, is mounted on a portion of the hub assembly for reciprocation along the central axis. A first spring acts on the governor control member in a first axial direction. A governor slide member is mounted for reciprocation along the central axis. The blade is in mating engagement with the governor slide member. A second spring acts between the governor slide member and the seat of the governor control member for biasing the slide member opposite the first axial direction. This causes the blade to assume a course pitch when the blade and hub assembly are in storage and to allow the blade to move to fine pitch during start-up. A flyweight is mounted on the hub assembly and engages the governor control member for acting against the first spring to control blade pitch and govern turbine speed after start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Albert L. Markunas, Mordehy Cohen
  • Patent number: 4678923
    Abstract: A windmill for generating electricity in which each blade of the air-screw is connected to the hub by means of at least two resilient strips which are oppositely inclined both in the plane of rotation of the blade and in a plane extending through the rotational axis of the hub. This arrangement results in automatic pitch increase of the blades with increase of air-screw rotation due to the increasing centrifugal force exerted on the blades. This regulates air-screw speed and prevents excessive speed, especially at low load under high-speed wind. This pitch-varying mechanism can also be applied to automotive cooling fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventor: Fernand Trepanier
  • Patent number: 4411596
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved blade pitch control mechanism for an air driven turbine blade mounted for rotation in a hub assembly. The control mechanism includes a drive member mounted for reciprocation along a central axis of the hub assembly. The drive member has a control member secured to one end and a seat member at the other end. The blade has operatively coupled thereto, a centrifugally responsive means which includes a pin in mating engagement with the control member. A spring is positioned between the hub assembly and the control member to thereby cause the blade to assume a coarse or high pitch position when the blade and hub assembly are in storage. A slide member is mounted on a portion of the hub assembly for reciprocation along the central axis. A spring is positioned between the seat member and the slide member. A flyweight is supported on the hub assembly and engages the slide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Chilman
  • Patent number: 4365937
    Abstract: A pair of axially movable abutments are spaced apart axially within a propeller hub. A plurality of adjustable propeller blades are rotatably mounted on the hub and each has an inner portion located inside the hub. Such inner portion is in the form of a pinion gear. Racks extend axially inwardly from each abutment and drivingly engage respective pinion gears on the blades. Compression spring or springs are positioned between the abutments and fluid pressure is used for applying an axially inward force on the abutments for moving both abutments axially inwardly toward each other in opposition to the force of the springs for the purpose of rotating the propeller blades in a first direction. The energy that is stored in the springs when compressed is used to rotate the propeller blades in the opposite direction when the fluid force is removed from the abutments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Inventors: Harold L. Hiebert, deceased, by Shirley M. Hoff, executrix
  • Patent number: 4352633
    Abstract: The windmill stalling and speed control device is mounted in the blade supporting hub of a windmill and is operative in response to blade rotation induced by a blade pitch control unit. The device includes a biasing assembly mounted to oppose blade rotation in at least one direction and a stage adjustment unit which operates to aid the biasing unit and increase the opposition to blade rotation when the windmill hub and blades reach and remain within predetermined speed ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Inventor: Devon E. Tassen
  • Patent number: 4257740
    Abstract: An improved speed governor is disclosed for feathering a plurality of blades on a windmill. Each blade is attached through a rotatable shaft to a support plate which in turn drives an output shaft. Each blade shaft is connected through a control rod to a governor hub which is free to slide axially on the output shaft. A spring biases the governor hub to a position wherein the blades assume a desired initial pitch. As the speed developed by the windmill increases, the force on the blades is applied through the control rods to move the governor hub against the spring. As the governor hub moves the control rods simultaneously and equally change the pitch of the blades to limit the maximum speed of the windmill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Inventor: Wayne G. Duez
  • Patent number: 4231317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a boat propeller having rotatably journalled blades in its hub to enable shifting between forward and reverse without reversing the direction of rotation. The hub is rotatably journalled on the propeller shaft and contains a transmission between the shaft and the blades. The transmission can be coupled between positions for forward, reverse and neutral. The invention uses the torque of the motor and the reaction moment of the water against the blades to achieve a relative rotation between the shaft and the hub, whereby the transmission turns the blades to one of two stops, which define the positions for forward or reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: AB Volvo Penta
    Inventors: Lennart H. Brandt, Staffan T. Mansson
  • Patent number: 4179241
    Abstract: A pitch change slide is mounted for longitudinal movement on a propeller shaft hub adapter in turn secured to the engine shaft of an aircraft engine, the said slide carrying a plurality of toothed racks each engaged with a spur gear on the base of one of a plurality of rotatably mounted propeller blades. Reciprocation of the pitch change slide changes the pitch of the propeller blades. The pitch change slide carries a coiled spring. A spring pressure slide, mounted for longitudinal movement on the propeller shaft hub adapter, has a flange bearing against the coiled spring, and is reciprocable on the propeller shaft hub adapter through a control rod operable from the aircraft cabin, thereby to adjust the degree of compression of the spring. Weights are mounted on the propeller blades and generate centrifugal force as the engine shaft turns, the said centrifugal force tending to rotate and change the pitch of the propeller blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: High Harbin
    Inventor: Jacob B. Courshon, Jr.