Self-shifting Or Selectively Adjustable Mass Patents (Class 416/145)
  • Patent number: 7931438
    Abstract: A damper system for damping vibrations of a wind turbine having a tower, a nacelle, and at least one rotor blade is provided. The damper system includes a mass for damping vibrations of a wind turbine and at least one actuator adapted for actively controlling the mass, wherein the at least one actuator is connected to a portion of the wind turbine and to the mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Vincent Schellings
  • Publication number: 20110070085
    Abstract: A blade includes an airfoil portion which defines at least one cavity with a damper located within the cavity, the damper includes a corrugated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Yehia M. El-Aini, Robert J. Morris
  • Publication number: 20110027085
    Abstract: A balancing weight clip for balancing a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine which includes a weight portion, and a first flange engaging portion and a second flange engaging portion extending from the weight portion. The weight portion and the first and second flange engaging portions define a flange receiving opening for receiving a flange of a disc of the rotor assembly. The first flange engaging portion is provided with a detent facing the second flange engaging portion and engageable with a mating groove provided on a face of the flange. At least one of the first and second flange engaging portions is elastically deformable so that the first and second flange engaging portions are elastically moveable away from one another to removably receive the flange in the flange receiving opening and engage the detent with the mating groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: David F. GLASSPOOLE, Rene Paquet
  • Publication number: 20100296931
    Abstract: A distributed mass device for reducing the vibration generated by a rotor, includes a support suitable for being constrained in rotation about an axis of rotation of the lift rotor. The distributed mass device further includes at least two main oscillating masses each provided with a through longitudinal recess, and each being connected to the support by respective deformable elements, the main oscillating masses being constrained to move solely in a horizontal plane by the deformable elements. The distributed mass device is provided with a secondary oscillating mass per main oscillating mass, each secondary oscillating mass being suspended inside the recess of the associated main oscillating mass by resilient elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventor: Vincent GIRARD
  • Publication number: 20100209242
    Abstract: A vibration attenuator for an aircraft has at least one weight mounted in a rotating system of a rotor hub of the aircraft, each weight being rotatable about an axis of rotation of the hub relative to the hub and to each other weight. Drive means are provided for rotating each weight about the axis of rotation at a selected speed for creating oscillatory shear forces that oppose and attenuate rotor-induced vibrations having a selected frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: David A. Popelka, Richard E. Rauber, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 7753651
    Abstract: The balancing flyweight of a turbomachine rotor includes two pyramid shaped end parts each one having a base and an apex, and an intermediate part which connects the two bases of the end parts together. The two apexes are aligned on a longitudinal axis. The two end parts and the intermediate part exhibit, in cross section through a plane perpendicular to said the longitudinal axis, cross-sections having polygonal shapes centered on said longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Laurent Gilles Dezouche
  • Publication number: 20100107621
    Abstract: A wind energy converter 10 comprises a horizontal axis wind turbine 12 including a plurality of blade members 14 rotatable about a generally horizontal axis. A mass member 16 is movable along the or each blade member 14 under the action of radial forces induced by rotation of the blade members 14 and under the action of gravitational force, and movement of the or each mass member 16 is arranged to provide for conversion of the wind energy. Also described is a power generating system 200, 240 including a heat recovery arrangement 216, comprising a heat exchanger arrangement 218 and an expander 222.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
    Inventor: Seamus Dominic Garvey
  • Publication number: 20100034655
    Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft including a vehicle vibration control system. The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotating hub mounted vibration control system, the rotating hub mounted vibration control system mounted to the rotating rotary wing hub with the rotating hub mounted vibration control system rotating with the rotating rotary wing hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Mark R. JOLLY, Andrew D. MEYERS, Daniel MELLINGER, Douglas E. IVERS, Askari BADRE-ALAM, Douglas A. SWANSON, Russell E. ALTIERI
  • Publication number: 20100021303
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes one or more oscillation dampers, each damper having one or more closed cavities arranged within a blade of the wind turbine and containing a large number of solid elements that are arranged to move freely within the cavities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Steiniche Bjertrup Nielsen, Jakob Hjorth Jensen
  • Publication number: 20100021302
    Abstract: A blade arrangement with a rotor and a plurality of blades which are arranged on the periphery of the rotor in a ring and a plurality of damping elements are provided. Between two directly adjacent blades at least two damping elements are arranged in series in the circumferential direction of the rotor. As a result of a centrifugal force, which acts in the radial direction, during a rotation of the rotor around a rotor axis adjacent damping elements come into contact with each other, and one of the two damping elements comes into contact with one of the two blades and the other of the two damping elements comes into contact with the other of the two blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Andreas Kayser
  • Publication number: 20090317251
    Abstract: A stabilizing apparatus is provided, applicable to all kinds of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT), including at least two rolling units, at least two guiding units and at least an engaging unit. The engaging unit is engaged to the guiding units to fix the relative position among the guiding units. The guiding units are symmetrically extending from the center area of the apparatus to the outer brink of the circumference of the apparatus with a housing space formed inside each guiding unit. The rolling units are uniformly housed inside the housing space of the guiding units. The inner wall of the bottom of the housing space inside the guiding unit forms a guiding track. The guiding track also extends from the center of the apparatus towards to the brink of the circumference of the apparatus. The straight line connecting the starting and the ending points of the guiding track forms an angle of 0-45° to the horizon surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Kuei-Sheng Tsou
  • Publication number: 20090252608
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotorcraft blade (1) provided with a dynamic balancing system having a balancing device (10). The balancing device (10) is embedded in the inside (INT) of the body of the blade (1) in such a manner that it does not open to the outside (EXT) of said blade (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventor: Remi METIVIER
  • Patent number: 7581929
    Abstract: A balance system for a rotational airfoil assembly includes a bulkhead, an elongated member, a support member and at least one balance weight. The elongated member extends through the bulkhead along a bore toward an airfoil tip segment of the airfoil assembly. The balance weights are mounted to a tip segment of the elongated member positioned within the bore outboard of an airfoil mid-span segment of the airfoil assembly. A reduced quantity of weight is required to balance the airfoil assembly because of the location of the balance weights outside of the mid-span segment of the airfoil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Armand Carvalho
  • Publication number: 20090169384
    Abstract: A balancing system and method for reducing imbalance in a rotatable member of a machine is provided. The system includes a plurality of vibration sensors positioned about a stationary portion of the machine, a controller assembly communitively coupled to the plurality of vibration sensors, and a balancing assembly coupled to the rotatable member, said balancing assembly configured to wirelessly communicate with said controller assembly, said balancing assembly configured to modify the weight distribution of the rotatable member in response to a command wirelessly transmitted from the controller assembly. The controller assembly is configured to receive data from the plurality of vibration sensors and determine an imbalance in the rotatable member using the received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Albert Frank Storace, Ian Francis Prentice
  • Publication number: 20090148289
    Abstract: A damper system for damping base frame vibrations of a wind turbine having a tower, a nacelle, a frame in the nacelle, at least one rotor blade, and a generator, the damper system includes a mass for damping vibrations of the frame, wherein the mass is positioned outside a vibration center and at least one drive mechanism adapted for actively controlling a movement of the mass. A method for reducing frame vibrations of a wind turbine is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas Edenfeld
  • Publication number: 20090129926
    Abstract: A mass pod turbine device includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a shaft axis. A plurality of mass pods restrained about the periphery of the rotating element. The mass pods are restrained to the rotating element, but may be displaced relative to the center of rotation. During a rotational cycle of the rotating element, the mass center of each mass pod may be dynamically displaced relative to the center of rotation. The mass pods then generating a mass imbalance about the rotational axis and causing the device to rotate about the shaft axis. The system also provides a useful variable inertia member for the storing of the kinetic energy of a rotating assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Richard L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090123286
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fan blade assembly of a turbojet with fan and a fan blade damper, the fan blade comprising a root and a platform, the fan blade damper being suitable for being attached in a housing formed in the lower face of the platform, said housing comprising an upstream side perpendicular to the root of the blade. The damper comprises a front edge of which a first portion is parallel to the upstream side of the housing and of which a second portion is inclined relative to said upstream side. The invention also relates to a fan blade damper and a method for calibrating said damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jerome Paul Merceau Mace, Thierry Nitre, Patrick Jean-Louis Reghezza
  • Publication number: 20090116963
    Abstract: A method and device for reducing vibratory noise in a system with an integral rotating member includes independently operable drive systems for controlling the angular velocity of at least two independently rotatable masses. Control signals manipulate the drive system to rotate each mass at optimal speed, direction and phase to reduce noise induced in the system by the rotating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: William A. Welsh
  • Patent number: 7491031
    Abstract: A device for balancing a turbomachine rotor includes at least one counterweight fitted to the rotor, wherein the counterweight includes two radial bearing surfaces oriented in two opposite radial directions, the said surfaces interacting with two radial bearing surfaces made on the rotor, the counterweight being held against the rotor by an axial retention device. In particular, the axial retention device can be a bolt with a nut, the bolt holding the counterweight against a coupling flange fixed ly attached to the rotor, including an axial bearing surface and the radial bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Maurice Guy Judet, Thomas Langevin
  • Publication number: 20090035137
    Abstract: Helicopter rotating hub mounted vibration control system for a rotary wing hub having periodic vibrations while rotating at an operational rotation frequency. The vibration control system includes a housing attachable to the rotary wing hub and rotating with the hub at the operational frequency. The housing is centered about the rotary wing hub axis of rotation and has an electronics housing cavity subsystem and an adjacent rotor housing cavity subsystem. The rotor housing cavity contains a first coaxial ring motor with a first rotor and imbalance mass and a second coaxial ring motor with a second rotor and imbalance mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Mark Jolly, Stephen Hildebrand, Russell Altieri, Matthew Ferguson, Douglas Ivers
  • Publication number: 20090004008
    Abstract: Turboprop and propfan engines generally incorporate blades which have variable pitch to improve operational efficiency. Variable pitch is achieved through a pitch control mechanism at the root of the blade but such mechanisms may fail resulting in the blades turning to define a flat configuration with low drag and therefore the potential for engine damage through over-speeding. Traditional pitch lock and counter weight control mechanisms have disadvantages. By providing a helical bearing in which the mass and radial movement due to centrifugal radial force are utilised it is possible to generate a counter moment to the normal centrifugal turning moment (CTM) to ensure the blade remains in a configuration with at least some drag to limit engine rotational speed. The continuous helical bearing allows for a range of pitch angular positions to be used around a full 360° turn by providing a feathering counter moment from any of those angular positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Martyn Richards
  • Publication number: 20080145222
    Abstract: A damper system for damping vibrations of a wind turbine having a tower, a nacelle, and at least one rotor blade is provided. The damper system includes a mass for damping vibrations of a wind turbine and at least one actuator adapted for actively controlling the mass, wherein the at least one actuator is connected to a portion of the wind turbine and to the mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Vincent Schellings
  • Patent number: 7377749
    Abstract: A device for balancing a rotating part, in particular a turbine rotor in a turbomachine such as a turbojet or the like, the device comprising at least one balance weight comprising engagement means for engaging it on an annular flange of the part, and locking means associated with the balance weight and with the annular flange to prevent the balance weight from moving relative to the annular flange and to block itself against moving both in rotation and in axial translation relative to the balance weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Emmanuel Charrier, Philippe Pabion, Jean-Luc Soupizon
  • Patent number: 7347672
    Abstract: A rotor disc includes a rim and a balancing device, which includes housings formed in the rim, and balancing masses housed in at least some of the housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Snecma Moteurs
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Bertrand, Frederic Eichstadt, Joel Mathieu
  • Patent number: 7270517
    Abstract: A blade assembly (10) for a turbine (16) including a vibration damper (12) having a mounting base (38) sealingly disposed at an inlet end (24) of a cooling fluid passageway (22) within the root section (20) of the blade assembly and including an opening (40) in the mounting base for passing cooling fluid into the cooling passageway. The opening is sized to function effectively as an orifice for limiting a maximum flow rate of cooling fluid in the event of a breach of the cooling fluid passageway downstream of the inlet end. A wear feature (34) is formed on the distal end of the vibration damper opposed the mounting base for rubbing interface with a complementary wear feature attached to a wall (26) of the cooling fluid passageway. The wear feature may include a non-planar wear surface such as angularly disposed wear surfaces (58, 60) effective to resist vibrational movement in two directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad M. Garner
  • Patent number: 7252477
    Abstract: A rotating blade body is provided that can restrain vibrations of rotating blades effectively. The rotating blade body comprises a rotor disc, a plurality of rotating blades being assembled so as to extend from the outer circumference of the rotor disc in a radial pattern, and sealing pins extending along the direction of the rotating shaft in the gaps between the platforms of the rotating blades being adjacent in a circumferential direction. The sealing pins have a through-hole made therein, penetrating axially from one end surface to the other end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuoki Tomita, Kouji Watanabe, Masamitsu Okuzono, Masaki Ono
  • Patent number: 7220104
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a tower, a nacelle supported at an upper end of a tower, a rotor having at least one blade and being arranged at the nacelle, and a vibration load reduction system disposed at either the tower or the nacelle. The vibration load reduction system includes a base, at least two columns extending from the base, and a flowable mass located within the base and the at least two columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Mohamed Ali, Kirk Gee Pierce, Vasanth Kothnur
  • Patent number: 7189061
    Abstract: A cooling fan having a circumferential ring. In ordinary fans of this type, deformation of fan blades causes the ring to buckle inward at locations between the blades. In one form of the invention, mass is added to the ring between the blades to counteract the buckling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Hong, John R Savage
  • Patent number: 7118343
    Abstract: A system of adjustable balancing weights is provided for a helicopter main rotor blade. The trailing edge of the rotor blade is formed with a plurality of recesses that each receive an aerodynamically shaped weight to adjust and balance the weight of the rotor blade. A forward weight recess and a forward weight are also provided on the rotor blade adjacent the rotor blade leading edge. The lateral spacing between the weight adjacent the rotor blade leading edge and the weights adjacent the rotor blade trailing edge provides greater flexibility in balancing the mass of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert T. Loftus, Michael J. McNulty, Kevin D. Henthorn
  • Patent number: 6974307
    Abstract: A self-guiding wind turbine made of two reinforced parallel girders whose side center of thrust is displaced from the column axis where it is supported and turns. Its dihedral-shaped two-bladed rotor is self-stabilizing since its center of thrust is behind its center of gravity and the guiding axis of the turbine, thus improving self-guiding whilst in motion. The axial thrust is controlled, whilst the head and rotor are tilting, hydraulically by counter-pressure, ensuring they do not surpass the power collected and the moments on the structure, shoe and ground. The self-guiding structure can tilt hydraulically lowering its head and rotor and facilitating its assembly and maintenance, and can remain “asleep” when not in use, thus reducing the visual impact on the environment. This turbine makes use of the force of the wind to control itself, simplifying the manufacture of large turbines connected to the network or in isolated applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventors: Ivan Lahuerta Antoune, Sebastian Manuel Lahuerta Antoune, Maria Lahuerta Antoune
  • Patent number: 6908284
    Abstract: The invention is based on an axial fan with a hub region (4, 27) for connecting the axial fan with a driven shaft (20) of an electrical drive (21), whereby the axial fan is statically balanced by means of a balancing weight (26). A flexurally soft connection is formed in the hub region (4, 27) between the axial fan (1) and the driven shaft (20) of an electrical drive (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ludger Adrian
  • Patent number: 6901821
    Abstract: An assembly for preventing rotation of a damper in a stator system includes a slot in the damper and a block for engaging the slot to prevent rotation of the damper. The block is positioned within a groove located at a mid span portion of an inner air seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Torrance, David P. Dube
  • Patent number: 6827551
    Abstract: A self-tuning impact damper is disclosed that absorbs and dissipates vibration energy in the blades of rotors in compressors and/or turbines thereby dramatically extending their service life and operational readiness. The self-tuning impact damper uses the rotor speed to tune the resonant frequency of a rattling mass to an engine order excitation frequency. The rattling mass dissipates energy through collisions between the rattling mass and the walls of a cavity of the self-tuning impact damper, as well as through friction between the rattling mass and the base of the cavity. In one embodiment, the self-tuning impact damper has a ball-in-trough configuration with tire ball serving as the rattling mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Kirsten P. Duffy, Gerald V. Brown, Ronald L. Bagley
  • Publication number: 20030202883
    Abstract: A turbine blade assembly for a turbine assembly includes a turbine blade having a turbine blade damper cavity formed therein and stranded wire cable positioned within the turbine blade damper cavity. The stranded wire cable is maintained in the damper cavity during operation of the turbine blade assembly. It reduces vibration of the turbine blade assembly during operation by dissipating energy by friction between the stranded wire cable and the internal surface of the blade that defines the damper cavity. It also dissipates energy by friction between adjacent wires within the stranded wire cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Gary A. Davis, Gary E. Tuttle, Robert F. Beatty
  • Publication number: 20030194324
    Abstract: A turbine blade assembly for a turbine assembly includes a turbine blade having a turbine blade damper cavity formed therein and a plurality of pins positioned within the turbine blade damper cavity. The pins are maintained in the damper cavity during operation of the turbine blade assembly. They reduce vibration of the turbine blade assembly during operation by dissipating energy by friction between adjacent pins and between the pins and the internal surface of the blade that defines the damper cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Gary A. Davis, Gary E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 6508628
    Abstract: The subject invention is a method of fabricating a high solidity axial fan assembly to improve fan stall properties to allow the fan assembly to run at slower speeds. The method includes the steps of providing a first plurality of fan blades attached to a first hub, providing a second plurality of fan blades attached to a second hub, interfitting said second plurality of fan blades between said first plurality of fan blades; and interlocking and securing with fasteners the second hub onto the first hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Yehia Mahmoud Amr
  • Patent number: 6494680
    Abstract: The rotor comprises a pendular vibration suppressor with at least two pendulums each having at least one pendular body connected by at least one rigid arm to a support that rotates as one with the rotor hub, and on which the pendulum oscillates via a pivoting connection about an axis of pendular movement spaced away from the center of inertia of the pendulum and from the axis of the rotor, and substantially perpendicular to a radial plane passing through the axis of the rotor and through the center of inertia of the pendulum, which preferably oscillates between two adjacent rotor blades. At least some of the pendulums are tuned to (nb−1)&OHgr; or (nb+1)&OHgr;, so as to attenuate coplanar moments, and other pendulums may be tuned to nb&OHgr;, to filter out forces along the axis of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Véronique Cardin
  • Patent number: 6494679
    Abstract: A rotor, such as a rotor of an aircraft gas turbine engine, uses damper-ring devices for damping unwanted rotor vibrations. One device has inner and outer damper rings with the outer damper ring providing ring-rotor frictional damping only at large vibrational amplitudes and with the inner and outer damper rings providing inter-ring frictional damping at both small and large vibrational amplitudes. Other devices include a damper ring and a viscoelastic layer, a hollow damper ring containing particulate matter, and a damper ring in the form of a cable made of twisted single-wire strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aniruddha Dattatraya Gadre, Bharat Sampathkumaran Bagepalli
  • Patent number: 6481969
    Abstract: Dovetail-shaped grooves are formed in the axial faces and circumferential rims of wheels and spacers forming a rotor body. Complementary-shaped balance weights are inserted through entry apertures in the grooves and circumferentially aligned into adjusted balanced positions. Fasteners are threaded through the weights to engage in slots at circumferentially spaced positions along ribs projecting from the bases of the grooves. By threading the fastener into the slot and staking the fastener to the balance weight, the metal of the rotary component is not upset or deformed, with the result that the potential for development of cracks in the rotary component is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Randolph Berry, Gene David Palmer
  • Patent number: 6364612
    Abstract: A ceiling fan structure including a housing, a motor casing, a fixing disc and multiple vanes. A motor is installed in the housing and enclosed in the motor casing. The motor casing is formed with multiple thread holes on a periphery of bottom face of the motor casing. Multiple vanes are pivotally disposed on bottom side of the fixing disc via vane brackets. The fixing disc is formed with multiple through holes corresponding to the thread holes. A bolt is passed through each through hole for locking the motor casing with the fixing disc and spacing the motor casing from the fixing disc by a certain distance, A spring is fitted on each bolt within the distance for absorbing swinging force exerted onto the vanes during rotation of the ceiling fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Tien Fu Tseng
  • Patent number: 6358009
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are used to balance an open blade fan of the kind used with trucks, diesel engine driven generator sets, and the like. An apparatus is used to spin the fans and a vibration sensor senses vibrations and a light beam is used to indicate the location to attach a balancing weight. The fan is spun again and the vibrations measured and additional weights are attached at different specified locations until the measured vibrations are below a predetermined level. The fan includes a plastic body with integral, plastic fan blades which is attached to a central metal hub plate with configured weights attached to matching configured portions of the plastic body. The preferred weights are clips with barbs that pierce the plastic body. The metal hub plates are electrostatically painted to provide a uniformly thick coating with good adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: American Cooling Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Larry Ray Link
  • Publication number: 20020028141
    Abstract: Dovetail-shaped grooves are formed in the axial faces and circumferential rims of wheels and spacers forming a rotor body. Complementary-shaped balance weights are inserted through entry apertures in the grooves and circumferentially aligned into adjusted balanced positions. Fasteners are threaded through the weights to engage in slots at circumferentially spaced positions along ribs projecting from the bases of the grooves. By threading the fastener into the slot and staking the fastener to the balance weight, the metal of the rotary component is not upset or deformed, with the result that the potential for development of cracks in the rotary component is substantially reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: ROBERT RANDOLPH BERRY, GENE DAVID PALMER
  • Patent number: 6352407
    Abstract: A single-blade fan apparatus includes a blade assembly having a hub presenting a longitudinal aperture adapted for receipt on the fan apparatus, a single blade protruding radially from the hub in a first direction, and a counterweight body protruding radially from the hub in a second direction opposite the first direction. The hub, blade and counterweight body are formed of a unitary piece of aluminum, zinc or synthetic resin material. A method of constructing the blade assembly includes providing a mold including a hub cavity, a blade cavity protruding from the hub cavity in a first direction, and a counterweight-body cavity protruding radially from the hub in a second direction opposite the first direction, and fitting a removable mold insert in the blade cavity. The first mold insert fills a portion of the blade cavity remote from the hub cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Emerson Electric, Co.
    Inventors: D. Lee Hill, Frank E. Cahill, Jimmy D. Vanfossan, Hamid Massali
  • Publication number: 20010043863
    Abstract: A single-blade fan apparatus includes a blade assembly having a hub presenting a longitudinal aperture adapted for receipt on the fan apparatus, a single blade protruding radially from the hub in a first direction, and a counterweight body protruding radially from the hub in a second direction opposite the first direction. The hub, blade and counterweight body are formed of a unitary piece of aluminum, zinc or synthetic resin material. A method of constructing the blade assembly includes providing a mold including a hub cavity, a blade cavity protruding from the hub cavity in a first direction, and a counterweight-body cavity protruding radially from the hub in a second direction opposite the first direction, and fitting a removable mold insert in the blade cavity. The first mold insert fills a portion of the blade cavity remote from the hub cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: D. LEE HILL, FRANK E. CAHILL, JIMMY D. VANFOSSAN, HAMID MASSALI
  • Patent number: 6299410
    Abstract: A method and apparatus reduces the magnitude of vibratory strain in a turbomachine component that experiences high steady state strain by, in the case of a passive embodiment, coupling a mechanical-to-electromagnetic energy converter to an interior and/or exterior surface of the component, and/or embedding the energy converter within the component, and by, in the case of an active embodiment, coupling a mechanical-to-electromagnetic energy converter to an interior and/or exterior surface of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Hilbert, David D. Pearson, Edward F. Crawley
  • Patent number: 6213717
    Abstract: A balancing ring for a ceiling fan includes a ring member, a plurality of metal balls, and a ball restraining ring. The ring member has a top side, a bottom side, an inner peripheral wall that confines a central opening, an outer peripheral wall, and an annular groove formed in the top side between the inner and outer peripheral walls. The groove has a groove bottom formed with an annular ball receiving recess. The metal balls are disposed in the ball receiving recess. The ball restraining ring is disposed in the groove above the groove bottom, and is movable inside the groove in at least an axial direction of the central opening between a restricting position, where the metal balls are restricted from moving freely, and a releasing position, where the metal balls are free to move in the ball receiving recess. The ball restraining ring moves in the groove in response to rotating speed of the balancing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventors: Charles Bucher, San-Chi Wu
  • Patent number: 6210099
    Abstract: A moving-weight, dynamic balancing apparatus for a rotary machine, in particular an industrial fan, having a rotary shaft, and at least one rotor carried by the rotary shaft and provided with main rotor bearings to allow rotary movement thereof. The balancing apparatus includes at least one moving-weight balancing unit is carried by the rotary shaft, and at least one monitoring and correcting system having a drive assembly. The at least one monitoring and correcting system monitors and corrects the unbalanced state of the rotor, and acts continuously on the at least one moving-weight balancing unit when the rotor is rotating to monitor and correct for rotor unbalance. The at least one moving-weight balancing unit has at least two balancing masses mounted to be movable under drive from the drive assembly controlled by the monitoring and correction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignees: ABB Solyvent-Ventec, Balance Systems
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Hugbart, Alain F. E. Godichon, Gianni Trionfetti
  • Patent number: 6139271
    Abstract: Rotor blade weighting apparatus comprising in combination at least one elongated rod carried within a rotor blade, and multiple weights received and retained on the rod, the number of weights adjustable for reducing vibration during rotor rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Chadwick-Helmuth Company, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Chadwick
  • Patent number: 6113350
    Abstract: A vertical-axle wind power machine comprises a vertical axle, a plurality of jointed radial arms, a plurality of counterbalanced oblique blades at the support points thereof, a friction-rewarding rotary speed multiplying transmission, and an automatic rotary speed regulating means to be performed by either a wind-operated or an alternative digital controlled rotary speed regulating device; the combination of which provides the oblique blades with great sensitivity to the alternation of lee wind and head wind for automatic swinging to the most efficient lee angle at upstanding and overturned positions to sail nearly three quarters and streamline against the head wind resistance for the remaining quarter every circle of rotation, is able to convert the centripetal and centrifugal component forces to the same torque direction of the tangential component force from the same blade by an eccentric-guided angular bracket means and a fork-rooted radial arm, is able to offset the friction loss in the rotary speed mult
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Stokwang Windpower Industrial Inc.
    Inventor: Hsun-Fa Liu
  • Patent number: 6089748
    Abstract: Mixer apparatus having an impeller on a shaft, which circulates a body of liquid the surface of which can clear the impeller, especially when the liquid is in a tank, and the tank is drained, is protected against excessive by use of a flexural member, which may be in the form of radially opposed pairs of resilient plates, which extend from the shaft and are attached thereto by a collar. As the liquid surface drops below the impeller, the members present surfaces to the liquid in the tank on which forces are opposing the oscillation are developed by interaction of the surfaces with the liquid in the tank. Restoring forces on the shaft due to the flexing of the resilient plates also reduce the shaft oscillation. The stiffness of the plates is selected to optimize the restoring forces for the mixing apparatus which is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Keith T. McDermott, Ronald J. Weetman