Lashing Between Working Members Or External Bracing Patents (Class 416/194)
  • Patent number: 11536288
    Abstract: A propeller fan includes a hub that has a side surface around a central axis, and blades that are provided on the side surface, wherein a blade of the blades includes an inner peripheral portion located on a side of a base, and an outer peripheral portion located on a side of an outer edge, the outer peripheral portion is formed as one blade, the inner peripheral portion includes blade elements arranged at a predetermined interval, a ratio r/R of a radius r which is a distance from the central axis to the outer peripheral portion and a radius R which is a distance from the central axis to the outer edge is 0.4 or less, and when a wind speed at the outer peripheral portion is V1 and a wind speed at the inner peripheral portion is V2, a relational formula of V1?V2×2.0 is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: FUJITSU GENERAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Hirotaka Sawada, Kazuya Funada
  • Patent number: 11306593
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprising: a shaft about an axis; a first turbine assembly mounted to the shaft, a first flow path and a second flow path extending through first turbine assembly along the axis. The second flow path is located radially inward of the first flow path relative to the axis. A second turbine assembly is about the axis downstream of the first turbine assembly, with a gap defined between the first turbine assembly and the second turbine assembly, the gap in fluid communication with the first flow path and the second flow path. A washer is downstream of the first turbine assembly. The washer has an annular body including a deflector between the first turbine assembly and the second turbine assembly, the deflector obstructing the first flow path and extending toward the second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Acher-Igal Abenhaim, Vincent Paradis, Marc-Antoine Mailloux-Labrousse, Alexander Smith
  • Patent number: 10808677
    Abstract: A fluid turbine comprises a rotor rotatable in use about an axis transverse to the direction of fluid flow, the rotor having a first part carrying a plurality of arcuate blades that may be arranged selectably in compact straight shapes or in arcuate shapes and a second part journalled in a base structure by two or more bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Clean Green Energy LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Joseph Zaplitny, Rupert Stephen Tull de Salis
  • Patent number: 10260361
    Abstract: The invention relates to a turbomachine vane comprising a root and a blade including a median main plane having a longitudinal and radial main orientation, which is carried by the root, the blade including a leading edge located at an upstream longitudinal end, a trailing edge located at a longitudinal end downstream of the leading edge with respect to a gas stream flowing around the blade, a lower surface wall and an upper surface wall which are located laterally remote from each other and each connecting the leading edge to the trailing edge, and a top located at the free outer radial end of the blade, the blade further including a fin having a longitudinal main orientation which is carried by the lower surface side, which is located at the top of the blade, wherein the fin is radially inwardly offset with respect to the top of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Erwan Daniel Botrel, Laurent Patrick Robert Coudert
  • Patent number: 9829009
    Abstract: The present document describes a centrifugal ceiling fan. The fan comprises a casing, a motor and a centrifugal propeller. The casing comprises an upper surface comprising an air inlet and a lower surface comprising an air outlet. In an embodiment, the lower surface has a round bowl-like shape including a plurality of openings defining the air outlet. The propeller comprises a shaft and a plurality of blades provided around the shaft. The blades may be curved to push the air in all directions between a first direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation shaft and a second direction substantially parallel to the rotation shaft in order to evenly ventilate the room. The fan may include a heating element for heating the air as it exits from the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: P.A.C. INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Alessandro Seccareccia
  • Patent number: 9759182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine, more specifically a rotor assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor assembly comprises blades with an advantageous cable system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: JOVAL NV
    Inventor: Jozef Robrecht Jan Versavel
  • Patent number: 9683539
    Abstract: A multisource generator system and associated processes generate electricity using one or more of wind power, hydropower, mechanical power, and solar power. The power sources may be selectively attached and activated to generate the electricity. A rotor may be actuated in response to both the wind power and the hydropower. The mechanical power may further actuate the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: David Calabro
  • Patent number: 9017034
    Abstract: An upwind wind turbine comprising blades extending radially from a rigid hub on a main shaft having a horizontal axis is described. The blades and hub constitute a rotor with a rotor plane. The main shaft is pivotally mounted in a nacelle on top of a tower which pivots around the vertical axis of the tower. The rotor plane adjusts in relation to wind direction, so during normal use the rotor is positioned on the upwind side of the tower. Each blade has at least a first leeward supporting mechanism having first and second ends. The first end connects to the blade at a first leeward mounting point positioned in a radial distance from the horizontal axis. The second end connects to a second leeward mounting point at a rotatable part and is positioned in an axial distance from the rotor plane on the leeward side of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: LM Glasfiber A/S
    Inventor: Lars Fuglsang
  • Publication number: 20140271208
    Abstract: A system includes a turbomachine blade segment including an airfoil with an exterior surface, and a platform coupled to the airfoil having a first side and a second side. The system also includes a concave fillet transition extending between the airfoil and the platform. The concave fillet transition includes one or more interface ply segments extending across the exterior surface of the airfoil and the first or the second side of the platform to form a continuous surface between the airfoil and the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: General Electric Company
  • Patent number: 8550781
    Abstract: A rotor includes a hub, rotary blades extending outwardly from the hub, and an annular wall surrounding the rotary blades. Each rotary blade includes a windward lateral surface and a leeward lateral surface at opposite sides thereof. The annular wall adjoins the outer ends of the rotary blades and is rotatable therewith. A perforation is defined in the annular wall between two neighboring rotary blades and adjacent to the leeward lateral surface of a leading rotary blade of the neighboring rotary blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin-Xiang Zha, Ye-Fei Yu, Jer-Haur Kuo
  • Publication number: 20130036601
    Abstract: There is provided a vertical axis wind turbine comprising an upright rotatable shaft mountable on a support structure, a plurality of upright blades, and a plurality of prestressable supporting arms for attaching the plurality of blades to the shaft. The wind turbine may further comprise a shaft stabilizing assembly comprising a plurality of coplanar wheels having compliant outer layers, rotatably mounted on a support, for radially and rotatably supporting a rotatable shaft. The disclosure further provides a method of assembly of the wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventor: Olivier Blanc
  • Patent number: 8182228
    Abstract: A durable blade, a method of manufacturing it and a method of repairing blades are described and claimed. Durable blade includes an airfoil having a pressure side and a suction side, a midspan shroud located on the airfoil, at least one recess on the midspan shroud and a wear pad attached to the recess of the midspan shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shawn P. Riley, Kazim Ozbaysal, Paul Stuart Wilson, David Edwin Budiner
  • Patent number: 8105038
    Abstract: A row of moving blades for a steam turbine has moving blades elongated radially which are arranged peripherally around and secured to a turbine rotor. The row also has an intermediate support structure for holding the blades to each other at a radially intermediate position. The support structure has a shape of a streamline cross section. The support structure may include a tie wire secured to the blades, or lugs protruding from the blades and combined to each other. The support structure may include lugs protruding from the blades to each other, and a sleeve combining the lugs. The shape of a streamline cross section may have an obtuse-angle or acute-angle upstream part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Fumio Ootomo, Hisashi Matsuda, Asako Inomata, Hiroyuki Kawagishi, Yoshiki Niizeki, Naoki Shibukawa, Hiroshi Kawakami
  • Publication number: 20110243743
    Abstract: A method of attaching two rotor discs in a turbine engine, the method comprising the steps of: forming a first rotor disc that includes a first axial extension and a disc flange; forming a second rotor disc that includes a second axial extension and a weld surface; forming a bridge, the bridge that includes a bridge flange at one end and a weld surface at the other end, and, along an outer radial surface, the bridge comprises means for sealing; attaching the bridge to the second rotor disc via welding the weld surfaces of the bridge and the second axial extension; and attaching the first rotor disc to the bridge via removably securing the disc flange to the bridge flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Ian David Wilson, Christopher Sean Bowes
  • Publication number: 20110012363
    Abstract: A wind driven energy source is providing integrated a series of radially extending masts from a central hub. The masts are supported by a series of cables. A mast-to-mast tension cable spans between distal ends of adjacent masts. A mast-to-axle tension cable spans between the distal end of each mast and each axial end of the central hub. A turbine blade is supported by each mast. The turbine blades can be of a rigid or pliant material. An angle of incidence of the rigid blades can be adjusted by rotating the mast. An angle of incidence of the pliant blades can be adjusted by applying tension to a blade control cable. Pliant blades can be retracted into the mast via a retracting mechanism to reduce the exposed surface area when subjected to excessive wind speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Alfred Finnell
  • Patent number: 7713028
    Abstract: A turbine blade assembly has a plurality of blades mounted on a central rotor. Each of the blades has a proximal section and a variable pitch section. A number of stays extend in groups from the central rotor to converge and terminate on an associated one of the blades. The stays each have a proximal end spaced from the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: Ning Liao
  • Patent number: 7591594
    Abstract: A turbomachine roller bearing that supports a shaft constituted by a trunnion of a shaft line of a high-pressure spool of a turbomachine to rotate relative to a stationary support that is connected to a casing of the turbomachine, said bearing comprising rollers inserted between an outer ring disposed adjacent to the stationary support and an inner ring disposed adjacent to the high-pressure trunnion, the inner ring extending along the axis beyond a downstream end of the high-pressure trunnion to which it is secured by clamping means, and being provided with anti-rotation means for preventing said inner ring from rotating relative to the high-pressure trunnion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Gilles Charier, Guy Dusserre-Telmon, Marc Marchi, Jean-Pierre Mourlan, Patrice Rosset, Zoltan Zsiga
  • Patent number: 7494320
    Abstract: A rotor (10) that enables an aircraft to become passively stable in hover. The inner part of the rotor blades (11) have a pitch angle fixed relative to a reference plane perpendicular to the rotor shaft (18) axis, and the tip of the rotor blades being connected to a ring (12) encircling the rotor. Each blade is connected to the rotor shaft by a separate hinge having a hinge axis perpendicular to both the rotor shaft axis and to the blade. Because the rotor blades can also easily twist the rotor can tilt freely in any direction. The rotor blades may be disconnected from the ring and folded up for easy transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventor: Petter Muren
  • Patent number: 7448221
    Abstract: A turbine engine has a first disk and a second disk, each extending radially from an inner aperture to an outer periphery. A coupling, transmits a torque and a longitudinal compressive force between the first and second disks. The coupling has first means for transmitting a majority of the torque and second means, radially outboard of the first means, for transmitting a majority of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James W. Norris
  • Patent number: 7104752
    Abstract: The segments of the vanes of a stator and the blades of a rotor for a gas turbine engine are dampened by utilizing braided wire cable that is affixed to adjacent segments such that each of the wire strands forming the cable is allowed to move relative to each other to dissipate the vibratory energy inflicted on the stator or rotor. The ends of the cable are welded or heated and then tapered to facilitate fitting into a sleeve or collar which in turn is affixed to the adjacent segments by braze, weld or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Paul Matheny, Kenneth I. Nelson
  • Patent number: 6884035
    Abstract: A ceiling fan comprising a plurality of fan blades, each positioned in a slot of a corresponding bracket attached to a rotatable hub. For each fan blade, a brace connects a mid-section of the fan blade to the corresponding bracket. The brace and bracket increase the support base of the fan blade. The fan blade is also, thereby, supported distal of its proximal end, thus reducing stresses at the fan blade proximal end. The fan blade may be positioned at relatively larger angles-of-attack without increasing the likelihood the fan blade will break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Minka Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Stanfield Young
  • Patent number: 6561765
    Abstract: A vehicle regenerative-type fuel pump which reduces the possible accumulation and effects of contamination relative to impellers with outer ring members. The impellers for the pump have outer ring members with non-uniform configurations (slanted, curved, grooved, etc.) which reduce the affects of contamination which can cause wear and roughing of the outer surface resulting in higher torque and reduced pump efficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventors: DeQuan Yu, Paul Fisher
  • Patent number: 6514052
    Abstract: A two sided radial fan draws cooling air into axially opposite ends of a dynamoelectric device drawing the flow of air into one axial end of the device and directing the flow of air over the device exterior surface, and drawing a second flow of air into an opposite axial end of the device and through the interior of the device before redirecting the second flow of air over the exterior of the device. The two sided fan thereby provides greater cooling efficiency to the device without significantly increasing the size of the fan or the device and without significantly increasing the costs or adding additional components to the device construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Peter K. Bostwick
  • Publication number: 20020122726
    Abstract: A tip treatment bar component (16) for positioning within an annular cavity surrounding a fan (4) within a gas turbine engine comprises a longitudinal portion (30) with a platform (32, 34) at each end. The platforms (32, 34) of adjacent bars (16) abut each other laterally to provide a slot (28) between adjacent tip treatment bar components (16). A projection, for example a tang (24, 26), extends from the platforms (32, 34) in a direction away from the longitudinal portion (30) of the tip treatment component (16). This serves to locate the bar component (16) in the engine casing (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: Larry Collins
  • Patent number: 6406263
    Abstract: A turbine assembly comprising a first rotatable component having a first lip with a first axial facing surface and a second rotatable component having a second lip with a second axial facing surface. The components are held together by an axial load so that the first and second axial surfaces are in frictional contact across a radial plane whereby torque is transmitted between the components. A pilot ring mounted either above or below the radial contact plane maintains the radial position of the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter L. Meacham, Eric W. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6102661
    Abstract: A propeller (10) including a hub (11), a plurality of blades (13) extending outwardly from the hub (11) and part annular connecting elements (17) which interconnect tips (16) of adjacent blades (13). The trailing edges (21) of the elements (17) extend from the trailing edge of one blade (13) at its tip to intersect the adjacent blade (13) at a relief point (23) on the high pressure side of the blade (13) between the leading and trailing edges of the blade (13). The leading edge (20) of the elements (17) extends from the leading edge of a blade (13) at its tip (16) to intersect the adjacent blade (13) at a relief point (25) on the low pressure side of the blade (13) intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the blade (13) at its tip (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: SPI LTD
    Inventors: Martin Robson, Eddie Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 6082970
    Abstract: An arrangement for attenuating vibrations of blades attached to a peripheral surface of a rotor of an axial turbine. A through hole is formed in each rotor blade in a generally thickness direction of the blade so that the through holes in combination define a single annular passage near a rotor surface when all of the rotor blades are attached to the rotor. A wire is provided to extend through the aligned through holes. Thus, the wire frictionally contacts the through holes when the blades are caused to vibrate due to a gas pressure and a centrifugal force generated upon operation of the axial turbine. Friction contact between the wire and the through holes attenuates vibrations of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Tsukamoto, Ken Mitsubori
  • Patent number: 6024536
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to prevent the quantity of airflow by a fan from decreasing in dependence on the distance between the fan and obstacles such as an engine in a device for introducing and discharging cooling air having a shroud with a high covering rate. In the device for introducing and discharging cooling air having the shroud with the high covering rate, an airflow direction changing member is provided downstream of the fan, and each fixed blade of the member has a shift angle in the radial direction and an attack angle in a rotation direction of the fan, so that the air tends to be discharged outward in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Tsubakida, Yoshinori Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6004097
    Abstract: An improved coal mill exhauster fan having an elongated, conical hub welded to the blades and engaging the rear shroud plate to eliminate air gaps along the rear of the fan assembly and to assist in axial to radial directional changes of the coal flow; two-piece blade assemblies having a sub-blade welded directly to the hub and shroud plates, and a protective liner removably secured to the sub-blades only, for example by bolts; a plurality of swept-back stiffener ribs welded to the rear undersides of the sub-blades, hub and shroud to increase rigidity, and with angled deflector faces to reduce erosion; and an improved hub cap or spinner seal which extends further toward the housing inlet than traditional Cooley caps and which forms a smooth, non-turbulent extension of the hub relative to the incoming coal flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Sure Alloy Steel Corp.
    Inventors: Rickey E. Wark, John Anthony Nardi
  • Patent number: 5984638
    Abstract: A compressor blade vibration reduction mechanism for a high-speed radial impeller for minimizing fatigue failures from various excitation sources. The vibration reduction mechanism includes a plurality of loose-fitting lashing pins coupling each impeller blade to an adjacent impeller blade. Each lashing pin extends through a first aperture in a blade located adjacent to the blade tip and through a second aperture of an adjacent blade. The second aperture of each blade is located a greater distance from the leading edge of the blade than the first aperture. The second aperture is located in an area of the blade having lower vibration during operation than the blade location where the first aperture is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc.
    Inventors: M. Theodore Gresh, Francis Kushner
  • Patent number: 5941688
    Abstract: A turbomachine rotor stage having a thin annular body comprising a metal alloy part reinforced by at least one fibrous ring which has a radial height h of at least 1.5 times its axial width l and which is embedded in the metal alloy part so that it projects radially outwardly from the inner wall thereof in order to stiffen the body and reduce the quantity of fibre material to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Societe Nationale D'Etude Et De Construction De Moteurs D'Aviation "Snecma"
    Inventor: Bruno Jacques Gerard Dambrine
  • Patent number: 5829956
    Abstract: A fan blade assembly having a plurality of arranged about a central hub having an axis of rotation, the blades projecting from the hub radially outward from the axis of rotation. Each blade has a blade length, with a proximal end attached to the central hub and a distal end radially outward from the central hub. The assembly has at least one vane member with a plurality of vane segments, each vane segment joining a first blade with an adjacent second blade at a place along the blade length located radially inward from the distal end and radially outward from the proximal end of the blades. The assembly further having a plurality of recesses in the central hub adapted to receive the proximal end of blades of an adjacent blade assembly to permit stacking of like assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventors: Yung Chen, Manuel Almanza
  • Patent number: 5823749
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine of the type having collapsible fabric sails (10) that reside on the rim of a horizontally disposed square rotor wheel (12,14) supported on a pivotally operated vertical mast (30). Four sails (10) are joined in oppositely disposed pairs and communicate by cables (16) through guides (18) that are positioned on a square rotor hub (14) and control the shape of the linked sails. When acted upon by wind, the sails reciprocally open and close to form two shapes. The two shapes are a scoop and a wing. The scoop holds the wind when receding from the wind. The advancing sail forms a wing that rides the wind promoting stability and reducing friction in the rotor wheel. The action of the advancing sail dampens the sail action of the opening sail and limits the opening sail to a preferred scoop shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Robert R. Green
  • Patent number: 5800128
    Abstract: This fan is provided with an impeller (1), having a hub (2), and with a casing surrounding the impeller (1). The impeller (1) has individual flow segments (4) connected to the hub (2) and to one another and in each case enclosing a flow duct (5), and a shaft connected to the hub (2) and extending along an axis (3). The object is to provide a fan which has an impeller which can be easily produced from a plastic and is suitable for comparatively high operating speeds. This is achieved by the flow segments (4) being connected with a form fit to the hub (2), and by the fastening of the flow segments (4) being reinforced by means of at least one shrouding (13, 14) of a prefabricated thermoplastic strip reinforced with continuous fibers, the thermoplastic strip having been briefly heated and fused with the layer respectively applied previously during the winding of the shrouding (13, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Urs Bodmer, Vishal Mallick
  • Patent number: 5542819
    Abstract: A ceiling fan safety tether to be used with a conventional ceiling fan. The ceiling fan safety tether retains a fan blade in close proximity to the fan motor thereby preventing the fan blade from becoming a flying projectile should a break in a fan blade bracket ever occur. The ceiling fan safety tether comprises a body portion having a first and second securement coupled thereto. The first securement is secured to the fan motor housing and the second securement is secured to the fan blade. The ceiling fan safety tether is designed to be interposed between the fan blade bracket and the fan motor housing at a first end and interposed at a second end between the fan blade and the fan blade bracket. Additionally, the ceiling fan safety tether serves to provide a dampening effect that prevents noise and vibrations created in the fan motor housing from being transmitted to the fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Company, Ltd., Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Bucher, Shih Tza Wu
  • Patent number: 5531567
    Abstract: A Darrieus-type vertical axis wind turbine with tensioned blades is disclosed, along with various mechanisms for tensioning the blades. When the wind turbine is stationary in high wind conditions, the blades are tensioned to resist buckling. When the wind turbine is coming up to operational speed, or slowing down to a stop, the blades may also be tensioned to change the dynamic resonance characteristics of the rotor to avoid operation at resonant frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: FloWind Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Hulls
  • Patent number: 5385448
    Abstract: A multibladed propeller shaped agitator includes a plurality of impellers having made blades, blade roots and hub segments made of plastic material. A metallic hub element is inlaid only in the hub segment. The impellers are connected to the hub segment such that stress peaks, imparted from a driving force, in the region of the blades, blade roots and hub segments are substantially prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: KSB Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thilo Merkt, Horst Schafer, Gunter Feldle, Oskar Gabler
  • Patent number: 5277550
    Abstract: A plurality of flat plates are laterally disposed at an outer circumference of a hub and auxiliary vanes are disposed in parallel to at least side edges of each of said flat plates while being spaced apart from the side edges. Accordingly, an occurrence of eddy flows can be restricted, a peeling-off eddy flow can be reduced, agitating and mixing of gas-liquid can be made efficient without producing any damage to microorganisms or the like and an agitating efficiency can be improved with a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Satake Chemikal Equipment Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohichi Kato, Shigeru Nishioka
  • Patent number: 5253978
    Abstract: A method of repairing a turbine blade comprising the steps of ascertaining a normal vibration characteristic of the blade, separating an outer end part of the blade from a residual inner part of the blade and subsequently securing a new end part to the residual part so that a joint between the new end part and the residual part is positioned in a predetermined relationship to said vibration characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Turbine Blading Limited
    Inventor: Michael J. Fraser
  • Patent number: 4786235
    Abstract: A wind-engine of the type consisting of several wind devices rotatably mounted at several independent stages, which comprises the combination of vertical props (1) disposed within a circle (4); at each stage (2), crossbeams (5) connected, on one hand, to the vertical props (1) and meeting, on the other hand, at the center of the said circle (4); a vertical axis (7) situated at the center of the said circle (4) and, at each stage, a wind device rotatably mounted about the said vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Gemaro A.G.
    Inventor: Germaine Van der Veken
  • Patent number: 4509238
    Abstract: Blades in the steam path of a steam turbine diaphragm are assembled into slots in full circular bands and are structurally bonded thereto by welding. After stress relief, the bands are each separated into two 180 degree pieces by line cuts which pass between adjacent blades. The bands are then welded to semicircular rings having planar mating surfaces. The welding of the rings to the bands is performed with minimum welding without concern for whether the welds enter the interface sufficiently far to contact the blades themselves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lester H. Lee, Kathryn M. Johnson, Richard W. Jones
  • Patent number: 4118144
    Abstract: Apparatus for deriving a rotational motion from air currents including first and second coaxial annular members spaced from each other along their axes by axial struts and a plurality of blade assemblies carried by the struts. In a preferred embodiment, the annular members are formed of circular I beams and the apparatus is supported for rotation about the axes of the annular members by rollers engaging the web of the I beams. The rollers may be carried by first and second posts with one of the posts being rotatable about the other such that the apparatus can accommodate changing wind directions. The blade assemblies may include an impeller hingedly secured to a cross-beam extending between adjacent struts with each impeller being individually spring biased to present more or less surface to the air current, dependent on its velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Inventor: Lawrence L. Kelley
  • Patent number: 4036916
    Abstract: A wind driven electric power generator having a shroud arranged in a path of fluid flow. Within the shroud is disposed a stationary shaft supporting a wind generator assembly. The shroud can be the veil of a conventional cooling tower, with the wind generator assembly including a rotor connected to an electric generator arranged for converting rotary motion of the rotor to electrical energy, thus saving some of the energy created by the natural draft passing up the veil of the cooling tower. Space frame box trusses provided with airfoils provide lightweight arms for the rotor, with the rotor being arranged anywhere in the shroud. When a hyperbolic cooling tower veil is used as the shroud, the rotor will usually be positioned in the throat of the veil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Inventor: Carl F. Agsten
  • Patent number: 4029435
    Abstract: A helicopter rotor having retractable blades each having a three dimensional truss including flexible cables which connect a blade member with a pitch member directly secured to a rotor hub, the cables providing for retraction of the blade member to a storage position and permitting the blade member to be adjustably extended to operative positions. With the rotor rotating normally, the resultant centrifugal force acting on the blade and more particularly the blade member, retains the cables under sufficient tension to form an operationally rigid truss which transmits the rotational force of the rotor to the blade member and also adjusts the pitch of the blade member responsive to operation of the pitch member. Two pairs of cables are provided, inner ends of each pair being spaced apart and retained by the pitch member, opposite ends of each pair being secured, one to each of opposite ends of a rigid rod transverse to the blade member and extending outwardly in opposite directions from the blade member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1977
    Inventor: Sidney L. Barker
  • Patent number: 4028005
    Abstract: A drum-type impeller for a centrifugal blower is provided with reinforcement against damage by centrifugal force at high peripheral speeds by reinforcing means such as gussets or rods running from the underside of each blade toward either or both of the hub disk and inlet ring and inserted near the attachment thereat of the trailing blade. Vortex formation at the underside of a blade inforced by a gusset is reduced by providing a notch at the point of attachment of the blade at approximately the same radial distance as the leading edge of the gusset. Vortex formation at the trailing surface of a gusset is relieved by using a double gusset with a slot between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Inventor: Bruno Eck