Blade Cuff Or Shank Construction Patents (Class 416/239)
  • Patent number: 11927171
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wind turbine blade assembly and a method for its manufacture. The wind turbine blade assembly comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a blade shell with a trailing portion, and a flatback profile component. The trailing portion has an outwardly curving arc shape and the flatback profile is positioned so as to cover the trailing portion of the blade shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventors: David Roberts, John Korsgaard
  • Patent number: 11867156
    Abstract: An apparatus for mitigating vortex-shedding vibrations or stall-induced vibrations on one or more rotor blades of a wind turbine during standstill includes at least one positioning element located between a blade tip section and a blade root section thereof. The positioning element is adapted for wrapping around at least a portion of the rotor blade. The apparatus also includes at least one airflow modifying element coupled to the positioning element and defining a height relative to a surface of the rotor blade. Additionally, the apparatus includes at least one securing element operably coupled to the positioning element for temporarily securing the airflow modifying element to the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andreas Herrig, Benjamin Patrick Hallissy, Marc Canal, Jordy Hertel Nilsson van Kalken
  • Patent number: 11795827
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly comprising a central spar extending along the radial direction; a blade skin positioned around the central spar to define an airfoil that has a pressure side and a suction side extending in the axial direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein at least one cavity is defined between the blade skin and the central spar; and a support structure positioned at least partially within the at least one cavity. The support structure comprises: a foam; and a foam reinforcement structure embedded within the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raghuveer Chinta, Srinivas Nuthi, Gary Willard Bryant, Jr., Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Patent number: 11761420
    Abstract: Provided is a composite material for a wind turbine blade, the composite material including a plurality of rigid elements and plurality of flexible elements, wherein each flexible element is arranged between two rigid elements and is connected thereto such that the rigid elements are flexibly connected to each other by the flexible elements. The flexibility of the composite material can be achieved by using the interspaces between the rigid elements. Therefore, when the composite material is placed on a curved surface, hollow spaces between the rigid elements may be reduced or avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Bro Wernlund
  • Patent number: 11761419
    Abstract: A root assembly of a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine is provided. Also provided is a wind turbine blade including the root assembly and a wind turbine including the wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Rajanikanth Reddy Dasari, Luis Mailly
  • Patent number: 11753144
    Abstract: Apparatuses and systems are provided herein for unducted propulsion systems. The system includes a forward housing for high efficiency for high subsonic sustained flight. A plurality of blades are affixed to the forward housing, wherein the forward housing defines a flowpath curve extending from the forward-most end of the forward housing through the axial extent of a forward blade root. The flowpath curve is described by an axial direction parallel to an axis of rotation and a radius from the axis of rotation. The flowpath curve includes a first point having a first radius where the radius reaches a maximum forward of the forward blade root and a second point aft of the first point having a second radius where the radius stops decreasing. The ratio of the first radius to the second radius is greater than or equal to 1.029.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel L. Tweedt, Syed Arif Khalid
  • Patent number: 11578603
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes: a platform; an airfoil portion extending from the platform in a blade height direction and having a pressure surface and a suction surface extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge; a blade root portion positioned opposite to the airfoil portion across the platform in the blade height direction and having a bearing surface; and a shank positioned between the platform and the blade root portion. The shank has a cross-section which is perpendicular to the blade height direction of the airfoil portion, and in which a line segment connecting a widthwise center position of a leading-edge-side end portion of the shank and a widthwise center position of a trailing-edge-side end portion of the shank is sloped to a center line between a pressure-surface-side contour of the blade root portion and a suction-surface-side contour of the blade root portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Fukui, Masamitsu Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 11415101
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind energy installation includes a blade root, a blade tip, and at least one rotor blade shell extending in a longitudinal direction from the blade root to the blade tip, and having an inner shell region and an outer shell region. The inner shell region includes a first fiber composite with at least two first fiber layers, and the outer shell region includes a second fiber composite with at least two second fiber layers. The first and second fiber layers extend substantially in the longitudinal direction. At least a first fiber layer of the first fiber composite terminates in the region of at least one end position in the longitudinal direction, whereas the remaining first fiber layers extend beyond the end position. At least a second fiber layer of the second fiber composite terminates in the region of the end position in the longitudinal direction, whereas the remaining second fiber layers extend beyond the end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Mester, Enno Eyb
  • Patent number: 11286807
    Abstract: A blade for a propulsion apparatus that includes a body formed of a first material having opposed pressure and suction sides, and extending in span between a root and a boundary, and extending in chord between a leading edge and a trailing edge. A tip region that is formed of a second material and that is positioned such that it extends from the body and defines a tip. The tip region joins the body at the boundary. The tip region is configured to fail when a predetermined force is applied to the tip such that the tip separates from the blade and defines a fused tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nitesh Jain, Abhijit Roy, Kishore Budumuru, Nicholas Joseph Kray
  • Patent number: 10914181
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade or vane for a turbomachine, particularly for an aircraft engine, with a blade element for interacting with the flow medium, wherein the blade has different diffusion protective coatings in various regions on its surface for protection against corrosion and/or oxidation, wherein the diffusion protective coatings are produced by chromizing and/or aluminizing, wherein the blade element is divided into two regions along the longitudinal axis of the blade element, wherein the first region extends over 80 to 95% of the length of the blade element, and the second region extends over the remainder of the length of the blade element, and wherein in both regions, an AlCr diffusion protective coating is applied, and wherein in one of the regions, the AlCr diffusion protective coating has a higher Cr content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Stanka, Manfred Dopfer
  • Patent number: 10823139
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a blade sleeve for a blade tip of a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The blade sleeve includes a rapid-prototyped body having a pressure side, a suction side, a first open span-wise end, a closed leading edge, and a trailing edge. Further, the body is slidable onto the blade tip of the rotor blade. In addition, the blade sleeve includes at least one additional rapid-prototyped feature integral with the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Patrick Hallissy, Andreas Herrig
  • Patent number: 10589842
    Abstract: A proprotor assembly for a tiltrotor aircraft having a forward flight mode. The proprotor assembly includes a spinner subjected to freestream airflow during forward flight. The spinner is elongated to form a tapered leading portion and a substantially cylindrical aft portion. The spinner forms a plurality of rotor blade cutouts exposing an inner chamber. The proprotor assembly includes a plurality of proprotor blade assemblies protruding radially from the spinner through the rotor blade cutouts. The rotor blade cutouts are formed at the substantially cylindrical aft portion of the spinner to reduce the freestream airflow into the inner chamber via the rotor blade cutouts during forward flight, thereby reducing drag experienced by the tiltrotor aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Helmuth Peter Koelzer, Brendan Patrick Lanigan, Michael Kenneth Farrell
  • Patent number: 9481449
    Abstract: A blade, configured to be mounted on a hub of a turbomachine propeller so that an empty space is defined between a base of the blade and a face of the hub facing the base. The blade includes a retractable blanking mechanism configured to reversibly occupy at least one of following two positions: a deployed position in which the retractable blanking mechanism at least partially closes off the empty space; and an extreme retracted position in which the retractable mechanism is kept out of the empty space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Sebastien Pascal
  • Patent number: 9151167
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes an airfoil extending from a blade and a dovetail located on a lower portion of the blade, wherein the dovetail has a dovetail contact surface. The turbine assembly also includes a member with a slot configured to couple to the airfoil via the dovetail, the slot having a slot contact surface to contact the dovetail contact surface, wherein the dovetail contact surface is reduced by a relief to alter a fundamental frequency of an assembly of the blade and member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Scott Zemitis, Christopher Michael Penny
  • Patent number: 9145775
    Abstract: An airfoil comprises pressure and suction surfaces extending axially from a leading edge to a trailing edge and radially from a root section to a tip section, the root section and the tip section defining a span therebetween. A thermal coating extends from the root section of the airfoil toward the tip section of the airfoil. A relative coating thickness of the thermal coating decreases by at least thirty percent at full span in the tip section, as compared to minimum span in the root section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Levine, Shawn J. Gregg
  • Patent number: 9039382
    Abstract: A blade of a gas turbine engine is provided having an airfoil, a platform, a shank, a dovetail, and a skirt. The airfoil may extend distally from the platform, and the shank may extend proximally from the platform. The dovetail may also be provided to extend proximally from the shank. The skirt may be disposed on an aft side of the shank and may extend from the shank in a direction at least partially axially aft from the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David Scott Stapleton
  • Patent number: 9004874
    Abstract: A turbomachinery blade includes: an airfoil; and a shank extending from a root of the airfoil, the shank being constructed from a composite material including reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix The shank includes a pair of spaced-apart side faces that cooperatively define: a dovetail disposed at a radially inboard end of the shank, comprising spaced-apart, diverging faces; a first neck portion having a concave curvature disposed radially outboard of the dovetail, and defining a primary minimum neck at which a thickness of the shank is at a local minimum; and a second neck portion disposed radially outboard of the first minimum neck, the second neck portion having a concave curvature and defining a secondary minimum neck at which the thickness of the shank is at a local minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joshua Brian Jamison
  • Patent number: 8974187
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a flow machine, in particular a steam turbine, includes an insertion root with a first finger and two second fingers which are arranged on either side of the first finger in axial direction. The first finger and the second fingers have a shoulder in axial direction on axial sides facing one another such that the fingers have a radially outer first portion and a radially inner second portion whose axial extension is shorter than that of the outer, first portion. In relation to a total axial width between axial sides of the two second fingers which face away from one another, the radial height of the first, radially outer portion is in the range of 0.39 to 0.45, particularly 0.40 to 0.44, and the radial height of the second, radially inner portion is between 0.40 and 0.46, particularly between 0.41 and 0.45.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Günter Neumann, Jörg Gatzke, Ulrich Harbecke, Marc Andre Schwarz, Eduard Götzfried
  • Patent number: 8956115
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, and a method for installing a rotor blade assembly on a wind turbine, are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining an aerodynamic profile including a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The rotor blade further extends in a generally span-wise direction between a root and a tip. The rotor blade assembly further includes a blade extension extending in the generally span-wise direction from the root towards the tip, and a plurality of connection devices connecting the blade extension to the rotor blade. Each of the plurality of connection devices includes a mechanical fastener extending through the root in the generally span-wise direction for connecting the rotor blade to a hub of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Aaron John Mashue
  • Patent number: 8936435
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a root region. A first extension (LEX) is attached to the leading edge side of the root region while a trailing edge strake (TES) is attached to the trailing edge side of the root region. The LEX and TES each include an outer profile that becomes more pronounced relative to their respective locations in the root region as the root region of the wind turbine blade morphs from a substantially cylindrical shape to a substantially airfoil shape. The LEX provides both optimal angle of attack and lift generation in the root region, while the TES mitigates airflow separation and enhances airfoil lift in the root region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anurag Gupta, Arathi Kamath Gopinath
  • Patent number: 8926288
    Abstract: A rotor blade (1), in particular of a main rotor of a rotary-wing aircraft, made of fiber-reinforced plastic includes a blade section (10) and a connecting section (12) for fastening the rotor blade (1) to a drive device (18) which includes a sleeve-shaped connecting device (14), is further developed in that the connecting device (14) includes flat fiber layers (S1 to S18) running substantially in the plane of extension of the connecting section (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Kuntze-Fechner, Elif Ahci, Christine Muller, Alois Wagner
  • Patent number: 8899933
    Abstract: A wheel dovetail groove with a wheel hook retains blade hooks of mounted blades. Opposed arcuate cut-outs in upper recessed areas of the groove may form an assembly gate. Blade hooks may be inserted into the groove in a first orientation, rotated to a second orientation at the assembly gate, and slid into a predetermined position. Blades may be secured with shims between adjacent bucket dovetails. Blade tip cover blocks may be included to form a cover. All blades may be substantially identical and not need special mounting arrangements at the assembly gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Farineau, Robert Edward Deallenbach, Timothy Scott McMurray
  • Patent number: 8894378
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems methods, and apparatus for sealing a bucket dovetail in a turbine. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for sealing a gap between a bucket dovetail and a rotor wheel slot. The method can include providing a bucket tab associated with a bucket dovetail, wherein the bucket tab is configured to accept a seal tab; configuring the bucket tab and the seal tab to engage at least one dimension upon insertion of the seal tab into the bucket tab; and sealing a gap between the bucket dovetail and a rotor wheel slot with the seal tab; wherein at least a portion of the seal tab changes as a function of temperature for further sealing gap between the bucket dovetail and the rotor wheel slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Srinivasa Govardhan Jayana
  • Patent number: 8888462
    Abstract: Rotor blade or rotor blade segment for a wind turbine, having at least one cable for fixing the rotor blade or rotor blade segment to a rotor hub or to a further rotor blade segment, wherein the at least one cable is redirected in a U-shaped manner within the rotor blade or rotor blade segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Hendrik Klein
  • Patent number: 8882442
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine, especially a blisk or a bling, whereby the component includes a rotor base (12) made of a high temperature-resistant nickel alloy and a plurality of turbine blades (14) joined to the rotor base, whereby each turbine blade includes a rotor blade (16) made of a titanium alloy and a blade root. The blade root is configured as an adapter element (18) that is made of a material that can be welded to the titanium alloy as well as to the high temperature-resistant nickel alloy and that is integrally joined to the rotor base (12) and to the rotor blade (16) fusion. A method for the production of the component is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Smarsly, Joachim Bamberg, Joerg Esslinger
  • Patent number: 8870543
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor stage of a compressor drum (2) for an axial turbomachine comprising a row of rotor vanes (9) each provided with a platform (12), and a wall (3) that is generally symmetrical in revolution relative to the rotation axis of the turbomachine and forming a hollow body, said wall (3) comprising a partition wall and a support zone (5) that is raised relative to the partition wall in a direction oriented towards the outside of the hollow body, said support zone (5) having a central portion (8) and side walls (7) connecting the central portion (8) to the partition wall of the drum, said platform (12) of each of said vanes (9) being assembled to said central portion (8) by means of one or more fastening elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventor: Xavier Wery
  • Patent number: 8858178
    Abstract: A rotor wing in a fiber-reinforced composite design including fiber layers, in particular for a tail rotor of a rotary wing aircraft, with a rotor blade (1) that includes a blade skin (40, 50) and a blade body (41-57) that includes an aerodynamically effective profile, with a tension-torque-transmission element (3) connected to it, which is designed in one piece with the rotor blade (1), and with fiber layers (42-47) that extend through the tension-torque-transmission element (3) and are scarf-join in the rotor blade (1), is improved in that the fiber layers (42-47) extend right through from the tension-torque-transmission element (3) to the blade body (41-57). Furthermore, a method for producing the rotor wing is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Kuntze-Fechner
  • Patent number: 8834123
    Abstract: A turbomachinery blade for a gas turbine engine is provided and includes an airfoil extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In one embodiment the turbomachinery blade is a compressor blade. The blade can include a platform attached to the airfoil on one side, the other side being attached to a stalk having a lower attachment portion useful for being received in a compressor disk. The blade includes an undercut beneath a portion of the airfoil, preferably beneath the leading edge and/or trailing edge of the airfoil. In one form the undercut is located in a corner of the platform and extends partially along two sides of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel K. Morrison
  • Patent number: 8834130
    Abstract: A blade for a rotor of a wind turbine having a substantially horizontal rotor shaft, the rotor comprising a hub, from which the blade extends substantially in a radial direction when mounted to the hub. The blade comprises a main blade part having a profiled contour comprising a pressure side and a suction side as well as a leading edge and a trailing edge with a chord extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The profiled contour generates a lift when being impacted by an incident airflow. The profiled contour is divided in the radial direction into a root region with a substantially circular or elliptical profile closest to the hub, the substantially circular or elliptical profile having a diameter, an airfoil region with a lift generating profile furthest away from the hub, and a transition region between the root region and the airfoil region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventors: Peter Fuglsang, Stefano Bove
  • Patent number: 8834128
    Abstract: A tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3?; 4) for a rotor blade of a rotary wing aircraft (helicopter), in particular for a fenestron blade of a tail rotor, with a connecting section on the blade side and a connecting section (30; 30?; 40) on the axis side, with a connecting eye (32) on each connecting section, and with a torque-transmission section (34; 34?; 44) that connects the connecting sections (30; 30?; 40), is improved in that the tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3?; 4) is designed in a fiber-reinforced composite design including several layers (A to G) of a textile fabric. A method for producing such a tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3?; 4) is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Kuntze-Fechner, Martin Schulz
  • Patent number: 8827642
    Abstract: A system including: a first turbine segment comprising a first blade coupled to a first shank. The system also includes a second turbine segment including a second blade coupled to a second shank, as well as an elongated flexible seal disposed in a gap between the first and second shanks. The elongated flexible seal includes an opening configured to channel a fluid flow into a hollow region of the elongated flexible seal to induce expansion of the elongated flexible seal in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jalindar Appa Walunj, Brian Peter Arness, Mark Steven Honkomp, Scott Edmond Ellis, Prashant Shukla, Narayayanaswamy Kuruboor Veerabhadrappa
  • Patent number: 8821122
    Abstract: An integrally bladed rotor disk (20) for a turbine, including rotor blades (40), which are joined in a substance-to-substance bond to a disk element (30), and a sealing device (60) for preventing or reducing the extent to which cooling air is able to flow from a high-pressure side (12) of the rotor disk (20) through openings (24) on the rotor disk (20) to a low-pressure side (14) of the rotor disk (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Borufka, Frank Stiehler, Hernan Victor Arrieta, Patrick Prokopczuk, Joachim Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8777580
    Abstract: An airfoil (26, 62, 64) is mounted on a chordwise stall fence (28) of a wind turbine blade (22). The airfoil may be an aerodynamic slat (26) positioned over a forward portion of the suction side (38) of the blade or a flap (63) disposed near a trailing edge (34) of the blade. The stall fence may be at least as high as the thickness of the boundary layer (39) of air passing over the blade. The slat or flap may be twisted between an inboard end (26A) and an outboard end (26B) to compensate for the radially varying angle of the relative air inflow (46A, 46B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Drew Eisenberg
  • Patent number: 8727731
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a blade connection of a rotor blade for a wind energy system which comprises fastening elements for fastening the blade connection to a hub, which fastening elements are provided on a circular arc, preferably equidistant from each other. Furthermore, the invention relates to a blade connection and a fastening element for a blade connection. The invention is based on the problem of improving the fastening of a rotor blade on the hub of a wind energy system as well as improving the manufacture and/or making a suitable blade connection available. The invention solves this problem as regards the process in that fastening elements formed in pieces are arranged on the circular arc and spaced from each other with spacer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Urs Bendel, Markus Werner, Martin Knops
  • Patent number: 8702395
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hub fin device for improving the efficiency of a propeller. The hub fin device can include a propeller having a hub and a plurality of propeller blades that extend radially outward from the hub. Each of the plurality of propeller blades has a trailing edge region. A fin can also be included and located in the trailing edge region of at least one of the plurality of propeller blades. The fin extends radially outward from the hub and reduces or eliminates a hub vortex that is normally present during operation of the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Walter S. Gearhart
  • Patent number: 8622707
    Abstract: A root attachment for a wind turbine rotor blade having a blade root is disclosed. The root attachment may include a wall panel configured to be coupled to the rotor blade at or adjacent to the blade root. The wall panel may define at least a portion of an airfoil shape and may include an inner side and an outer side. In addition, the wall panel may define a non-uniform cross-section between the inner and outer sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Aaron John Mashue
  • Publication number: 20130319008
    Abstract: A turbine blade is disclosed. The turbine blade includes a platform, an airfoil extending from one side of the platform, a root extending radially from another side of the platform, and a pocket located beneath the platform. The pocket is defined by a plurality of walls, and a pad is disposed in a corner of the pocket. The pad includes three pad corners and three sides connecting the three pad corners, wherein each side extends along a different one of the plurality of walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Leslie John Faulder, Olivier Jacques Lamicq
  • Patent number: 8568103
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade with a suction side and a pressure side is provided. The blade includes a cylindrical root portion, an airfoil portion defining the suction side and the pressure side, and a transition portion which is located between the airfoil portion and the root portion. The transition portion has a transition profile changing from the airfoil of the airfoil portion to the cylindrical profile of the root portion. The leading section of the transition profile is cylindrical and the trailing section of the transition profile is elongated. In the rotor blade, the maximum chord length of the airfoil portion is at least the maximum chord length of the transition portion. In addition, the transition profile includes a section with a concave curvature on the pressure side of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peder Bay Enevoldsen, Søren Hjort
  • Publication number: 20130276456
    Abstract: An airfoil includes a body that has a platform, an airfoil extending outwardly from a side of the platform and a root extending outwardly from another side of the platform. A member is connected in an articulated joint to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Anita L. Tracy
  • Patent number: 8550783
    Abstract: A system and method of extending the useable life of a gas turbine blade is disclosed in which the gas turbine blade includes an undercut configuration designed to relieve mechanical and thermal stress imparted into the pedestal region of the airfoil trailing edge. The embodiments of the present invention include turbine blade configurations having different trailing edge undercut configurations as well as additional cooling supplied to the internal passages of the trailing edge region of the turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Douglas James Dietrich, Stephen Wayne Fiebiger, Gregory Edwin Vogel
  • Patent number: 8540481
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is disclosed herein. The rotor blade assembly includes a composite blade portion extending a length from a root to a tip. A leading edge of the composite blade portion extends from the tip to an end point along the length between the tip and the root. The rotor blade assembly also includes a base portion fixed to the composite blade portion proximate to the root. The rotor blade assembly also includes a sheath extending around the composite blade portion. The sheath is positioned along the length adjacent to the base portion and between the root and the end point of the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Kent Vetters
  • Publication number: 20130236327
    Abstract: An airfoil having an inboard blade section (106) and an outboard blade section (108). The inboard blade section (106) has a mid-blade end (114), and the inboard blade section (106) includes a biplane wing (116). The multiplane wing (116) has a first blade (118) and a second blade (120). The first blade (118) has a first airfoil cross-section (122), and the second blade (120) has a second airfoil cross-section (132). The first blade (118) is generally parallel to the second blade (120). The outboard blade section (108) has a mid-blade end (148), and the outboard blade section (108) includes a monoplane wing (156) with a third airfoil cross-section (158). The mid-blade end (148) of the outboard blade section (108) is joined to the mid-blade end (114) of the inboard blade section (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: Richard E. Wirz
  • Patent number: 8523526
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine, is provided and includes a blade airfoil which extends in a blade longitudinal direction and at the lower end merges into a shank which terminates in a blade root for fastening the blade on a blade carrier, particularly on a rotor disk. Devices for cooling the blade, which are supplied with a cooling medium, especially cooling air, via a feed hole arranged on the shank at the side, are arranged inside the blade airfoil. In the region of the feed hole provision is made for a planar stiffening element which reaches beyond the immediate region of the feed hole for reducing peaks of mechanical stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Sergei Riazantsev, Thomas Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20130216389
    Abstract: A turbomachinery blade includes: an airfoil; and a shank extending from a root of the airfoil, the shank being constructed from a composite material including reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix The shank includes a pair of spaced-apart side faces that cooperatively define: a dovetail disposed at a radially inboard end of the shank, comprising spaced-apart, diverging faces; a first neck portion having a concave curvature disposed radially outboard of the dovetail, and defining a primary minimum neck at which a thickness of the shank is at a local minimum; and a second neck portion disposed radially outboard of the first minimum neck, the second neck portion having a concave curvature and defining a secondary minimum neck at which the thickness of the shank is at a local minimum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Joshua Brian Jamison
  • Publication number: 20130129521
    Abstract: The disclosed propeller/turbine blade enhancement will be used in the moving fluid kinetic energy conversion field. This turbine blade skirt enhancement to a propeller/turbine bladed assembly will increase the kinetic energy conversion of the assembly on which the enhancement has been made a part of. The disclosed turbine blade skirt will contact and redirect a portion of the moving fluid the propeller/turbine bladed assembly is converting into mechanical rotational energy. The contacting and redirecting the fluid from the least efficient conversion areas of the assembly to the more efficient conversion areas of the assembly increases the amount of mechanical rotational energy obtained from the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: JOHN E. THARP
  • Patent number: 8435008
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes a platform, an airfoil located on one side of the platform, and a base located on an opposite side of the platform. The base includes an attachment portion that is receivable in a blade retention slot of a turbine disk and a shelf located outside the turbine disk. The shelf includes a mistake proof feature that projects from an outer surface of the shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin F. Hagan, James P. Chrisikos, Jess J. Parkin
  • Publication number: 20130108441
    Abstract: A turbine bucket includes a radially inner mounting portion, a shank radially outward of the mounting portion, a radially outer airfoil and a substantially planar platform radially between the shank, and the airfoil. At least one axially-extending angel wing seal flange is formed on a leading end of the shank forming a circumferentially extending trench cavity along the leading edge of the shank, radially between an underside of the platform leading edge and the angel wing seal flange. A plurality of substantially radially-extending purge air holes are formed in the angel wing seal flange, adapted to fluidly connect a turbine rotor wheel space cavity with the trench cavity and thereby supply purge air to the outer surface of the angel wing seal flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Clint Luigie INGRAM
  • Patent number: 8430633
    Abstract: A blade extension for a rotor blade and a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge each extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. At least one of the leading edge or the trailing edge has a modified aerodynamic contour. The rotor blade assembly further includes a blade extension including a first panel and an opposed second panel. Each of the first panel and the second panel includes an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of each of the first panel and the second panel is spaced apart from the rotor blade in a generally chord-wise direction in a standard operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian A. Carroll, Stefan Herr, Aaron Yarbrough
  • Patent number: 8403642
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. An edge extension is attached along either or both of the leading edge or trailing edge in a generally span-wise direction from adjacent the root towards the blade tip, with the edge extension having a contoured outer surface that defines a generally continuous aerodynamic surface. The edge extension has a terminal end that is spaced from root. A curtain is attached to the edge extension and extends in a span-wise direction from the terminal end t to the root. The curtain is formed from a pliant, flexible material that accommodates connection of the root to a rotor hub, as well as pitch movement of the rotor blade relative to the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian A. Carroll, Jonathan Glenn Luedke, Stefan Herr
  • Patent number: 8393869
    Abstract: A damper for a turbine rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The damper may have a forward plate. The damper may further have an aft plate including a larger surface area than the forward plate. The aft plate may have at least one aperture for regulating a flow of through the aft plate. The damper may also have a longitudinal structure connecting the forward plate and the aft plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun Dong Kim, Yungmo Kang, Yong Weon Kim