Concave Surface Patents (Class 416/243)
  • Patent number: 8834121
    Abstract: A blade front edge of a turbo fan has, between a main-plate-side blade front edge and a shroud-side blade front edge, a projecting blade front edge which distances away from a blade rear edge (located in a rotation direction A) as it furthers away from a main plate, which curves to a position away from a rotation center, and, in a range close to the main plate, a main-plate-side front-edge skirt portion which distances away from the blade rear edge and inclines away from the rotation center as it becomes closer to the main plate. On the other hand, a main-plate-side blade rear edge, which is a range close to the main plate of the blade rear edge, is substantially perpendicular to the main plate and a shroud-side blade rear edge, which is a range close to a shroud, is inclined so as to gradually distance away from the blade front edge (behind in the rotation direction A) as it furthers away from the main plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ikeda, Takahide Tadokoro, Masahiko Takagi, Makoto Kurihara
  • Patent number: 8821125
    Abstract: A turbine blade, airfoil configuration, and rotor stage are disclosed in which through the airfoil profile disclosed in Table 1, a modification in airfoil flutter and swirl are achieved. Through the airfoil configuration, the swirl and improved platform sealing configuration, result in the turbine blades having the airfoil profile with an increased performance output from the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Adam Lee Hart, Adam John Fredmonski, Douglas James Dietrich, Samer Abdel-Wahab, Stephen Wayne Fiebiger, Kuo-Ting Hsia, W. David Day, Richard Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20140241901
    Abstract: An impeller for increasing the pressure of a fluid circulating in an annular fluid path, the impeller comprising: a plurality of centrifugal compressor vanes circumferentially interspaced around the axis of the annular fluid path, the plurality of compressor vanes extending from an axially-oriented inlet to a radially-oriented outlet, and each having an inner edge and a free edge, the free edge of the plurality of compressor vanes coinciding with an outer limit of the annular fluid path, and a hub having a solid-of-revolution shape centered around an axis, the hub having an outer hub surface forming an inner limit to the annular fluid path and to which the inner edge of the plurality of centrifugal vanes is secured, the outer hub surface having a portion which leans forward, forming an axial recess therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
  • Patent number: 8814525
    Abstract: The profile (1-4) of a rotor blade (5) of a wind power plant is characterized in that the main camber line runs beneath the chord at least in sections in the direction of the pressure side (8). The profile is further characterized in that the profile (1-4) has a relative profile thickness of greater than 45% with a position of maximum thickness of less than 50%, wherein a lift coefficient (ca) of greater than 0.9, particularly greater than 1.4 is achieved in turbulent flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Marc Petsche, Matthias Korjahn, Bert Gollnick
  • Publication number: 20140234120
    Abstract: A blade comprises a first blade surface, a second blade surface forming the reverse surface of the first blade surface, a front edge portion connected to the front end of the first blade surface and the front end of the second blade surface and formed in a curved shape convex toward the travelling direction, and a back edge portion connected to the back end of the first blade surface and the back end of the second blade surface extending toward the opposite of the travelling direction, and formed in an acute angle, and the blade is formed to be curved in an arc viewed from the side of the travelling direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGY OF NATURAL PROVIDENCE, INC
    Inventors: Kunihiko AIHARA, Junko AIHARA
  • Publication number: 20140234108
    Abstract: In order to optimise a rotor (1) for a wind turbine (2), comprising a hub (6) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (15) and a number of rotor blades fixed to the hub (6), at least one rotor blade having at least one curved portion (8) having a curve in the upstream direction, so as to increase the performance of wind turbines (2), it is proposed for a base portion (7) of the curved rotor blade (5), extending from the hub end, to be arranged with the longitudinal axis (14) thereof at a wind correction angle (11) in the upstream direction to a plane (16) orthogonal to the axis of rotation (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: DeWind Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Nägler
  • Patent number: 8807951
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a platform and an airfoil that extends from the platform. The airfoil extends in span between a root and a tip region and in chord between a leading edge and a trailing edge. A sweep angle is defined at the leading edge and a dihedral angle is defined relative to the chord of the airfoil. The sweep angle and the dihedral angle are localized at the tip region and extend over a distance of the airfoil equivalent to about 10% to about 40% of the span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jody Kirchner, Yuan Dong, Sanjay S. Hingorani
  • Patent number: 8807950
    Abstract: The present application provides a turbine nozzle including an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape may have a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1. The Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The airfoil profile sections at Z distances may be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Craig Allen Bielek, Veeraporn Kullatham, Mary Holloway
  • Patent number: 8790088
    Abstract: A compressor having a compressor blade with a blade tip portion configured to reduce stresses in the blade tip of the compressor blade is provided. The compressor blade includes a first and second faces extending to the blade tip portion. The blade tip portion includes a blade tip, a first recess extending between the first face and the blade tip, and a second recess extending between the second face and the blade tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John David Dyer, Madhusudan Rao Pothumarthi, Lynn M. Naparty, Michael Ericson Friedman
  • Patent number: 8777564
    Abstract: Airfoils according to embodiments of this invention result in a hybrid controlled flow concept that reduces leakage loss by creating a different vortexing concept near endwall regions of the airfoils than at the core region of the airfoils. Specifically, a turbine static nozzle airfoil is disclosed having a variable, non-linear, throat dimension, s, divided by a pitch length, t, distribution (“s/t distribution”) across its radial length. In one embodiment, a plurality of static nozzle airfoils are provided, with each static nozzle airfoil configured such that a throat distance between adjacent static nozzle airfoils is larger proximate the hub regions of the airfoils than proximate the core regions of the airfoils, and the throat distance between adjacent static nozzle airfoils is smaller proximate the tip regions of the airfoils than proximate the core regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaoqiang Zeng, Jonathon Edward Slepski
  • Publication number: 20140186186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic machine having an impeller wheel that comprises a plurality of impeller blades; having a spiral housing that encloses the impeller wheel and that is open toward said impeller wheel by a circumferential slit formed by two circumferential edges; having a traverse ring, comprising two traverse ring decks that are connected to one another by tension anchors; wherein the spiral housing is composed of segments that meet in the flow direction and that are welded to each other, the ends of which segments stand on the respective traverse ring deck and are welded to said deck; wherein at the meeting point between two segments that are adjacent to one another and one traverse ring deck a stiffening element is provided that protrudes into the inner space of the spiral housing; and wherein the extension of the stiffening element into the inner space of the spiral housing is so small that the flow is not affected in a significant manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Hyneck, Gerhard Wengert
  • Patent number: 8757967
    Abstract: An axial flow turbine includes in axial flow series a low pressure turbine section and a turbine exhaust system. The low pressure turbine section includes a final low pressure turbine stage having a circumferential row of static aerofoil blades followed in axial succession by a circumferential row of rotating aerofoil blades. Each aerofoil blade has a radially inner hub region and a radially outer tip region. The K value, being equal to the ratio of the throat dimension (t) to the pitch dimension (p), of each static aerofoil blade of the final low pressure turbine stage varies along the height of the static aerofoil blade, between the hub region and the tip region, according to a substantially W-shaped distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Brian Robert Haller, Gursharanjit Singh
  • Patent number: 8757983
    Abstract: When cold and in the non-coated state, the aerodynamic profile is substantially identical to a nominal profile determined by the Cartesian coordinates X,Y,Z? given in Table 1, in which the coordinate Z? is the quotient D/H where D is the distance of the point under consideration from a first reference plane P0 situated at the base of the nominal profile, and H is the height of said profile measured from the first reference plane to a second reference plane P1. The measurements D and H are taken radially relative to the axis of the turbine, while the X coordinate is measured in the axial direction of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Patrick Girard, Olivier Kueny, Pierre Marche, Ludovic Pintat
  • Publication number: 20140154068
    Abstract: An airfoil array is disclosed. The airfoil array may include an endwall, and a plurality of airfoils radially projecting from the endwall. Each airfoil may have a first side and an opposite second side extending axially in chord between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The airfoils may be circumferentially spaced apart on the endwall thereby defining a plurality of flow passages between adjacent airfoils. The airfoil array may further include a convex profiled region extending from the endwall adjacent to the first side of at least one of said plurality of airfoils near the leading edge of the at least one of said plurality of airfoils, and a concave profiled region in the endwall and extending across said at least one of said plurality of flow passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Patent number: 8740570
    Abstract: A turbine bucket is provided including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape, the bucket airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the airfoil profile sections at Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander Stein, Bradley Taylor Boyer, Xiaoyong Fu, Randall Richard Good, William Scott Zemitis
  • Patent number: 8734116
    Abstract: A turbine bucket is provided including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape, the bucket airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the airfoil profile sections at Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Paul Kendall Smith, Spencer Aaron Kareff, Srinivasa Govardhan Jayana
  • Patent number: 8734115
    Abstract: When cold and in the non-coated state, the aerodynamic profile is substantially identical to a nominal profile determined by the Cartesian coordinates X,Y,Z? given in Table 1, in which the coordinate Z? is the quotient D/H where D is the distance of the point under consideration from a first reference plane P0 situated at the base of the nominal profile, and H is the height of said profile measured from the first reference plane to a second reference plane P1. The measurements D and H are taken radially relative to the axis of the turbine, while the X coordinate is measured in the axial direction of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean Bleuzen, Jean-Michel Guimbard, Pierre Marche, Renaud Martet
  • Patent number: 8714930
    Abstract: A turbine bucket is provided including a bucket airfoil having an airfoil shape, the bucket airfoil having a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1 wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches, and wherein X and Y are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z, the airfoil profile sections at Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jason Douglas Herzlinger, Craig Allen Bielek, Jonathan Glenn Reed, Holly Renae Davis, Luis Manuel Herrera, Ariel Caesar Prepena Jacala, William Scott Zemitis
  • Patent number: 8702398
    Abstract: A rotor blade having an airfoil for a compressor is described. The airfoil has an airfoil root, an airfoil tip located at a spanwise distance from the airfoil root, a leading edge extending from the airfoil root to the airfoil tip, an inner span region (“S1”) between the airfoil root and a first height location on the airfoil leading edge, a midspan region (“S2”) between the first height location and a second height location on the airfoil leading edge located radially outward from the first height location; an outer span region (“S3”) between the second height location and the airfoil tip, wherein the airfoil has a normalized camber profile such that the normalized camber increases in the outer span region in a spanwise direction towards the tip and is more than 2.2 in the outer span region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, David Scott Clark, Brent F. Beacher
  • Patent number: 8684686
    Abstract: An improved automotive pump assembly includes a volute pumping chamber configured to operably contain a rotatable impeller which, when driven, draws fluid into a fluid inlet and pumps the fluid to and through a fluid outlet. The volute chamber has an exterior sidewall with a constant internal first radius over a first sidewall portion and transitions to a second sidewall portion of increasing radius. The chamber's second sidewall portion defines a first end at a sidewall transition point tangent to the constant radius sidewall segment to define a second end which is tangent to the volute chamber's fluid outlet with a second radius that is greater than the first radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corporation
    Inventors: Shridhar Gopalan, Alan Romack, Chunling Zhao
  • Patent number: 8684698
    Abstract: An airfoil for a compressor is described. The airfoil has a root, an airfoil tip, a leading edge, a trailing edge, airfoil pressure and suction sides extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The airfoil has an inner span region and an outer span region and the trailing edge has a dihedral profile such that the trailing edge dihedral angle decreases in at least a portion of the inner span region and the outer span region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, David Scott Clark, Brent F. Beacher
  • Patent number: 8678757
    Abstract: A compressor vane or compressor blade is provided. The axial flow compressor includes an axial direction, a radial direction, a compressor hub and a compressor casing. The vane or blade includes an airfoil with airfoil sections having a span, a chamber line and a leading edge at which the chamber line includes a leading edge blade angle with the axial direction of the compressor and a trailing edge at which the chamber line includes a trailing edge blade angle with the axial direction of the compressor. The airfoil sections are stacked at the leading edge on a straight line extending along a radial direction of the compressor from the compressor hub towards a compressor casing and in that the leading edge angles of the airfoil sections vary along the span and are larger for airfoil sections close to the hub and close to the wall than for mid-span airfoil sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Yan Sheng Li
  • Patent number: 8672633
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine comprising at least two rotor portions, each portion having a bottom, a top, and a curved horizontal cross section when seen in top view. A top cap may be provided that has a convex portion corresponding to each rotor portion that extends forwardly in a windward direction. Each rotor portion may comprise two angled rotor sections that meet at substantially a vertical midpoint of the rotor portion. The angled sections may be angled rearwardly in a leeward direction and/or radially and may be angled from 1 to 20 degrees with respect to vertical. There may be three or more rotor portions and the turbine may be comprised of one or more vertically stacked sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Inventor: John Bradley Ball
  • Publication number: 20140056734
    Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal pump comprising a boss supported by a rotation shaft of a motor so as to be rotatable as a unit with the rotation shaft; and a plurality of blades that extend from the boss towards a radial direction outside of the boss, and that discharge liquid towards a leading end side thereof by rotating; wherein each blade comprises one side face that is a face on a first side in a rotation direction of the impeller and includes a projecting face that projects from a base end portion at a boss side of the one side face towards the first side in the rotation direction with respect to a line that connects the base end portion and a center of rotation of the blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuusuke YAMAUCHI
  • Publication number: 20140044553
    Abstract: A blade for a continuous-flow machine is disclosed, especially an aircraft engine, whereby, starting from the middle section, the cross section of the blade tip is reduced with respect to the middle section, at least over a front partial section in the direction of the leading edge and over at least a rear section in the direction of the trailing edge, and a continuous-flow machine having at least one row of blades including such blades is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Johann GEPPERT, Peter Eibelshaeuser, Heinz Rauschmair
  • Patent number: 8647051
    Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal fan includes a hub, impeller blades, and struts for supporting the blades in a circumferential array spaced apart from the hub. The number of struts can equal the number of blades, each strut extended from the hub to support two blades while each blade is supported by one strut nearer to its leading edge and another strut nearer to its trailing edge. Another arrangement features two struts per blade, with one of the struts coupled to the hub and a given blade, and the other strut coupled between the given blade and an adjacent blade. The struts are recessed inwardly from the leading and trailing edges to promote smoother air flow. The blades and struts are provided with aerodynamic thickness profiles to further improve air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Bergquist Torrington Company
    Inventors: John F. O'Connor, Jan Najman, Michael C. Brauer
  • Publication number: 20140037459
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine comprises a radially extending body having a transverse cross-section. The transverse cross-section comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side and a suction side. The pressure side extends between the leading edge and the trailing edge with a predominantly concave curvature. The suction side extends between the leading edge and the trailing edge with a predominantly convex curvature. The suction side includes an approximately flat portion flanked by forward and aft convex portions. In another embodiment, the suction side includes a series of local curvature changes that produce inflection points in the convex curvature of the suction side spaced from the trailing edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew S. Aggarwala, Eunice Allen-Bradley, Eric A. Grover, Ricardo Trindade
  • Publication number: 20140030110
    Abstract: The device is configured for moving a fluid within a gearbox. In one illustrative embodiment, the device includes a base portion coupled to a rotatable member within the gearbox. An inlet portion of the device is configured to draw the fluid from a reservoir portion of the gearbox. The device is configured to utilize a centrifugal force for moving the fluid from the inlet portion toward the base portion along an interior surface of a conical portion. In another illustrative embodiment, the device includes a conical portion having an external threaded portion configured to capture a fluid during a rotation of the device. In such an embodiment, the threaded portion is configured to utilize a centrifugal force for moving the fluid captured by the threaded portion along an exterior surface of the conical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Eric A. Sinusas, Walter West Riley
  • Patent number: 8636469
    Abstract: A marine propeller with reverse thrust cup includes a propeller hub, propeller blades each having a leading blade face and a trailing blade face provided on the propeller hub and a reverse thrust cup provided in the trailing blade face of each of the propeller blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: Charles S. Powers
  • Publication number: 20140017089
    Abstract: An airfoil includes a leading edge, a trailing edge downstream from the leading edge, a pressure surface between the leading and trailing edges, and a suction surface between the leading and trailing edges and opposite the pressure surface. A first convex section on the suction surface decreases in curvature downstream from the leading edge, and a throat on the suction surface is downstream from the first convex section. A second convex section is on the suction surface downstream from the throat, and a first convex segment of the second convex section increases in curvature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Neil Ristau, Gunnar Leif Siden
  • Patent number: 8616829
    Abstract: A turbine that allows for the conversion of the kinetic energy of waterway to mechanical power for use in an energy accepting apparatus is described. The turbine has complimentary components that improve the power efficiency of the turbine. The turbine may include a blade shroud and a plurality of blades that are connected to the blade shroud. On the external surface of the blade shroud, a drive mechanism and/or a brake mechanism may be disposed. An inlet nozzle and outlet diffuser may be used in combination with the turbine. The turbine may be useful in a number of settings, including, but not limited to, streams, rivers, dams, ocean currents, or tidal areas that have continuous or semi-continuous water flow rates and windy environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Concepts ETI, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Becker, Kerry N. Oliphant, Andrew R. Provo
  • Patent number: 8613592
    Abstract: A guide blade of a turbomachine, in particular of a compressor, a blade of the guide blade without an inner shroud having a flow inlet edge, a flow outlet edge, a suction side, and a pressure side. The blade is formed by a plurality of blade sections stacked one on top of the other in the radial direction, and the centers of gravity of the blade sections extend along a stacking axis. The blade sections are stacked one on top of the other in the radial direction in such a way that, in a radially inner section of the blade adjacent to a radially outer section of the blade, the stacking axis has its single inflection point in its radial curvature, namely, between a first, radially inner subsection of the radially inner section in which the stacking axis has a concave curvature toward the pressure side, and a second, radially outer subsection of the radially inner section in which the stacking axis has a concave curvature toward the suction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Sergio Elorza Gomez
  • Publication number: 20130336801
    Abstract: A rotating airfoil component of a turbomachine, in which the component has an airfoil aligned in a spanwise direction of the component, a shank, and a platform therebetween oriented transverse to the spanwise direction. The platform has an outer radial surface adjacent the airfoil, and at least one recessed region defined in its outer radial surface. The recessed region extends opposite the spanwise direction from a platform plane that contains portions of the outer radial surface that are upstream and downstream from the recessed region. The recessed region is contiguous with an end wall of the platform and extends therefrom toward the airfoil. The recessed region defines a surface shape whose boundary is contained by the platform plane, and has a profile shape that extends from the end wall toward the airfoil. The recessed region is sized and shaped to increase the stiffness of the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sheo Narain Giri, Harish Bommanakatte, Mohankumar Banakar, John David Ward, JR., Jonathan Matthew Lomas
  • Publication number: 20130336799
    Abstract: A compressor component having an improved airfoil profile so as to eliminate previously known vibratory issues in the blade tip is disclosed. By altering the airfoil profile throughout its span, the natural frequency of the airfoil is altered so as to not coincide with a critical engine order of the compressor. Further, the present invention provides a novel airfoil profile in accordance with the coordinates of Table 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Edward Len Miller, Marco Micheli, Tihomir Stojkovic, Luis Federico Puerta
  • Publication number: 20130330204
    Abstract: The present application provides a turbine rotor and blade assembly for a steam turbine. The turbine rotor and blade assembly may include a rotor, a number of buckets positioned about the rotor, and a locking blade positioned about the rotor. The locking blade may include a multi-piece configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Farineau, Edward Arthur Dewhurst, Timothy Scott McMurray, Manuel Fernandez, John Thomas Basirico
  • Patent number: 8602729
    Abstract: A stage of a steam turbine, having a rotor extending along a longitudinal axis, has a fixed stage and a movable stage arranged successively along a flow channel for feeding steam in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; the fixed stage has an inner ring coaxial with the longitudinal axis, and a number of stator blades arranged radially about the inner ring; each stator blade is fixed to an annular top portion of the inner ring, which has a top surface facing the flow channel and crosswise to the longitudinal axis; and the movable stage has a number of rotor blades arranged radially about the rotor and fixed to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ansaldo Energia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mauro Maccio', Stefano Cecchi, Francesco Malavasi
  • Patent number: 8602739
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade with an airfoil profile having an upwind side, a downwind side is provided. A stall inducing device is located at the upwind side of the airfoil profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peder Bay Enevoldsen, Søren Hjort, Jesper Laursen, Anders Vangsgaard Nielsen, Rune Rubak
  • Publication number: 20130323043
    Abstract: A blade (20) of a rotor (5), the blade (20) having a suction side (21) and a pressure side (22) extending transversely from a leading edge (23) towards a trailing edge (24) and extending spanwise from a root section (31) towards a free end section (41). The blade (40) comprises, going from the root section (31) towards said free end section (41): a root zone (30); followed by rounded zone (35); said rounded zone (35) presenting rounded pressure and suction sides (22?, 21?) departing from said main plane (P1) in a direction (Z) parallel to the axis of rotation (AXROT) of said blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER
    Inventor: EUROCOPTER
  • Patent number: 8596986
    Abstract: A compressor component having an airfoil with a profile in accordance with Table 1 is disclosed. The compressor component, such as a compressor blade, has an increased thickness over a portion of the airfoil span in order to increase stiffness. Furthermore, the airfoil has been restacked so as to induce a compressive stress in the blade root/attachment area. The increased stiffness and restacked airfoil combine to improve high-cycle fatigue capability of the compressor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward Len Miller, William David Day, Hitesh Narendra Patel, Jeffrey S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8573941
    Abstract: A tandem blade design for an axial turbomachine, comprising a front blade and a rear blade disposed with an offset thereto in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction. The rear blade is profiled and positioned with respect to the front blade such that it raises the speed level at the trailing edge of the front blade in a predetermined working range in interaction with the front blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Hoeger
  • Patent number: 8573945
    Abstract: A compressor component having a non-linear thickness distribution along the span length is disclosed. By altering the thickness distribution to a non-linear arrangement so as to locally increase airfoil thickness proximate a mid-span location, the natural frequency of the airfoil is increased so as to not coincide with a critical engine order of the compressor. Further, the present invention provides a novel airfoil profile in accordance with the coordinates of Table 1. The present invention also includes a carrier segment or disk fabricated from a material so as to eliminate corrosion with the compressor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, James Page Strohl
  • Patent number: 8568085
    Abstract: A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine with an airfoil portion including a perimeter wall having first, second, third and fourth sets of cooling holes defined therethrough, including the holes numbered HA-1 to HA-13, HB-1 to HB-13, PA-1 to PA-9, and SA-1 to SA-3, respectively, and located such that a central axis thereof extends through the respective point 1 and point 2 having a nominal location in accordance with the X, Y, Z Cartesian coordinate values set forth in Table 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp
    Inventors: Franco Di Paola, Larry Lebel, François Doyon
  • Patent number: 8556588
    Abstract: An article of manufacture is disclosed. The article may have a nominal profile generally in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in TABLE A. X and Y may correspond to distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z in inches, the airfoil profile sections at the Z distances being joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alexander David Shrum, Marcus Edward Blohm
  • Publication number: 20130259685
    Abstract: A rotor wheel for a gas turbine rotor has a first side having a plurality of curved paddles separated by a plurality of curved slots and a second side having a plurality of radial paddles separated by a plurality of radial slots. A method of purging a rotor of a gas turbine includes providing a flow of compressed air between adjacent rotor wheels of the rotor in a radially downward direction on a first side of each wheel and in a radially upward direction on a second side of each wheel; passing the flow through a curved slots on the first side of each rotor wheel; and passing the flow through radial slots on the second side of each rotor wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Narendra ARE, Kenneth Moore, Matthew Ryan Ferslew, John Clisby Blanton, Seung-Woo Choi
  • Patent number: 8535005
    Abstract: Blades, turbine blade assemblies, and methods of forming blades are provided. The blade includes an airfoil including a convex suction side wall, a concave pressure side wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a root, and a tip, the convex suction side wall, the concave pressure side wall, and the tip each including interior surfaces that together define an internal cooling circuit, the airfoil including a single crystal superalloy, and a cladding layer disposed over the tip, the cladding layer including a zirconia grain stabilized platinum alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Don Mittendorf
  • Patent number: 8529210
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for an air cycle machine (ACM) includes a plurality of blades that each includes a root, a tip, a first surface and second surfaces. The first and second surfaces are defined as a set of X-coordinates, Y-coordinates and Z-coordinates set out in any of Table M-1 and M-2 or Table S1 and S-2 scaled by a desired factor. The X-coordinates being in the tangential direction, the Y-coordinates being in the axial direction and the Z-coordinates being in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Brent J. Merritt, Harold W. Hipsky
  • Patent number: 8523531
    Abstract: An improved second stage airfoil for a compressor blade having a unique chord length (CD), a stagger angle (?), and camber angle (??). The stagger angle (?) and camber angle (??) provide improved aerodynamics while the chord length (CD) provides for reduced airfoil weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Marco Micheli, Luis Frederico Puerta, Wolfgang Kappis
  • Patent number: 8523530
    Abstract: A turbine rotor for an Air Cycle Machine includes a hub with a multiple turbine blades which extend therefrom, each of the multiple of turbine blades defined by a set of coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Brent J. Merritt, Harold W. Hipsky
  • Patent number: 8517690
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic profile for the root of a wind turbine blade having a double leading edge, including a leading edge (13), a trailing edge (15) and suction and pressure sides (17, 19) between the leading edge (13) and the trailing edge (15). The profile (5, 5?, 5?) has a relative thickness in the 30%-50% range in at least one section (37) of the root region (31). In addition, the convex portion (21) of the pressure side (19) is configured such that the curvature thereof decreases from a value C0 at the leading edge (13) to a value C1 at a first point P1 and subsequently increases to a value C2 at a second point P2, after which it decreases to a value 0 at the end of the convex portion (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventors: Gideon Nagy, Ignacio Romero Sanz, Mario Jimenez De Lago
  • Patent number: 8512002
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aerofoil structure capable of being diffusion bonded and superplastically formed to create a substantially hollow cavity within the aerofoil structure, the method comprising: providing two metallic panels; assembling and joining the two metallic panels to one another to form the aerofoil structure; wherein the two metallic panels each comprise a surface capable of forming an aerofoil and further comprise a root or section thereof which is either integral with or fixed to the aerofoil surface; and incorporating a section of a different material into a part, the said section being made from a material which is different from the material of another part of the aerofoil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce, PLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Wallis