Abstract: A transcowl for a gas turbine engine thrust reverser includes an arcuate outer wall; an arcuate inner wall; and an arcuate baffle positioned between the inner and outer walls at a forward end of the transcowl. The baffle has an arcuate cross-sectional shape which defines a forward-facing interior area. An arcuate forward seal is carried at a forward end of the inner wall. The forward seal includes a plurality of axially-extending, spaced-apart arcuate seal teeth which collectively define a labyrinth seal.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 11, 2007
Date of Patent:
February 28, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Chi-Ling Michael Tsou, Carl Francis Holdren, William Andrew Bailey, Dean Thomas Lenahan
Abstract: A measurement base voltage stability monitoring and control scheme having a means for measuring current and voltage phasors at a boundary bus of a load center; and an equivalent network having a fictitious bus with an aggregate load representative of all loads of the load center. The scheme further includes a computing device to calculate a voltage stability margin index based on the aggregate load of the fictitious bus and compare the voltage stability margin index to a pre-set threshold. The computing device causes an action to take place based on the comparison between the voltage stability margin index and the pre-set threshold.
Abstract: A shroud hanger for a gas turbine engine has an arcuate body with opposed inner and outer faces and opposed forward and aft ends, the channel having at least one cooling passage therein which includes: (a) a generally axially-aligned channel extending through the body, the channel having one end open to an exterior of the body; and (b) a generally radially-aligned diffuser extending through the inner face and intersecting the channel.
Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a cell that is used for the rapid cooling of a cooked product. The method includes the steps of taking a period measurement of an internal temperature of the product to be cooled and of the temperature of the ambient air in a chamber; and using the temperature measurements to determine a set value for the temperature of the ambient air inside the chamber. The set temperature value for the ambient air in the chamber is used to control the cold production element until the end of the cooling cycle in order to obtain an internal temperature at the end of the cycle that is less than a pre-determined end internal temperature using a cycle length of less than or equal to a pre-determined maximum cycle length. The invention is suitable for commercial and institutional catering and for the agri-food industry.
Abstract: A gas turbine engine shroud includes a row of different first and second shroud segments alternating circumferentially therearound. The first segments have a first pattern of first cooling holes extending therethrough. The second segments have a second pattern of second cooling holes extending therethrough. The corresponding patterns have different collective flowrate capabilities.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2007
Date of Patent:
January 31, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Ching-Pang Lee, Geoffrey Douglas Robinson, Robert Joseph Orlando
Abstract: A rotating seal for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) an annular seal body; (b) a sealing component carried by the seal body which is adapted to form one-half of a rotating seal interface; and (c) an impeller carried by the seal body which comprises a plurality of radially-inwardly-extending impeller blades.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 31, 2008
Date of Patent:
January 10, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Ning Fang, Ray Harris Kinnaird, Gary Paul Moscarino, Kenneth Lee Fisher, Jonothan Allen Scheetz, Dave William Pugh, Edward William Grace, Duane Howard Anstead, Bala Corattiyil, Prasad Laxman Kane
Abstract: A wire pull assembly including a quick-change assembly and a wire pull attachment. The wire pull attachment includes an insert, a basket adapted to receive and secure an article therein, and a swivel assembly interconnecting the insert and basket such that the swivel assembly allows the basket to move freely relative to the insert.
Abstract: An exhaust nozzle includes a conical duct terminating in an annular outlet. A row of vortex generating duplex tabs are mounted in the outlet. The tabs have compound radial and circumferential aft inclination inside the outlet for generating streamwise vortices for attenuating exhaust noise while reducing performance loss.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 26, 2008
Date of Patent:
January 3, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Ephraim Jeff Gutmark, Steven (nmn) Martens
Abstract: A method of determining parameters for a burnishing operation includes: using a rolling burnishing element to burnish at least two segments on a selected surface of a material sample, the segments having a common width and overlapping each other by a preselected overlap value; measuring the resulting hardness of the surface; and selecting a working overlap value for a subsequent burnishing operation on a workpiece, based on the measured hardness.
Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus is provided for a gas turbine engine having a central axis. The apparatus includes: (a) an annular support member; (b) a turbine shroud disposed in the support member, the shroud being a continuous ring comprising a low-ductility material and having opposed flowpath and back surfaces, and opposed forward and aft ends; and (c) a spring mounted between the support member and the shroud and arranged to resiliently urge the shroud to a concentric position within the structural member.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2010
Date of Patent:
December 20, 2011
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Jason David Shapiro, Roger Lee Doughty, Aaron Dziech, Victor Correia, Elias Lampes, Robert Carella, Brian Corsetti
Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for stunning and separating poultry during the stunning process. The apparatus includes a multi-zone trough having a plurality of basins and a separator adapted to separate shackled poultry hung from a conveyor system into a respective one of the plurality of basins. Each of the plurality of basins is separated by a divider. Once separated, the divider maintains the poultry in a separated condition during a stunning process.
Abstract: A prosthetic joint includes: (a) first member having a balanced centroidal axis, and comprising a rigid material and a concave interior defining a cup surface, the cup surface including: (i) a cantilevered first flange defining a wear-resistant protruding first contact rim, the first flange being asymmetric relative to the balanced centroidal axis; and (ii) a cantilevered second flange defining a wear-resistant protruding second contact rim; (b) a second member comprising a rigid material with a wear-resistant, convex contact surface; (c) where the first and second contact rims bear against the contact surface of the second member, to transfer loads between the first and second members, while allowing pivoting motion therebetween; and (d) wherein the flanges are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and permit the first and second contact rims to conform in an irregular shape to the contact surface, when the joint is under load.
Abstract: A mixer having a unitary construction is disclosed comprising an annular housing having an axis and at least a first swirler having a plurality of vanes arranged circumferentially around the axis such that circumferentially adjacent vanes form at least one flow passage that is oriented at least partially in an axial direction with respect to the axis. In another exemplary embodiment, a mixer having a unitary construction is disclosed comprising a swirler having a plurality of radial vanes arranged circumferentially around the axis and oriented at least partially in a radial direction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 15, 2008
Date of Patent:
November 22, 2011
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
David Allen Kastrup, Marie Ann McMasters
Abstract: A bushing assembly for a turbine vane includes a bushing and a housing. The bushing includes a bore for receiving a trunnion of the vane, a first electrical contact carried on an outer surface thereof, and a first conductor extending from the first electrical contact. The first electrical contact is adapted to be connected to a heater element disposed on the vane. The housing is positioned over the bushing and rotatable relative to the bushing. The housing includes a second electrical contact disposed in contact with the first electrical contact and a second conductor extending from the second electrical contact for connection to an electrical power source.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 31, 2007
Date of Patent:
November 22, 2011
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Brian Michael Davis, Billy T. Wood, Kent Gerhard Huber, Louis Bruno Lorenzi
Abstract: A method of reducing crack propagation in an airfoil includes: providing an airfoil having a root spaced apart from a tip, spaced-apart leading and trailing edges, a suction side extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and an opposed pressure side extending from the leading edge and the trailing edge, supporting the airfoil against bending loads; and burnishing the airfoil using a burnishing element, so as to create at least one burnished section of residual compressive stress, the at least one burnished section being located adjacent the leading edge and spaced from the leading edge by an offset distance selected so as to avoid deformation of the leading edge.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 30, 2006
Date of Patent:
November 8, 2011
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Alberto Luna, Joshua Leigh Miller, William Terence Dingwell, Michael Jay Brunck, William Lee Imhoff, Paul Moncelle, Dale Robert Lombardo, Andrew Philip Woodfield
Abstract: A rotating mechanical apparatus, such as would be used in a reel mower assembly, comprises a drive member rotatably mounted in a frame about a shaft axis. The drive member has a drive face oriented perpendicular to the shaft axis. A driven member has a driven shaft rotatably supported in the frame about the shaft axis, and a driven face oriented parallel to and bearing against the drive face. A bulb extends outward from one of the drive face and the driven face and into a corresponding recess in the other. Magnets force the drive face to bear against the driven face such that the driven shaft rotates with the drive member. One of the drive face and the driven face are movable along the shaft axis to disengage the bulb from the recess. A height adjustment mechanism moves ground rollers closer together or farther apart to vary cutting height.
Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint includes: (a) a femoral member comprising rigid material with a convex, wear-resistant femoral contact surface including a convex ridge; (b) a tibial assembly including: (i) at least one cup comprising rigid material with a body and a rim substantially thicker than the body defining a wear-resistant cup contact surface; (ii) a rigid base; and (iii) a spring support interconnecting the cup and the base, the spring support elastically deflectable permitting controlled pivoting of the at least one cup; (c) wherein the cup contact surface bears against the femoral contact surface, transferring axial and lateral loads between the cup and femoral member, while allowing pivoting between the cup and femoral member; and (d) wherein the at least one cup allows the rim to deform elastically, permitting the cup contact surface to conform in an irregular shape to the femoral contact surface, when the knee joint is loaded.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 31, 2010
Date of Patent:
October 4, 2011
Assignee:
BioMedFlex LLC
Inventors:
Franz W. Kellar, Harold Lloyd Crowder, Glenn A. Rupp
Abstract: The invention provides a grout pack assembly having a plurality of elongate elements shaped to extend about a grout pack and which are characterized in that they are configured to control circumferential expansion of the grout pack beyond the expansion permitted through material yield of the elements.