Patents Assigned to United Technologies Corporation
  • Tantalum modified gamma prime-alpha eutectic alloy
    Patent number: 4288259
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to directionally solidified articles produced from a eutectic alloy in the nickel-aluminum-molybdenum system with tantalum added. The articles have a microstructure consisting of a ductile matrix phase of gamma prime containing a fibrous reinforcing second phase of alpha Mo. The nominal composition of the base alloy is 6.9 weight percent aluminum, 15.2 weight percent tantalum, 18.5 weight percent molybdenum, balance nickel. The directionally solidified alloy articles of the invention are characterized by exceptional mechanical properties combined with good oxidation resistance and reasonable sulfidation resistance at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Pearson, Franklin D. Lemkey
  • Vane cooling structure
    Patent number: 4288201
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved concepts for making judicious use of vane cooling air without introducing mechanical stresses or differential growth induced deformation into the structure. Maintenance of an adequate pressure differential across a tubular insert without inhibiting thermal growth is sought and a specific object is to closely control the leakage of cooling air between a slidable end of the insert and the interior of the vane.In one effective embodiment incorporating concepts of the present invention, a tubular insert 26 is affixed to the vane at one end 32 thereof and is free to slide along the interior surface 28 of the vane at the other end 34 thereof. Leakage of cooling air between the insert and the vane is controlled by closely toleranced correspondence of a closure plate 36 at the slidable end of the insert with a cooling air supply tube 38 which penetrates the closure tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory S. Wilson
  • Process for producing supported skeletal catalytic materials
    Patent number: 4287096
    Abstract: A method for producing a supported skeletal catalyst is described. The starting material is an alloy which consists of an aluminum or silicon matrix containing fine particles of an intermetallic compound between the matrix material and a catalytically active metal. Chemical means are used to convert the matrix material to an oxide ceramic while removing the matrix material from the intermetallic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald S. Golden, Franklin D. Lemkey, Clyde S. Brooks
  • Dry floc method for making an electrochemical cell electrode
    Patent number: 4287232
    Abstract: A method for making an electrochemical cell electrode involves depositing a layer of dry carbon/hydrophobic polymer floc powder on the surface of a substrate by dispersing the powder as a cloud in a chamber over the substrate and pulling the powder onto the substrate by drawing a vacuum under the substrate. The electrode is subsequently compacted and sintered. Typically the carbon component of the floc is catalyzed, such as with platinum. Thus, the method is for applying a catalyst layer on an electrode substrate. The method is particularly adapted to the high speed manufacture of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Goller, Joseph R. Salonia
  • Tank cap
    Patent number: 4286727
    Abstract: A retractable cap for a tank storing oil or the like for airplane use carries a handle that prevents the nacelle access door from closing unless the cap is secured in position. A double hinge arrangement for the cap assures that the "O" seal doesn't become distorted when the cap is replaced in the secured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony F. Limoncelli
  • Apparatus and method for refinishing turbine blade airseals
    Patent number: 4285108
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for restoring airseals on gas turbine blades and vanes. A worn or damaged airseal is removed by abrasive belt grinding perpendicular to its length to create a stub. Then a piece of material is joined to the stub, as by welding. Next the airseal weldment is contoured using abrasive belting, perpendicular to the weldment length.The invention is particularly advantageous for the repair of components having two airseals of different dimensions. A single two-position fixture is usable to remove old airseals and to refinish airseal weldments. Refinishing is accomplished with a contoured belt; the contour is chosen to be intermediate, but within the tolerance of, the contours of the first and second airseals. As a result, airseals are economically restored in short runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John P. Arrigoni
  • Gas turbine noise suppressor
    Patent number: 4284170
    Abstract: Noise generated in a coannular airstream where there are concentric spaced pipes discharging the flow and the outer pipe extends beyond the inner pipe as in the tail pipe configuration of a fan-jet engine is dissipated by discreetly locating tabs extending internally at the discharge end of the inner pipe. This serves to destroy the coherence of the unsteady pressure field occasioned when the coannular flow streams comingle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard S. Larson, Allan B. Packman
  • Cambered core positioning for injection molding
    Patent number: 4283835
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for precisely locating a cambered ceramic core within the cavity of an injection molding die, such as is used to form patterns for lost wax method casting of gas turbine airfoils. A combination of at least two independent sets of locators are used: one set of at least three is fixed and contacts the periphery of the core while the other set of at least two is movable and engages the centerline of the core. The two sets independently limit the various degrees of core freedom and maintain its position during injection molding. The concave side of the core is preferably contacted by the fixed locators since this biases deviations into the convex side of the part from which excess deviant material is more readily moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Frank T. Obrochta, Ralph E. Disa
  • Gas manifold for particle quenching
    Patent number: 4284394
    Abstract: In apparatus for producing metal powder by rapid solidification of molten metal particles flung into a quenching chamber from a rotating disk through vertical zones of cooling fluid, improved cooling fluid flow, improved operating efficiency and low pressure losses are provided by having the cooling fluid introduced into the quenching chamber via a plurality of cylindrical tubes each having an inlet within a coolant fluid manifold and an outlet opening into the quenching chamber. Each tube including means for creating a cooling fluid vortex flow therein which exits from the tube outlet into the quenching chamber as an expanding cone of swirling fluid. A plurality of these tubes are appropriately located around the rotating disk to create a desired pattern of cooling fluid flow around the disk and through which the molten metal particles will pass as they solidify into the powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Charles C. Thompson
  • Intershaft bearing
    Patent number: 4283096
    Abstract: A ring fabricated from metal whose modulus of elasticity is higher than and its coefficient of expansion is lower than the outer race of a roller bearing that supports concentrically mounted shafts of a turbine power plant serves to restrain growth owing to the different thermal and centrifugal forces imposed by each of said shafts otherwise causing the roller of the bearing to loosen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Harrison R. Picard, Claude P. Rotondo, Harold K. Shaffer, Bertrand H. Brown
  • Process for vaporizing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel
    Patent number: 4282832
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a process for vaporizing liquid hydrocarbon fuels efficiently and without the formation of carbon residue on the apparatus used.The process includes simultaneously passing the liquid fuel and an inert hot gas downwardly through a plurality of vertically spaed apart regions of high surface area packing material. The liquid thinly coats the packing surface, and the sensible heat of the hot gas vaporizes this coating of liquid. Unvaporized liquid passing through one region of packing is uniformly redistributed over the top surface of the next region until all fuel has been vaporized using only the sensible heat of the hot gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Donald F. Szydlowski, Vaidotas Kuzminskas, Joseph E. Bittner
  • Interblade seal for axial flow rotary machines
    Patent number: 4280795
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to prevent the leakage of working medium gases across a rotor stage beneath the platforms of the rotor blades.A rotor assembly structure in which the concepts of the present invention are employable is disclosed. Techniques for blocking the leakage of working medium gases around a rotor stage beneath the platforms of the blades are discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Edmund D. Trousdell
  • Angularly lockable fitting
    Patent number: 4280721
    Abstract: This invention relates to fittings for a pipe adapted for interconnecting a gas turbine engine and its fuel control where the fitting has a swivel connection for simple angular alignment and a friction plate locking the fitting and characterized as having a low profile, a simple two-bolt connection and good sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Norman W. Narkon
  • Desensitizing helicopter control response to inadvertent pilot inputs
    Patent number: 4279391
    Abstract: A helicopter having an automatic flight control system including an inner, stability loop is rendered less sensitive to short-term, inadvertent pilot inputs by applying a washed-out derivative of a stick position signal to the inner stability loop in a sense to countermand the pilot action. Using a washed-out signal countermands only short-term rapid stick motions, which may be induced by the pilot actively, but inadvertently, or inactively due to coupling between the pilot or the stick and motion of the fuselage, while permitting purposeful, long-term stick positions to have the full, intended effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Don L. Adams, Richard D. Murphy, William C. Fischer
  • Stranded nickel braze alloy preforms
    Patent number: 4279121
    Abstract: Fabrication techniques for making nickel boron stranded wire braze preforms are described. The techniques involve the provision of the wire material in a stranded form having a large surface to volume ratio. This general form consists of a plurality of fine wires, having the desired cross-sectional area, which may be twisted or braided to produce the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Ryan, David A. Rutz, Jack W. Lee
  • Detecting power loss in free turbines
    Patent number: 4280059
    Abstract: A method of detecting rapid loss of electrical load in an industrial free turbine prior to significant turbine overspeed and reducing fuel to a predetermined lower power level thereby to avoid the need for a complete shutdown of the engine is disclosed. The method is unaffected by small power losses and by normal transients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert C. Zickwolf, Jr.
  • Vane angle control
    Patent number: 4279568
    Abstract: A linkage system for the variable stator vanes of a gas turbine engine is augmented by control means operable as a function of compressor speed designed to match the aerodynamic requirements of the airflow through the compressor so as to define the rate of schedule change of the vanes over its angular movement by compensating for the inadequacies inherent in the capabilities of the linkage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Alan D. Munroe
  • Engine module life tracking system
    Patent number: 4280185
    Abstract: A life tracking system (LTS) provides a life history recording for each module of a gas turbine engine, including module type and serial number together with total use, or operating time for each module. The total use may include total actual operating hours, total operating time under known high stress conditions, a weighted total time reflecting operational parameters, or any combination of these use indicators. The module information is stored as a permanent record with the module identification (ID) in a read/write non-volatile memory which may be read by a ground based data system. As such, each engine module may be tracked, automatically, from manufacture through its total life cycle in each engine configuration and/or aircraft in which it is used, without the necessity of human recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony N. Martin
  • Heat pipe bag system
    Patent number: 4279294
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for utilizing the earth as a heat source and heat sink for heating and cooling buildings are disclosed. Flexible material such as hollow plastic or metal foil bags which can be buried in deep, narrow trenches are draped over and clamped to heat transfer fluid conduits or conventional heat pipes vastly increasing the heat transfer surface area serving the conduits or heat pipes. The heat pipe bags contain a heat transfer fluid and can contain wicks which are in heat transfer communication with the heat transfer fluid conduits or other heat pipes. The plastic or metal of the heat pipe bag similarly encloses the wick forming a closed, sealed system which can also include the conduit or heat pipe. Such conduit-heat pipe bag combination can be used in combination with conventional heat pumps to both heat and cool buildings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Peter R. Fitzpatrick, Russell G. Meyerand, Jr., Kenneth E. Shotwell
  • Sideplates for rotor disk and rotor blades
    Patent number: 4279572
    Abstract: A rotor sideplate for inhibiting the leakage of fluid mediums across a blade and disk assembly of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. Techniques for preventing the leakage of working medium gases across the assembly beneath the platforms and for preventing the leakage of turbine cooling air are developed. Various construction details which enhance the fatigue performance of the sideplate are developed. The sideplate is supported from the rotor disk at more than one support point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Peter R. Auriemma