Patents Examined by Adam W Brown
  • Patent number: 9670797
    Abstract: A vane structure includes a baffle movably mounted within an aperture, the baffle movable to control a cooling flow between a first cooling cavity and a second cooling cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas N. Slavens, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz, Thomas J. Martin, Mark F. Zelesky, Steven B. Gautschi, Matthew A. Devore, Alexander Staroselsky
  • Patent number: 9657405
    Abstract: A removable mask for a platform or a nozzle sector of a turbine engine blade, the blade or sector configured to be covered in an electrolytic deposit, the mask including a mechanism to engage on the platform and a mechanism to cover outer surfaces of the platform that are not to be covered by the electrolytic deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Pascal Etuve, Frederic Lagrange, Patrick Marquereau, Pascal Sainz
  • Patent number: 9650897
    Abstract: A fan blade comprises an airfoil portion and a sheath portion. The sheath portion has a sheath head section, a first sheath flank, and a second sheath flank, both flanks extending chordwise from the forward sheath section. The sheath portion is bonded to the airfoil portion such that the sheath head section covers the forward airfoil edge, defining a blade leading edge. The first sheath flank covers a portion of the first airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade suction surface. The second sheath flank covers a portion of the second airfoil surface proximate the airfoil forward edge, jointly defining a blade pressure surface. The first metallic material is an aluminum alloy containing between about 0.5 wt % and about 3.0 wt % of lithium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Deal, John J. Schirra, Lee Drozdenko, William R. Graves, James O. Hansen, Michael A. Weisse, Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 9644486
    Abstract: A segmented composite shell for an axial turbomachine compressor, each segment formed of a first polymeric material and comprises at least one working surface formed of a second polymeric material co-injected with the first polymeric material. The working surface can be a contact surface with a blade, wherein the working surface has a lipped profile and is made of an elastomeric material. The working surface can be the inner surface for bonding an abradable material, wherein the material can be silicone to facilitate the bonding of the abradable material to the silicone base. The working surface can be a lateral face of the shell that contacts a mating fixed surface, wherein the material can comprise TEFLONĀ®, i.e. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), so as to form a working surface with dry friction properties. Such features enable the shell to have additional technical features implemented directly during the injection moulding of the shell segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventors: Christine Brassine, Xavier Wery
  • Patent number: 9616157
    Abstract: There is provided a blood pump. An exemplary blood pump comprises an impeller with a rotational axis in a pump housing. The exemplary blood pump also comprises a first element that comprises a Lomakin bearing, and a second element physically separated from the first element, the second element comprising a radial magnetic bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Mustafa Akdis
  • Patent number: 9587500
    Abstract: A fluid sealing device for rotating machines having a rotor part including at least one disk carried by a rotating shaft rotating in and relatively to a stator part in the presence of a fluid is disclosed. The rotating shaft has a sealing system defining a first environment at a first pressure. The stator part has a wall in front of the disk of the stator part defining a second environment therewith containing a fluid at a second pressure. The device includes a movable ring placed between the wall of the stator part and the disk of the rotor part and has a front sealing gasket facing towards the disk. The movable ring is moved in the active position when the rotating machine is stopped to prevent the fluid passage from one environment to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TURBODEN S.R.L.
    Inventors: Davide Colombo, Roberto Bini
  • Patent number: 9581036
    Abstract: Systems and devices configured to seal interfaces/gaps between stationary components of turbines and manipulate a flow of coolant about portions of the turbine during turbine operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal element includes: a first surface shaped to be oriented toward a pressurized cavity of the turbine; a second surface oriented substantially opposite the first surface and shaped to sealingly engage a contact surface of the static components; and a first set of angular features disposed in the second surface, the first set of angular features fluidly connecting the pressurized cavity and the flowpath of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dipankar Pal, Robert Walter Coign, Gary Michael Itzel, Kevin Thomas McGovern, Christopher Donald Porter
  • Patent number: 9574569
    Abstract: A recirculation fan includes a casing, a covering member, a wind-guiding device, a passive impeller, and an active impeller. The covering member is coupled with the casing to define an accommodation space. The wind-guiding device is disposed on the covering member, and includes a wind-guiding cover and a magnetoresistive structure. The magnetoresistive structure is disposed on the covering member and the wind-guiding cover. The passive impeller is disposed within the accommodation space. The active impeller is disposed within the accommodation space and located beside the passive impeller for generating a wind to drive rotation of the passive impeller and the wind-guiding cover. In response to a magnetic torque resulted from a magnetic vortex of the magnetoresistive structure, a rotating speed of the wind-guiding cover is slowed down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shun-Chen Chang, Wen-Bin Liu, Kun-Fu Chuang
  • Patent number: 9561555
    Abstract: A method of machining cooling holes in a component includes the steps of inserting an electro discharge machining guide that houses an electrode into an internal cavity of a component, and machining a cooling hole into a wall of the component with the electrode. A gas turbine engine component includes first and second spaced apart walls providing an internal cavity. The first wall has outer and inner surfaces. The inner surface faces the internal cavity. A cooling hole extends through the first wall from the inner surface to the outer surface. The cooling hole includes entry and exit openings respectively provided in the inner and outer surfaces. The exit opening includes a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the entry opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James M. Koonankeil, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz, Karl A. Schachtner, Kevin J. Klinefelter, Markus W. Fritch, Jason Daley
  • Patent number: 9562513
    Abstract: Rotor blade assemblies for wind turbines are provided. A rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade. In some embodiments, the rotor blade assembly further includes a surface feature configured on an exterior surface of the rotor blade, the surface feature having an exterior mounting surface. At least a portion of the exterior mounting surface has a contour in an uninstalled state that is different from a curvature of the exterior surface of the rotor blade at a mount location of the surface feature on the rotor blade. In other embodiments, the rotor blade assembly further includes a seal member surrounding at least a portion of a perimeter of the surface feature. The seal member contacts and provides a transition between the exterior surface and the surface feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Scott Gabell Riddell, Michael Christopher Booth, Megan Michela Wilson
  • Patent number: 9555592
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a turbine engine blade root out of composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix, the method including making a central fiber strip and two outer fiber strips from three sets of yarn layers interlinked by three-dimensional weaving, passing the two outer strips through the central strip with the two outer strips crossing each other inside the central strip, eliminating the portions of the two outer strips lying outside the central strip by cutting them off, shaping the fiber blank in order to obtain a preform having a main portion forming a blade-root preform integral with two secondary portions forming bearing-plate preforms, and densifying the preform densified by the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Hubert Illand
  • Patent number: 9556879
    Abstract: A compressor is provided with a substantially tubular compressor casing, a substantially circular lid that is provided inside an inner periphery of the compressor casing so as to close off an end surface of the compressor casing, a space that is enclosed by the lid and an inner circumferential surface of the compressor casing so as to accommodate a blade, and seal member that is provided in a circumferential direction on the space side of an outer circumferential surface of the lid, wherein a slit part is provided on the lid, radially inside the outer circumferential surface, where the seal member is provided, so as to extend in the axial direction from the space side of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Shinohara, Mitsuhiko Ota
  • Patent number: 9551225
    Abstract: Turbomachines having close-coupling flow guides (CCFGs) that are designed and configured to closely-couple flow fields of adjacent bladed elements. In some embodiments, the CCFGs may be located in regions extending between the adjacent bladed elements, described herein as coupling avoidance zones, where conventional turbomachine design would suggest no structure should be added. In yet other embodiments, CCFGs are located upstream and/or downstream of rows of blades coupled to the bladed elements, including overlapping one of more of the rows of blades, to improve flow coupling and machine performance. Methods of designing turbomachines to incorporate CCFGs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Concepts NREC, LLC
    Inventor: David Japikse
  • Patent number: 9546567
    Abstract: A system is provided including a turbine exhaust section. The turbine exhaust section includes an exhaust flow path. The turbine exhaust section also includes an outer structure having an outer casing, an outer exhaust wall disposed along the exhaust flow path, and an outer cavity disposed between the outer exhaust wall and the outer casing. The turbine exhaust section further includes an inner structure having an inner exhaust wall disposed along the exhaust flow path, an inner cavity disposed between the inner exhaust wall and an inner casing, and a bearing cavity disposed between the inner casing and a bearing housing. In addition, the turbine exhaust section includes a strut extending between the outer structure and the inner structure. The strut includes a first flow passage configured to flow a fluid from the inner cavity to the outer cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ravi Shankar Venkata Kasibhotla, Piotr Edward Kobek, Srinivasarao Pakkala, Radu Ioan Danescu, David Martin Johnson
  • Patent number: 9540950
    Abstract: An oil deflector includes a segment array extending radially from a sleeve portion defining a longitudinal axis and configured for mounting on a shaft. The segment array includes a plurality of segments arranged circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis and defines at least one oil diverting feature configured to create a pressure differential proximate the segment array or across a surface of the segment array during rotation of the oil deflector about the longitudinal axis. The segment array may define an oil diverting feature configured as a radially tapered peripheral surface, an axially inclined annular surface, at least one slot inclined relative to an annular surface of the array, and/or a combination of these configured to divert oil axially and/or radially from the oil deflector during rotation by the shaft in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Malay Maniar
  • Patent number: 9540094
    Abstract: Enriching and balancing the acoustic spectrum radiated by a propeller by introducing a differential pitch angle on certain blades of the propeller. Modifying the acoustic spectrum makes it possible to render the propeller noise more pleasant to the human ear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: AIBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
    Inventors: Camil Negulescu, Magdi Omais
  • Patent number: 9533383
    Abstract: A method of repairing a flange of a casing, or a casing made of aluminum, for a turbine engine or an airplane turboprop or turbojet, the flange including at least one through hole for passing a bolt for fastening equipment. The method includes: forming a spot face in the flange around the hole for passing the bolt; anodizing the bottom surface of the spot face; placing a washer on the spot face; and fastening the washer to the flange using adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Yannis Boletis, Jean-Louis Cardinal, Serge De Sanctis, Julien Tran
  • Patent number: 9534578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for converting kinetic energy of a flowing water into kinetic energy of a rotatable rotor shaft, wherein the device is adapted to be effective in a first flow direction and a second flow direction substantially opposite to the first, wherein the device comprises two rotor blades each connected to a blade shaft coupled to the rotor shaft for transfer of a torque relative to the rotor shaft, wherein the blades are each rigidly connected to their blade shaft, the blade shafts are mounted for rotation about their own axis relative to the rotor shaft, the blade shafts are coupled to each other for rotation in the same rotation direction and the rotor blades each have an asymmetrical cross-section. There is hereby always flow against the asymmetrical rotor blades from the same direction relative to the blade during the energy conversion process, so that the profile of the rotor blades can be optimized for this flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Tocardo International B.V.
    Inventor: Fred Ernest Gardner
  • Patent number: 9528525
    Abstract: A vacuum pump includes a rotor shaft 33 that is rotatably supported by a bearing and driven by a motor 36 to rotate at a high speed, and a rotor 30 that is fastened to one end of the rotor shaft 33 in axial direction thereof and is provided with an evacuating function portion. An engagement portion, in which the rotor shaft 33 and the rotor 30 are fastened, includes an engagement hole 330 formed on one of the rotor shaft 33 and the rotor 30 and an engagement shaft 300 formed on the other of the rotor shaft 33 and the rotor 30. A filling member 40 is provided in a gap between the engagement hole 330 and the engagement shaft 300, having shear strength lower than respective shear strengths of the rotor 30 and the rotor shaft 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9518564
    Abstract: A wind turbine platform is configured for floating in a body of water and includes a hull defining a hull cavity therein. The hull is formed from reinforced concrete. A tower is configured to mount a wind turbine and is also connected to the hull. An anchor member is connected to the hull and to the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM BOARD OF TRUSTEE
    Inventors: Habib J. Dagher, Anthony M. Viselli, Andrew J. Goupee