Patents Examined by Alexander White
  • Patent number: 9339596
    Abstract: In a rotor for a fluid pump which is made radially compressible and expandable and has a hub (4) and at least one conveying element (10, 11, 19, 20) which has a plurality of struts (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 28) and at least one membrane (18) which can be spanned between them, provision is made for a design in accordance with the invention which is as simple and inexpensive as possible that at least one first group of struts is pivotable in a pivot plane, starting from a common base, and can thus be spanned open in the manner of a fan, wherein the conveying element lies along the hub and contacts it over its full length in the expanded state to avoid a pressure loss at the margin of the conveying element between it and the hub and thus to realize an optimum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: ECP ENTWICKLUNGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH
    Inventor: Daniel Roehn
  • Patent number: 9261107
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a main shroud and a sub shroud. The main shroud is configured to connect upper ends of outer rims of a plurality of blades spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction of a base. The sub shroud is provided at the upper end of the outer rim of each blade and serves to prevent air from moving from a pressure surface to a negative pressure surface of each blade by passing over an upper end of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Joo Kim, Eung Ryeol Seo, Sang Jin Lee, Ji Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 9260972
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil comprises a suction sidewall, a pressure sidewall, a tip wall, and a tip leakage control channel. Each sidewall extends spanwise from an airfoil base and chordwise between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The tip wall extends chordwise from the leading edge to the trailing edge and joins respective outer spanwise ends of the suction and pressure sidewalls. The tip leakage control channel has an inlet and an outlet recessed into an outer surface of the tip wall. An inlet of the channel begins proximate a junction of the airfoil pressure sidewall and the tip wall. An outlet of the channel terminates at a recessed portion of the junction of the tip wall and the suction sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Mark F. Zelesky, Andrew S. Aggarwala
  • Patent number: 9228436
    Abstract: A preswirler of a gas turbine engine includes an outer ring. The outer ring includes an outer flange with a plurality of first holes, and an outer cylindrical portion extending from the outer flange. The preswirler also includes an inner ring. The inner ring includes an inner flange spaced apart from the outer flange. The inner ring also includes an inner cylindrical portion located within the outer cylindrical portion and a back portion extending from the inner flange to the inner cylindrical portion. The inner ring further includes a plurality of second holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Meyer, Hyun D. Kim, Tsuhon Lin, Edward T. Ramirez
  • Patent number: 9228481
    Abstract: A water pump mounting structure includes a water pump cover and a water pump housing. The water pump housing includes an upper extending portion and a lower extending portion. The upper extending portion includes a first upper fastening portion and a second upper fastening portion. The second upper fastening portion is provided between the first upper fastening portion and a pump driving shaft. The lower extending portion includes a first lower fastening portion and a second lower fastening portion. The second lower fastening portion is provided between the first lower fastening portion and the pump driving shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Itakura
  • Patent number: 9228450
    Abstract: A particle deflector for a gas turbine engine deters accumulation of particles in cooling passages of nozzle vanes of the engine. The particle deflector is arranged to be disposed around a turbine housing over cooling passages that supply cooling air to nozzle vanes within the housing. The particle deflector includes circumferentially distributed mounting holes for mounting the particle deflector to the turbine housing. The particle deflector also includes circumferentially distributed spacers to space the particle deflector from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Meyer, Tsuhon Lin
  • Patent number: 9175662
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a Francis runner for a hydraulic machine that comprises a belt with a rotational symmetry about a central axis of the runner, a ceiling with a rotational symmetry about the axis, and a plurality of blades (21, 22) extending between the ceiling and the belt. The runner also includes at least two elements (41, 42, 43, 61, 62, 63) partially defining at least the belt and/or the ceiling while at least one edge (231, 232, 241, 242) of a blade (21, 22) is inserted between the two elements defining the belt and/or the ceiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Yves Bouvet, Fabrice Tassy, Louis Mathieu, Georges Rossi
  • Patent number: 9169828
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for converting wind power into electrical energy. One or more blades are attached by one or more struts to a vertical or central shaft, wherein each strut mechanically couples at least one of the blades to the shaft. One or more blades may be laminar. An optional method of fabricating a wind turbine blade, or fluid turbine blade, wherein the blade may be manufactured by a pultrusion process; may present a constant blade twist along a central axis of the blade itself; and/or may present a cross-section along the blade central axis. Alternatively or additionally, an airfoil is provided may be laminar and/or uncambered. According to a still additional optional aspect of the method of the present invention, a Darrieus-type vertical-axis wind turbine is provided, the turbine having a shaft that defines a rotation axis with a plurality of substantially rigid blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Stefano Mangano
  • Patent number: 9162749
    Abstract: A blade (1) for a tail anti-torque device of a helicopter, said device comprising a ducted rotor (13). The blade (1) has an assembly of sections, a leading edge (2) and a trailing edge (3); a stacking line (4) of the profiles extending at a distance lying in the range 25% to 50% of the chord (C). The stacking line (4) presents a shape that is curved having successively from the root (5) to the end (6) of the blade a back sweep, a forward sweep, and a last back sweep; and a chord (C) that becomes larger going towards the end (6) of the blade (1) over at least the end profile (1a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Marc Gervais, Benoit Gresle, Sebastein Finck, Laurent Sudre
  • Patent number: 9140237
    Abstract: A windmill can include a first blade assembly including a plurality of blades, a sprocket and chain assembly configured to turn the first blade assembly in and out of an incoming wind, a wheel assembly, such that the wheel assembly supports the first blade assembly, and a fan assembly configured to move the sprocket and chain assembly to turn the first blade assembly a quarter turn for avoidance of damage to the windmill from a damaging wind. An ice-catcher may also move the blades out of damaging wind. The invention may include multiple blade assemblies attached to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Eldon Leonard Stroburg
  • Patent number: 9140267
    Abstract: A compressor housing defines a gas inlet flow path and a gas outlet and a rotatable impeller wheel between the gas inlet flow path and the gas outlet. An inner wall of the housing defines a surface in close proximity to radially outer edges of impeller wheel vanes that sweep across the surface as the wheel rotates. An opening is provided in the inner wall at the surface. A port is provided in the housing in gas communication with the opening for diverting gas in a direction away from the inlet flow path during relatively low flow conditions. A gas displacement device is disposed outside of the inlet flow path and connected to the port, wherein the pump is operable to remove gas selectively through the opening and the port in a direction away from the inlet flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas Sharp
  • Patent number: 9133732
    Abstract: A turbine engine vane assembly assembled using an anti-rotation pin method can include a vane assembly having a vane supported on a shroud ring and a cavity seal coupled to the vane assembly by a securement mechanism. The cavity seal defines a securement receiving portion through which the securement mechanism is inserted. The securement receiving portion also includes a deformation receiver. The securement mechanism has a deformable rim at a first end and a key at a second end. The securement mechanism is rotatable between a first configuration and a second configuration where the key matingly engages the shroud ring and the cavity seal to reduce axial movement of the vane assembly. The deformable rim can be deformed into the deformation receiver to prevent rotation of the securement mechanism and disengagement of the securement mechanism from the vane assembly and cavity seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventor: Gennadiy Afanasiev
  • Patent number: 9133855
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor (10) for a turbo machine, in particular for an aircraft turbine, with rotating blades (12) that are joined to a basic rotor body (16), whereby at least one channel (22) extending between the high-pressure side (HD) and the low-pressure side (ND) of rotor (10) radially underneath a blade platform (18) of at least one rotating blade (12) is provided, whereby a slope of a principal axis of extension (H) of channel (22) relative to an axis of rotation (D) of rotor (10) has the same sign as a slope of a principal axis of extension (R) of a radially inner boundary of the flow channel of rotor 10. In addition, the invention relates to a turbo machine having a rotor (10) as well as to a method for manufacturing a rotor (10) for a turbo machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES GMBH
    Inventors: Hans Peter Borufka, Frank Stiehler
  • Patent number: 9132922
    Abstract: A ram air turbine comprises a turbine housing which mounts a number of circumferentially spaced turbine blades that function predominantly as impulse turbine blades and a number of splitters, each located in between adjacent turbine blades, which function predominantly as a reaction turbine blade but are shorter in length than the turbine blades. The cross section of the turbine housing decreases between its forward and aft ends while the height of both the turbine blades and splitters increases in the same direction such that the tips of the turbine blades and splitters collectively form a substantially cylindrical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Technologies Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Justak
  • Patent number: 9127646
    Abstract: A wind power generating system in which a plurality of stationary modules form a toroidal shaped tower that accelerates wind passing around and between the modules due to the Bernoulli Effect. Between the modules are located a plurality of vertical axis wind turbine rotors with an integrated generator system that in combination forms an integrated rotor and generator assembly connected to a rotatable yaw platform via an improved support arm. The rotor and generator assemblies act independently of each other to accommodate different wind conditions at different altitudes and to provide partial production to significantly enhance overall wind production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: V3 TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Cory
  • Patent number: 9120559
    Abstract: A propeller blade pitch actuation system includes a propeller control module (PCM), a PCM drain line, a first drain line, a drain line restriction, a second drain line, and a valve. The PCM drain line connects to the PCM to drain hydraulic fluid. The first drain line is downstream of the PCM drain line and the drain line restriction is downstream of the first drain line. The second drain line is downstream of the PCM drain line. The valve includes a first valve position and a second valve position. The first valve position connects the PCM drain line to the first drain line and the second valve position connects the PCM drain line to the second drain line. Hydraulic pressure of the first drain line between the valve and the drain line restriction is greater than hydraulic pressure of the second drain line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Danielson, Paul A. Carvalho
  • Patent number: 9074604
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes an upstream side impeller, a downstream side impeller, a motor, and a housing arranged to accommodate the upstream side impeller, the downstream side impeller, and the motor. The housing includes a first intake port through which a gas is drawn from an outside, an exhaust port through which the gas is discharged to the outside, and a flow path defined within the housing to bring the first intake port and the exhaust port into communication with each other. The flow path includes a first wind tunnel portion positioned below the upstream side impeller to extend in a circumferential direction and arranged to receive a gas stream from the upstream side impeller and a second wind tunnel portion positioned above the downstream side impeller to extend in the circumferential direction and arranged to receive a gas stream from the downstream side impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuo Konishi, Hiroyoshi Teshima
  • Patent number: 9068557
    Abstract: A directed flow wind turbine is configured to utilize a laminar flow of an entering wind through the directed flow wind turbine and includes a plurality of rotor vanes mechanically coupled to an upper rotor ring and a lower rotor ring. A shaft is mechanically coupled to the upper rotor ring and the lower rotor ring and configured to receive torque from the plurality of rotor vanes. An upper housing plate is attached to the shaft with an upper bearing. A lower housing plate is attached to the shaft with a lower bearing. An upwind flow shield, a downwind flow shield, and a rotor protector shield are attached to the upper housing plate and the lower housing plate. Wherein dimensions of these components are controlled in order to maintain the laminar flow of the entering wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventor: Calvin Lee Garrett
  • Patent number: 9057205
    Abstract: A modular platform assembly for a wind turbine tower includes a core platform sub-assembly having an underlying structural support grid. A plurality of platform extension panels are disposed circumferentially around at least a portion of a perimeter of the core platform sub-assembly. Support extensions are configured on the support grid at a plurality of circumferential positions around the core platform sub-assembly, with the platform extension panels supported by the support extension. The support extensions are mountable to a wall within a wind turbine tower and are variably positional on the support grid so at to vary the effective diameter of the support grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James E. Reed, James C. Butts
  • Patent number: 9051846
    Abstract: A positioning member for presenting a ring segment for a turbine wheel mounted to rotate about an axis inside a casing. The member presents: a fastener portion for fastening to the casing; a resilient portion forming a spring; and a bearing portion connected to the resilient portion and serving to bear axially against the ring segment such that when the member is mounted the ring segment is pressed axially against a portion of the casing by the positioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: TURBOMECA
    Inventors: Jean-Baptiste Arilla, Denis Chanteloup, Yvan Lameignere