Patents Examined by Andrew C Knopp
  • Patent number: 8070425
    Abstract: A turbocharger having a sliding piston for regulating exhaust gas flow into the turbine wheel includes a set of first vanes mounted on a fixed first wall of the turbine nozzle and projecting axially toward an opposite second wall of the nozzle, and/or a set of second vanes mounted on the end of the piston and projecting in an opposite axial direction toward the first wall of the nozzle. For the/each set of vanes, there are leakage dams formed on the wall that is adjacent the vane tips when the piston is closed. The leakage dams are closely adjacent the vane tips and discourage exhaust gas from leaking in a generally radial direction past the vane tips as the piston just begins to open from its fully closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Quentin Roberts, Ahmed Alnega
  • Patent number: 8066489
    Abstract: An aerofoil assembly includes a plurality of rotatable blades. A damping member is disposed between at least two of the blades, each of the at least two blades having an aerofoil portion, a stem portion and a root portion. A recess is provided on two cooperating stem portions with a first shelf extending from a first end of each recess, and a second shelf extending from a second end of each recess to define a compartment. When the blades are aligned the damping member is held on one side of the shelves within the compartment. The damping member is provided with a projection at one corner and a projection on a diagonally opposite corner, the longitudinal distance between ends of the projections being greater than the distance between edges of the first and second shelf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Martin D. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8057159
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel twin wind turbine power system. More particularly, this invention pertains to a twin wind turbine power system which has adjustable width blades, adjustable width wind deflectors and a telescoping erection capability. A twin wind turbine electrical power generating system comprising: (a) a first rotatable wind turbine with vertical radially extending blades around its axis; (b) a second rotatable wind turbine deployed parallel to the first turbine with vertical radially extending blades around its axis; (c) a vertical windshield positioned windwardly between the first and second wind turbines; (d) a wind direction member associated with the first and second wind turbines and directing the first and second wind turbines and windshield to face windward; (e) a rotational support upon which items (a), (b), (c) and (d) are mounted; (f) an alternator connected to the first and second wind turbines and generating electricity as the first and second wind turbines rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Wun C. Chong
  • Patent number: 8047802
    Abstract: The course of the leading edges of turbomachine components, such as rotor blades and stator vanes is defined mathematically exactly and repeatedly as well as aerodynamically advantageously by the respective axial coordinate in the direction of the machine axis in relation to the blade height in percent, extending from the blade tip as per equation (1): axial ? ? coordinate ? [ % ? ? blade ? ? height ] = 1 5 ? ? extension ? [ % ? ? blade ? ? height ] ? ? tan ? ? sweep tip ( 1 - ? - 5 ? ( 100 ? % - blade ? ? height ? [ % ] ) extention ? [ % ? ? blade ? ? height ] ) and extending from the blade hub as per equation (2): axial ? ? coordinate ? [ % ? ? blade ? ? height ] = 1 5 ? ? extension ? [ % ? ? blade ? ? height ] ? ? tan ? ? sweep hub ( 1 - ? - 5 ? ? blade ? ? height ? [ % ] extention ? [ % ? ? blade ? ? height ] ) where sweep
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Carsten Clemen
  • Patent number: 8038395
    Abstract: A wind turbine pitch control system is disclosed that provides a pulsed torque to the blade pitch actuator if continuous torque fails to adjust the blade pitch angle to a commanded pitch angle. This invention provides a cost-effective way to increase peak torque capability for existing wind turbines that have problems, under certain operating conditions, moving blades per the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Frank Fric, Negel Ernesto Martin, Bryan J. Troise
  • Patent number: 8038396
    Abstract: A method of manipulating a boundary layer across a wind turbine rotor blade. The method includes coupling at least one vortex generator to the rotor blade. The vortex generator includes at least one sidewall that extends outwardly a radial distance from an outer surface of the rotor blade. The vortex generator is selectively positionable between a first position and a second position. A control system calculates a condition of the boundary layer. The vortex generator is positioned at one of the first position and the second position based on the calculated condition of the boundary layer for moving the vortex generator between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: EswaraRao V S J Anjuri, Biju Nanukuttan, Jaikumar Loganathan, Stefan Herr
  • Patent number: 8038394
    Abstract: A rotor system includes a multiple of rotor blade yokes mounted to a rotor hub. A lead/lag damper is mounted to each of the rotor blade yokes and to a damper hub. An actuator system is operable to shift a damper hub axis of rotation relative the rotor axis of rotation to minimize 1P damper motions. A method of minimizing 1P damper motions within a rotor system includes shifting the damper hub axis of rotation relative the rotor axis of rotation to oscillate an inner connector of each lead/lag damper in phase with a 1P blade motion to minimize the 1P motion of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon L. Stille, William A. Welsh, Timothy Fred Lauder
  • Patent number: 8033782
    Abstract: A method to prevent brinelling wear of a slot and pin assembly of an adjustable inlet guide vane mechanism includes: providing a compressor having the adjustable inlet guide vane mechanism including a control ring with a plurality of tapered slots positioned around a circumference of the control ring; providing a plurality of tapered pin/lever arm assemblies each comprising a tapered pin having a tapered body with a first end and a second end; positioning the tapered pin of the tapered pin/lever arm assembly within each of the plurality of tapered slots; positioning a spring over the first end of each of the tapered pins; and securing the tapered pin of each of the tapered pin/lever arm assemblies within each of the tapered slots by coupling a fastening member to the first end of each of the tapered pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Elliott Company
    Inventor: Kevin L. Tapper