Patents Examined by Cameron A Corday
  • Patent number: 11143162
    Abstract: A fluid and wind turbine system suitable for horizontal or vertical axis applications comprising (i) blades radially spaced around a rotational axis attached to a shaft by mounting formations so that the length axis of the mounting formations are substantially parallel to the width axis of the blades which mounting formations suspend the blades from the rotational axis creating a passageway allowing the air flow to pass through the turbine and impart a unidirectional rotational force to the shaft at all times the blades are exposed to the air flow on both the windward and leeward sides of the rotational axis (ii) an air flow director which shields the rotating blades from the air flow for a portion of their 360-degree rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Bernoulli LLC
    Inventors: Tom Vail, Jr., Lonnie P. Lenarduzzi
  • Patent number: 11111820
    Abstract: A gas turbine for an aircraft includes: blades each including a blade body extending outward from a rotor rotating about an axis in a radial direction of the rotor and a fin protruding from an outer peripheral surface of a blade shroud formed on a distal end of the blade body; a casing installed to form gaps between the casing and the fins; and vanes each including a vane shroud formed such that at least a leading end portion of the vane shroud formed upstream in an axial direction is located outside with respect to an extended line of an inner peripheral surface of the casing in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AERO ENGINES, LTD.
    Inventors: Daigo Fujimura, Hiroshi Watanabe, Tadayuki Hanada, Takaaki Hase
  • Patent number: 11078797
    Abstract: A turbine bucket according to embodiments includes: a base; a blade coupled to base and extending radially outward from base, blade including: a body having: a pressure side; a suction side opposing pressure side; a leading edge between pressure side and suction side; and a trailing edge between pressure side and suction side on a side opposing leading edge; and a plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and a shroud coupled to blade radially outboard of blade, shroud including: a plurality of radially extending outlet passageways fluidly connected with a first set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body; and an outlet path extending at least partially circumferentially through shroud and fluidly connected with all of a second, distinct set of the plurality of radially extending cooling passageways within body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rohit Chouhan, Shashwat Swami Jaiswal, Gunnar Leif Siden, Zachary James Taylor
  • Patent number: 11073035
    Abstract: A labyrinth seal system having at least two sealing fins arranged axially one behind the other on a rotor of a turbomachine and having a radially facing run-in element for the at least two sealing fins on a stator of the turbomachine, wherein in each case one radial sealing gap exists between the run-in element and the at least two sealing fins, wherein maxima of the radial sealing gaps are arranged offset with respect to one another in a circumferential direction, such that, in the region of the maxima, a passage exists in targeted fashion, for an air flow to the sealing fins that follow downstream, in the event of rubbing against the stator. This may be applied for example in a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Ivo Szarvasy
  • Patent number: 11053852
    Abstract: A multi-flow turbojet engine generally includes an upstream ducted fan driven by a gas generator, the gas generator having a first and a second compressor, which are coaxial, an inlet case forming a support for the rotors of the upstream ducted fan and of the first compressor, an inter-compressor case downstream of the inlet casing and forming a support for the rotors of the second compressor, attachment means for thrust take-up rods, which attachment means are arranged on the inter-compressor case. The turbojet engine includes at least one axial stress transmission rod for connecting the inlet case to the inter-compressor case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Nils Edouard Romain Bordoni, Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Romain Guillaume Cuvillier, Guillaume Patrice Kubiak, Arnaud Nicolas Negri, Nathalie Nowakowski
  • Patent number: 11035247
    Abstract: A turbine apparatus is disclosed including a first article and a second article disposed between the first article and a hot gas path of a turbine. The first article includes at least one first article cooling channel in fluid communication with and downstream from a cooling fluid source, and the second article includes at least one second article cooling channel in fluid communication with and downstream from the at least one first article cooling channel. A method for redundant cooling of the turbine apparatus is disclosed including flowing a cooling fluid from the cooling fluid source through at least one first article cooling channel, exhausting the cooling fluid from the at least one first article cooling channel into at least one second article cooling channel, and flowing the cooling fluid through the at least one second article cooling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Matthew Troy Hafner, Scott Francis Johnson, James Joseph Murray
  • Patent number: 11021986
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal that has a sealing portion that extends circumferentially between first and second mate faces and an engagement portion along the first mate face. A support has an interface portion that extends from a mounting portion. The interface portion abuts the engagement portion to limit relative movement, and the mounting portion defines an aperture that receives a fastener to mechanically attach the mounting portion to an engine static structure. A portion of the fastener is circumferentially aligned with the first mate face. The fastener defines a first cooling passage that delivers cooling flow at a location adjacent to the first mate face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Winston Gregory Smiddy, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Patent number: 11015483
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a compressor casing and a method of assembly. The compressor casing comprises a first and an adjacent, second annular casing segments each comprising an annular radially-extending flange with mounting holes; at least one annular recess disposed on at least one annular side mating face of the adjacent flanges of the adjacent segments; at least one set of stress-relief holes disposed through at least one flange of the adjacent segments; and at least one annular leak-resistant plate disposed within the at least one annular recess having at least a third set of mounting holes. All sets of mounting holes are substantially aligned with each other and receive a plurality of respective fasteners, and the at least one annular plate is clamped between the adjacent segments and seals the at least one set of stress-relief holes for preventing leakage therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Vishnu Das K, Carlos Ivan Flores, Atanu Saha, Vinaykumar Shrimantrao Patil
  • Patent number: 11002282
    Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes an assembly housing which supports a motor assembly and a working fan assembly having a working fan rotated by the motor assembly which draws in and exhausts working air. The motor-fan assembly also includes a cooling fan assembly which provides a cooling fan rotated by the motor assembly that draws in and exhausts cooling air. The assembly housing has at least one of an inlet insert and an outlet insert through which working air or cooling air passes. The inserts are removable from the assembly housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Ametek, Inc.
    Inventor: Kris D. Diehl
  • Patent number: 10982564
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for mechanically connecting components are provided. The apparatus includes a mechanical connecting joint that includes a first joint member formed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) value, the first joint member comprising a first sidewall, a second opposite sidewall, and a body extending therebetween. The mechanical connecting joint further includes a second joint member formed of a material having a second CTE value, the second CTE being less than the first CTE. The second joint member includes a first leg facing the first sidewall, a second leg facing the second sidewall, and a connecting member extending between the first leg and the second leg. A first gap is formed between the first joint member and the first leg and a second gap is formed between the first joint member and the second leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Mark Weaver, Michael Alan Hile, Kathleen Elizabeth Albers
  • Patent number: 10962013
    Abstract: Turbine pumps can include: an inlet port; a first discharge port; a body defining a flow path extending from the inlet port through a raceway to the discharge port; and a turbine impeller disposed in the raceway. In some pumps, the body further defines an channel providing a fluid connection between a raceway outlet and the discharge port. In some pumps, an outlet angle defined by the inlet port, an axis of the turbine, and the discharge port is between 30 and 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty Ltd
    Inventors: James Jay Davis, John Cosgrove, Stephen Basclain, Malcolm Malone, Jonathan Gough
  • Patent number: 10954799
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine includes a body that includes an airfoil that extends in a radial direction from a 0% span position near an airfoil base to a 100% span position at an airfoil tip. The airfoil has a leading edge and a trailing edge that define the true chord length. The airfoil includes a first portion near the airfoil base with a first density and a second portion near the airfoil tip with a second density. The second density is less than the first density. The second portion includes an increasing true chord length in the radial direction. The second portion is in the range of 90% span to 100% span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pitchaiah Vijay Chakka, James D. Hill, David R. Pack
  • Patent number: 10941674
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first casing, a second casing, and struts extending from the first casing to support the second casing. The assembly further includes a fairing and a multi-piece heat shield assembly. The fairing is disposed between the first casing and the second casing and around each of the struts. The multi-piece heat shield assembly includes a first shield extending between the first casing and the fairing, and a second shield extending between the fairing and the first casing. The multi-piece heat shield assembly further includes a third shield extending between the fairing and the second casing, and fourth and fifth heat shields extending from the third heat shield between the fairing and each of the struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Budnick, Conway Chuong, Jonathan Ariel Scott, Darrell Weidner, Chris Bates
  • Patent number: 10907643
    Abstract: A press-fit thrust bearing system and apparatus. A press-fit thrust bearing for an electric submersible pump includes a protruding band extending around a midsection of a bushing, the protruding band extending inward towards a drive shaft, outward towards a diffuser, or both. When extending outwardly, the band is press-fit into the diffuser to prevent dislodgment of the bushing. A non-rotating guide sleeve extends around the bushing above the protruding band, the guide sleeve interlocking with the protruding band to prevent rotation of the bushing. The guide sleeve includes a projection, the protruding band has a channel and the projection mates with the channel to form the interlock. A pair of flanged, rotatable bearing sleeves extend inwards of the single bushing and are keyed to the drive shaft. The top and bottom faces of the bushing serve as thrust handling surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Wayne Webster, Wesley John Nowitzki, Jason Eugene Hill
  • Patent number: 10890083
    Abstract: A method of controlling turbine tip clearance includes measuring turbine speed; measuring turbine temperature; measuring parameters indicative of current operating conditions; determining limits for the turbine speed and turbine temperature; calculating target tip clearance from the turbine speed, turbine temperature and parameters, to optimise turbine efficiency within the turbine speed and turbine temperature limits; and controlling turbine tip clearance apparatus to the calculated target tip clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Arthur Laurence Rowe, Marko Bacic
  • Patent number: 10871169
    Abstract: A volute casing includes a chamber, an outlet passage, and a cutwater to direct fluid to the outlet passage. The cutwater includes an inner surface, an outer surface and a leading edge joining the inner and outer surfaces and has a cross-sectional contour in a midplane perpendicular to the axial direction. The cross-sectional contour includes a starting point at the leading edge, and a minimum point on the inner surface, the starting point defined by a tangent to the leading edge, the tangent intersecting the central axis, and the minimum point defined by a location, at which the inner surface has a minimum distance from the central axis. A straight profile chord located in the cross-sectional contour, and extending from the cutwater starting point to the cutwater minimum point, has a maximum orthogonal distance from the inner surface being at most 15% of the length of the profile chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
    Inventor: Bruno Maroccia
  • Patent number: 10865809
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element includes an airfoil having pressure and suction sides spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction and joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil extends in a radial direction a span that is in a range of 0.70-0.85 inch (17.8-20.3 mm). A chord length extends in a chordwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge at 50% span and is in a range of 0.85-0.95 inch (21.5-24.0 mm). The airfoil element includes at least two of a first mode with a frequency of 4508±10% Hz, a second mode with a frequency of 7466±10% Hz, a third mode with a frequency of 16104±10% Hz, a fourth mode with a frequency of 18397±10% Hz and a fifth mode with a frequency of 20855±10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Haiyun Li, Eliannah Hunderfund, Sean Nolan
  • Patent number: 10844727
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element includes an airfoil that has pressure and suction sides spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction and joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil extends in a radial direction a span that is in a range of 3.68-3.98 inch (93.5-101.1 mm). A chord length extends in a chordwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge at 50% span is in a range of 1.75-2.05 inch (44.5-52.1 mm). The airfoil element includes at least two of a first mode with a frequency of 436±10% Hz, a second mode with a frequency of 1557±10% Hz, a third mode with a frequency of 1424±10% Hz, a fourth mode with a frequency of 1870±10% Hz, a fifth mode with a frequency of 3321±10% Hz and a sixth mode with a frequency of 3957±10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt R. Heinemann, Sumin Tao, Christopher B. Jelks, Xuedong Zhou, Mark David Ring, Konstantinos Panagiotis Giannakopoulos, Kate Hudon, John Joseph Papalia
  • Patent number: 10837345
    Abstract: A blast fan includes: a tubular frame having a first opening and a second opening to pass airflow through between the first opening and the second opening. The first opening has a first reverse tapered portion expanding from inside to outside of the frame, and the first reverse tapered portion has a surface having first convex portions projecting to the inside of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Yamazaki, Satoshi Fujimaki, Takashi Kawashima, Souma Araki
  • Patent number: 10815808
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to rotary machines and, more particularly, to the cooling of at least portions of a turbine bucket. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of cooling at least a portion of a turbine bucket, the method comprising: during operation of a turbine, altering a swirl velocity of purge air between a platform lip extending axially from the platform and an angel wing extending axially from a face of a shank portion of the turbine bucket, wherein altering the swirl velocity of the purge air includes interrupting a flow of the purge air with a plurality of turbulators disposed along at least one of a radially inner surface of the platform lip or the face of the shank portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rohit Chouhan, Soumyik Kumar Bhaumik