Patents Examined by Christopher M. Verdier
  • Patent number: 5439352
    Abstract: This invention relates to a decorative casing for a ceiling fan having a body portion, characterized in that the decorative casing is provided with an upper edge curving inwards to form a rack and a bottom having a plurality of slots for dissipating heat evolved from a motor of the ceiling fan, the body portion having a top with a plurality of radial engaging mechanisms each of which includes two pairs of guides and a resilient supporting member having a raised portion at one end and a roller at another end, the roller of the resilient supporting member being engageable with the rack of the decorative casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Chin Line
  • Patent number: 5318402
    Abstract: A spacer band for maintaining uniform spacing between adjacent compressor liner segments comprising two segments having a plurality of locking fingers extending from the band for engaging the casing at both ends of the liner segments and in the middle of the segments. The spacer band is located in a vertical channel located along an edge of each liner segment. The vertical channel is defined by a plurality of vertical flanges and a horizontal flange located on the edge of each liner segment. The horizontal flange has notches for receiving said locking fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Bailey, Kurt J. Bonner
  • Patent number: 5304033
    Abstract: A compressor assembly includes a housing, and a rotatable impeller within the housing which includes a hub and blades extending from the hub. A ring circumscribes the leading edge of the blades, and cooperates with a groove in the housing to define a clearance therebetween which is larger than the clearance between the connecting edge of the blades and a corresponding conforming portion of the housing. This permits free flow of gas around the ring to enhance the operating range of the compressor wheel. The ring also stiffens the blades, permitting the thickness of the hub to be reduced, thereby further enhancing the operating range of the compressor wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Y. Tang
  • Patent number: 5304031
    Abstract: An uncooled turbine outer air is comprised of a combination of monolithic ceramics with high temperature capability and oxidation and creep resistance, and a fiber reinforced ceramic composite with high fracture toughness. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fiber reinforced ceramic composite of silicon carbide and aluminum borosilicate is infiltrated by chemically vapor deposited silicon carbide. The infiltration process is continued until the composite develops a monolithic layer of silicon carbide. An additional layer is deposited on the monolithic ceramic to provide additional thermal protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Sudhangshu Bose
  • Patent number: 5302086
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for axially retaining rotor blades on a rotor disk wherein a integral split ring blade retainer is installed in a groove on a rotor disk and compressed to allow installation of rotor blades into slots on the rotor disk and releasing of the split ring blade retainer from compression causes the split ring blade retainer to engage a hook on the rotor blade and the groove on the rotor disk to react axial loads and prevent axial movement of the rotor blade with relation to the rotor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph C. Kulesa, David E. Crawford, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5302081
    Abstract: A regenerative toric pump in which undesirable noise generation and leakage through clearance gaps between the impeller and housing is minimized includes an impeller having vanes lying in general planes radiating from the impeller axis disposed at variable spacings from each other in a geometrically balanced pattern. Recesses in one of opposed side surfaces on the impeller and housing are arranged in a pattern such as to minimize leakage through the clearance gap between those surfaces from points in the pump chamber which are at different pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Coltec Industries Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5286164
    Abstract: A radial blower for producing an air stream which is supplied as a secondary air to a waste gas stream of an internal combustion engine has a spiral housing having a substantially tangentially oriented blower output and accommodating a blower wheel which rotates in the spiral housing about a rotary axis in a rotary plane. The blower output forms with the rotary plane of the blower wheel an acute angle which converges in a flow direction of air. An air guiding chamber is provided with stationary guiding elements, and the blower output is open in the air guiding chamber. An overflow opening extends substantially radially to the rotary axis of the blower wheel. The guiding elements of the guiding chamber deviate an inflowing air substantially radially to the overflow opening. A second spiral housing accommodates a second blower wheel. The overflow opening opens in the central region of the second spiral housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Goehre, Heinz Ruebig, Gerhard Zink
  • Patent number: 5281098
    Abstract: The present invention provides an axial blade to disk retaining assembly having a plurality of circumferentially disposed lugs arranged in a ring around an axial facing surface of the blade and disk assembly and a plurality of circumferentially disposed hooks arranged in a ring around the axial facing surface and in circumferential alternating positions with the hooks and radially spaced apart from and open towards the lugs. A split retaining ring is provided that is operable to be placed between said hooks and lugs to axially secure the blades on the disk. In the preferred embodiment each hook is disposed on a disk post between the blades and each lug is disposed on a blade root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher C. Glynn, Rolf R. Hetico
  • Patent number: 5281103
    Abstract: A fan is contained within a case having a pivotal upper portion and a lower portion whereby opening the upper portion raises the fan blade and motor assembly to an operating position and during which a limit switch is automatically actuated to operate the fan motor. The fan blade is also provided with a frictional engagement with the motor shaft for permitting the motor shaft to rotate relative to the fan blade when the latter strikes an obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Inventor: Yung-Her Lin
  • Patent number: 5279503
    Abstract: A coolant pump system driven initially by an electric motor in-line with the pump shaft to the pump housing incorporates a ram air-assisted cooling system. The ram air-assisted cooling system includes an electric motor whose rotating shaft drives the primary fan member. A second fan member is located about and connected to the periphery of the primary fan member and is rotated by high velocity air streams purposefully directed at the secondary fan blades. The air which drives the secondary fan member is preferably gathered by one or more air inlet funnels. Typically, two air inlet funnels are equiangularly disposed adjacent the periphery of the secondary fan blade members so that a balanced current of air is swept across the secondary fan blades. A shroud extends over the secondary fan blade members to force the inlet air over the fan blade members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Deco-Grand, Inc.
    Inventor: Verle Propst
  • Patent number: 5277544
    Abstract: A blade control rod system for controlling blades of a gas turbine stator is provided with at least one rod for controlling an associated blade. The blade includes a shaft about which the blade pivots with one end of the rod being engaged on the blade. The control rod system includes a projection which extends beneath a portion of at least one adjacent rod, so that the accidental loosening of a nut which secures the rod on the shaft of the blade is not sufficient to allow the rod to become detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "S.N.E.C.M.A."
    Inventor: Jacky Naudet
  • Patent number: 5277549
    Abstract: A high performance steam turbine blade is provided in which the geometry of the blade airfoil is configured to minimize energy loss through the row of blades and control the radial distribution of the degree of reaction. The velocity of the steam over the blade surface is minimized to reduce friction losses, rapid deceleration of the steam velocity as it expands toward the trailing edge is avoided to prevent boundary layer separation and the reaction distribution is adjusted so that a relatively high reaction occurs at the base of the airfoil, thereby reducing secondary flow, and a relatively low reaction occurs at tip of the airfoil, thereby minimizing tip leakage. Specifically, the radial reaction distribution is such that in the hub region at least 20% of the stage pressure drop occurs in the blade row and in the tip region less than 50% of the stage pressure drop occurs in the blade row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Shun Chen, Jurek Ferleger
  • Patent number: 5275538
    Abstract: A coolant pump system driven by an electric motor mounted in-line with the pump shaft to the pump housing. The system minimally includes a pump body having a bore therein, a coolant pump impeller, a pump shaft passing through the bore and having the impeller mounted on one end thereof, and a bearingless seal shaft assembly disposed in the bore which prevents coolant from leaking out of the body around the rotating pump shaft. The outer end of the pump shaft and the drive shaft of the electric motor preferably include a quick-disconnect coupler which allows the two shafts to be repeatedly coupled and uncoupled without damage and without tools. This coupling mechanism may take the form of a socket with bayonet slot on one shaft and mating pin on the other shaft that fits in the slot. A face-mounted electric motor is rigidly but removably bolted to the pump housing, and its drive shaft provides complete support for the pump shaft which rotates therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Deco-Grand, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Paliwoda, Verle Propst
  • Patent number: 5269657
    Abstract: A structural spar is provided that provides beneficial flexural-torsional coupling to an airfoil so that flexural excursions of the airfoil induces torsion in the spar so as to change the pitch angle of the airfoil in such a manner as to the oppose the flexure, thereby ameliorating the excursion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventor: Marvin Garfinkle
  • Patent number: 5266009
    Abstract: A water jet propelled boat is equipped with a water intake opening, a water jet outlet, and with a mixed flow type impeller, where the above mentioned water intake opening and the above mentioned water jet outlet are connected by a water passage with the impeller in the middle of the water passage, and where the operation of the impeller causes water to be drawn into the water intake opening and expelled through the above mentioned water outlet to propel the boat. The impeller structure is such that a boss section of the impeller has a plurality fins affixed to it, the outside edges of the above mentioned spiral fins are roughly parallel to the axial center of the above mentioned boss, and, the leading and the trailing edges of the fins, with respect to the axial center of the above described boss, slant down toward the above mentioned water outlet opening. At the same time relative speeds, the invention allows a smaller diameter fin unit and, at speeds of 4,000 rpm and over, it offers improved efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tasaki, Yasuhiko Henmi
  • Patent number: 5263823
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine impeller having a plurality of blades attached to a rotor disk and an integral, annular collar defining openings through which the blades extend which acts as a platform extending between the adjacent blades. The annular collar is formed as an integral, annular structure and may be formed from a composite material, or other material which is resistant to high temperatures and high centrifugal forces. The annular collar defines a plurality of openings to accommodate the blade portion of the plurality of blades and to enable the blades to extend radially outwardly from the collar. The openings may be formed in the annular collar when the collar itself is formed, or may be machined therein after the collar has been fabricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation (S.N.E.C.M.A.)
    Inventors: Maurice J. Cabaret, Christophe Champenois, Christophe G. J. Gourio, Gerard E. A. Jourdain, Gilles A. Le Rumeur, Didier Merville, Jean-Pierre Poitevin, Bruno Tournaire
  • Patent number: 5263997
    Abstract: A plate for spreading bolt loading around the horizontal joint flanges of a turbomachine, such as a steam turbine, is provided. The plate is contoured so that its surface area substantially matches that of the surface of the steam turbine flange against which the compressive load associated with the joint bolt preloading is applied. The plate is disposed between the flange and the nuts on the joint bolts and is made from a high yield strength material so that the locally high stresses under the nuts do not cause creeping or yielding of the plate. The plate serves to distribute the compressive joint loading around the entire surface of the flange, thereby eliminating the locally high compressive stresses that can cause creep and yielding in the flange. Spherical counter bores are machined in the plate bolt holes and spherical washers are installed between the plate and the nuts so that misalignment of bolt holes does not cause the nuts to impose bending forces on the bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David M. Parker, John A. Moreci
  • Patent number: 5253977
    Abstract: The axial pump makes it possible to deliver a fluid having a double gaseous-liquid phase at high flow rates. It is constituted by a one-piece rotor comprising a hollow shaft (10) onto which are shrunk pulsating systems (12). This rotor is placed within a body (2) constituted by a stack of washers (3) within which are fixed straighteners (14). Each straightener is constituted by two half-straighteners, so as to permit the installation of each straightener around the rotor. Everything is sealed by end flanges on which the rotor is mounted in rotary manner. The pulsating systems (12) can also be machined on the outer surface of the body (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Technicatome Societe Technique pour l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Jean-Edmond Chaix
  • Patent number: 5232338
    Abstract: A blade array for turbomachines comprises blades disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall. The inner wall and/or the outer wall is provided with a suction port near at least some blades. This port has a first end situated along the upper surface in a region of the blade extending from the point of maximum curvature to the neck of the passage between said blade and the adjacent blade. The port enabling the efficiency to be increased is oriented along an isobar line. Its length is such that the second end is spaced from the upper surface of the blade by a distance between one quarter and one half the width of the neck of the inter-blade passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Gec Alsthom SA
    Inventors: Michel Vincent de Paul, Francois Detanne
  • Patent number: 5232344
    Abstract: A twisted compressor or fan hollow blade is damped by an internal loose slug. The slug contacts the skin of the blade at two transversely spaced locations. This slug is located with its center of gravity eccentric of a radial line through the contact location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Yehia M. El-Aini