Patents Examined by Dwayne J. White
  • Mold pump assembly
    Patent number: 9970442
    Abstract: A molten metal pump assembly (10) and method to fill complex molds with molten metal, such as aluminum. The pump assembly includes an elongated shaft (16) connecting a motor (14) to an impeller (22). The impeller is housed within a chamber (18) of a base member such that rotation of the impeller draws molten metal into the chamber at an inlet (48) and forces molten aluminum through an outlet (50). A first bearing (36) is adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a first radial edge (32) and a second bearing (38) is adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a second radial edge. A bypass gap (60) is interposed between the second bearing and the second radial edge. Molten metal leaks through the bypass gap at a predetermined rate to manipulate a flow rate and a head pressure of the molten metal such that precise control of the flow rate is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PYROTEK, INC.
    Inventor: Jon Tipton
  • Balancing screw, device and method for a rotating part of a turbine engine
    Patent number: 9970298
    Abstract: A balancing device for a rotating part of a turbomachine, includes a ferrule pierced with a plurality of ports, a balancing screw passing through each port, each balancing screw including a body and a head, the head of each balancing screw being pierced with a recess, the balancing screws being of at least one first type, the recess of the screws of the first type being formed by a driving recess from which an additional recess extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Le Strat, Hervé Pohier, Romain Jean-Louis Robert Thory
  • Reducing variation in cooling hole meter length
    Patent number: 9970319
    Abstract: An airfoil body includes an airfoil wall defined between an internal cavity surface and an external airfoil surface. A pad extends from the internal cavity surface. A cooling hole extends from the external airfoil surface, through the airfoil wall and through the pad for fluid communication through the airfoil wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James M. Koonankeil, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz
  • Compressor
    Patent number: 9970455
    Abstract: A compressor includes a housing; an impeller rotatably installed in the housing; a guidance unit connected to the housing at a first end of the guidance unit and configured to guide a fluid discharged by the impeller, the guidance unit configured to change a flow direction; and a scrolling unit connected to a second end opposite to the first end of the guidance unit. A width of an opening via which the fluid enters a circular space of the scrolling unit is about 1.5 to about 3.5 times a height of the guidance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HANWHA POWER SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jongjae Cho, Yeonhwa Cho, Bonggun Shin, Kangsoo Im
  • Ceramic matrix composite seal segment for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9963990
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite (CMC) seal segment for use in a segmented turbine shroud for radially encasing a turbine in a gas turbine engine. The CMC seal segment comprises an arcuate flange having a surface facing the turbine and a portion defining a bore for receiving an elongated pin, with the bore having a length that is at least 70% of the length of the elongated pin received therein. The CMC seal segment is carried by the carrier by at least one of the elongated pins being received within the bore. The CMC seal segment portion defining a pin-receiving bore is radially spaced from the arcuate flange by a spacing flange extending radially outward from the arcuate flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc., Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kent Vetters, David J. Thomas, Ted Freeman, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Jun Shi, Todd Engel
  • Method for producing a tandem blade wheel for a jet engine and tandem blade wheel
    Patent number: 9957806
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a double-row blade wheel for a fluid-flow machine that includes a first grid row with a plurality of first blades and a second grid row with a plurality of second blades is provided. The method includes the following steps: manufacturing a first grid row or segments of the first grid row; manufacturing a second grid row or segments of the second grid row, independently of the first row; and after the respective manufacture, connecting the first grid row to the second grid row or connecting segments of the first grid row and/or of the second grid row to one another or to one of the grid rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Erik Johann, Jens Ortmanns
  • Method and systems for providing cooling for a turbine assembly
    Patent number: 9938835
    Abstract: A system for providing cooling of a turbine rotor wheel includes a rotor wheel including a plurality of dovetail slots spaced circumferentially about a peripheral surface of the rotor wheel. Each of the dovetail slots includes a pair of opposite upper slot tangs and a pair of opposite lower slot tangs. The system also includes at least one turbine blade. The turbine blade includes an airfoil, a platform, and a dovetail. The dovetail includes a pair of opposite upper dovetail tangs and a pair of opposite lower dovetail tangs. The dovetail further includes at least one inlet aperture extending longitudinally therethrough. The pair of upper dovetail tangs include a first cooling hole extending therethrough and coupled in flow communication with the at least one inlet aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Paul Giametta, David Richard Johns
  • Spoked rotor for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9938831
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of blades which extend from a rotor disk, each of the plurality of blades extend from the rotor disk at an interface, the interface defined along a spoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Stephen P. Muron, Ioannis Alvanos, Christopher M. Dye, Brian D. Merry, Arthur M. Salve, James W. Norris
  • Wind power generation system
    Patent number: 9926915
    Abstract: A wind power generation system includes: blades configured to be rotated by wind; a generator configured to be driven by the rotation of the blades to generate power; a nacelle supporting the blades; and a tower supporting the nacelle rotatably. The wind power generation system is configured to receive the wind at a side opposite to a side of the nacelle on which the blades are provided. The system includes a radiator configured to dissipate heat in the nacelle through a cooling medium. The radiator is provided outside the nacelle on an upwind side of the nacelle. The radiator is provided with an intake surface thereof facing an upwind direction. A path is formed downstream of the radiator to guide the wind that has passed the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehisa Funabashi, Yasushi Shigenaga, Shingo Inamura, Masaru Oda
  • Coating for isolating metallic components from composite components
    Patent number: 9920656
    Abstract: A barrier coating for isolating a metallic support component from a composite component in a gas turbine engine is provided. The barrier coating may be applied to the metallic support component so that when the ceramic component is mounted on the metallic support component the barrier coating is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Sean E. Landwehr, Sungbo Shim, Adam L. Chamberlain, Ann Bolcavage
  • System and method for detecting rotor asymmetry
    Patent number: 9920744
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to systems and methods for detecting rotor asymmetry of a wind turbine. The method includes measuring wind condition at a location downwind of the rotor for a plurality of rotor positions. Another step includes storing the measured wind condition(s) in predetermined wind bins. The method also includes analyzing the stored wind conditions for each of the predetermined wind bins. If a particular wind bin reaches a certain threshold of captured data points, then the method includes determining a variance between each of the stored wind conditions for the predetermined wind bins that have reached the threshold, wherein a variance between any one of the measured wind conditions greater than a predetermined amount is indicative of rotor asymmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thorsten Honekamp
  • Bi-directional compression fan rotor for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 9915199
    Abstract: A fan rotor has a hub, and a plurality of axial flow fan blades extending radially outwardly of the hub. A radial compressor impeller is positioned radially inwardly of the fan blades. The radial compressor impeller has an upstream inlet which extends generally in an axial direction defined by an axis of rotation of the hub. The radial flow compressor impeller has an outlet that extends radially outwardly of the inlet, and into a supply passage for supplying air to a core engine. An engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Sohail Mohammed
  • Fan inlet recirculation guide vanes
    Patent number: 9915267
    Abstract: A fan structure comprising a base, a fan inlet funnel coupled to the base, the fan inlet funnel having an inner surface for conducting air flow into a fan inlet and an outer surface and a plurality of external ribs coupled to the outer surface of the fan inlet funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Schrand
  • Seal runner with controlled oil lubrication
    Patent number: 9915175
    Abstract: A system is provided associated with an engine of an aircraft. The system includes a ring, a runner and at least one radially-oriented hole associated with the runner that is configured to supply oil to an interface between the runner and the ring. The at least one hole is contained within an axial projection of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan L. Miller, M Rifat Ullah
  • Flowpath cartridge liner and gas turbine engine including same
    Patent number: 9915168
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan having a circumferential array of fan blades. A fan case encircles the fan. There is at least one compressor section, a combustor, and at least one turbine section. The fan case comprises a containment case and a cartridge liner carried therein. A ballistic liner encircles at least a portion of the cartridge liner and is attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. Robertson, Jr., Steven Clarkson
  • Gas turbine seal assembly and seal support
    Patent number: 9903216
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine assembly includes a second module connected axially to a first module along a joint, and an annular cavity defined between the first module and the second module. The seal assembly is disposed proximate the cavity, and includes a seal support ring, a first finger seal, and a second finger seal. The support ring has a backing portion secured to a radial wall of to the first module, and a first seal land extending axially into the cavity away from the first module. The first finger seal has a free end adapted to contact an inner side of the first seal land. The second finger seal is adapted to seal a radially outer portion of the annular cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Conway Chuong, Matthew Budnick
  • Vertical axis wind turbine with variable pitch mechanism
    Patent number: 9903339
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine including a vertical central shaft and a plurality of vertical blades. Each of the vertical blades is supported by a radial supporting arm extending from the central shaft. The shaft is such that the angular disposition of each of the blades is relative to its radial supporting arm, and is controlled by a control mechanism. The control mechanism includes two differential resilient elements and a damping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Axowind Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Walter Radovich, Ricky Zhong Huang, Bjorn Rudgley, Jing K Tan
  • Rotor hub bearing system
    Patent number: 9896198
    Abstract: The bearing system is configured for treating and reacting dynamic loading within a rotor hub of rotorcraft. The bearing system includes an outer member having a plurality of alternating outer elastomeric layers and shim layers. The outer member has an inboard surface configured for bonding to an inboard bearing support, and the outer member has an outboard surface configured for bonding to an outboard bearing support. The bearing system has an inner member bonded to an interior surface of the outer member. The inner member can include a rigid inner core, as well as a plurality of elastomeric layers and shim layers configured to react torsional movements of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Hunter Davis, Frank B. Stamps
  • Impeller for liquid sealed pump
    Patent number: 9897099
    Abstract: A pump for pumping a fluid includes a motor, a drive shaft, an impeller, a pump housing having an inlet and an outlet portion, and an extension tube extending between the motor and the pump housing. Preferably, a portion of the fluid to be pumped is contained within the extension tube at a relatively constant level to provide a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Sidney T. Highnote
  • Load compensating devices
    Patent number: 9890765
    Abstract: Various air deflector shapes, sizes and configurations for use in a load compensating device on an airfoil are provided. The air deflector arrangements are configured to alter the airflow around the air deflector in order to affect sound or acoustics associated with the air deflector when deployed during operation. Some example configurations that may alter the air flow around the air deflector include air deflectors having a plurality of apertures, air deflectors including a scalloped edge, and/or air deflectors including a plurality of protrusions extending from a portion of the air deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Qing Tian, Jehan Z. Khan, Jonathon P. Baker