Patents Examined by Edward K. Look
  • Patent number: 7329100
    Abstract: An impeller of a centrifugal fan, the impeller used in the centrifugal fan having a casing and the impeller rotatably mounted in the casing. The impeller includes a hub connecting a number of blades equiangularly disposed in a circumferential direction. The hub includes an outer circular hub partially covering an outer peripheral edge of the blade, and an inner circular hub partially covering an inner peripheral edge of the blade. The hubs are concentrically formed, and an opening is provided between the inner and outer circular hubs. The inner circular hub, outer circular hub and opening are arranged to allow air to flow back across the inner circular hub and within the casing to cool a control circuit disposed within the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Japan Servo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Kashiwazaki, Youichi Nagata
  • Patent number: 7329084
    Abstract: Suitable means for driving a flow are arranged in annular or ring-segment-shaped cavities that are formed in particular in multi-shell casings of turbomachines. Arranged inside the cavity are ejectors that are supplied via suitable means with a motive-fluid flow which in turn excites the flow, preferably a circumferential flow or a helical flow. The invention is suitable in particular for avoiding casing distortions when turbomachines are at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Rolf Dittmann, Jonas Hurter, Robert Marmilic, Pierre Meylan, Ernst Pauli
  • Patent number: 7326036
    Abstract: A helicopter rotor transmission assembly for translating motion of a drive shaft driven by a helicopter engine into rotary motion of a helicopter rotor mast that carries rotor blades. The transmission assembly includes a fixed outer housing, an inner housing carried within the outer housing and adapted to rotate relative to the outer housing by the drive shaft, and a ball received in the inner housing so as to be rotatable relative to the inner housing about one axis, and constrained from rotation about the two orthogonal axes. The ball is adapted to receive the rotor mast so that the mast can be driven to both spin and tilt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventors: Brandon M. Habin, Henry A. Rettstadt
  • Patent number: 7326033
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade is disclosed having a shroud element, wherein plastic deformations and lifting of the shroud element on one side result during operation under centrifugal load. This load may result in high-temperature creep of the blade. A sealing strip which is arranged on the shroud element can be configured with a thickness varying in a circumferential direction. The mass of the shroud element and thus the asymmetrical centrifugal load and the lifting of the shroud element on one side resulting therefrom can be reduced by material removal at regions lying on the outside in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Andreas Boegli, Alexander Mahler, James Ritchie, Slawomir Slowik
  • Patent number: 7326032
    Abstract: A cooling fan comprising a fan housing and a plurality of blades rotatably disposed within a conduit through the fan housing. Each of the plurality of blades extends radially outward from a hub to a tip. The radial gap between the tips of the blades and the conduit defines a tip clearance. The cooling fan further comprises an tip clearance reduction system operable to control the tip clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wade D. Vinson, John P. Franz, Troy A. Della Fiora
  • Patent number: 7326029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a centrifugal pump and an impeller thereof. The present invention especially relates to modifying an impeller of a centrifugal pump in such a way that the pump may be used without a risk of damaging a shaft seal or the like at capacities higher than that at the optimal operating point. A characterizing feature of a centrifugal pump, comprising a pump volute (2), a rear wall (4) of the pump, an impeller (20) having a shroud (22) and balancing holes extending through the shroud, the impeller being attached on the pump shaft (6) and rotating inside the volute (2), is that the balancing holes (26) are arranged through the shroud (22) in such a way that an opening (30) of the holes (26) in the front face of the impeller shroud (22) is both in the rotational direction and ahead of an opening (32) located in the rear face of the impeller shroud (22) and closer to the axis (8) of the pump than the opening (32) in the rear face of the impeller shroud (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventors: Jussi Ahlroth, Heikki Manninen
  • Patent number: 7326027
    Abstract: Centrifugal compressor flow stabilizing devices and methods of operation thereof are disclosed that act upon the flow field discharging from the impeller of a centrifugal compressor and modify the flow field ahead of the diffuser vanes such that flow conditions contributing to rotating stall and surge are reduced or even eliminated. In some embodiments, shaped rods and methods of operation thereof are disclosed, whereas in other embodiments reverse-tangent air injection devices and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Gary J. Skoch, Mark A. Stevens, Thomas A. Jett
  • Patent number: 7326028
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a pump base with inlet inducer openings that receive molten metal into an impeller chamber. An impeller structure in the impeller chamber passes the metal in a radial direction through an outlet inducer opening into a volute passage for discharge into the pool of metal in which the pump is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 7322101
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor stack may be engineered or reengineered to include one or more longitudinally outwardly concave spacers. The spacers may provide a longitudinal compression force that increases with rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, James W. Norris
  • Patent number: 7322793
    Abstract: A turbine, e.g., with a blade arrangement, which receives an air flow in the radial direction and which is located on a carrier surface of the turbine wheel, is used as a drive motor for a rotary atomizer. The drive channel, which contains the turbine blades and which is limited by the carrier surface, is also closed on its other side by a cover element, which is attached to the turbine wheel and which rotates with the wheel for increasing efficiency. For an additional increase in efficiency, the inlet for the drive air of the turbine is configured as an ultrasonic nozzle with a cross section that expands continuously up to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Behr Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Baumann, Frank Herre, Hans J. Nolte, Harry Krumma, Stefano Giuliano, Björn Lind
  • Patent number: 7322797
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes an airfoil, platform, shank, and dovetail integrally joined together. A cooling chamber is located under the platform and has a portal exposed outwardly from the shank. A damper seat surrounds the portal and is recessed under the platform for receiving a vibration damper to sealingly close the chamber across the portal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Steven Robert Brassfield, Jan Christopher Schilling
  • Patent number: 7320457
    Abstract: The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Jonathon R. Heim, Ronald E. Pelrine, Roy David Kornbluh, Joseph S. Eckerle, Marcus Rosenthal, Richard P. Heydt
  • Patent number: 7318704
    Abstract: A turbine disk (20) has a sealing plate (28) fixed to it by bayonet fixing features (36) and (40) formed in sealing plate flange (30) and disk flange (38). Abutments (42) and (44) are formed on the bayonet fixings, between which a multi part anti relative rotation locking member (46) is positioned in abutting relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Stefan J. Wagner
  • Patent number: 7316540
    Abstract: A pivot assembly that can be used with various appliances. The pivot assembly provides up to three degrees of freedom when positioning the appliance. The pivot may be used, for example, with a fan that is mounted on a base such that direction of the airflow generated can be adjusted about three coordinate axes by manipulating a single rotatable pivot mount. The fan assembly includes a base unit and an arm to which an appliance may be detachably coupled. The opposite end of the arm is provided with a spherical cap which is received by the base unit. Any adjustments to the positioning of the rotatable pivot mount are maintained by the friction within the rotatable pivot mount. Additionally, the pivot mount may include a pivot guide to restrict the degree of rotation about the pivot, thereby increasing stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kaz, Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Russak, Anthony DeMore, Steven Vordenberg, Anthony Lai, Robert Rizzari, David Bossa, Simon Huang, Peachen Qui
  • Patent number: 7316538
    Abstract: The turbine engine of the invention includes a rotor with at least one bearing, mounted on a bearing supporting part, said part being connected to the fixed structure by an uncoupling device, including at least one fusible screw passing through at least one bore, said screw comprising a head and a threaded portion, a fusible portion forming a preferential failure area, located between the head of the screw and its threaded portion. The screw comprises, between its threaded portion and its fusible portion, a portion for blocking the screw in rotation, cooperating with a complementary blocking portion provided in the bore. By means of the invention, the torsional torque related to the tightening of the screw is not transmitted to its fusible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Gael Bouchy, Regis Eugene Henri Servant
  • Patent number: 7316114
    Abstract: An improved valve for use in a hydrostatic drive apparatus for a vehicle such as a zero turn vehicle. For each hydraulic drive system in the vehicle, a valve is located between the high and low pressure sides of the closed hydraulic circuit connecting the hydraulic pump and motor. The valve opens when the pressure rise rate in the high pressure side reaches a set level to minimize pressure spikes in the high pressure side and thus improve performance of the vehicle. A valve block may be used to mount the valve, and a second valve may also be included therein to connect the two pressure sides of the hydraulic circuit in a similar manner when the vehicle is operated in reverse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Raymond Hauser, William H. Ward
  • Patent number: 7314348
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention is directed to an impeller made of a non-metallic, heat resistant material, comprising a generally cylindrical shaped body, first and second generally planar end faces and a side wall extending between the first and second faces. A plurality of passages have inlets circumferentially spaced apart from each other on the first face, outlets at the impeller sidewall, and connecting portions extending between the inlets and the outlets transverse to the central axis. Another aspect of the invention is directed to an impeller comprising a central hub portion and first and second impeller bases, including end faces, transverse to a central axis. Vanes extend from the central hub portion between the impeller bases. Cavities are formed between the impeller bases and between adjacent vanes. Molten metal inlets on the end faces for molten metal to reach the cavities. Pumps are also disclosed using the inventive impellers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Bruno H. Thut
  • Patent number: 7311497
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a turbine engine component comprises the steps of forming a first half of an airfoil portion of the turbine engine component and forming a first cooling microcircuit having at least one passageway on an exposed internal wall of the first half of the airfoil portion. The method further comprises forming a second half of the airfoil portion of said turbine engine component, forming a second cooling microcircuit having at least one passageway on an exposed internal wall of the second half of the airfoil portion, and placing the first half in an abutting relationship with the second half after the cooling microcircuits have been formed and inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Om Parkash Sharma, Frank Cunha, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7311494
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan assembly including a housing having a lower surface and a parallel inlet wall that defines an inlet opening. A shaft is supported by the housing for rotating about an axis. A plurality of fan blades are disposed about the shaft and extend radially from the axis for drawing air axially into the fan blades and blowing air radially outwardly. The housing defines a scroll wall that spirals about the axis and defines an outlet air passage that extends substantially tangentially to the axis. The fan blades include extensions that extend through the inlet opening and outside of the inlet wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashraf Farag, Steven C. Guzy
  • Patent number: 7311490
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rotor blade, in particular a rotor blade of a wind power installation. The object of the present invention is to provide measures for still further improving the CR-value and also the level of acoustic power of rotor blades of wind power installations. A rotor blade for a wind power installation includes a high pressure side and a low pressure side. A substantially constant, area-covering electrostatic field is provided on the low pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Aloys Wobben