Patents Examined by Edward Look
  • Patent number: 9249667
    Abstract: A system includes a turbomachine that includes a stator and a rotor. The rotor is configured to rotate about a rotational axis relative to the stator. In addition, the rotor includes a least one rotary blade, and the at least one rotary blade has a patterned structure of beams and cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Daniel Noble, Joseph Anthony Weber, Donald Earl Floyd, II
  • Patent number: 9249670
    Abstract: A component includes a substrate having an outer surface, an inner surface and a tip. The inner surface defines at least one hollow, interior space. The outer surface defines one or more grooves, where each groove extends at least partially along the outer surface of the substrate and has a base. The component further includes a coating disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface of the substrate. The coating includes at least a structural coating that extends over the groove(s), such that the groove(s) and the structural coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component. The tip comprises a tip cap enclosing the hollow, interior space(s), and a tip rim disposed at a radially outer end of the substrate. The tip rim at least partially defines at least one discharge channel in fluid communication with at least one cooling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald Scott Bunker
  • Patent number: 9249555
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a first actuator, a first valve arrangement, a second actuator, and a second valve arrangement. The hydraulic system may also have at least one operator interface device movable by an operator to generate a first signal indicative of desired work tool movement in a first manner, and a second signal indicative of desired work tool movement in a second manner; and a controller configured to generate a first flow rate command directed to the first valve arrangement based on the first signal, and generate a second flow rate command directed to the second valve arrangement based on the second signal. The controller may also be configured to selectively generate a third flow rate scaled from the first flow rate command and directed to the second valve arrangement based on only the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Reedy, Robert E. Stone
  • Patent number: 9249674
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform positioned between an airfoil and a root. The rotor blade, along a side that coincides with a pressure side of the airfoil, includes a pressure side of the platform includes a topside extending from an airfoil base to a pressure side slashface. The platform cooling arrangement includes: a main plenum residing just inboard of the topside in the pressure side of the platform, the main plenum extending through the platform from an upstream end having an aft position to a downstream end having a forward position; and cooling apertures. Near the upstream end, the main plenum includes an aft switchback, and, between the aft switchback and the downstream end, a forward arc. Each of the cooling apertures extends from the main plenum to a port formed on the pressure side slashface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Edmond Ellis, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Patent number: 9249781
    Abstract: A wind turbine condition monitoring system and method are disclosed where the wind turbines include a tower, a gearbox coupled to the tower, and turbine blades coupled to the gearbox. The monitoring system includes blade sensors coupled to the blades, a hub node coupled to the gearbox and a controller. The controller is in communication with the hub node and blade sensors, and determines blade positions based on blade sensor readings. The blade sensors and hub node can include multi-axis accelerometers. The controller can wirelessly communicate with the blade sensors directly or through the hub node. Using position information, shadowing areas with obstructed communication can be avoided, node separation can be accounted for to reduce power requirements and/or interference from multiple transmitters can be avoided during node communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Lang, Peter Volkmer, Murat Senel, Vivek Jain, Lakshmi Venkatraman, Huang Lee
  • Patent number: 9249673
    Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement for a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root, the root including attachment means and a shank, wherein the platform comprises a suction side that includes a topside extending from an airfoil base to a suction side slashface, and wherein the platform overhangs a shank cavity. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a pocket formed in an underside region of the platform, the pocket comprising a mouth that fluidly communicates with the shank cavity; a manifold extending from the suction side slashface to a pressure side slashface, the manifold including a connection to the pocket; and cooling apertures that extend from connections made with the pocket and manifold to ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Edmond Ellis, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Patent number: 9243504
    Abstract: A damper pin for coupling platforms of adjacent turbine blades includes a first flat longitudinal end region, a second flat longitudinal end region and a reduced cross sectional area. The reduced cross sectional area is separated from the first flat longitudinal end region by a first main body region and the reduced cross sectional area is separated from the second flat longitudinal end region by a second main body region. The cross sectional area of the reduced cross sectional area is less than the cross sectional area of each of the first and second main body regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Seth J. Thomen, Christopher Corcoran
  • Patent number: 9243385
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic system for construction machinery, which is applied to construction machinery provided with a steering unit for controlling steering of equipment, and a main control valve for controlling operating of a work tool, and includes: a main pump for discharging working fluid supplied to the steering unit and the main control valve; a load sensing pressure sensor for sensing a load sensing pressure of the steering unit; a priority valve installed in a supply passage for the working fluid discharged from the main pump, for dividing and supplying the working fluid discharged from the main pump to the steering unit and the main control valve, to correspond to the load sensing pressure; an auxiliary pump for supplementing working fluid to the supply passage supplying the working fluid divided by the priority valve to the steering unit; an electric motor for operating the auxiliary pump; and a controller for operating the electric motor when the load sensing pressure is great
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeung Hwa Kim
  • Patent number: 9243648
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes an inlet guide vane assembly. The inlet guide vane assembly includes a plurality of inlet guide vanes disposed in a radial pattern around a central axis and configured to rotate about axes orthogonal to the central axis. The inlet guide vane assembly also includes a plurality of vane shafts, each connected to a respective inlet guide vane and configured to rotate with the respective inlet guide vane about the respective orthogonal axis. The inlet guide vane assembly further includes a drive shaft directly connected to one of the vane shafts and configured to directly cause rotation of the vane shaft to which it is directly connected and to indirectly cause rotation of the remaining vane shafts in the plurality of vane shafts. In addition, the inlet guide vane assembly includes a rotary actuator connected to the drive shaft and configured to cause rotation of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Clemons, Mark R. Sabin, Thomas E. Gerber
  • Patent number: 9242721
    Abstract: An aircraft propulsion system has a propulsive rotor assembly rotatable about an axis of rotation and comprising a plurality of blades and a rotationally fixed vane assembly located adjacent to the propulsive rotor assembly and arranged circumferentially around the axis of rotation. As airflow enters the propulsive rotor assembly, a portion of the airflow passes over the vane assembly which is configured to direct the airflow away from the rotor blades so as to reduce the relative velocity of the redirected airflow over the rotor blades. This results in a reduced tendency of the airflow through the propulsive rotor assembly to become choked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Martin O. Neuteboom
  • Patent number: 9243610
    Abstract: A fluid powered turbine, such as a wind turbine (10), has a hollow column (12) in which a rotating turbine is housed. A fluid directing structure (14) is supported at or near an end of the column (12) remote from the turbine. The fluid directing structure (14) has a plurality of individual inlet openings (26) spaced around its periphery and is arranged to direct air at each inlet opening into an inner pipe (18). The incoming air is constricted both within the structure (14) and as it exits the column (12) whereby its speed is sufficient to rotate the turbine (20). The structure at the top of the column (12) generally requires no maintenance and maintenance of the turbine (20) is considerably easier than with traditional wind generators as access is easy. As the turbine is enclosed, it is safer than the traditional wind generators and less noisy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Funnelhead Limited
    Inventor: Rajeshwar Rao Degala
  • Patent number: 9243812
    Abstract: The flow path structure includes a flow path introducing fluid from an inlet to an outlet, and a flow velocity control structure provided in a portion between the inlet and the outlet in the flow path to reduce difference in flow velocity that the fluid flowing into the flow path has in a direction intersecting with a flow direction of the fluid. The flow velocity control structure includes, in the direction intersecting with the flow direction, plural flow velocity control members provided alternately with spaces through which the fluid passes. The flow velocity control members have different sizes from each other, the sizes increasing as the flow velocity of the fluid at areas, in the direction intersecting with the flow direction, where the respective flow velocity control members are provided increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakashita
  • Patent number: 9238453
    Abstract: A master cylinder device including: a housing whose front side is closed and which has a separation wall for separating the inside of the housing into a front side chamber and a rear side chamber; a pressurizing piston disposed in the front side chamber so as to define a pressurizing chamber for pressurizing the brake fluid and an input chamber into which a brake fluid from a high pressure source is introduced; an input piston disposed in the rear side chamber and moving forward by an operation force; and a transmission rod which is through the separation wall, whose proximal end portion is fixed in one of the pressurizing and input pistons, and whose distal end portion is apart from the other of the pressurizing and input pistons in a state of no forward movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Uechi, Hiroshi Ueno, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Akira Sakai, Tatsuo Sugitani, Kazuya Maki, Satoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 9238974
    Abstract: A shaft for a turbine engine, the shaft having a cavity subdivided axially into first and second chambers. The shaft also includes a distributor member having an axial duct, a first radial orifice, and a second radial orifice. The axial duct has an open first end and a second end closed in the axial direction. The first radial orifice connects the second end of the axial duct to the first chamber in order to feed a first bearing with lubricating fluid, and the second radial orifice connects the second end of the axial duct to the second chamber to feed a second bearing with lubricating fluid. The first radial orifice and the second radial orifice of the distributor member are at substantially equal axial distances from the lubricating fluid inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: MICROTURBO
    Inventors: Serge Cot, Clement Lalanne
  • Patent number: 9239111
    Abstract: A cylinder liner with high strength and wear resistance and a manufacturing method thereof. The composition (% by mass) of the cylinder liner is as follows: C: 3.0-3.3%, Si: 2.0-2.3%, P: 0.3-0.6%, S: <0.1%, Mn: 0.3-0.6%, Mo: 0.1-0.3%, Nb: 0.08-0.15%, and the balance Fe. The structure of the cylinder liner is phosphorus-containing acicular ferrite and carbon-rich austenite, wherein the phosphide eutectic is no less than 3%. The cylinder liner has a hardness of HRC38-43, Rm>400 MPa, high strength and good wear resistance, solves the problem of pearlite cylinder liner with low wear resistance and cast bainite with bad corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Henan Province Zynp Corporation
    Inventors: Delong Xue, Xiaocai Qin, Zhijun Liu, Wuhui Zou
  • Patent number: 9239060
    Abstract: In one embodiment a blower comprises a case comprising a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a side wall extending between portions of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the side wall comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, an impeller disposed in the case and rotatable about an axis of rotation extending between the first surface and the second surface. Portions of the side wall are disposed at least a first distance from the axis of rotation and the impeller is to define a circumferential airflow path within the case, and the impeller is to create an airflow in the circumferential airflow path between the air inlet and the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas Heymann
  • Patent number: 9238479
    Abstract: A steering system includes a fluid motor and a steering unit. The steering unit is in fluid communication with the fluid motor. The steering unit includes a fluid meter adapted to meter fluid to the fluid motor in response to actuation of the steering unit. A valve housing is in fluid communication with the fluid meter. The valve housing defines a valve bore. A valve assembly is disposed in the valve bore. The valve assembly defines a primary fluid path to the fluid meter and to the fluid motor from the fluid meter. The valve assembly further defines a secondary fluid path to the fluid motor that bypasses the fluid meter. An amount of fluid through the secondary fluid path is based on volumetric efficiency of the fluid motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Darrell Smith, Aaron K. Krahn
  • Patent number: 9234523
    Abstract: A submersible pump includes an impeller (8) arranged in a pump housing (2). A seal (22) seals the impeller (8) with respect to a stationary part of the pump housing (2). The seal (22) includes a sealing ring (24) arranged on the impeller side. The sealing ring engages in a second sealing ring (26) arranged on the pump housing side. The sealing ring (26) on the pump housing side has at least one hole (28) for discharging solid particles from the impeller (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Grundfos Management a/s
    Inventor: Poul Johannes Henning
  • Patent number: 9234520
    Abstract: A pump for processing molten metal having an enlarged tubular body which houses a centrifugal pump at its bottom end. The bottom end has a concave curved shape whose shape is a function of the particular type of vortex to be created for the application at hand. This curved portion of the body receives the ejected molten metal from the impeller and forms an uplifting axial vortex within the tubular section of the body. The pump is designed to cooperate synergistically with said body such that the uplifting axial vortex to climb up the inner wall of the body up to and out of an outlet formed in the upper end of the body. A radial vane impeller is formed in the back plate of the impeller. When the impeller is rotated, solid particles introduced into the body are accelerated radially by the back plate impeller into the vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Pyrotek, Inc.
    Inventor: Jorge A. Morando
  • Patent number: 9234522
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a housing and a rotatable shaft, where at least a portion of the rotatable shaft is located in the housing. The turbomachine also includes a magnetic thrust bearing that axially positions the rotatable shaft and a radial bearing that centers the rotatable shaft. The turbomachine includes a flexure including a first portion secured to the housing and a second portion axially moveable relative to the first portion. The second portion of the flexure is connected to the radial bearing, and the second portion moves axially to eliminate thrust loads on the radial bearing and allow the magnetic thrust bearing to carry axial loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf J. Jonsson, Bruce P. Biederman, Frederick J. Cogswell