Patents Examined by Eldon T Brockman
  • Patent number: 11680555
    Abstract: A jointed rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of blade segments has at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The internal support structure of the first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the internal support structure of the second blade segment via a receiving section. The rotor blade further includes one or more pin joints positioned on at least one of internal support structures of the first blade segment or the second blade segment. Thus, at least one of internal support structures of the first blade segment or the second blade segment includes varying material combinations along a span of the rotor blade at locations of the one or more pin joints so as to reinforce the one or more pin joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Merzhaeuser, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Andrew Mitchell Rodwell, Rishikesh Kumar
  • Patent number: 11674404
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes first, second, and third gas turbine engine components, such as vane assemblies, that are successively arranged around an axis. Each component has first and second mate faces such that the first mate face of the first component and the second mate face of the second component define a first mate face gap, and the first mate face of the second component and the second mate face of the third component to define a second mate face gap. A seal arc segment has first and second seal portions and a connector portion that joins the seal portions. The first seal portion bridges the first mate face gap to seal the first mate face gap, the second seal portion bridges the second mate face gap to seal the second mate face gap, and the connector portion spans circumferentially across the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond Surace, Howard J. Liles
  • Patent number: 11674415
    Abstract: A gear reduction reduces a speed of a fan rotor relative to a speed of a fan drive turbine. A rigid connection between a fan case and an inner core housing includes a plurality of A-frames connected at a connection point to the fan case. Legs in the A-frames extend away from the connection point in opposed circumferential directions to be connected to a compressor wall of the inner core housing. The rigid connection also includes a plurality of fan exit guide vanes rigidly connected to the fan case. A lateral stiffness ratio of the lateral stiffness of the plurality of fan exit guide vanes and a lateral stiffness of a combination of the plurality of A-frame, the compressor wall, and a fan intermediate case which is forward of the low pressure compressor being greater than or equal to 0.6 and less than or equal to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Marc J. Muldoon, Michael E. McCune, Keith B. Allyn
  • Patent number: 11674395
    Abstract: A rotor disk for a gas turbine engine includes a disk body having a central bore extending therethrough. The disk body includes a bore body that extends around the central bore, a web that extends radially outward from the bore body having decreased thickness relative to the bore body and a peripheral rim that is located at an outer end of the web. The peripheral rim includes blade mounting structures for engaging complementary mounting structures of rotor blades. The bore body has a bore cavity that extends continuously through the bore body and about an entire periphery of the central bore. The bore cavity has a central axis that forms a circle about the central bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Nitesh Jain
  • Patent number: 11674394
    Abstract: The rotor assembly can have a first disc having a first body extending circumferentially and radially around the axis, a first set of circumferentially distributed blades protruding radially from the first disc, and a male spline extending axially relative the first body, the male spline extending around and along the axis, and a second disc having a second body extending circumferentially and radially around the axis, a second set of circumferentially distributed blades protruding radially from the second disc, and a female spline extending around and along the axis, the female spline receiving the male spline in a spline engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Franco Di Paola, Julien Lalonde
  • Patent number: 11668278
    Abstract: A mastless vertical axis wind turbine that comprises a plurality of sails that rotate about a vertical axis under the influence of wind. A platform is connected to and in tension with the plurality of sails at one or more points about the bottom of the plurality of the sails. Also, an external frame is connected to and in tension with the plurality of sails at one or more points about the top of the plurality of the sails. The external frame itself comprises a plurality of legs that converge above the plurality of sails at a central point about the vertical axis of rotation and extend beyond the path swept by the plurality of sails. A coupling mechanism connects one or more of the plurality of legs to the plurality of sails and allows the sails to rotate about the vertical axis of rotation while the legs remain stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: J. Hench Consulting, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Hench
  • Patent number: 11668208
    Abstract: A positioning method of an arc-like member according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes a step of moving a protruding part disposed at a circumferential end of the arc-like member in a radial direction with respect to a reference member positioned on a radially outer side as viewed from the circumferential end of the arc-like member. In the step of moving the protruding part, a wall portion is arranged on a radially outer side or a radially inner side with respect to the reference member, a jack is arranged between the wall portion and the reference member, and the jack is operated to move the protruding part with respect to the reference member by the pressing piece mounted on the wall portion via a rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yohei Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11668203
    Abstract: A turbine section has: a rotor rotatable about a central axis, the rotor having blades each protruding radially outwardly from a platform relative to the central axis; a stator having vanes each protruding radially outwardly from a shroud; a rim seal between the platform and the shroud, the rim seal having: an axial overlap between the platform and the shroud, and a lip protruding in a direction having a radial component relative to the central axis from one of the platform and the shroud toward the other of the platform and the shroud, the lip axially overlapping the other of the platform and the shroud, the lip having a radial height such that a radial gap remains between the lip and the other of the platform and the shroud when the turbine section is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Francis Gemme
  • Patent number: 11668277
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface and an internal support structure. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthwise that structurally connects with the second blade segment via a receiving section. The rotor blade also includes at least one chord-wise extending pin positioned through the chord-wise joint so as to secure the first and second blade segments together. Further, the chord-wise extending pin includes a hollow cross-section that extends from a trailing edge end to a leading edge end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ashley Simone Wilford, Jon Stuart Wright, Scott Jacob Huth
  • Patent number: 11666748
    Abstract: A seal assembly is configured to seal a portion of a blood pump from the blood. The seal assembly includes a first seal; and a second seal. The second seal includes a lower contact-pressure seal than the first seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Kronstedt, Umang Anand
  • Patent number: 11668280
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods which comprise receiving a wind direction signal indicative of an instantaneous wind direction at a wind turbine, filtering the wind direction signal to determine a filtered wind direction signal and determining a yaw error signal of the wind turbine indicating a difference between a yaw angle of the wind turbine and the instantaneous wind direction indicated by the filtered wind direction signal. The methods furthermore comprise determining a control signal for a yaw system of the wind turbine based on the yaw error signal. Filtering the wind direction signal comprises applying a low pass filter with a variable time constant, wherein the variable time constant is dependent on a wind condition. The present disclosure further relates to control systems for wind turbines which are configured to implement such methods. The present disclosure further relates to methods of operating wind turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Pedro Arroyo Beltri, Luca Vita
  • Patent number: 11661864
    Abstract: A turbine casing divided in an axial direction into a first casing and a second casing coupled to each other by flanges of the first casing and the second casing. The first casing and the second casing are divided into two parts as viewed from the axial direction, the two parts being an upper half casing and a lower half casing. The turbine casing having three or more sets of a first radial reference surface and a second radial reference surface in a circumferential direction, the first radial reference surface being disposed in a flange peripheral portion of the first casing, and the second radial reference surface being disposed in a flange peripheral portion of the second casing. Each first radial reference surface is located at an equal distance from a turbine central axis. Each second radial reference surface is located at an equal distance from the turbine central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Shinkawa, Shosaku Hiwatashi, Daiki Hirokawa, Yasuyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11655733
    Abstract: A turbine stator includes a partition plate including an inner ring that extends along a circumferential direction, an outer ring that is disposed on an outer side of the inner ring in a radial direction, and extends in the circumferential direction, a plurality of nozzles that are disposed in the circumferential direction between the inner ring and the outer ring, and are configured to guide a fluid from an upstream side toward a downstream side in an axial direction, and an annular protruding portion, protrudes from the outer ring to the downstream side in the axial direction, and extends along the outer ring in the circumferential direction, and a casing surrounding the partition plate from the outer side in the radial direction, and having a contact support surface that is in contact with the annular protruding portion from the downstream side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Terada, Yuzo Tsurusaki
  • Patent number: 11649732
    Abstract: An assembly includes first and second core gaspath walls. Each of the core gaspath walls defines a core gas path side and a non-core gas path side. The first and second core gaspath walls are arranged next to each other and define a gap therebetween. There is a seal arranged on the non-core gas path side that bridges over the gap to seal the gap. A spring device has a plurality of spring elements. The spring elements bias the seal against the non-core gas path sides of the first and second core gaspath walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert A. White, III
  • Patent number: 11643178
    Abstract: A propeller apparatus of a ship propulsion machine includes a tubular member inserted into an insertion hole so as to be movable in a circumferential direction with respect to a hub. First concave portions arranged in a circumferential direction are formed in an outer peripheral surface of the tubular member. Second concave portions arranged in the circumferential direction so as to respectively face the first concave portions are formed in an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole. Each of the elastic bodies has a spherical or columnar shape, a first portion of each of the elastic bodies is disposed in each of the first concave portions, a second portion of each of the elastic bodies is disposed in each of the second concave portions, and the elastic bodies are rotatably held between the first concave portions and the second concave portions facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masatoshi Kimpara
  • Patent number: 11644011
    Abstract: Improvements relating to wind turbine blades A wind turbine blade is described that comprises a main blade and one or more separate edge modules attached to the main blade module. The main blade module defines a main body of the blade, and the separate edge module(s) defines at least part of a leading edge or a trailing edge of the blade. A down conductor for a blade lightning protection system is embedded within the edge module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Toby Collard, Nathan A. Brilliant, Chris Sutton, Lasse Lykkegaard
  • Patent number: 11643931
    Abstract: A rotating assembly for a gas turbine engine has a balancing ring mounted to a first rotating component having a rotating unbalance about an axis of rotation. The ring is clocked at a circumferential position about the axis to counteract the rotating unbalance. A spacer is axially abutted against the first rotating component to set an axial position of the first rotating component relative to a second rotating component. The balancing ring is locked against rotation relative to the first rotating component in its circumferential position by the dual use spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Hugues Pellerin
  • Patent number: 11639709
    Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine rotor blade with a longitudinal direction, at least one first rotor blade section with a first front side and one second rotor blade section with a second front side and a separation point between the first and second rotor blade sections. The first and second front sides abut against each other at the separation point. The first front side has a plurality of first recesses, and the second front side has a plurality of second recesses. Further provided is a fastening unit, which is designed to fasten the first and second rotor blade sections to each other at the separation point. The fastening unit has a plurality of first inserts made out of metal, which are arranged in the first recesses, and a plurality of second inserts made out of metal, which are arranged in the second recesses. The first inserts each have a first end and a second end. The second inserts each have a first end and a second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Rasmus Börchers, Renato Ciapanna
  • Patent number: 11639724
    Abstract: Provided is a turbo compressor for compressing a gas such as air and supplying the compressed gas to outside, the turbo compressor including a compression unit including a compression gas inlet for sucking the gas, an impeller for compressing the gas sucked through the compression gas inlet, a compression gas outlet for discharging the gas compressed by the impeller, and a compression gas channel connected from the compression gas inlet to the compression gas outlet, a motor including a rotary shaft having a front end coupled to the impeller, to rotate the impeller, a housing having a motor accommodation space to accommodate the motor, and a cooling gas channel passing through the motor accommodation space and enabling circulation of a cooling gas contained therein, wherein the compression gas channel is spatially separate from the cooling gas channel and thus the gas in the compression gas channel does not permeate into the cooling gas channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TNE KOREA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyeong Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11635000
    Abstract: An endwall may be disposed at one end of a vane assembly. The endwall may comprise an endwall spar and a coversheet on the hot surface of the endwall spar. The endwall may further comprise a cooling fluid channel between the hot surface of the endwall spar and the cold surface of the coversheet. The cooling fluid channel may include a cooling fluid inlet disposed in the endwall spar, and a cooling fluid outlet. The cooling fluid outlet may be formed at an angle with the axis of the endwall spar. A plurality of pedestals may be disposed on the hot surface of the endwall spar extending into the cooling channel. The pedestals may be formed at an angle with the axis of the endwall spar to direct a cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Jack Moody, Jerry Layne, Jeffrey F. Rhodes, Brett Barker, Eric Koenig