Patents Examined by Eric Zamora Alvarez
  • Patent number: 10060270
    Abstract: An airfoil (10) is disclosed for a gas turbine engine in which the airfoil (10) includes an internal cooling system (14) with one or more converging-diverging exit slots (20) configured to increase the effectiveness of the cooling system (14) at the trailing edge (34) of the airfoil (10) by increasing the contact of cooling fluids with internal surfaces (24, 30) of the pressure and suction sides (36, 38) of the airfoil (10). In at least one embodiment, the trailing edge cooling channel (18) may include one or more converging-diverging exit slots (20) to further pressurize the trailing edge cooling channel (18) and may be formed by a first and second ribs (80, 82) extending between an outer walls (13, 12) forming the pressure and suction sides (36, 38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Caleb Myers, Erik Johnson, Steven Koester
  • Patent number: 10047636
    Abstract: An arrangement to minimize vibrations in a gas turbine exhaust diffuser is provided. The arrangement includes a projection coupled to an inner cylindrical surface or the outer cylindrical surface of a fluid flow path of the gas turbine exhaust diffuser. The projection minimizes pressure oscillations in the gas turbine exhaust diffuser such that an unsteadiness of the fluid flow surrounding the second tangential strut is reduced. A method to minimize pressure oscillations in a gas turbine diffuser is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ali Akturk, Jose L. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10047608
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for providing a balancing weight in a groove on a rotor disk in a gas turbine engine. The apparatus comprises an elongate reservoir for housing a hardenable material and an inflatable balloon in fluid communication with the distal end of the elongate reservoir. An actuator is provided for forcing the hardenable material from the elongate reservoir to inflate the inflatable balloon with hardenable material within the groove on the rotor disk. A sealing device for sealing the inflated inflatable element to form the balancing weight is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: James Phylip-Jones, Pascal Wilmes, Mattheus Bakker, Adegoke Gbadeyan
  • Patent number: 10041363
    Abstract: A blade-disk assembly of a turbomachine is provided, the blade-disk assembly having a plurality of adjacent rotor blades and a closure blade which are tilted into an anchoring groove, and at least one circumferential retention element which interlockingly cooperates with at least one blade, as well as a plurality of tilt-out prevention elements which are disposed between the groove base and the root portions and which, in the rest state, space the blades from the groove base when in the upper position. The blade-disk assembly further has a locking element, a portion of which is located between the groove base and the root portions and which, in the rest state, spaces the closure blade from the groove base when in the upper position. A method for assembling such a blade-disk assembly, as well as a turbomachine, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Werner Humhauser, Herman Klingels, Alexander Kloetzer
  • Patent number: 10036284
    Abstract: A rotating gas turbine blade is disclosed which includes an airfoil with a suction side and a pressure side, the airfoil extending in a radial direction from a blade root to a blade tip. The blade tip includes a tip shroud, the airfoil having internal cooling passages for a cooling medium, which extend through the tip shroud. Outlet ports are provided above a selected internal airfoil cooling passage for the cooling medium to be ejected above the tip shroud in a direction of the blade's pressure side. Dust accumulation is avoided at the tip end of the selected internal cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Martin Balliel, Frank Gersbach, Stefan Andreas Retzko, Marco Lamminger
  • Patent number: 10030669
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for transferring energy between a rotating element and a fluid are provided herein. In some embodiments, a plenum of an apparatus for transferring energy between a rotating element and a fluid may include a through hole disposed through the plenum; and a plurality of inlet guide vanes disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the through hole, the plurality of inlet guide vanes comprising a first group of inlet guide vanes having a cambered profile and a second group of inlet guide vanes disposed radially inward of the first group of inlet guide vanes, wherein the first group of inlet guide vanes are in a fixed position with respect to the plenum and the second group of inlet guide vanes are movable with respect to the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ismail Hakki Sezal, Christian Aalburg, Rajesh Kumar Venkata Gadamsetty, Matthias Carl Lang, Venkata Rama Krishna Chaitanya Ongole, Alberto Scotti del Greco, Rudolf Konrad Selmeier
  • Patent number: 10030668
    Abstract: An axial-flow fan includes a boss and a plurality of blades integrally resin-molded with a hub. An axial hole of the boss has a shaft of a drive motor inserted. The axial hole is formed at an axial center of the hub. The hub includes an outer perimeter cylinder and a lid. The outer perimeter cylinder has an opening formed at the axial center, and the blades are formed so as to project from the outer perimeter cylinder. The lid extends from the outer perimeter cylinder toward the boss so as to cover the opening of the outer perimeter cylinder. The lid connects the boss and the outer perimeter cylinder together. Reinforcing ribs are integrally resin-molded together with the hub and the boss on both axial-direction sides of the lid. The reinforcing ribs reinforce the connection between the hub and the boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Azumi Kojima, Yuuta Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10024335
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a plenum of an apparatus for transferring energy between a rotating element and a fluid may include a through hole disposed through the plenum; a plurality of inlet guide vanes disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the through hole, the plurality of inlet guide vanes comprising a first group of inlet guide vanes having a symmetrical profile, a second group of inlet guide vanes, and a third group of inlet guide vanes, wherein each inlet guide vane of the second group and third group have a cambered profile, and wherein each inlet guide vane of the third group has a different cambered profile from each other inlet guide vane of the third group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ismail Hakki Sezal, Christian Aalburg, Rajesh Kumar Venkata Gadamsetty, Matthias Carl Lang, Venkata Rama Krishna Chaitanya Ongole, Alberto Scotti del Greco
  • Patent number: 10024171
    Abstract: An article and method of cooling an article are provided. The article includes a body portion, a plurality of partitions within the body portion, and at least one aperture in each of the partitions, the at least one aperture arranged and disposed to direct fluid towards an inner surface of the body portion. The plurality of partitions form at least one up-pass cavity and at least one re-use cavity arranged and disposed to receive the fluid from the at least one aperture in one of the partitions. The method includes providing the article having an up-pass partition and a re-use partition, generating a first fluid flow through the at least one aperture in the up-pass partition, receiving a post-impingement fluid within the re-use cavity, and generating a re-use fluid flow through the at least one aperture in the re-use partition, the re-use fluid flow being generated from the post-impingement fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gary Michael Itzel
  • Patent number: 10018055
    Abstract: A fan platform section may include a flow path portion with a plurality of composite plies. A first composite ply in the plurality of composite plies may include directional fibers. The directional fibers may be configured to prevent twisting of the flow path section in response to a centripetal load. The fan platform section may include a second composite ply in the plurality of composite plies. The second composite ply may include directional fibers. The directional fibers in the first composite ply may be orthogonal with respect to the directional fibers in the second composite ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas J. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10012091
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide components for hot gas path (HGP) components and methods of forming the same. A structure according to the present disclosure can include: an HGP component extending radially from a rotor axis of a turbomachine, the HGP component including a tapered edge; a plurality of first passages in fluid communication with a preliminary cooling zone of the HGP component, and extending through a sidewall positioned between the preliminary cooling zone and the tapered edge; and a plurality of second passages extending through at least the tapered edge, wherein each of the plurality of second passages is in fluid communication with the flow path for the operative fluid and at least one passage of the plurality of first passages, and wherein at least one of the plurality of second passages is radially displaced from each passage of the plurality of first passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Victor John Morgan, George Andrew Gergely, Frederic Woodrow Roberts, Jr., Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Patent number: 10012206
    Abstract: A runner vane of an axial hydraulic machine according to embodiments described herein includes a center-side vane part provided on a radial center side and defined by a center-side camber line, and a boss-side vane part provided at a side edge on a side of a runner boss and defined by a boss-side camber line. As determined by the flow direction of a turbine, a curvature of an upstream side portion of the boss-side camber line is larger than a curvature of an upstream side portion of the center-side camber line. An upstream end of the boss-side vane part is positioned on a side of a rotation direction of a runner in comparison with an upstream end of the center-side vane part when viewed toward a downstream side along a rotation axis line of the runner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Pohan Ko, Koji Hamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10001024
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for an abradable seal of a turbomachine, the composition comprising an aluminum base, nickel powder, polyester powder. The invention also relates to an outer casing of a low-pressure compressor of an axial-flow turbomachine with an abradable seal surrounding an annular row of rotor blades. The seal comprises a rounded support covered with a layer of abradable material comprising a metallic phase mainly made of aluminum and with nickel in a lesser proportion. The abradable material additionally comprises from 25% to 55% of additive, such as polyester, methyl methacrylate, hexagonal boron nitride, calcium fluoride. The support is segmented, and forms an organic matrix composite outer casing of the compressor. The invention also proposes a process for producing an abradable seal by plasma spraying an Al—Ni-polyester powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Safran Aero Boosters SA
    Inventor: Laurent Schuster
  • Patent number: 9995311
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan is provided that includes a main plate configured to be rotated about a rotational axis, a shroud, having a suction opening, and a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction between the main plate and the shroud to allow air suctioned in through the suction opening to flow from a front edge to a rear edge of each blade. Assuming a first cross section, a second cross section, a third cross section, and a fourth cross section of each blade sequentially taken at layers from the shroud to the main plate, a front edge of the first cross section is located farther from the rotational axis than a front edge of the fourth cross section, and a rear edge of the first cross section is located closer to the rotational axis than a rear edge of the fourth cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sang Yuk Son, Choon Myun Chung, Tae Man Yang
  • Patent number: 9995171
    Abstract: A mid-turbine frame for a gas turbine engine includes an outer frame case and an inner frame case. At least one spoke connects the outer frame case to the inner frame case. The spoke includes an inlet passage with at least one branch that extends in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew D. Burdick, Anthony P. Cherolis, Christopher Treat, Jonathan Lemoine, Robert Russell Mayer, Jorge I. Farah, John H. Mosley
  • Patent number: 9982543
    Abstract: An airfoil of a gas turbine engine having a hollow body defining at least one airfoil cavity therein, the hollow body defining an inner diameter and an outer diameter and a baffle positioned within the at least one airfoil cavity and extending over less than an entire length between the inner diameter and the outer diameter, the baffle configured to reduce the cross-sectional area within the at least one airfoil cavity. The at least one airfoil cavity includes a first portion having a length that is defined by an open cavity having a full cross-sectional area and a second portion having a length that is defined by a reduced cross-sectional area, the second portion being the length of the baffle within the at least one airfoil cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brandon W. Spangler
  • Patent number: 9982559
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blade or vane for a turbomachine, having at least one impulse element housing with a first impact cavity, in which an impulse element is arranged with play of movement, wherein the impulse element housing has at least one second impact cavity, which is in alignment with the first impact cavity in a first matrix direction and in which an impulse element is arranged with play of movement, and has at least one third impact cavity, which is in alignment with the first impact cavity in a second matrix direction crosswise to the first matrix direction and in which an impulse element is arranged with play of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: MTU AERO ENGINES AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hartung, Hermann Klingels, Patrick Wackers, Manfred Feldmann, Frank Stiehler, Markus Schlemmer
  • Patent number: 9982554
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly comprising a turbine engine casing and a bladed rotor wheel arranged therein. The casing presents an inside wall having a circumferential strip of abradable material. Facing the tips of the blades, the casing presents upstream the strip of abradable material, and downstream a circumferential groove. The strip of abradable material is defined downstream by the circumferential groove. The downstream end of the circumferential groove is in register with or downstream from the trailing edges of the blades. This arrangement optimizes the use of abradable material in the casings of the turbine engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Vincent Paul Gabriel Perrot, Sébastien Cochon
  • Patent number: 9976435
    Abstract: A rotating blade tip clearance system includes a control ring carrier defining a centerline axis. The control ring carrier has a connecting portion, a retaining portion radially inward of the connecting portion, and a flange connecting radially between the connecting portion and the retaining portion. The flange isolates the retaining portion of the control ring carrier from the thermal deflection of a case and assists in keeping the control ring carrier aligned about centerline axis A during thermal deflection. The retaining portion includes radially inner and outer diameter sides defining a retaining cavity therebetween. The system includes a control ring within the retaining cavity. The control ring has a different thermal response rate from the control ring carrier so that the control ring thermally deflects slower than the control ring carrier, thereby controlling the rate and/or extent of thermal deflection of the control ring carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Borja, Paul W. Palmer
  • Patent number: 9975630
    Abstract: A rotor system of a rotary wing aircraft, such as a helicopter, is provided. The rotor system includes a rotor mast, a rotor hub and at least four, angularly generally even distributed rotor blades and swash plate struts for pitch and subsequently flap control. The rotor blades are pairwise to each other with zero offset to the rotor hub. The rotor hub is provided with a hollow bearing with at least one further bearing inside. A first pair of rotor blades is mounted on the hollow bearing and is pivotable in a first flap direction generally perpendicular to the rotation axis. A second pair of rotor blades is mounted inside the hollow bearing on the at least one further bearing and is pivotable in a second flap direction generally perpendicular to the first flap direction and the rotation axis, and independently of the first pair of rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Kaspar Von-Wilmowsky