Patents Examined by Eric Zamora Alvarez
  • Patent number: 9963996
    Abstract: A shroud cooling system configured to cool a shroud adjacent to an airfoil within a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The turbine engine shroud may be formed from shroud segments that include a plurality of cooling air supply channels extending through a forward shroud support for impingement of cooling air onto an outer radial surface of the shroud segment with respect to the inner turbine section of the turbine engine. The channels may extend at various angles to increase cooling efficiency. The backside surface may also include various cooling enhancement components configured to assist in directing, dispersing, concentrating, or distributing cooling air impinged thereon from the channels to provide enhanced cooling at the backside surface. The shroud cooling system may be used to slow down the thermal response by isolating a turbine vane carrier from the cooling fluids while still providing efficient cooling to the shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Darryl Eng, Christopher Rawlings, Thomas Pechette, Friedrich T. Rogers, Jae Y. Um, Ching-Pang Lee
  • Patent number: 9957950
    Abstract: A blade pitch system for a wind turbine comprising a motor coupled to a central reduction gearing, wherein a rotatable output of the central reduction gearing is fixed to a mobile link that in use is joined to the blade and allows rotation of the blade around its longitudinal axis and a static part of the central reduction gearing or the motor is fixed to a static link that in use is joined to a wind turbine hub, wherein the system further comprises one or more flexible couplings to couple the central reduction gearing or the motor and the static or the mobile link such that torque about a blade longitudinal axis is transmitted between the blade and the reduction gearing while substantially limiting the transmission of other loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GE Renewable Technologies Wind B.V.
    Inventors: Santiago Canedo Pardo, Javier Garcia Cervilla
  • Patent number: 9951642
    Abstract: An abradable material includes a matrix material defining pockets of fluid. The abradable material also includes an outer surface configured to be coupled to an interior surface of a fan case such that in response to the outer surface being coupled to the fan case, the abradable material is positioned circumferentially about an axis The abradable material also includes an inner surface defining a circumferential ridge and a circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: William Bogue
  • Patent number: 9938848
    Abstract: A rotor assembly having a wear member secured to an inner surface of the outer wall of the flow path. The wear member is made of material abradable by the blades. The wear member is located upstream of the blades. A downstream end of the wear member is abradably shaped by the blades upon rotation. An inner surface of the wear member is directed radially inwardly along a direction of flow in the flow path for deflecting a boundary layer of the flow into the annular blade path. A gas turbine engine and a method reducing tip vortices in a rotor assembly are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Enzo Macchia
  • Patent number: 9932833
    Abstract: A method for building centrifugal radial stages of turbines, in which the first and the second end of each blade (4) are connected to respective two support rings (2, 3) joining, by means of laser welding, at least a first semi-portion (10) belonging to the respective end of the blade (4) to a respective second semi-portion (10) belonging to the respective support ring (2, 3) so as to form a resilient yielding connecting portion (10, 15) along a radial direction, and providing at least a stop portion (11) belonging to the end of the blade (4) facing, along the radial direction, at least a stop element (14) of the respective support ring (2, 3). The resilient yielding connecting portion (10, 15) enables the stop portion (11) to enter into contact with the stop element (14) when the stage (1) is subjected to the functioning loads of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: EXERGY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Claudio Spadacini, Marco Rizzi
  • Patent number: 9926935
    Abstract: A fan assembly (100) includes a chassis portion (101) and a fan receiver (102) coupled to the chassis portion at a first end (105) of the fan receiver. A fan receiver sidewall defines an inner surface (401), an outer surface (402), a receiving opening (403), and a central axis (405). The inner surface can include at least one insertion guiderail key (514,614) oriented substantially parallel with the central axis. The outer surface can include a threaded male member (407) at a second end (106) of the fan receiver. A fan module (103) can nest within the fan receiver sidewall, retained therein by a vented endcap (104) that couples to the threaded male member with a threaded connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Gonzalez Inda, Julio Cesar Ayala Vera, Oswaldo Enrique Linares Riva, Sergio Antonio Delon Canseco, Luis Lopez Moreno
  • Patent number: 9920627
    Abstract: An assembly for a gas turbine that engine includes a fan section. A turbine section is configured to drive the fan section. The turbine section includes a rotor hub with a rotor lug. A heat shield engages the rotor lug. The heat shield and the rotor lug define a cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel A. Snyder, Christopher Corcoran
  • Patent number: 9909594
    Abstract: A ram air fan housing includes an outer cylindrical housing portion centered on a central axis, with a first end and a second end positioned axially away from the first end. The ram air fan housing also includes an inner cylindrical housing portion centered on a central axis, with a first end and a second end positioned axially away from the first end. The first end of the outer cylindrical housing portion is connected to the first end of the inner cylindrical housing portion with a disk portion. The ram air fan housing also includes a first drain hole in the outer cylindrical housing portion adjacent to the second end of the outer cylindrical housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Craig M. Beers
  • Patent number: 9903375
    Abstract: A fan including a system for holding blades having variable pitch, in which the bases of the blades are mounted onto radial shafts of a rotor of the fan by pivots, is provided. The system includes a main body capable of being attached onto the rotor; and at least one holding arm mounted onto the main body and capable of extending inside a pivot so as to engage with the pivot in order to lock the movement of the pivot along the axis of the shaft on which the holding arm is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Olivier Belmonte, Augustin Curlier
  • Patent number: 9897094
    Abstract: An axial flow fan is provided. The axial flow fan includes an impeller and a fan frame. The impeller has a maximum outer diameter. The fan frame includes a first body and a second body. The first body includes a plurality of connecting elements and a base. The connecting elements are connected to the base. The second body is a hollow body, and used for disposing around the impeller. The second body includes a flow passage having a minimum inner diameter. The minimum inner diameter of the flow passage is not larger than the maximum outer diameter of the impeller. Therefore, the size of the second body does not restrict the maximum outer diameter of the impeller, and the shape of the impeller and the shape of the fan frame can be designed flexibly according to the practical demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SUNON ELECTRONICS (FOSHAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Wen Kang, Sin-Fu Ni, Shih-Hang Lin
  • Patent number: 9896955
    Abstract: A brush seal is provided. The brush seal may comprise an annular backing plate and a first bristle pack coupled to the annular backing plate. The first bristle pack may be oriented in an axial direction. A second bristle pack may be coupled to the first bristle pack and oriented in the axial direction. A bristle of the first bristle pack may have a greater diameter than a bristle of the second bristle pack. A retention structure may be coupled to the second bristle pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil L. Tatman, Jose R. Paulino
  • Patent number: 9897072
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a pitch system of a wind turbine with at least one rotor blade, wherein the pitch system has at least one input rectifier and at least one pitch drive, each rotor blade can be rotated around its longitudinal axis by the one pitch drive or by at least one of several pitch drives, each input rectifier is supplied with alternating voltage by a supply network, and each pitch drive is supplied with electric power by the one input rectifier or by at least one of several input rectifiers, each pitch drive is connected to an emergency power storage device, whereby each pitch drive can be supplied with electric power by the emergency power storage device that is connected to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Moog Unna GmbH
    Inventors: Alf Vetter, Matthias Pauli
  • Patent number: 9890792
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vane (10) of a diffuser (5) for a radial or mixed-flow compressor (2) of an engine (1), including a leading edge (11) arranged facing a flow of gas, a trailing edge (12) being opposite the leading edge (11), a side upper surface wall (13) and a side lower surface wall (14) which connect the leading edge (11) to the trailing edge (12), and a profile including a curved line (15) having at least two points of inflection (I1, I2) between the leading edge (11) and the trailing edge (12). The invention also relates to a corresponding radial diffuser (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: TURBOMECA
    Inventors: Laurent Tarnowski, Nicolas Pascal Bulot
  • Patent number: 9869191
    Abstract: A fan exit guide vane assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of guide vanes having a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The vanes further include a span extending between a root and tip with a stagger angle defined as an angle between a longitudinal axis parallel to an engine axis of rotation and a line connecting the leading edge and the trailing edge that is less than about 15°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Gallagher, Glen E. Potter, Barry M. Ford
  • Patent number: 9869204
    Abstract: A mid-turbine frame for a gas turbine engine according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first frame case, a flange coupled to the first frame case, and a heat shield adjacent to the flange and between adjacent spokes. A method of cooling a portion of a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua Daniel Winn, Anthony P. Cherolis, Steven D. Porter, Christopher Treat, Kevin Zacchera
  • Patent number: 9863253
    Abstract: The invention relates to a blade of an axial turbomachine comprising an airfoil which extends radially and a first set of branches or divisions, which radially extend a radial end of the airfoil, and a second set of branches which radially extend the other of the radial ends of the airfoil and which are offset over the circumference of the turbomachine. The branches extend axially along the entire length of the airfoil. The sets have different numbers of branches. The branches further occupy the channel of the turbomachine and further counteract debris in the event of intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Safran Aero Boosters SA
    Inventor: Stephane Hiernaux
  • Patent number: 9850760
    Abstract: A rotating machine includes a hub portion, wherein the hub portion comprises a forward face and an aft face. The rotating machine further includes a cooling channel formed on either the forward face or the aft face and configured to direct cooling air to a location on the rotating machine, wherein the cooling channel extends from a radially inner location along the face to a radially outer location along the face, and wherein the cooling channel is configured as a recess formed into an outer surface of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Crosatti, Jason Smoke
  • Patent number: 9850766
    Abstract: A blade cascade for a turbomachine, having a number of blades which include a monocrystalline material, each blade having a crystal orientation value, which is dependent on a crystal of first blades being less than a first limiting value and the crystal orientation values of second blades being at least equal to the first limiting value; and the blade cascade having at least one first sector, which includes at least three successive first blades, and having at least one second sector, which includes at least three successive second blades; and/or at least one first blade has a first body arrangement having at least one first body mounted so it is movable on the first blade and at least one second blade has a second body arrangement, which differs therefrom, having at least one second body mounted so it is movable on the second blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Andreas Hartung, Frank Stiehler, Martin Pernleitner
  • Patent number: 9840934
    Abstract: A turbomachinery vane includes a vane body defining a longitudinal axis, a trunnion extending from the vane body and defining a pivot point for pivoting the vane body about the longitudinal axis, and a lock system operatively connected to the trunnion and configured to lock the vane body in a plurality of locked positions. A gas turbine engine includes a turbomachinery component including a row of actuated stators, wherein the actuated stator row includes a plurality of the turbomachinery vanes. A method of actuating a vane by aerodynamic loads includes moving the vane about a pivot point from a first position to a second position by a first set of by aerodynamic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joseph T. Christians
  • Patent number: 9828871
    Abstract: A system for controlling an angular position of a component of an aircraft includes a component having a shaft that includes at least one magnet. The system also includes a housing configured to receive the shaft and including at least one coil configured to generate a magnetic field based on a current through the at least one coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard A. Poisson, Joseph V. Mantese