Patents Examined by Hermes Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6267558
    Abstract: An article and a method for improving an article that results in a reduction or elimination of damage due to fretting from contact of similar metals. The invention specifically reduces wear-related fretting between titanium alloy parts by lowering the stresses between mating parts. An aluminum bronze coating is applied to one of the parts. The aluminum bronze coating provides an improvement over prior art coatings in reducing coefficient of friction between the parts. Additionally, the cumulative stresses at the surface of the parts is reduced by a dual intensity peening treatment. This involves a first peening operation using large peening media that provides a compressive stress to the required depth. This first peening operation is followed by a second peening operation that provides additional compressive stresses closer to the dovetail surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William T. Dingwell, Andrew J. Lammas, Herbert Halila
  • Patent number: 6261057
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for accurately radially locating a brush seal relative to a rotor provides a labyrinth seal segment having a slot open toward the rotor and defining an interior ledge facing away from the rotor, a brush seal segment inserted in the slot and having an exterior shoulder facing toward the rotor and overlying the interior ledge of the labyrinth seal segment such that the brush seal segment can move radially relative to the labyrinth seal segment and rotor and the shoulder of the brush seal segment can move toward and away from the interior ledge of the labyrinth seal segment, and set screws tightened into spaced apart threaded holes in the labyrinth seal segment forcing the shoulder of the brush seal segment against the ledge of the labyrinth seal segment so as to prevent radial floating of the brush seal segment relative to the labyrinth seal segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norman Arnold Turnquist, Frederick George Baily, Lawrence Edward Rentz
  • Patent number: 6238187
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for repairing damage to an airfoil. The method provides for the removal of a section of the airfoil that substantially encompasses the damaged area, which consequently leaves a void and a cut-away surface in the airfoil. A replacement piece larger than the residual void is provided for use in replacing the section removed from the airfoil. A joining operation welds or otherwise joins the replacement piece to the airfoil at the cut-away surface to form a joined airfoil. The joined airfoil has a seam between the airfoil and the replacement piece. At least a portion of the seam is processed by laser shock peening to induce compressive residual stresses therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignees: LSP Technologies, Inc., United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jeff L. Dulaney, Allan H. Clauer, Joseph F. Clarady, Robert Baumgarten, Jerry G. Weinstein, Benjamin R. Hack
  • Patent number: 6227801
    Abstract: A turbine engine having improved high pressure turbine cooling is disclosed. In the engine, relatively cool intermediate pressure (P2x) air is diverted from a region of a compressor section and over a high work turbine blade at a lower static pressure than the diverted air to cool the blade. Advantageously, as the diverted air is relatively cool, use of a conventional TOBI nozzle may be eliminated. Similarly, showerheads on the blade may be eliminated. As well, the diverted air may conveniently be used to seal a rear bearing compartment within the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Xiaoliu Liu
  • Patent number: 6224324
    Abstract: An axial turbine or axial compressor with bladed rotors (6, 7) rotating in opposite directions about a common axis, in particular for the expansion of steam and hot gases or for compressing gases, with mutually adjacent bladed rotors (6, 7) being mutually connected in a non-positive manner by way of the same toothed gearing (11, 12, 13, 14). In order to propose a respective design which allows applying the contra-rotating capability of axial flow turbines with a contra-rotating gear outside of the gear housing also in the case of several turbine wheels, and thus utilizing the aforementioned advantages which are inherent to this principle, namely of claiming higher pressure heads, it is provided that all bladed rotors (6, 7) rotating in the same direction of rotation are mutually connected by way of a rigid connecting element (5, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Georg Poinstingl
  • Patent number: 6216583
    Abstract: A piston pump of the roller tappet type for high-pressure fuel delivery in fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines, particularly in common rail injection systems. A drive shaft that is supported in the pump housing and has a number of cam-like projections in the circumference direction. At least one tappet that is disposed in a cylinder chamber radially with regard to the drive shaft and in its radially inner end region has a rotatable roller which is supported so that it can roll in the circumference direction against the drive shaft in the region of its projections in order to reduce the wear in the region of the roller bearing. The pump is embodied so that a lubricant supply opening that leads from the circumference of the tappet and feeds into the radially inner tappet end region supporting the roller and at least during a part of the stroke, communicates with a lubricant supply line of the housing, which line feeds into the cylinder chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Klinger, Uwe Kuhn, Bernd Rosenau, Peter Traub, Thomas Goettel, Gerd Loesch, Sandro Soccol
  • Patent number: 6216582
    Abstract: In a swash plate type compressor, a swash plate (22) is fixed to a boss (21) by means of rivets (35). The swash plate is coupled to a plurality of pistons (24) via shoes (25). When a main shaft (16) is rotated to rotate a rotor (18), a rotational motion of the rotor is transmitted to the boss via a hinge mechanism (19) which changes an inclination of the swash plate. Accordingly, the boss is rotated to rotate the swash plate at the inclination to cause the pistons to make reciprocating motions in cylinders (26) via the shoes for performing a compressing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Saito, Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6217277
    Abstract: An improved rotary engine, engine lining and engine casing and lining combination are disclosed. The engine is preferable a turbofan engine and includes a fan blade, rotatably mounted within a generally cylindrical casing for rotation about a lengthwise extending central axis. An annular lining is mounted within the casing between a tip of the fan blade and the casing. The lining seals the tip of the fan blade within the casing. The lining includes a brush seal that extends around an inner circumference of the casing, and has a plurality of bristles that extend radially inward from the seal. A retaining membrane extends around the brush seal, preventing the bristles from extending substantially in a radial direction from the brush seal. The retaining membrane is adapted to release the bristles to extend radially inward to occupy a region between the tip of the fan blade and the casing upon a radial excursion of the fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Xiaoliu Liu, John Angus Raw
  • Patent number: 6210114
    Abstract: A cross flow fan for an air conditioner constructed to allow a plurality of horizontally and sequentially arranged blades to be partitioned, each distanced by a predetermined space, by a plurality of vertically arranged diaphragms, wherein the cross flow fan comprises a through hole so formed as to have a diameter of 0.4˜0.8D against a diameter D of the diaphragm, such that fluid infused into the fan can form an eddy current, such that amount of wind from the fan is increased to improve an energy consumption efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: SeonMun University
    Inventor: Jae-Won Kim
  • Patent number: 6206636
    Abstract: A ribbed impeller for use in a water pump and in marine water pumps in particular, which ribbed impeller is characterized by a hub rotatably mounted on a shaft positioned inside the pump barrel or housing and multiple blades provided on the hub and fitted with ribs of varying location, length, size and character for enhancing the pumping of water through the barrel. In a preferred embodiment the hub is characterized by an open end which tapers inwardly to define a shaft mount end, to which the shaft is attached for rotation of the ribbed impeller. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the pitch of the impeller blades vary proportionally with the diameter of the pump barrel or housing for optimum pumping of the water through the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Charles S. Powers
  • Patent number: 6206629
    Abstract: A turbine brush seal protection device includes an annular substrate having an outer periphery and defining a slot open at the outer periphery. The slot is for receiving a portion of an annular brush seal of a gas turbine subassembly during installation of a gas turbine and such that the annular substrate at least partially covers the annular brush seal of the gas turbine subassembly. The annular substrate at the outer periphery and within the slot thereof is removably mounted to a stationary portion of the gas turbine subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George Ernest Reluzco, Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Robert Harold Cromer
  • Patent number: 6205907
    Abstract: A method of making an elastomeric diaphragm includes preparing a mixture of an elastomer containing dispersed fibers; heating the mixture so that the mixture flows under pressure; injecting the mixture into a mold having a cavity in the configuration of a diaphragm with a central axis of symmetry, so that the mixture flows into the mold along the central axis of symmetry of the diaphragm and, within the mold, parallel to the central axis of symmetry, until the mold is filled, with the fibers substantially oriented to lie within planes including the central axis of symmetry; at least partially curing the diaphragm; opening the mold; and removing the diaphragm from the mold. An elastomeric diaphragm has a central axis of symmetry and includes an elastomeric body with reinforcing fibers dispersed throughout the elastomeric body, the fibers being oriented to lie within planes including the central axis of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Thermotion Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen L. Douglass
  • Patent number: 6203277
    Abstract: A rotorcraft, in particular helicopter, rotor includes a tubular pylon driven in rotation about its axis, which is the rotation axis of the rotor, from its foot. A hub is attached to the pylon by a flared base and includes two annular plates substantially radial to the rotor axis and spaced from each other along the rotor axis so that relative to the pylon one is an axially inside plate and the other is an axially outside plate. Each of at least two blades has its root connected to the hub by retaining and articulation arrangements retained between the plates of the hub and enabling relative angular movement of the blade at least in pitch about a longitudinal blade pitch change axis controlled by displacement by a pitch rod of a pitch lever attached to the blade root.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Philippe Maurice René Legendre, Etienne Jean Rampal
  • Patent number: 6200097
    Abstract: A hub for the rotor head of a rotary-wing aircraft having a plurality of blades radially linked to the hub by a blade root provided with a rigid hub includes spherical stops associated with the blades, which stops have an inner armature linked to the root of the blade and an outer armature linked to the hub. The hub includes an upper plate and a lower plate formed of two separate components which are assembled with an outer armature of spherical stops being interposed therebetween, so that the spherical stops are housed in the space defined by the plates. The outer armature is arranged at the periphery of the plates so that a hollow hub is obtained without requiring a sidewall with apertures, so as to facilitate the mounting and/or removal of the blades and the spherical stops. The plates may have a triangular shape with cutoff corners wherein a plurality of outer armatures is arranged near the cut-off corner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: René Mouille
  • Patent number: 6200093
    Abstract: A dual-intake fan which is a so-called sirocco fan used for venting air is disclosed. The fan has a structure in which a portion of an exhaust outlet is formed to be inclined while the centers of a scroll housing and an impeller are disposed to be eccentric so that noise can be reduced while air flow can be effectively guided by the scroll housing to the maximum extent and the air flow rate can be increased. The fan includes an impeller on which a plurality of blades are installed for rotating so as to create air flow, and a scroll housing formed so that the air drawn in through an air inlet by the impeller can be guided along a gradually expanding passage of the scroll housing, and the lower portion of an exhaust outlet is composed of at least one incline formed to be inclined upward toward any one side. In addition, the rotation center of the impeller and the center of the air inlet are disposed to be eccentric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joon Sei Lee, Sung Il Park
  • Patent number: 6196110
    Abstract: A linear drive comprising a housing, which possesses a cylinder barrel having a longitudinal slot. The interior space of such cylinder barrel is closed by closure plugs axially inserted into the interior space. At the region facing the longitudinal slot the closure plug is provided with a flat, at which it engages the internal face of a sealing tape associated with the longitudinal slot in a fashion preventing relative rotation. The closure plug is anchored by a securing pin on the cylinder barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
    Inventor: Eric Angué
  • Patent number: 6196801
    Abstract: A hydraulically reversible, adjustable propeller unit for aircraft, land vehicles and watercraft, with a propeller with at least two blades, the pitch of which is controllable by means of a control unit (controller), whereby a hydraulic connection exists between the rotating propeller and the stationary control unit for controlling the blade pitch, with a spring-preloaded piston actuated by means of a hydraulic fluid, and with adjustable mechanical stop means for the start position, the brake position and the cruising or sailing position, whereby the piston is designed as a spring-preloaded double piston consisting of an inner piston and a ring piston arranged around the inner piston, said two pistons being lockable with each other by means of a centrifugal-force locking mechanism; the stop means for the start position is designed for limiting the setting range of the locked double piston in order to prevent unintentional reversing at speeds above about 1500 rpm; and the brake position can be reached only whe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mühlbauer Luftfahrttechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Gerd Mühlbauer
  • Patent number: 6193464
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a feedback-controlled braking apparatus that applies a modulated braking force that smoothly decelerates a rotating shaft such that it comes to rest at a precise location. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the rotor hub of a rotor/wing aircraft is coupled to a hydraulically actuated friction brake, such as a conventional disk brake. The disk brake caliper is supplied with fluid pressure from an electrically actuated servo valve which, in turn, is controlled by an electronic controller. A sensor monitors the angular position and velocity of the rotor main shaft. The velocity and position information is provided to the controller, which modulates the brake pressure as required to bring the rotor to a stop at exactly the right orientation relative to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company,
    Inventors: Daniel A. Nyhus, Stephen S. Osder
  • Patent number: 6193461
    Abstract: A high-vacuum pump includes a first vacuum pump section and a second vacuum pump section coupled in series and having an interstage region between them. The vacuum pump further includes a housing containing the first and second vacuum pump sections. The housing includes a high conductance peripheral duct surrounding all or part of the interstage region and coupled to the interstage region. The housing defines a first inlet port coupled to an inlet of the first vacuum pump section, a second inlet port coupled to the peripheral duct, and an exhaust port coupled to an outlet of the second vacuum pump section. Examples of high-vacuum pumps according to the invention include turbomolecular vacuum pumps, diffusion pumps and mixed vacuum pumps which include both axial flow stages and molecular drag stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Varian Inc.
    Inventor: Marsbed Hablanian
  • Patent number: 6190126
    Abstract: A fan impeller assembly of simple construction which is intended, in particular, for use in cooling systems of internal combustion engines and can be used there inter alia as a cleaning blower for clearing the radiator and/or corresponding air inlet openings by reversal of the direction of delivery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Haegele GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Haegele, Gebhard Munz