Patents Examined by Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 9970460
    Abstract: A refrigeration device or appliance has a fan assembly which is mounted in a housing with a housing front side part and a housing rear side part, and the fan assembly is secured to the housing rear side part and is held in place by the housing front side part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Michaela Malisi, Rainer Weser
  • Patent number: 9963972
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine may comprise a first rotor with a primary flowpath along an outer diameter of the first rotor. A secondary flowpath may be radially inward from the primary flowpath. The secondary flowpath may pass through an opening through the first rotor. A blade may be disposed on a distal end of the first rotor. The blade may extend into the primary flowpath. A bleed tube may be in a wall of the primary flowpath and forward of the blade. The bleed tube may extend radially inward from the primary flowpath. The bleed tube may fluidly connect to the opening through the first rotor. A plenum may be aft of the blade and radially inward from the primary flowpath. The plenum may be fluidly connected to the opening through the first rotor. A second rotor may be aft of the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, James D. Hill
  • Patent number: 9957840
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a propulsor including a fan and a liner positioned upstream of the fan. The liner has a backing plate, a cellular structure with cells extending from the backing plate, and a perforated sheet with a depth defined as a distance between the perforated sheet and the backing sheet. The depth is selected to achieve a desired ratio of the depth relative to a gap?. A depth to gap ratio is substantially in a range of 0.035 to 0.08. A method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Topol, Bruce L. Morin, Dilip Prasad, Thomas J. Ouellette
  • Patent number: 9957038
    Abstract: Propeller blade assemblies and a propeller blade retention assembly including a sleeve for operably coupling a propeller blade to a hub wherein the sleeve retains the propeller blade within the hub and allows the propeller blade to rotate about its pitch axis and where the sleeve includes a self-aligning mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Rajendra Vishwanath Pawar, Ravindra Shankar Ganiger, Murugesan Periasamy, David Raju Yamarthi, Sandeep Kumar, Amit Arvind Kurvinkop, Bajarang Agrawal, Nagashiresha G
  • Patent number: 9951651
    Abstract: A bearing, such as a rolling bearing, is mounted on a support mobile in translation and includes a lubrication mechanism. The lubrication mechanism includes at least one pipe delivering a lubricant, linked to a lubricant supply source, and at least partially engaging in the support mobile in translation to deliver the lubricant from the mobile support along an internal channel to the bearing, passing through an inner ring of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Caroline Frantz, Dominik Igel, Nadege Hugon, Augustin Curlier
  • Patent number: 9951782
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a main plate that is fixed to the rotational shaft of a fan motor and driven by the fan motor, a shroud having an air inlet, and a plurality of blades disposed between the main plate and the shroud. Each blade includes a main blade set on its suction surface side and a blade cover set on its pressure surface side. The main blade is joined to the main plate and the shroud. The blade cover is joined to the main blade, and is biased toward the main blade under the air pressure during rotation. Thus, the joint force between the main blade and the blade cover is enhanced, thereby enhancing the strength of joint of engagement portions of the blade and reducing abnormal noise generated due to the presence of one or a plurality of gaps formed between the engagement portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kurihara, Masahiko Takagi, Takashi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9951654
    Abstract: The present application relates to a stator blade sector configured to be fixed to a housing of an axial turbomachine, the sector having a plurality of blades with platforms juxtaposed, so as to describe an arc of a circle. At least one of the platforms comprises on its outer face a fixing screw and at least one other platform has no fixing screws, the platforms being fixed together at their adjacent edges. The application also relates to a stator or portion of stator having a housing forming a generally circular wall and blade sectors arranged along the wall. The housing includes several parts connected to each other by longitudinal flanges. Platforms with no fixing screws are located opposite the flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS SA
    Inventor: Jean-François Cortequisse
  • Patent number: 9951783
    Abstract: This centrifugal compressor is provided with an impeller mounted on a main shaft rotating around an axis line, and a vane device for adjusting the flow rate of a fluid in an inflow flow path to the impeller. The vane device includes: a plurality of vane main bodies provided at intervals in a circumferential direction, wherein a mounting angle of the plurality of vane main bodies is changed by rotating the shaft portion; a plurality of link members which is rotated along with the shaft portion; a drive ring which is formed with an annular shape centered on the axis line and is moved in a moving direction along a rotation locus of the link member, and a drive mechanism which is connected to the drive ring and transmits a force in a tangential direction to the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Hasegawa, Yasushi Hasegawa, Shintaro Omura, Kenji Ueda
  • Patent number: 9944399
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a bearing assembly in a gas turbine engine includes a first annular runner disposed around a shaft rotatable about an axis defining an axial direction. The first annular runner is rotatable with the shaft about the axis. A seal element is spaced apart from the first annular runner and cooperating therewith to provide a gap seal. An annular lip axially extends from the gap seal to an open end. The lip is disposed at least partially around the seal runner. A second annular runner is disposed coaxially with and spaced radially apart from the lip. The second annular runner extends axially opposite to the lip so as to provide a tortuous path leading to the open end of the lip. A restrictor extends between the lip and the second annular runner to impede the passage oil through the tortuous path to the open end of the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Michel Desjardins
  • Patent number: 9926790
    Abstract: A turbine shroud for a turbine of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The turbine shroud is configured to direct products of a combustion reaction in a combustor of the gas turbine engine toward a plurality of rotatable turbine blades of the turbine to cause the plurality of turbine blades to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Sean E. Landwehr, Joseph P. Lamusga
  • Patent number: 9920739
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for securing a lightning protection cable (e.g. a conductor) of a lightning protection system within a wind turbine rotor blade. The lightning protection system includes a plurality of lightning receptors configured along either or both of the pressure or suction sides of the rotor blade. The lightning receptors are connected via the conductor so as to form a conductive circuit. Further, a cover assembly defining a passageway therethrough is configured to receive at least a portion of the conductor along a length thereof. Thus, the cover assembly can be secured to an inner surface of the internal cavity so as to maintain a location of the conductor. Accordingly, the conductor is free to move within the cover assembly since the wire is not directly attached to the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Afroz Akhtar, Venkateswara Rao Kavala, Parnasree Maiti
  • Patent number: 9909619
    Abstract: A hybrid bearing system for gas turbine engines is disclosed. The hybrid bearing system comprises ball/roller bearings and air bearings. For horizontal applications, compressed air injected into the air bearing provides a lift force such that enables the rotating shaft for the turbine to float freely. The compressed air is also employed to cool the ball/roller bearings. Hence, given the reduced friction on the ball/roller bearings due to the free-floating shaft, as well as the air cooling of the ball/roller bearings, typical lubrication systems are not necessary. For vertical applications, the compressed air provides cooling to the ball/roller bearings which renders the need for conventional lubrication systems unnecessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: DYC TURBINES, LLC
    Inventor: Daih-Yeou Chen
  • Patent number: 9903226
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes: a turbocharger main body; a bearing hole formed in the turbocharger main body; a turbine shaft rotatably inserted into the bearing hole and having a turbine wheel provided on one end and a compressor wheel provided on the other end; a turbine-side bearing part and a compressor-side bearing part rotatably supporting the turbine shaft and disposed in the bearing hole on a relatively turbine wheel side and on a relatively compressor wheel side, respectively; a cooling oil passage provided radially outside the bearing hole in the turbocharger main body and configured to cool the turbocharger main body with lubricating oil circulated inside; a first oil duct configured to guide lubricating oil after lubricating the compressor-side bearing part to the cooling oil passage; and a second oil duct configured to guide lubricating oil after lubricating the turbine-side bearing part to the cooling oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Uneura, Yuichi Daito, Tomohiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 9897108
    Abstract: An inner peripheral side of the blade with respect to an apex (P) of the leading edge protruding portion extends forward in the fan rotating direction with respect to the apex (P). A radius (Rq) at a position of an apex (Q) of the trailing edge protruding portion is larger than a radius (Rp) at a position of the apex (P). The radius (Rq) at the position of the apex (Q) is larger than an intermediate radius (Rm) between a radius (Ro) of an outer peripheral edge and a radius (Ri) of an inner peripheral edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahide Tadokoro, Yasuaki Kato, Atsushi Kono
  • Patent number: 9885338
    Abstract: A wind turbine system includes turbine blades connected to a nose hub that is connected to a main turbine shaft. A flywheel is mounted around the main turbine shaft proximate to the nose hub. A bearing assembly is fixed to a turbine tower and is mounted around at least a portion of the flywheel. The bearing assembly includes a bearing housing and a main bearing fixed therein having a main bearing faced adapted to be in contact with or within a close tolerance to the circular outside diameter surface of the flywheel. This main bearing may be comprised of lignum vitae wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Robert Alan Shortridge, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9879565
    Abstract: A case assembly is provided. The case assembly comprises a first flange and a spot face in the first flange. The spot face has a D-shaped perimeter. A jacking insert is disposed in the spot face and has a D-shaped geometry. A threaded cylinder extends from the jacking insert into the first flange. A jacking insert is also provided. The jacking insert comprises a flat portion having a D-shaped geometry and a cylindrical portion having an internal thread configured to interface with a bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel S. Rogers, Stephen W. Milks, Steven J. Feigleson
  • Patent number: 9874214
    Abstract: Fans having fan blade mounting structures are disclosed herein. A fan configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology includes a fan having a central hub coupled to a plurality of fan blades by a plurality of blade mounting structures. Each blade mounting structure can include first and lower support members that each extend toward an inboard end portion of an individual fan blade. Each of the upper and lower support members can include a first end portion coupled to the inboard end portion of the fan blade. Each of the upper and lower support members can also include a second end portion coupled to opposite sides of the central hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: 4Front Engineered Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: L. Blake Whitley
  • Patent number: 9869202
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section including a plurality of blade outer air seals (BOAS) disposed therein, the BOAS including a BOAS body including a plurality of cooling holes defined in substantial conformance with a set of Cartesian coordinates as set forth in at least one of Table 1 and Table 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul M. Lutjen, Carson A. Roy Thill, Dominic J. Mongillo, Jr., Kevin D. Tracy, Jeffrey A. Perry, Thurman C. Dabbs
  • Patent number: 9856882
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) with a housing (2), a shaft (3) mounted in the housing (2), a compressor wheel (5) arranged on the shaft (3) and a turbine wheel (4) arranged on the shaft (3), a control element (7), an actuator (8), and a regulating rod (9) which connects the actuator (8) to the control element (7), including an electromagnetic damping arrangement (10) having a magnetic-field-generating element (14), and a first coil (15) with a closed electrical circuit (17), with either the magnetic-field-generating element (14) or the first coil (15) being fastened on the regulating rod (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Dirk Ellenberger
  • Patent number: 9850882
    Abstract: A wind turbine component includes an inner member and an outer member disposed relative to the inner member, wherein the inner and outer members move relative to each other. A plain bearing is coupled to one of the inner or outer member and configured to provide a fluid film for maintaining separation of and facilitating relative movement between the inner and outer members. A position adjustment mechanism is coupled to the one of the inner or outer member for selectively moving the plain bearing. A position controller may be operatively coupled to the position adjustment mechanism for controlling the position of the plain bearing. The wind turbine component may be a wind turbine generator with the inner member and outer member corresponding to one of the stator and rotor assemblies. Methods for controlling the generator are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Peter Mongeau