Patents Examined by Jason Fountain
  • Segmented seal for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 10138751
    Abstract: A seal segment according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first axial wall, a second axial wall radially spaced from the first axial wall and a radially outer wall that interconnects the first axial wall and the second axial wall. At least one curved member is radially inwardly offset from the radially outer wall and extending between the first and second axial walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James D. Hill, Gabriel L. Suciu, Ioannis Alvanos, Brian D. Merry
  • Shrouded turbine rotor blades
    Patent number: 10132169
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a gas turbine that is configured for use within a row of samely configured rotor blades attached to and circumferentially spaced about a rotor disc. The rotor blade may further include: an airfoil defined between pressure and suction faces; and a midspan shroud comprising a pressure wing and a suction wing extending from the airfoil. The pressure wing and the suction wing of the midspan shroud may be configured so to cooperatively form an interface between installed neighboring ones of the rotor blades within the row of samely configured rotor blades. The interface may include a first one of the pressure wing and the suction wing disposed as an upstream wing and a remaining other one of the pressure wing and the suction wing disposed as a downstream wing. The interface may include the upstream wing and the downstream wing configured as a downstream narrowing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael David McDufford
  • Airfoil
    Patent number: 10132168
    Abstract: An airfoil is disclosed, comprising an airfoil body and an internal cavity within the airfoil body. The internal cavity may comprise an outer edge comprising a first outer scallop and a second outer scallop, an inner edge opposite the outer edge, the inner edge comprising a first inner scallop and a second inner scallop, a leading edge spanning between the outer edge and the inner edge, and a trailing edge spanning between the outer edge and the inner edge and opposite the leading edge. Between the outer edge, the inner edge, the leading edge, and the trailing edge, the internal cavity may comprise eight columns of pedestals disposed axially relative to one another and axially between the leading edge and the trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Leon, Daniel C. Nadeau, Jeffrey R. Levine, Eleanor D. Kaufman, Richard N. Allen, Evan P. Molony, Gregory Anselmi
  • Gas turbine engine with partial inlet vane
    Patent number: 10119552
    Abstract: A turbofan engine including an axially extending inlet wall surrounding an inlet flow path. A radial distance between the inlet wall and the inner wall adjacent the fan defines a downstream height of the inlet flow path. A plurality of vanes are circumferentially spaced around the inlet, each of the vanes extending radially inwardly from the inlet wall, a maximum radial distance between a tip of each of the vanes and the inlet wall defining a maximum height of the vane. The maximum height of the vane is at most 50% of the downstream height of the flow path. In another embodiment, the maximum height of the vane is at most 50% of the maximum fan blade span. A method of reducing a relative Mach number at fan blade tips is also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Hong Yu, Peter Townsend
  • Heated inlet guide vane
    Patent number: 10113444
    Abstract: A heated inlet guide vane is disclosed. The disclosed guide vane may include a body having an inlet cavity disposed alongside of an outlet cavity wherein the outlet cavity is disposed alongside the leading edge of the vane. The inlet cavity is in communication with a source of heated air. The inlet cavity is in communication with the outlet cavity by way of a plurality of impingement holes spaced along the inner wall disposed between the two cavities. Bleed holes are spaced along the length of the outlet cavity. Fresh, heated air enters the outlet cavity along the entire length of the outlet cavity and quickly exits the outlet cavity with minimal cooling so that a uniform d-icing capability is provided along the entire leading edge of the inlet guide vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jianming Huang, Brian C. Lund, Zhen Wu
  • Gas guiding device and facility including the same
    Patent number: 10113560
    Abstract: A gas guiding device includes: a first connection part (41) connected at an end of a tubular outer casing (15) in an axial-flow rotary machine and having an annular shape around an axis (Ar); a second connection part (45) connected at an end of a tubular inner casing (16) in the axial-flow rotary machine and having an annular shape around the axis (Ar); a duct main body part (51) forming therein a flow passage (Pa) having an annular shape around the axis (Ar); and a support part (59) supporting the duct main body part (51). The duct main body part (51) is combined with the first connection part (41) and the second connection part (45) to form the annular flow passage (Pa). The first connection part (41) and the second connection part (45) have expansion joints (42), (46), respectively, which have an annular shape around the axis (Ar).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Hashimoto, Akinori Tanitsuji
  • Gas turbine engine component with discharge slot having oval geometry
    Patent number: 10107107
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an body portion that extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge. At least one of the leading edge and the trailing edge includes at least one discharge slot having a first portion that includes an oval geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark A. Boeke, Edwin Otero, Jeffrey J. DeGray, Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, Guillermo J. Fernandez, Sarah Riley
  • Turbocharger
    Patent number: 10094387
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine has a housing (12) in which elements (18, 44) are arranged. An optical duct (24) is formed in the housing (12) and is assigned to at least one of the elements (18). The optical duct (24) is assigned an infrared detector (28) that is designed to detect infrared radiation (30) from the at least one element (18) through the optical duct (24) to determine a temperature (T) of the at least one element (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Johannes Wuest, Maximilian Fischer
  • Core component having toroidal structures
    Patent number: 10094225
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of this disclosure a core includes a first end and a second end spaced generally opposite from the first end. The core further includes a stacking axis defined between the first end and second end and a first toroidal structure located between the first end and the second end. The first toroidal structure includes a first passage extending through the first toroidal structure in a first direction that is perpendicular to and passes through the stacking axis. The core also includes a second toroidal structure located between the first toroidal structure and the second end. The second toroidal structure includes a second passage extending through the second toroidal structure in a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are oriented along the stacking axis at a non-zero degree angle with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Paul M. Lutjen, Gary L. Grogg
  • Internal thermal coatings for engine components
    Patent number: 10088164
    Abstract: A hot gas path component for an engine may generally include a substrate extending between an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface may be configured to be exposed to a hot gas path of the engine. In addition, the substrate may be formed from a non-metallic composite material. The hot gas path component may also include a thermal coating disposed on the inner surface of the substrate. The thermal coating may be applied to the inner surface so as to have a non-uniform distribution along at least a portion of the inner surface, wherein the non-uniform distribution provides for change in a thermal gradient experienced across the hot gas path component between the outer and inner surfaces of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Scott Bunker, Jason Randolph Allen, Robert Charles Groves, II, Aaron Ezekiel Smith
  • Intake channel arrangement for a volute casing of a centrifugal pump, a flange member, a volute casing for a centrifugal pump and a centrifugal pump
    Patent number: 10082154
    Abstract: An intake channel arrangement includes an intake channel. The intake channel includes a first end with a first inner diameter, and a second end with a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter being smaller than the first inner diameter, a cross-sectional flow area and an adapter section arranged between the first and second ends, a first channel portion with a surface and the first inner diameter, an annular convex curvature surface joining at an angle to the surface of the first channel portion, the angle being 90°-110° between the surface of the first channel portion and a tangent of the convex curvature surface having a tangent point in an intersection of the surface of the first channel portion and the convex curvature surface, the annular convex curvature surface reducing the cross-sectional flow area from the first inner diameter to the second inner diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
    Inventors: Matti Koivikko, Sami Virtanen
  • Single stage engine bleed
    Patent number: 10071806
    Abstract: An environmental control system is provided. The environmental control system may receive pressurized air from a single supply line. A pressure regulating turbomachine may be located within the supply line. A motor-generator may be coupled to the pressure regulating turbomachine. In response to a pressure in the supply line being less than a desired pressure in the environmental control system, the motor-generator may supply energy to the pressure regulating turbomachine, causing the pressure regulating turbomachine to function as a compressor. In response to a pressure in the supply line being greater than a desired pressure in the environmental control system, the pressure regulating turbomachine may function as a turbine and supply energy to the motor-generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Ronan
  • Environmental control generator system and apparatus
    Patent number: 10072586
    Abstract: An environmental control power generation system is provided. The system may include a turbine and a generator. The system may be configured to provide air form a high pressure bleed port and/or a low pressure bleed port to the turbine. The turbine may be configured to reduce the pressure of the supplied air and generate power through the generator. The power may be supplied to an aircraft power distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Ronan
  • Impeller for centrifugal fan and centrifugal fan
    Patent number: 10066637
    Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal fan includes a main plate having a disc shape, a plurality of blades arranged along a circumferential direction about a center part of the main plate, and an outer ring having a ring shape connecting the respective blades. The outer ring is connected to tip end portions of the respective blades at a side of a fluid discharge opening, and each of the blades has a shape which is bent in a rotating direction of the impeller in a vicinity of the tip end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nakano, Yasuhiro Kurosawa
  • Fan by-pass duct for intercooled turbo fan engines
    Patent number: 10066550
    Abstract: An improved system, apparatus and method for intercooling a turbo fan engine, and more specifically, a system for intercooling a turbo fan engine employing a secondary bypass duct that minimizes pressure losses. The secondary bypass duct is radially inwardly disposed from a fan bypass duct and receives fan bypass air through an inlet. The portion of fan bypass air flows through one or more microchannel or minichannel heat exchangers. The secondary bypass duct has an outlet in communication with the bypass air stream downstream of the throat of a fan bypass nozzle. The secondary bypass air is accelerated at the exit to create thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradford J. Riehle, James C. Loebig
  • De-icing of a wind turbine blade
    Patent number: 10041477
    Abstract: A heating assembly for a blade of a wind turbine generator, the heating assembly comprising: a heat reservoir positioned within a cavity of the blade, the heat reservoir in communication with a heat source; the heat reservoir including a plurality of orifices for venting hot air from the heat reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Anand Bahuguni, Ravi Kandasamy, Voon Hon Wong
  • Wind turbine blade having a shaped stall fence or flow diverter
    Patent number: 10041470
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade is described wherein at least one stall fence is provided on the blade surface, where the stall fence is arranged such that it extends at an angle to the chord of the blade. The stall fence acts to re-direct airflow over the blade, to improve wind turbine performance. The stall fence may be a provided towards the blade root end, acting to divert airflow towards the root end of the blade to prevent separation of attached airflow. Additionally or alternatively, the stall fence may be arranged as a flow diverter provided towards the blade tip end, to increase airflow in the tip region for increased performance and/or to disrupt the formation of tip vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LM WIND POWER A/S
    Inventors: Dhinagaran Ramachandran, Jesper Madsen, Rajkumar Rajamani
  • High durability turbine exhaust case
    Patent number: 10036276
    Abstract: A turbine exhaust case has an outer housing to be secured within a gas turbine engine and a central hub. Struts extend between the outer housing and the central hub. The struts are formed at least in part of a first material. The central hub is formed at least in part of a second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignees: United Technologies Corporation, GKN Aerospace Sweden AB
    Inventors: Daryl B. Mountz, Theodore W. Kapustka, Glenn Levasseur, Marcus Borg, Joakim Berglund, Anders Svahn, Johan Ockborn, Bengt Pettersson
  • Gas turbine engine with a vane having a cooling air turning nozzle
    Patent number: 10030538
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of cooling a hot portion of a gas turbine engine, such as a rotor disk, by having a vane assembly with a cooling air passage and a flow control insert located within the cooling air passage defining a conduit. A turning nozzle is mounted to the vane and has a turning passage with an inlet and an outlet, the turning nozzle is fluidly coupled to the flow control insert outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wilhelm Ramon Hernandez, Daniel Edward Demers, Tyler Frederick Hooper, Victor Hugo Silva Correia, Troy Todd Dennis
  • Methods for positioning neighboring nozzles of a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 10018075
    Abstract: Methods for positioning neighboring nozzles of a gas turbine engine are provided. A method includes assembling a first nozzle assembly. The first nozzle assembly includes a first nozzle and a first nozzle support structure. The method further includes assembling a second nozzle assembly. The second nozzle assembly includes a second nozzle and a second nozzle support structure. The method further includes adjusting the first nozzle assembly and the second nozzle assembly such that an engineering dimension between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is within a predetermined engineering tolerance, and joining the first nozzle support structure and the second nozzle support structure together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bryce Loring Heitman, Steven James Murphy, Darrell Glenn Senile