Patents Examined by Jason G Davis
  • Patent number: 10480324
    Abstract: When cold and in the non-coated state, the aerodynamic profile is substantially identical to a nominal profile determined by the Cartesian coordinates X,Y, Zadim given in Table 1, in which the coordinate Zadim is the quotient D/H where D is the distance of the point under consideration from a first reference plane P0 situated at the base of the nominal profile, and H is the height of said profile measured from the first reference plane to a second reference plane P1. The measurements D and H are taken radially relative to the axis of the turbine, while the X coordinate is measured in the axial direction of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Pascal Pierre Routier, Laurent Patrick Coudert, Maxime Didier Delabriere, Jean-Armand Marc Destouches
  • Patent number: 10458426
    Abstract: A fan for a gas turbine engine includes: an annular casing; a disk disposed inside the casing and mounted for rotation about an axial centerline, the disk including a row of fan blades extending radially outwardly therefrom; each of the fan blades including an airfoil having circumferentially opposite pressure and suction sides extending radially in span from a root to a tip, and extending axially in chord between spaced-apart leading and trailing edges, with the airfoils defining corresponding flow passages therebetween for pressurizing air; the row including no more than 21 and no less than 13 of the fan blades; and wherein each of the fan blades has a solidity defined by a ratio of the airfoil chord over a circumferential pitch of the fan blades, measured at 60% of a radial distance from the root to the tip, of less than about 1.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Allen Wilkin, II, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 10458417
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan with axial-flow wind includes a centrifugal fan wheel and a cover shell. The centrifugal fan wheel has a rotating core structure and a plurality of centrifugal vanes arranged around the rotating core structure; a circular wind guide surface is disposed on an internal side of the cover shell and around the rotating core structure and covered onto the centrifugal vanes, such that the circular wind guide surface can change a centrifugal airflow at the external periphery of the centrifugal vane into an axial-flow airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Shih-Kang Hsiung, Hung-Chi Chen, Meng-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 10443622
    Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling a core flow-path of a compressor section of a gas turbine engine are provided. In various embodiments, a cooling system for a gas turbine engine may comprise a valve system located radially outward from an engine case, the valve system being coupled between an air duct and the engine case, the valve system having an actuation device configured to at least one of open or close a valve in response to a command from an electronic engine controller, wherein cooling air from the air duct can pass through the valve system and enter the engine case into a high pressure compressor plenum when the valve system is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Barry S. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 10428657
    Abstract: A method for repairing a blade in a gas turbine engine comprises the steps of: isolating the damage on the airfoil of the blade; forming a cut back in the shape of elongated “D” shaped recess with a pair of fillets, a depth and a longitudinal axis of the “D” shaped recess having a length along the leading or trailing edge of the airfoil; and the fillets having a respective radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Raman Warikoo, Krishna Prasad Balike
  • Patent number: 10428828
    Abstract: Extracorporeal circuit devices can be used for on-pump open-heart surgery to support surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting. In some cases, a centrifugal pump is used as part of an extracorporeal circuit. Centrifugal pump heads are described herein that induce flow on two sides of an impeller plate, and that can be conveniently mechanically assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy John Canatella, Gregory Peter Muennich, Luke Powers
  • Patent number: 10428680
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (100, 300, 400) for detecting abnormal movement of a gas turbine shaft. The system comprises: a magnetic circuit (104, 302, 402) comprising a first magnetic portion (110, 304) and a second portion (112, 404), and including at least one air gap between the first portion and the second portion; and a detection coil (106) wound around the first magnetic portion. The second portion is coupled to or moveable with the shaft to reduce the air gap, on axial movement of the shaft to change the reluctance of the magnetic circuit and thereby induce a voltage in the coil. The system may comprise a controller (108) for shutting off power to the gas turbine when the induced voltage exceeds a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: WESTON AEROSPACE LIMITED
    Inventor: Wojciech Konrad Kulczyk
  • Patent number: 10408073
    Abstract: A stator component of a turbine engine having an airfoil defining a radial cooling channel, the airfoil having an airfoil outer surface and an airfoil inner surface. The airfoil outer surface defines a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, a pressure side wall, and a suction side wall. The airfoil inner surface defines a series of alternating peaks and valleys in the leading edge portion such that the airfoil has a varying cross-sectional thickness defined between the airfoil inner surface and the airfoil outer surface in the leading edge portion. A strut is disposed within the radial cooling channel and defines an inner radial cooling passage. The strut has an outer surface that defines a plurality of apertures that provide for fluid communication from the inner radial cooling passage to a radial cooling gap defined between the airfoil inner surface and the outer surface of the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Charles Groves, II, Kirk D. Gallier
  • Patent number: 10408080
    Abstract: A clearance control ring for a clearance control system of a gas turbine engine includes a contoured radial outer portion that defines a multiple of fins and a multiple of slots. A clearance control system of a gas turbine engine includes a clearance control ring with a radial inner portion from which a contoured radial outer portion extends. The contoured radial outer portion defines a multiple of fins and a multiple of slots. A blade outer air seal assembly with a clearance control ring land which receives the radial inner portion. A method of controlling a radial tip clearance within a gas turbine engine includes tailoring a multiple of fins and a multiple of slots of a clearance control ring for both steady state and transient clearance operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Philip R. Rioux, Neil L. Tatman
  • Patent number: 10406596
    Abstract: A casting core for an airfoil according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a first portion extending in a first direction and corresponding to a first cavity of an airfoil. The first portion defines a reference plane along a parting line formed by a casting die. The first portion defines a plurality of grooves corresponding to a plurality of trip strips of the airfoil. Each of the plurality of grooves defines a respective groove axis, and the plurality of grooves are distributed in the first direction along a first side of the reference plane such that one or more of the groove axes are oriented with respect to a pull direction of the casting die. A method for fabricating a gas turbine engine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew S. Gleiner, Bret M. Teller, James T. Auxier
  • Patent number: 10408067
    Abstract: A turbomachine rotor blade, which includes a body radially extending and an insert covering the body tip, the insert being made of a first portion radially covering the blade tip and of a second portion partly covering the intrados face of the blade. The cross-section of the insert along a radial plane with respect to an axis of a rotor is corner-shaped and the first portion of the insert extends tangentially with respect to the main axis of the rotor and the second portion extends globally radially with respect to the main axis of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventor: Sebastien Marin
  • Patent number: 10408083
    Abstract: A method of making a hollow metal component comprising the steps of providing at least one core comprising a first side and a reverse side; utilizing a first metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the first side of the core, resulting in a partially-formed structure comprising a first side and a reverse side; and utilizing a second metal spray process to apply at least one metal or metal alloy to the reverse sides of the partially-formed structure and the core, resulting in a rough structure. A hollow metal component comprising a first side having interior and exterior surfaces, a reverse side having interior and exterior surfaces, the interior surfaces of the first side and the reverse side defining at least one cavity. The component is integrally formed and has regions comprising relatively different material compositions, the regions having gradual transitions of materials therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ian Francis Prentice, Eric Allen Ott, Andrew Philip Woodfield
  • Patent number: 10400603
    Abstract: Mini-disks of gas turbine engines are provided having an axially extending portion extending axially with respect to an axis of the engine, the axially extending portion configured to engage with a hub arm of a compressor of the engine, a radially extending portion extends radially with respect to the axis, the radially extending portion configured to engage with an attachment of a turbine disk of the gas turbine engine, an intermediate portion extending between the axially extending portion and the radially extending portion, and at least one mini-disk connector configured to engage with a portion of the turbine disk of the gas turbine engine to prevent radial movement of the mini-disk during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raymond S. Hummel, Julian Partyka
  • Patent number: 10370975
    Abstract: A rotor blade formed via additive manufacturing is provided. The rotor blade includes an airfoil and a coupled component. The airfoil includes a plurality of fused layers of a first material formed via additive manufacturing and defines a leading edge and a tip at a distal end. The coupled component includes a plurality of fused layers of a second material formed via additive manufacturing. An interlocking transition zone includes a plurality of projections alternately extending from the airfoil and the coupled component, respectively, to undetachably couple the airfoil and the coupled component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Chidsey Roberts, Richard William Albrecht, Jr., Michael John McCarren, Peter Andrew Flynn, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr., Eric Alan Estill
  • Patent number: 10352297
    Abstract: A wind power installation with a rotor which has two or more rotor blades and which is rotatably bearing-supported for rotation around a rotor rotation axis. The rotor is connected to a generator for generating electrical power. The rotor and the generator form a part of a turbine which is received by a turbine carrier. The turbine carrier is rotatably arranged at a supporting structure. The turbine is movably mounted in the turbine carrier via a bearing device so that the spatial position of the turbine in the turbine carrier can be modified. A pivoting range of the turbine corresponding to a pivoting range of the rotor rotation axis includes a first angle range and a second angle range relative to a reference plane, and the entire pivoting range is at least 120°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: SKYWIND GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Richert, Sebastian Pflaum
  • Patent number: 10337490
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a pre-formed, continuous structural component for use in assembling a modular rotor blade for a wind turbine. Further, the structural component provides support to the modular rotor blade during operation. The pre-formed structural component includes a root portion and a body portion. The root portion is configured for mounting the structural component to a blade root section of the rotor blade. The body portion is configured to extend in a generally span-wise direction. Further, the body portion defines a predetermined cross-section having a flatback portion with a first end and a second end. In addition, the first and second ends each have a flange extending perpendicularly therefrom. Thus, each flange defines a mounting surface for one or more blade segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum
  • Patent number: 10301008
    Abstract: A hinged propeller comprising a hub and one or more blades is disclosed. In various embodiments, a blade is connected to the hub via a hinge, wherein at least a substantial part of the blade has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a line extending radially from a center of the hub, and wherein the hinge has an axis of hinge rotation that is oriented at a non-zero acute angle to a line that is perpendicular, in a plane of rotation of the hub, to said longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventor: Todd Reichert
  • Patent number: 10301965
    Abstract: A steam turbine in an embodiment includes a casing, a turbine rotor, a rotor blade cascade, a stationary blade cascade, and a spray unit, the rotor blade cascade and the stationary blade cascade being each arranged at a plurality of stages alternately in an axial direction of the turbine rotor. The turbine rotor is housed inside the casing. In the rotor blade cascade, a plurality of rotor blades are arranged in a circumferential direction of the turbine rotor. In the stationary blade cascade, a plurality of stationary blades are arranged in the circumferential direction of the turbine rotor between a diaphragm inner ring and a diaphragm outer ring. The spray unit sprays spray water to a space located upstream from a rotor blade cascade at a final stage among the rotor blade cascades at the plurality of stages inside the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Naoki Shibukawa, Yoshifumi Iwasaki, Junichi Tominaga, Shinichiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 10294958
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a cover for a fan blade. The cover encloses a hollowed portion formed in the fan blade and includes at least one extending portion that wraps around at least one of a trailing edge, a leading edge, and a root of the fan blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kwan Hui, Michael A. Weisse
  • Patent number: 10287903
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a steam turbine drum nozzle, along with a related assembly and steam turbine. Particular embodiments include a nozzle having: an airfoil; a radially inner sidewall coupled with a first end of the airfoil; and a radially outer sidewall coupled with a second end of the airfoil, the second end opposing the first end, wherein the radially outer sidewall includes: a first section radially outward of the airfoil; a thinned section coupled with the first section; and a second section coupled with the thinned section radially outward of the airfoil, the second section having a radially outer face and a circumferentially facing side abutting the radially outer face, wherein the second section includes a circumferentially extending slot, and wherein the second section includes a relief slot extending into a body of the second section from the circumferentially facing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Mark Richard Delorenzo