Patents Examined by Jason Shanske
  • Low pressure ratio fan engine having a dimensional relationship between inlet and fan size
    Patent number: 9932933
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a gas turbine engine assembly includes, among other things, a fan that has a plurality of fan blades. A diameter of the fan has a dimension D that is based on a dimension of the fan blades. Each fan blade has a leading edge. An inlet portion is situated forward of the fan. A length of the inlet portion has a dimension L between a location of the leading edge of at least some of the fan blades and a forward edge on the inlet portion. A dimensional relationship of L/D is between about 0.2 and about 0.45.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wesley K. Lord, Robert E. Malecki, Yuan J. Qiu, Becky E. Rose, Jonathan Gilson
  • Methods and systems for emissions control in a dual fuel engine
    Patent number: 9932912
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for an engine with an exhaust gas treatment system. In one example, under a first condition, a first fuel is delivered for combustion in the engine. Under a second condition, a second fuel is delivered for combustion in the engine, the second fuel different than the first fuel. Under a third condition, the first fuel is delivered as a reductant for the exhaust gas treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David James Walker, Narendra Joshi, Adam Klingbeil
  • Exhaust gas turbocharger
    Patent number: 9932904
    Abstract: An exhaust gas turbocharger may include a compressor housing and a turbine housing. The turbine housing may be connected to the compressor housing via a plurality of spacer pins composed of a heat-insulating material. The plurality of spacer pins may respectively include a head and at least one axial pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Bosch MahleTurbo Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michal Klusacek
  • Turbine blade
    Patent number: 9932836
    Abstract: A turbine vane for a rotary turbomachine has a turbine blade delimited by a concave pressure-side wall and a convex suction-side wall which are connected in the region of a vane front edge which can be assigned to the turbine blade and enclose a cavity which extends in the longitudinal extent of the vane front edge and is delimited on the inner wall by the pressure-side wall and the suction-side wall in the region of the vane front edge and by an intermediate wall which extends in the longitudinal direction to the vane front edge and connects the suction-side wall and the pressure-side wall on the inner wall. The intermediate wall has a perforation at least in sections in the connecting region to the suction-side wall and/or pressure-side wall, in order to increase the elasticity of the intermediate wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Schnieder, Sergey Shchukin
  • Double flow turbine housing turbocharger
    Patent number: 9932843
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to turbine assemblies for turbocharger systems. In some implementations, turbine housings include a body that defines an inlet for fluid communication with a fluid source, and a wall, the wall dividing the inlet into an inner inlet and an outer inlet, and a fluid guide assembly disposed within the housing, the fluid guide assembly including a plurality of vanes that demarcate an inner volute and an outer volute within the housing, the inner volute being in fluid communication with the inner inlet and the outer volute being in fluid communication with the outer inlet, each vane of the plurality of vanes being fixed at a respective angle relative to a radial direction, the plurality of vanes guiding fluid flow from the outer volute to the inner volute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham C. Narehood, Vahidin Alajbegovic, John P. Watson
  • System for drawing solid feed into and/or out of a solid feed pump
    Patent number: 9926939
    Abstract: A system includes a solid feed pump. The solid feed pump includes a housing, a rotor disposed in the housing, a curved passage disposed between the rotor and the housing, a solid feed inlet coupled to the curved passage, a solid feed outlet coupled to the curved passage, and a rotatable sleeve configured to rotate to actively draw solid feed into the solid feed inlet or out of the solid feed outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas Frederick Leininger
  • Ceramic matrix composite article and process of fabricating a ceramic matrix composite article
    Patent number: 9926791
    Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite article and a process of fabricating a ceramic matrix composite are disclosed. The ceramic matrix composite article includes a matrix distribution pattern formed by a manifold and ceramic matrix composite plies laid up on the matrix distribution pattern, includes the manifold, or a combination thereof. The manifold includes one or more matrix distribution channels operably connected to a delivery interface, the delivery interface configured for providing matrix material to one or more of the ceramic matrix composite plies. The process includes providing the manifold, forming the matrix distribution pattern by transporting the matrix material through the manifold, and contacting the ceramic matrix composite plies with the matrix material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald Ralph Cairo, Paul Stephen Dimascio, Jason Robert Parolini
  • Locking arrangement for a wind turbine and wind turbine having such locking arrangement
    Patent number: 9926909
    Abstract: A locking arrangement comprises a locking member having a longitudinal axis that is contained in a working plane where shear forces are concentrated when the locking member is in a locking position. The working plane is arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the parts to be locked when in said locking position in which at least one part of the wind turbine is prevented from being rotated relative to at least another part around said axis of rotation. A Wind turbine generator is provided having a rotor with a rotor flange portion and a stator with a stator flange portion, with both flange portions being complimentarily shaped and defining a locking housing for receiving said locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GE Renewable Technologies Wind B.V.
    Inventors: Pere Cortada Acosta, Jordi Ayneto Pou
  • Valve sequencing system and method for controlling turbomachine acoustic signature
    Patent number: 9920649
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the acoustic signature of a turbomachine having a plurality of valves wherein an operating load is identified and an arc of admission across a plurality of nozzles is associated therewith. A valve sequencing scheme is selected and implemented to activate the arc of admission for a particular operating load so as to minimize valve noise by adjusting valves simultaneously rather than consecutively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Joseph Andrew Tecza, Stephen Samuel Rashid
  • Engine control systems and methods for future torque request increases
    Patent number: 9920697
    Abstract: An engine control method includes: generating a torque request for an engine based on a driver input; and based on the torque request, controlling: opening of a wastegate of a turbocharger; opening of a throttle valve based on the torque request; and an intake valve phaser and an exhaust valve phaser. The engine control method also includes selectively determining an expected future increase in the torque request. The engine control method also includes, based on the expected future increase and before the torque request increases based on the expected future increase: decreasing the opening of the wastegate; and at least one of: decreasing the opening of the throttle valve; and adjusting at least one of the intake valve phaser and the exhaust valve phaser to decrease a volumetric efficiency of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Klaus Pochner, Christopher E. Whitney
  • Low pressure ratio fan engine having a dimensional relationship between inlet and fan size
    Patent number: 9920653
    Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a gas turbine engine assembly includes, among other things, a fan that has a plurality of fan blades. A diameter of the fan has a dimension D that is based on a dimension of the fan blades. Each fan blade has a leading edge. An inlet portion is situated forward of the fan. A length of the inlet portion has a dimension L between a location of the leading edge of at least some of the fan blades and a forward edge on the inlet portion. A dimensional relationship of L/D is between about 0.2 and 0.45.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wesley K. Lord, Robert E. Malecki, Yuan J. Qiu, Becky E. Rose, Jonathan Gilson
  • Method and system for reducing particulate emissions
    Patent number: 9920679
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for filtering particulate matter in an exhaust passage of an engine system. In one example, a method may include during a cold start condition comprising an engine temperature being less than a threshold engine temperature, directing engine exhaust gas to an exhaust particulate filter, and during a warm engine condition, directing engine exhaust gas to bypass the exhaust particulate filter, wherein the warm engine condition comprises the engine temperature being greater than or equal to the threshold engine temperature and fuel being combusted in the engine. In this way, the exhaust particulate filter may be reliably regenerated during engine shutdown events such as DFSOs while reducing filter degradation, and lowering PM emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Paul M. Laing, Michael James Uhrich
  • Wind turbine blade with transition region
    Patent number: 9920630
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade (1) is formed of a fiber-reinforced composite material comprising a polymer matrix. The blade (1) further comprises a first region (11), a second region (12) and a transition region (13) between the first and the second region (11, 12). The first region (11) is reinforced predominantly with a first reinforcement fiber material (21). The second region (12) is reinforced predominantly with a second reinforcement fiber material (22). The first and the second reinforcement fiber material differ from each other and has differing E-modulus. The transition region (13) additionally comprises a third type of reinforcement fiber material (23) differing from both the first and the second reinforcement fiber material (21; 22) and having an E-modulus between that of the first reinforcement fiber material (21) and that of the second reinforcement fiber material (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: LM WP PATENT HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Martin Dahl, Bjarne Krab Mortensen, Morten Olesen
  • Gas turbine engine lubrication system
    Patent number: 9915203
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The lubrication system is configured to provide pressurized air and lubricant to a bearing sump of the gas turbine engine to cool and lubricate a bearing included in the bearing sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kerry J. Lighty, Larry A. Junod
  • Injector mounting assembly
    Patent number: 9915185
    Abstract: An injector mounting assembly for supporting an injector is described. The injector mounting assembly includes an upstream wall and a downstream wall coupled to the upstream wall. The injector mounting assembly further includes a thermoelectric cooler coupled to at least one of the upstream wall and the downstream wall. The thermoelectric cooler is disposed in thermal contact with the injector and configured to exchange heat with the injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew M. Denis
  • Variable dual spring blade root support for gas turbines
    Patent number: 9909431
    Abstract: An adjustable blade root spring device for turbine blade fixation in turbomachinery. The device is designed to be placed in a space in a rotor disk cavity adjacent to a tip of a blade root, where the device applies a radial outward force on the turbine blade to fix the blade position in the rotor disk. The device includes a wave spring with integral end blocks which is compressed by a bolt and a coil spring. When the wave spring is compressed in length, it increases in height and makes contact with the rotor disk and the turbine blade. The force of the wave spring on the turbine blade can be adjusted via the bolt, and the coil spring provides an increased compliance range. The body of the device has an oblong cross-sectional shape, thereby preventing rotation of the device in the space between the blade and the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Charalambos Polyzopoulos, Mohit Gupta, Robert Hudson, Erica Holden, David Myers
  • Self-contained heat-exchanger for electricity generation
    Patent number: 9909782
    Abstract: A method of harnessing geothermal energy to produce electricity by lowering a geothermal generator deep into a pre-drilled well bore below the Earth's surface. The Self Contained In-Ground Geothermal Generator (SCI-GGG) includes a boiler, a turbine compartment, an electricity generator, a condenser and produces electricity down at the heat sources and transports it up to the ground surface by cable. The Self Contained Heat Exchanger (SCHE) is integral part of (SCI-GGG) system and can function independently. It consists of a closed loop system with two heat exchangers. No pollution is emitted during production process. There is no need for hydro-thermal reservoirs although not limited to hot rocks. It can be implemented in many different applications. The SCHE also includes an in-line water pump operatively coupled to the closed loop system and can be used in many different applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Nikola Lakic
  • Centrifugal pump
    Patent number: 9903388
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes an impeller rotatably disposed in a volute case for forcing a fluid to flow along a volute internal flow channel formed in the volute case, and first to fourth flow-channel recessed portions opening to the volute internal flow channel. The first and fourth flow-channel recessed portions are formed so as to be recessed in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of flow of the fluid. In a self-priming operation, the fluid is introduced into the first and fourth recessed portions whereupon the prime fluid is stirred within internal spaces of the first and second flow-channel recessed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouki Tsuruda, Masahiro Akiyama, Kaku Okabe
  • Electrical supply into wind turbine hub
    Patent number: 9903342
    Abstract: The invention provides a wind turbine including a nacelle, a rotor having at least one blade attached to a hub, and an electrical supply structure for supplying electrical power from the nacelle to the rotor. The rotor is rotatably connected to the nacelle about an axis of rotation. The supply structure comprises a switch which has a connected mode in which the nacelle and the rotor are electrically connected, and a disconnected mode in which the nacelle and the rotor are electrically disconnected. Furthermore, the switch is adapted to change from the disconnected mode to the connected mode when the rotor does not rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Torben Friis Baun, Jesper Lykkegaard Neubauer
  • Ring fan and shroud assembly
    Patent number: 9903387
    Abstract: A ring fan and shroud assembly having a fan, a shroud member, a recirculating flow member, and a plurality of curved guide vanes. The fan has a hub with a plurality of projecting fan blades and an outer ring member. The shroud member is positioned around the outer ring member. The recirculating flow member is on the shroud member and is positioned forward adjacent the outer ring member. The guide vanes are positioned within the recirculating flow member and define an inlet angle, which is nearly tangential with an outer entry diameter radial surface of the recirculating flow member, and an outlet angle that is nearly radial along an inner exit diameter of the recirculating flow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Stagg, James W. Bailey