Patents Examined by Jeffrey A Brownson
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Patent number: 8894355Abstract: A turbomolecular pump includes: a rotor (30) formed with rotating blades (32) in a plurality of stages, and rotating at high speed; a plurality of fixed blades (33) arranged along axial direction of the pump so as to alternate with respect to the rotating blades (32); a pump housing (34) containing the rotating blades (32) and the fixed blades (33), and formed with an inlet opening (21a); a circular disk (150), provided close to the inlet opening of the rotor (30), and arranged so as to oppose a surface of the rotor (30) radially inward than a root portion of the rotating blades; and a cylindrical mesh structure (153a, 153b), disposed between the inlet opening (21a) and the rotor (30), and made by interlacing fine wires. Particles that strike the rotor and bounce off are captured internally in the mesh structure (153a, 153b).Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2010Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation, Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yukiteru Sekita, Kazuma Kubota, Tsuyoshi Moriya, Eiichi Sugawara
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Patent number: 8888449Abstract: Various systems and apparatuses are provided for a flow delivery system for an engine. In one example, a system includes a first turbine providing an exhaust flow and a second turbine having an inlet and being fluidically coupled to the first turbine. The second turbine further includes a plurality of nozzle vanes positioned within the inlet of the turbine. A transition conduit is curved about an axis and coupled to the inlet and to the first turbine. The transition conduit is configured to impart an angular momentum component to at least a portion of the exhaust flow, and includes a slot that delivers at least a portion of the exhaust flow to the plurality of nozzle vanes.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kendall Roger Swenson, Jonathan Nagurney
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Patent number: 8870532Abstract: The present application provides a diffuser for an exhaust hood of a steam turbine. The diffuser may include a first end adjacent to a last bucket and a second end downstream of a steam guide and adjacent to a bearing cone. An exhaust flow path extends therethrough. The second end may include an axial extension enlarging the exhaust flow path.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Sudhakar Neeli, Joshy John
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Patent number: 8858179Abstract: A rotor control system operatively linked to a plurality of rotor blades includes a swashplate assembly having a stationary member and a rotating member. A blade attachment member is operatively connected to the plurality of rotor blades and a control horn is operatively connected to the blade attachment member and one of the plurality of rotor blades. At least one hydraulic actuator member is operatively coupled to the control horn and at least one hydraulic actuator element is operatively coupled to the swashplate assembly and the at least one hydraulic actuator member. The at least one hydraulic actuator member transmits control signals from the swashplate assembly to the one of the plurality of rotor blades through the at least one hydraulic actuator member.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft CorporationInventor: Devon Cowles
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Patent number: 8851852Abstract: A turbine assembly includes a rotor (1) with a channel (20) and a plurality of blades (10) with a root (30) rotationally fitted in the channel (20). The root (30) and channel (20) have complimentary angled end walls (26, 36) while the root (30) is further configured to have radial play in the channel (20). The combination of this radial play and end wall angle enables, when the base (31) of the root (30) is in contact with the base (21) of the channel (20), enable over-rotating compared to when the base (31) of the root (30) and channel (20) are not in contact. This over-rotation enables the fitting of a last root (30) in the channel (20).Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.Inventor: David Paul Blatchford
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Patent number: 8851850Abstract: An annulus filler assembly for a rotor of a turbomachine, the assembly comprising: an annulus lid (56) having a radially outwardly facing surface (58) for forming an inner wall of a flow annulus of the rotor and a radially inwardly facing surface; and a frame for supporting the annulus lid (40), the frame being mountable to a disc of the rotor such that the annulus lid (56) is spaced away from the disc, wherein the frame (40) comprises a connection portion (46) which, in use, passes through an aperture (60) in the annulus lid (56) from the radially inwardly facing surface towards the radially outwardly facing surface (58) such that at least a portion of the connection portion (46) is visible from the radially outwardly facing surface (58); the assembly further comprising a locking element (68) which locks the connection portion (46) to the annulus lid (56) via the visible portion of the connection portion (46).Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Matthew A. C. Hoyland, Dale E. Evans, Ian C. D. Care
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Patent number: 8845277Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a bearing and a bearing support having a first wall extending between first and second ends and operatively supported by the bearing at a first end. An engine case is secured to the second end radially outward of the first end. A second wall integral with and extending transversely from the first wall provides a flexible support. The second wall has a flange, and a gear train component is secured to the flange. A gas turbine engine includes a support structure which supports the main rotatable structure via bearings and gear train components. The support provides both the necessary structural support for the rotor structure as well as desired flexibility for a fan drive gear system.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventor: Todd A. Davis
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Patent number: 8845290Abstract: A rotorcraft having an operational range and a plurality of rotor blades, each rotor blade capable of assuming an angular pitch, utilizes a control apparatus a mechanism for independently controlling an angular pitch value of each of the plurality of rotor blades wherein a collective sum of the angular pitch values of the plurality of rotor blades is not constant over the operational range of the rotorcraft.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Sonic Blue Aerospace, Inc.Inventor: Richard H. Lugg
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Patent number: 8840360Abstract: A wind powered turbine is comprised of a frame on which is horizontally and rotatably supported a rotor on a rotor shaft. The rotor is formed by three or more radial blade members which are secured to the rotor shaft. The radial blade members are equidistantly spaced from one another and each have support arms and a wind vane secured at an outer end portion of the support arms. The wind vane is shaped to capture an airflow directed thereagainst for displacement thereof to create a rotational force about the rotor shaft to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal central axis. The radial blade members are rigidly interconnected to one another at an outer end portion thereof by tension adjustable bracing tie wires. A wind channeling guide assembly accelerates and directs the airflow in an actuating airflow path to impinge upon at leas of the wind vanes positioned in the actuating airflow path.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Inventor: Réjean Quintal
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Patent number: 8834119Abstract: A device including a pair of counter rotating propellers with variable pitch which may be modified by an actuator located in a central cavity of the shafts. A system for transporting energy to the actuator includes a conduit passing into a static case in proximity to an epicycloidal gear train, and then control conduits leading to the actuator and crossing the planet carrier of an epicycloidal gear train. The junction is affected by a dynamic joint with a collector. This transport path avoids a high temperature turbine.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Wouter Balk, Francois Gallet
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Patent number: 8834105Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine having a central axis includes: an arcuate shroud segment comprising low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces and collectively defining a shroud cavity; and an annular stationary structure surrounding the shroud segment, where the shroud segment is mechanically coupled to the stationary structure. The stationary structure includes at least one axially-facing bearing surface which is in direct contact with the shroud segment, and the shroud segment is disposed so as to absorb at least one axially-aligned force and transfer the axially-aligned force to the bearing surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2010Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Joseph Charles Albers, Mark Willard Marusko, Barry Allan Wilson, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson
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Patent number: 8814516Abstract: A radiator arrangement is arranged on a nacelle of a wind turbine via a sliding arrangement. The sliding arrangement is constructed and arranged in a way that the radiator arrangement is allowed to change its position in reference to the nacelle between a first position and a second position. The radiator arrangement allows service from inside the nacelle if the radiator arrangement is the first position and the radiator arrangement transfers heat in its second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Soeren Oemann Lind
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Patent number: 8801380Abstract: A rotor control system including a collective control rod positioned internal to a rotor shaft, the rotor shaft for imparting torque to rotor blades; and a cyclic control rod positioned internal to and concentric with the collective control rod.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft CorporationInventor: Brandon L. Stille
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Patent number: 8794914Abstract: A centrifugal compressor wheel for a turbocharger is disclosed. The wheel includes an axially extending hub having an inlet end, an outlet end, an arcuate outer surface and a shaft bore. The wheel also includes a blade array disposed on the outer surface of the hub, the blade array comprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, radially and axially extending, arcuate centrifugal impeller blades disposed thereon; the hub and the blade array comprising a non-woven, discontinuous-fiber-filled, polymer matrix composite material.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Daniel J. Hommes, Carnell E. Williams
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Patent number: 8784048Abstract: An air cycle machine includes a housing, and a shaft rotationally supported within the housing includes a thrust runner. Air bearings are provided on either side of the thrust runner. An inlet plate is arranged radially outward of the air bearings. The inlet plate has inner and outer peripheries provided between lateral sides. One side includes four circumferentially arranged slots extending from the outer periphery to the inner periphery and having a width and a depth providing a first ratio of 4:1.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Craig M. Beers, Brent J. Merritt
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Patent number: 8770928Abstract: An air cycle machine includes turbine and compressor housings respectively having a turbine and a compressor. An insulator seal plate is fastened between the turbine and compressor housings. The insulator seal plate includes a bore. A seal has an outer diameter that engages the bore. The seal also includes an inner diameter provided between lateral sides defining a first width. The inner diameter provides a seal and configured to engage a rotating surface. The outer diameter to the inner diameter provides a first ratio of 1.30-1.31. The inner diameter to the first width provides a second ratio of 1.59-1.61. A rotor shaft is disposed in the seal and includes knife edges extending from the rotor shaft to the seal land. The rotor shaft supports the turbine and the compressor.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Eric Chrabascz, Darryl A. Colson, Seth E. Rosen
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Patent number: 8764379Abstract: A turbine blade for a turbine engine includes main coolant passageways which extend through the turbine blade to cool the blade. A tip coolant passageway conveys coolant from a location adjacent the base of the blade directly to the tip of the blade to provide cooling fluid directly to the tip of the blade. This ensures that the coolant arriving at the tip of the blade is at a relatively low temperature and can therefore provide effective cooling of the material located at the tip of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Dipankar Pal
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Patent number: 8740569Abstract: The impeller for a centrifugal pump includes a carrier disk and possibly a shroud. The blades of the impeller are identical, but are arranged in pairs such that impellers of different hydraulic characteristics are formed with blades of the same shape.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Grundfos Management a/sInventors: Aage Bruhn, Lars Ostergaard
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Patent number: 8740552Abstract: A turbine shroud apparatus for a gas turbine engine includes an arcuate turbine shroud segment of low-ductility material and having a cross-sectional shape defined by opposed forward and aft walls, and opposed inner and outer walls, the walls extending between opposed first and second end faces. At least a portion of each of the forward and aft walls is oriented at an acute angle to the outer wall. Radially inner ends of the forward and aft walls are substantially closer together than radially outer ends thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Willard Marusko, Joseph Charles Albers, Aaron Michael Dziech, Christopher Ryan Johnson
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Patent number: 8734105Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine having a bearing assembly, a shaft received therein, and at least one sub-system capable of altering a dynamic state of the wind turbine includes monitoring at least one parameter indicative of a load on the shaft; comparing the at least one parameter to a threshold criteria; and when the at least one parameter meets the threshold criteria, altering the dynamic state of the wind turbine to reduce the load on the shaft; and/or altering the state of the bearing assembly to better accommodate the load on the shaft. A control system for the wind turbine includes a controller operatively coupled to the bearing assembly and the at least one sub-system, and at least one sensor for monitoring at least one parameter indicative of a load on the shaft. The controller signals the sub-system or the bearing assembly when the threshold criteria is met.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Jörg Wadehn