Patents Examined by Joshua R Beebe
  • Patent number: 11815067
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine during start up, from a non-producing operation mode to a power producing operation mode when limit cycles occur during start-up. Limit cycles are detected when a number of cut-in transitions or a number of cut-out transitions are detected. A cut-in transition is when the wind turbine fails starting up despite having the wind speed or rotor speed normally required to enter a power producing operation mode. A cut-out transition is occurring when the wind turbine is falling out of power producing operation mode after having entered the power producing operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Fabio Spagnolo, Julio Xavier Vianna Neto, Karthik Vasudevan, Naga Srinivas Kamarajugadda, Fabio Caponetti
  • Patent number: 11808170
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbomachine assembly, comprising: a casing (10), a first rotor (12) which is movable in rotation with respect to the casing (10) about a longitudinal axis (X-X), and comprising: *a disk (120), and *a plurality of blades (122) capable of flapping with respect to the disk (120) during a rotation of the first rotor (12) with respect to the casing (10), a second rotor (140) which is movable in rotation with respect to the casing (10) about the longitudinal axis (X-X), and a damper (2) which is configured to damp a displacement of the first rotor (12) with respect to the second rotor (140) in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (X-X), the displacement being caused by a flapping of at least one blade (122) among the plurality of blades (122), the damper (2) comprising: o a first bearing part (21): *bearing against the first rotor (12), and *being configured to apply a first centrifugal force (C1) to the first rotor (12), o a second bearing part (22): *bearing against the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Philippe Gérard Edmond Joly, Romain Nicolas Lagarde, Jean-Marc Claude Perrollaz, Laurent Jablonski, François Jean Comin, Edouard Antoine Dominique Marie De Jaeghere, Charles Jean-Pierre Douguet
  • Patent number: 11808169
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly for a turbomachine, comprising: a first rotor; a second rotor, and a damper (2) configured to damp a displacement of the first rotor relative to the second rotor, the damper comprising: a first portion (21) bearing against the first rotor and having a first thickness, a second portion (22) bearing against the second rotor and having a second radial thickness, and a third portion (23) connecting the first portion (21) to the second portion (22) and having a third radial thickness, wherein the third radial thickness is greater than at least one of the first radial thickness and the second radial thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Philippe Gérard Edmond Joly, Romain Nicolas Lagarde, Jean-Marc Claude Perrollaz, Laurent Jablonski, François Jean Comin, Edouard Antoine Dominique Marie De Jaeghere, Charles Jean-Pierre Douguet
  • Patent number: 11786719
    Abstract: A centrifugal blood pump includes a housing having a pumping chamber, an inlet having an inlet axis, and an outlet having an outlet axis. The inlet and the outlet are in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The pump further includes an impeller rotatably disposed within the pumping chamber, and a strut connected to the housing at the inlet. The strut is connected to the housing at a circumferential position about the inlet axis such that a major axis of the strut and the outlet axis define a predetermined angle in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the inlet axis. The circumferential position of the strut relative the outlet axis reduces or eliminates damage to blood flowing around the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: CARDIACASSIST, INC.
    Inventors: David Busch, John C. Marous, III, Anthony S. McCoppin, Robert G. Svitek
  • Patent number: 11773824
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a wind turbine rotor blade, which method includes the steps of preparing a mold by forming a partial negative leading-edge profile in a first mold half, which partial negative leading-edge profile includes a plurality of first indentations along a leading edge region of the first mold half; forming a partial negative leading-edge profile in a second mold half, which partial negative leading-edge profile includes a complementary plurality of second indentations along a leading edge region of the second mold half; and wherein the combined shape of a first indentation and a complementary second indentation corresponds to the negative shape of a leading-edge fin that will extend radially outward from the body of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Mogens Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11773786
    Abstract: A fan drive gear system for a gas turbine engine includes a gear system that provides a speed reduction between a fan drive turbine and a fan and a mount flexibly supporting portions of the gear system. A lubrication system supporting the fan drive gear system provides lubricant to the gear system and removes thermal energy produced by the gear system. The lubrication system includes a capacity for removing thermal energy equal to less than about 2% of power input into the gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 11767771
    Abstract: A bracket for mounting a first component to a second component, the bracket comprising at least one mounting boss defining a through-hole having an opening axis in axial direction for receiving a fixing used to attach the bracket to one of the first and second components; wherein the mounting boss comprises a fixing support face around the through-hole on a surface of the bracket, the fixing support face configured to bear a head of the fixing; the mounting boss is configured to resist compressive forces exerted on the bracket by the head of the fixing; and the mounting boss comprises a cavity in a space projected from the fixing support face in the axial direction of the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Jaideep Y. Thar, Oliver C. Taylor-Tibbott, Andrea L. Ball
  • Patent number: 11767763
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element includes an airfoil that has pressure and suction sides spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction and joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil extends in a radial direction a span that is in a range of 1.01-1.15 inch (25.7-29.3 mm). A chord length extends in a chordwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge at 50% span and is in a range of 0.54-0.66 inch (13.6-16.8 mm). The airfoil element includes at least two of a first mode with a frequency of 2033 ± 15% Hz, a second mode with a frequency of 7023 ± 15% Hz, a third mode with a frequency of 12082 ± 15% Hz and a fourth mode with a frequency of 19769 ± 15% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles H. Warner, Carl S. Richardson, Ling Liu, Robert W. Fessenden
  • Patent number: 11761427
    Abstract: Systems and methods for building predictive and prescriptive analytics of wind turbines generate a historical operational dataset by loading historical operational SCADA data of one or more wind turbines. Each sensor measurement is associated with an engineering tag and at least one component of a wind turbine. The system creates one or more performance indicators corresponding to one or more sensor measurements, and applies at least one data clustering algorithm onto the dataset to identify and label normal operation data clusters. The system builds a normal operation model using normal operational data clusters with Efficiency of Wind-To-Power (EWTP) and defines a statistical confidence range around the normal operation model as criterion for monitoring wind turbine performance. As real-time SCADA data is received by the system, the system can detect an anomalous event, and issue an alert notification and prescriptive early-action recommendations to a user, such as a turbine operator, technician or manager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ASPENTECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong Zhao, Ashok Rao, Gaurav Rai, Mir Khan, Pedro Alejandro Castillo Castillo, Magiel J. Harmse
  • Patent number: 11761420
    Abstract: Provided is a composite material for a wind turbine blade, the composite material including a plurality of rigid elements and plurality of flexible elements, wherein each flexible element is arranged between two rigid elements and is connected thereto such that the rigid elements are flexibly connected to each other by the flexible elements. The flexibility of the composite material can be achieved by using the interspaces between the rigid elements. Therefore, when the composite material is placed on a curved surface, hollow spaces between the rigid elements may be reduced or avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Bro Wernlund
  • Patent number: 11739826
    Abstract: An insert for supplying a fluid within a drive shaft, the insert extending along an axis of rotation and comprising an insert wall having a rigid inner insert wall portion and an elastically deformable outer insert wall portion a reservoir defined by the insert wall for storing a fluid, a nozzle positioned at the first end of the insert wall, and wherein the elastically deformable outer insert wall portion is configured to move between an expanded state, when the fluid is supplied to the reservoir, and an unexpanded state, when rotation of the insert and supply of fluid to the reservoir are ceased, and movement of the elastically deformable outer insert wall portion to the unexpanded state forces the fluid to be discharged through the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: AERO GEARBOX INTERNATIONAL
    Inventor: Nathan Lewis
  • Patent number: 11739734
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for determining fatigue loads in a wind turbine. Such a method may comprise obtaining operational metadata representative for an operational situation, and determining whether the operational metadata corresponds to operational metadata from one of a plurality of previously defined operational situations for which fatigue loads are known, the plurality of previously defined operational situations being stored in an operational situations database. If the operational metadata representative for the operational situation substantially corresponds to operational metadata from the stored previous operational situation, then the fatigue loads for the stored previously define operational situation are summed to historically accumulated fatigue loads to determine total accumulated fatigue loads. Methods for registering an operational situation in a wind turbine are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Ganesh Neogi, Arne Scheunemann
  • Patent number: 11732609
    Abstract: An aircraft engine comprises a casing extending circumferentially around a central axis. A support flange is secured to the casing and extends circumferentially around the axis. The support flange has an inner and an outer flange face. A component is drivingly engaged by a shaft of the engine. The component has a connecting section extending around the central axis. The connecting section has a connecting face. The inner flange face is in abutment against the connecting face. A retaining ring extends circumferentially around the central axis. The retaining ring is in abutment against the outer flange face of the support flange. The retaining ring has a coefficient of thermal expansion, which is less than that of the support flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: David Menheere, Daniel Alecu
  • Patent number: 11725590
    Abstract: A turbomachine engine and gear assembly is provided. The engine includes a first power input component rotatable along a first direction relative to the engine centerline axis, a second power input component rotatable along a second direction relative to the engine centerline axis, a power output component rotatable relative to the engine centerline axis, a static component fixed relative to a circumferential direction relative to a gear assembly centerline axis, and a gear assembly. The gear assembly includes a first rotatable gear operably coupled to the first power input component at a first interface. The first rotatable gear is operably coupled to the static component at a static component interface. The static component interface is configured to react against the first rotatable gear to rotate the first rotatable gear relative to the gear assembly centerline axis. The power output component is operably coupled to the first rotatable gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peeyush Pankaj, Narayanan Payyoor, Shashank Suresh Puranik
  • Patent number: 11725632
    Abstract: A method of protecting a wind turbine having a set of blades, each blade having a set of loci suitable for placement of a corresponding set of lightning receptors, against lightning strikes, includes applying to each blade a coating that surrounds at least one lightning receptor locus of the set, wherein the coating comprises paint in which has been mixed a conductive powder having a concentration by weight in the coating sufficiently low as to prevent formation of a conductive path through the coating but sufficiently high as to foster ionization of air along the coated exposed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Arctura, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal E. Fine, John A. Cooney, Christopher S. Szlatenyi, Adam H. Janik, Pascal Mickelson
  • Patent number: 11719127
    Abstract: A bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a rotationally fixed structure defined about an engine longitudinal axis; a gutter section formed in the front support; an oil drainback assembly mountable to the gutter section to direct oil into a drain passage to communicate oil from the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Davis, Joseph D. Walker
  • Patent number: 11719165
    Abstract: An aircraft engine comprises an air inlet duct extending from an inlet through which air is configured to enter the aircraft engine, to an outlet within the aircraft engine. At least one strut has a leading edge and a trailing edge and extends across at least part of the air inlet duct. The at least one strut has a strut passage and a plurality of static pressure measurement taps spaced apart on the trailing edge and in fluid communication with the strut passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Damien Le Pape, Guorong Yan, Mark Cunningham, Philippe Beauchesne-Martel, Oleg Iskra, Richard Ivakitch
  • Patent number: 11719220
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a wind turbine blade, wherein one or more airflow modifying devices are attached to a wind turbine blade having a base aerodynamic profile. The base aerodynamic profile is configured to substantially carry the structural loading of this modified wind turbine blade. The airflow modifying device is manufactured via 3D-printing and/or via 3D-machining and optionally coated or laminated before attachment. Once attached, the airflow modifying device may further be coated or laminated before working the outer surfaces into their finished shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: LM WIND POWER US TECHNOLOGY APS
    Inventor: Jordy Hertel Nilsson Van Kalken
  • Patent number: 11708794
    Abstract: A turbomachine engine can include a fan assembly, a pitch change mechanism, a vane assembly, a core engine, a gearbox, and a gearbox efficiency rating. The fan assembly can include a plurality of fan blades. The pitch change mechanism can be coupled to the fan assembly. The vane assembly can include a plurality of vanes. The core engine can include one or more compressor sections and one or more turbine sections. The gearbox includes an input and an output. The input is coupled to the one or more turbine sections of the core engine and comprises a first rotational speed, the output is coupled to the fan assembly and has a second rotational speed, and a gear ratio of the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed is within a range of 4.1-14.0. The gearbox efficiency rating is 0.10-1.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GE Avio S.R.L.
    Inventors: Pietro Molesini, Andrea Piazza, Fabio De Bellis
  • Patent number: 11698002
    Abstract: A turbomachine airfoil element includes an airfoil that has pressure and suction sides spaced apart from one another in a thickness direction and joined to one another at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil extends in a radial direction a span that is in a range of 3.46-3.76 inch (87.8-95.5 mm). A chord length extends in a chordwise direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge at 50% span and is in a range of 1.98-2.28 inch (50.2-57.8 mm). The airfoil element includes at least one of a first mode with a frequency of 1056 ± 10% Hz and a second mode with a frequency of 1582 ± 10% Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William R. Edwards, Steven J. Feigleson, Kate Hudon