Patents Examined by Justin Seabe
  • Apparatus for oil collection and heat exchanging for turbine engines
    Patent number: 10041375
    Abstract: Embodiments of a heat exchanger for turbine engines are provided herein. In some embodiments, a heat exchanger for a turbine engine may include a body configured to be disposed proximate and at least partially surrounding a heat source, wherein the body defines a cavity configured to capture a heated fluid expelled from the heat source; and a channel formed in the body, the channel fluidly coupled to a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: William Dwight Gerstler, Bugra Han Ertas
  • Rotor dome, a rotor, and a rotorcraft
    Patent number: 10040545
    Abstract: A dome for a rotor of a rotorcraft, the dome comprising a cap extending radially from an axis of rotation in elevation towards a periphery and in azimuth over 360 degrees, the cap extending in thickness from a bottom face for facing a hub of the rotor towards a top face above the bottom face. At least one of the top and bottom faces is an undulating face that undulates at least in azimuth between the periphery and the axis of rotation in elevation, by including in azimuth along at least one internal circle a succession of bulges and of recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: David Alfano, Damien Desvigne, Raphael Fukari
  • Draft inducer blower wheel having improved shaft connection
    Patent number: 10036397
    Abstract: A blower motor assembly includes a blower wheel and a motor. The blower wheel includes an integrally formed hub. The motor includes a shaft rotatable about an axis. The hub presents a radially inner hub surface that at least in part defines a hub opening. The inner hub surface defines an inner cross-sectional dimension. The shaft is axially received within the hub opening, such that the blower wheel is supported by the shaft for rotational movement. The shaft includes a toothed region defining a plurality of arcuately spaced apart teeth. Each of the teeth includes a cutting edge. The teeth present an outer cross-sectional dimension that is great than the inner cross-sectional dimension of the inner hub surface, such that the cutting edges of the teeth cut a plurality of grooves in the inner hub surface as the shaft is axially received in the hub opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Lewis, L. Ranney Dohogne, Marc J. Corcoran, Matthew D. Allen, Michael W. Major
  • Axial flow expander
    Patent number: 10036265
    Abstract: The axial flow expander includes: an outer casing provided with a suction port and a discharge port through which gas is discharged from the outer casing; an inner casing inside which a gas passage is formed and which is provided with a first communication portion which communicates the gas passage with the suction port and a second communication portion which communicates the gas passage with the discharge port; a rotor shaft which extends in the direction along an axis; a bearing configured to bear the rotor shaft; stator vanes which protrudes inward from an inner periphery of the inner casing; and moving blades which protrudes outward from the rotor shaft. The inner casing, the rotor shaft, the bearing, the stator vanes, and the moving blades are integrally assembled, and the assembled members are inserted into the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushi Mori, Hideki Nagao
  • Centrifugal blower wheel for HVACR applications
    Patent number: 10030667
    Abstract: A forward curved blower wheel has fan blades having relatively small leading edge blades angles and a relatively lengthy mean camber lines. The blower wheel also comprises leading edge notches adjacent its blower wheel inlet. The leading edge notches eliminate buffeting that would occur with such blades if such notches were not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: REGAL BELOIT AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Sahand Pirouzpanah, Sylvia (Yuan) Feng, Paul Nathanael Selking, Shirish Vatkar, Joseph Henry, Rajavel Balaguru
  • Flexbeam unit for a bearingless or a hinge- and bearingless multi-blade rotor of a rotary wing aircraft
    Patent number: 10029784
    Abstract: A flexbeam unit for a multi-blade rotor of a rotary wing aircraft, said flexbeam unit defining a predetermined number of torsion elements that are connectable with associated rotor blades, at least one torsion element comprising a flexbeam element having an associated longitudinal direction and comprising inner layers of a first fiber reinforced material that are embedded between outer layers of a second fiber reinforced material, said outer layers being composed of main plies comprising unidirectional fibers and said inner layers defining a cross section profile center in said associated longitudinal direction, said cross section profile center being composed of interconnected bias plies comprising fibers that are oriented transversely relative to said unidirectional fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Rupert Pfaller, Martin Schulz, Tobias Bodemann
  • Heat module
    Patent number: 10030671
    Abstract: The fan includes an impeller, a motor, and a housing. The housing includes a side wall portion and a lower plate portion. at least one of the lower plate portion and an upper plate portion arranged to cover an upper side of the impeller includes an air inlet. The upper plate portion, the side wall portion, and the lower plate portion are arranged to together define an air outlet on a lateral side of the impeller. At or near an opposite end of the heat pipe, the heat pipe includes a contact portion arranged to be in contact with one of an upper surface of the lower plate portion and a lower surface of the upper plate portion. A longitudinal direction of at least a portion of the heat pipe extends at an angle with respect to the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito Tamaoka, Kazuhiko Fukushima, Koji Hatanaka
  • Ceramic component for a turbomachine
    Patent number: 10024192
    Abstract: A ceramic component for a turbomachine, the ceramic component (1) being configured to be destroyed in response to a contacting with another component (2) of the turbomachine that moves relative to the ceramic component (1). A turbomachine component pairing and a turbomachine including such a ceramic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Schinko, Janine Sangl, Stephan Klaen, Markus Schlemmer
  • Vibration-limiting module and device, structural segment for a structural installation, and wind turbine having a vibration-limiting module
    Patent number: 10024378
    Abstract: A vibration absorber module for a vibration-absorbing device, in particular for a vibration-absorbing device realized for suspended attachment of the vibration absorber module to a structural installation, having a bearing structure, a pendulum system, having a pendulum mass, and having a suspension system for suspending the pendulum mass on the bearing structure, the suspension system having a number of pendulum spring elements and having a pendulum mass suspension, which extends between the pendulum mass and the bearing suspension, in the direction of a suspension axis, and the pendulum mass suspension being fastened, by means of its suspension head, to the bearing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Malte Könitz, Martin Kraft
  • System and methods for controlling noise propagation of wind turbines
    Patent number: 10024304
    Abstract: A method of controlling a wind turbine includes obtaining weather data indicative of one or more weather conditions at the wind turbine, estimating wake profiles based on the obtained weather data, estimating far-field sound propagation in a direction of a noise sensitive site based on the estimated wake profiles, generating a yaw signal, wherein the yaw signal controls the yaw of a nacelle relative to a tower of the wind turbine, estimating a noise level at the noise sensitive site, and adjusting the yaw signal if the estimated noise level at the noise sensitive site exceeds a threshold noise level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Seongkyu Lee
  • CMC blade with integral 3D woven platform
    Patent number: 10024173
    Abstract: A method of forming a component for use in a gas turbine engine includes the steps of forming an airfoil/root assembly; creating a platform assembly structure having an opening; inserting the airfoil/root assembly into the opening; and bonding the platform assembly structure to the airfoil/root assembly to form the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: United Techologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael G McCaffrey
  • Cooling system with a bearing compartment bypass
    Patent number: 10024238
    Abstract: A cooling system for providing a buffer cooled cooling air to a turbine section of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The cooling system may comprise a first conduit configured to transmit a cooling air toward the turbine section, a heat exchanger configured to cool a bleed airflow diverted from the first conduit to provide a buffer air, and a bypass conduit configured to direct at least a portion of the buffer air through at least one passageway that bypasses a bearing compartment of the gas turbine engine. The cooling system may further comprise a manifold configured to allow the cooling air exiting the first conduit and the buffer air exiting the bypass conduit to mix and provide the buffer cooled cooling air, and a nozzle assembly configured to deliver the buffer cooled cooling air to the turbine section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Justin J. Phillips, James D. Hill, William K. Ackermann, Chris J. Niggemeier, Gabriel L. Suciu, Anthony R. Bifulco, Julian Partyka
  • Composite airfoil bonded to a metallic root
    Patent number: 10024333
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to composite airfoils bonded to a metallic root. A composite body (510) may be formed with a metallic co-molded detail (520). The co-molded detail (520) may be transient liquid phase (TLP) bonded to an attachment feature (530). The attachment feature (530) may allow the composite body (510) to be attached to a rotor (200). The airfoil (500) may also have a metallic edge (550) which is TLP bonded to the composite body (510) via a co-molded edge (540).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James T. Roach, Grant O. Cook, III
  • Wind turbine blade
    Patent number: 10018179
    Abstract: The present wind turbine blade comprises an airfoil structure comprising an airfoil shape, an internal support structure arranged spanwise along the length of the blade within the airfoil structure, and an elastic connection joining a portion of an inner surface of the airfoil structure with a portion of the internal support structure. The airfoil structure can be passively pitched relative to the internal support structure according to aerodynamic pressure distribution at different blade locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: GE Renewable Technologies Wind B.V.
    Inventor: Jaume Betran Palomas
  • Steam turbine
    Patent number: 10018046
    Abstract: A steam turbine 10 of an embodiment includes a turbine rotor 30, rotor blade cascades 41 having rotor blades 40, stationary blade cascades 53 having stationary blades 52, and a steam passage 60 formed on a turbine stage, among turbine stages, including the rotor blades each having a blade height equal to or more than a blade height at which a loss generated when a leakage steam flown between a diaphragm inner ring 51 and the turbine rotor 30 jets into a main steam and a benefit brought by increasing the blade height of each of the rotor blades 40 in accordance with an increase in a flow rate of the main steam by an amount of the leakage steam are cancelled, and leading the leakage steam from an upstream side to a downstream side of a rotor disk 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Daisuke Nomura, Akihiro Onoda, Junichi Tominaga, Shinichiro Ohashi
  • Fan
    Patent number: 10012236
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan is described. The fan uses a blade that is tapered across the span of the blade. The taper can be larger towards the end opposite of the inlet or larger at the inlet. The blade may be backwardly inclined and/or curved. The fan may also include a turning vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rachele Barbara Cocks, Joshua James Westhoff, Zachary Joseph Stauffer, Lisa Marie Warriner, Ludovic Andre Chretien, Michael Allen Marks
  • Horizontal-axis wind turbine using airfoil blades with uniform width and thickness
    Patent number: 10012210
    Abstract: A horizontal-axis wind turbine using airfoil blades with uniform in width and thickness, comprising a tower installed vertically from ground surface, a nacelle rotatable connected to center of a vertical axis on top of the tower, a rotating body axially bonded to the nacelle, and one or more blades connecting and forming a pitch angle on the outer periphery of the rotating body, and the blade having an airfoil shape and having uniform in width and thickness in a longitudinal direction and generating torque from lift about a tip of the blade is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Young-Lok Oh
  • Fan assembly for a refrigeration appliance
    Patent number: 10012241
    Abstract: The present invention relates a fan assembly (1) suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance, comprising a fan system (2) including a fan frame (3) having a first opening (4) defining a first airflow path, a plurality of supporting ribs (5) extending from the fan frame (3) towards a center of the first opening (4), an axial fan (6) and a fan motor (7) for driving the axial fan (6), located within the first opening (4) and held by the plurality of supporting ribs (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ARCELIK ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventors: Sati Mutlu Bozay, Yigit Ozsacmaci, Gurkan Oztop, Altinal Caliskan
  • Turbine with bucket fixing means
    Patent number: 10012096
    Abstract: Provided is a turbine including a rotor wheel including a plurality of dovetail grooves and a insertion groove, the insertion groove including a first catching groove; a plurality of first buckets, each of the plurality of first buckets including a vane, a platform provided at a first end portion of the vane, and a dovetail provided at the platform and having a shape corresponding to the dovetail groove; a second bucket including a vane, a platform provided at a first end portion of the vane, and a protrusion portion and configured to be inserted into the insertion groove, the protrusion portion including a second catching groove; and a fixing member configured to be inserted into each of the first and second catching grooves, the fixing member configured to restrict radial movement of the second bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: DOOSAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Chan Kim, Young Ho Ju, Jung Ho Lee, Tae Sub Oh, Cheol Hong Kim
  • Small scale high speed turbomachinery
    Patent number: 10006291
    Abstract: A small scale, high speed turbomachine is described, as well as a process for manufacturing the turbomachine. The turbomachine is manufactured by diffusion bonding stacked sheets of metal foil, each of which has been pre-formed to correspond to a cross section of the turbomachine structure. The turbomachines include rotating elements as well as static structures. Using this process, turbomachines may be manufactured with rotating elements that have outer diameters of less than four inches in size, and/or blading heights of less than 0.1 inches. The rotating elements of the turbomachines are capable of rotating at speeds in excess of 150 feet per second. In addition, cooling features may be added internally to blading to facilitate cooling in high temperature operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: ASTRA SPACE, INC.
    Inventors: Adam P. London, Lloyd J. Droppers, Matthew K. Lehman, Amitav Mehra