Patents Examined by Kayla McCaffrey
  • Turbine discs and methods of fabricating the same
    Patent number: 10584594
    Abstract: A turbine disc having a radius and a circumference is provided. The turbine disc includes a central aperture and a plurality of cooling channels circumferentially spaced about the central aperture such that the cooling channels are in flow communication with the central aperture. Each of the cooling channels has a radially inner end, a radially outer end, and a lengthwise axis that is curved between the radially inner end and the radially outer end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sudhakar Neeli, Sacheverel Quentin Eldrid, Robert Cormack Young, Mariusz Robert Pulanecki
  • Casing for a rotating machine and rotating machine including such casing
    Patent number: 10563540
    Abstract: A casing for a rotating machine includes an inner surface delimiting an inner volume for housing a rotor of the rotating machine; a first and a second shell that are joined together in a dividable manner, the first and second shell respectively comprising a first and a second split flange having a first and a second split surface contacting each other when the shells are joined together; a plurality of holes on the first and second split flange passing through the first and second split surface for housing a plurality of bolts; a first groove connecting the plurality of holes; a second groove between the first groove and the inner surface of the casing; a first duct and a second duct for circulating a fluid to and from the first and second grooves, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone SRL
    Inventors: Paolo Romanello, Stefano Mantellassi, Alberto Guglielmo, Giuseppe Sassanelli
  • Keystoned blade track
    Patent number: 10563535
    Abstract: A blade track for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of blade track segments. The blade track segments are arranged circumferentially around a central axis to form the blade track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Daniel K. Vetters, Aaron D. Sippel, David J. Thomas, Andrew J. Eifert, Paul A. Davis, Simon L. Jones, Peter Broadhead, Bruce E. Varney, Jeffrey A. Walston, Steven Hillier
  • Wind power generation tower
    Patent number: 10550824
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a wind power generation tower. The wind power generation tower, according to one embodiment of the present invention, can implement wind power generation by accelerating wind speed even for low speed wind and simultaneously increasing the utilization efficiency of the wind which rotates blades, thereby improving overall power generation efficiency. In addition, the wind power generation tower, according to the one embodiment of the present invention, can increase the intensity of the wind by a Venturi effect and simultaneously increase the drop in pressure of the wind escaping the wind power generation tower by using the vortex generated at the rear surface of the wind power generation tower in a cylindrical shape, thereby improving the rotation of the blades provided to the inside of the wind power generation tower so as to enable faster rotation of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ODIN ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soo Yun Song
  • Tilrotor aircraft having rotary and non rotary flight modes
    Patent number: 10526068
    Abstract: A mechanism for transitioning a tiltrotor aircraft between rotary and non rotary flight modes. The mechanism includes a gimbal lock positioned about a mast that is operable to selectively enable and disable a gimballing degree of freedom of a rotor assembly relative to the mast. A blade stop assembly, positioned about the mast, includes a plurality of arms having a radially contracted orientation and a radially extended orientation. A blade lock assembly is operably associated with each rotor blade assembly. Each blade lock assembly is operable to selectively enable and disable a folding degree of freedom and a pitching degree of freedom of the respective rotor blade assembly. A swash plate is operable to change the pitch of the rotor blade assemblies in the rotary flight mode and fold the rotor blade assemblies in the non rotary flight mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Bell Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Troy Cyril Schank, Carlos Alexander Fenny, Andrew Maresh, Chyau-Song Tzeng
  • Method of measuring turbine blade tip erosion
    Patent number: 10526912
    Abstract: A method of designing a turbine blade includes the steps of forming at least two notches on a tip of a turbine blade, each of the at least two notches having a known dimension. The turbine blade has a pressure side and a suction side. The method further includes the step of operating a gas turbine engine including the turbine blade to expand a length of the turbine blade such that the tip of the turbine engages a casing. The method further includes the steps of viewing the tip of the turbine blade after the step of operating of the gas turbine engine, determining an appearance of the notches on the tip and determining a manufacturing length of the turbine blade based on the step of determining the appearance the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley J. Funk, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz
  • Electrical connector for a wind turbine
    Patent number: 10519937
    Abstract: An electrical connector for providing power between a nacelle and a hub of a wind turbine. The electrical connector includes a first electrical connector part for connection to one of the nacelle or the hub, and a second electrical connector part for connection to the other of the nacelle or the hub. The electrical connector further includes an actuator for moving the first or second electrical connector parts in a first direction between an extended position in which the first and second connector parts are in contact and form an electrical connection between the nacelle and the hub, and a retracted position in which the first and second electrical connector parts are spaced apart and do not form an electrical connection. The first and/or second electrical connector parts include one or more magnets arranged to secure the first and second parts together when the respective parts are in contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Christian Krogh Nielsen
  • Compressor stage
    Patent number: 10519975
    Abstract: Compressor stage with a stator-side intake connection piece via which medium which is to be compressed can be introduced into the compressor stage in the region of the compressor stage, with a stator-side inflow channel via which the medium to be compressed can be conveyed in direction of a rotor-side impeller proceeding from the intake connection piece, wherein the impeller has a radially inner hub, a radially outer cover disk and impeller blades extending between the hub and the cover disk, wherein a plus measuring point and a minus measuring point are provided at the compressor stage for measuring the effective pressure at the compressor stage, and wherein the minus measuring point is positioned upstream of the impeller outside of the stator-side inflow channel in an annular gap which branches off from the inflow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: MAN Energy Solutions SE
    Inventors: Alf-Peter Tiedtke, Matthias Wollnik
  • Turbine engine and stator vane pitch adjustment system therefor
    Patent number: 10519797
    Abstract: A turbine engine is provided. The turbine engine includes a plurality of first stator vanes, a plurality of second stator vanes, and a pitch adjustment system coupled to the first stator vanes and the second stator vanes. The pitch adjustment system includes a pivot shaft, a first linkage, and a second linkage. The pivot shaft has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first linkage is coupled to the first stator vanes on the first side of the pivot shaft. The second linkage coupled to the second stator vanes on the second side of the pivot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron David Williamson, Harry McFarland Jarrett, Jr.
  • Wind turbine blade with trailing edge tab
    Patent number: 10495056
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade (20B-C) with a rounded trailing edge (42A-E) and an elongated tab (44A-J) extending from the pressure side (PS) within the aft 10% of the local chord (C) and generally parallel to the trailing edge to increase lift. The tab may have a height (H) that is greatest on the radially inboard end to maximize lift, and lower on the outboard end to minimize drag. It may have a base with a length of at least 60% of its height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Alonso O. Zamora Rodriguez, Edward A. Mayda
  • Outdoor device of an air conditioner
    Patent number: 10488058
    Abstract: An outdoor device of an air conditioner is provided and may include a top cover that forms an upper surface of the outdoor device and provided with at least one discharge port through which air may be discharged, at least one fan provided under the top cover, and at least one shroud that accommodates the fan and that connects with the discharge port. A transverse width of the at least one shroud that passes through side surfaces of the at least one shroud and the at least one fan may be constant from an inlet port of the shroud to an outlet part. A cross sectional area of the outlet port may gradually increase toward the at least one discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangyoung Kwon, Jaewan Lee, Kyomin Koo
  • Method and system for operating a back-to-back compressor with a side stream
    Patent number: 10473109
    Abstract: The compressor system comprises a compressor having first compressor stage and a second compressor stage in a back-to-back arrangement. A first gas flow is provided at the suction side of the compressor. A seal arrangement is provided between the first compressor stage and the second compressor stage. A side stream line is in fluid communication with the suction side of the second compressor stage. A side stream valve on the side stream line and a side stream controller are provided, for adjusting the flow of the second gas. An antisurge arrangement comprised of a bypass line and an antisurge valve is arranged at the first compressor stage for preventing surge of the first compressor stage. The side stream controller is configured for reducing the flow of the second gas when an alteration of the pressure ratio across the first compress stag is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Srl
    Inventors: Lorenzo Gallinelli, David Rossi, Laurence Casali
  • Track fairing assembly for a turbine engine nacelle
    Patent number: 10450898
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an aerodynamic track fairing assembly used on an engine nacelle, the track fairing assembly positionable on the aft section of the engine nacelle, the aerodynamic track fairing assembly including: an upper section extending toward an aft end of the aft section of the engine nacelle; a bottom section extending toward the aft end of the aft section of the engine nacelle, the bottom section affixed to the upper section to form a track cavity therebetween; and a fairing fitting disposed within the track cavity and affixed to the bottom section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dmitriy B. Sidelkovskiy, Steven H. Zysman, Robert E. Malecki
  • Gas turbine engine with vane having a cooling inlet
    Patent number: 10451084
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of cooling a hot portion of a gas turbine engine, such as a multi-stage compressor of a gas turbine engine, by reducing an operating air temperature in a space between a seal and a blade post of adjacent stages by routing cooling air through an inlet in the vane, passing the routed cooling air through the vane, and emitting the routed cooling air into the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sesha Subramanian, Monty Lee Shelton, Robert Proctor, Mohamed Musthafa Thoppil, Venkateswararao Gurram, Josiah Warren Joiner, Wojciech Sak
  • Method for additive manufacturing of a gas turbine casing part
    Patent number: 10443445
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a turbine casing part having a bearing chamber system including a shell (1) and at least one bearing receptacle (2) and further having a protective heat shield (30) that at least partially encompasses the shell (1) radially outwardly, the protective heat shield (30) being additively manufactured integrally with the bearing chamber system by selectively solidifying layer-by-layer a feedstock material (5) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Christian Liebl, Richard Scharl, Alexander Buck, Daniel Kirchner, Thomas Hess
  • Turbine engine blade outer air seal with load-transmitting carriage
    Patent number: 10443424
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a case disposed around a central axis, a vane structure disposed radially inwards of the case, a seal carriage mounted to the case, and a seal arc segment mounted to the seal carriage. The vane structure exerts an axial load on the seal carriage. The seal carriage defines a load path that radially transmits the axial load to the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Method to reduce entrance losses to increase fan inlet flow and reduce acoustic noise
    Patent number: 10436217
    Abstract: A cooling system for optimizing fan air flow performance without compromising acoustic performance is disclosed. At least three fan feature embodiments are disclosed: (1) sloped fan blades, (2) sloped impeller hubs, and (3) inlet flow guidance features. For the first embodiment, fan blades attached to an impeller disc and having leading edges that progressively curve toward a center of the impeller disc. For the second embodiment, the impeller disc is attached to and centered on an impeller hub that has a sloped hub surface that progressively curves toward the fan blades. For the third embodiment, an inlet flow guidance feature is positioned within a region surrounding a fan's inlet promoting smooth passage of air into the fan. In some embodiments, all three fan features are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Joseph Aiello, Jesse T. Dybenko, Richard A. Herms
  • Turbocharger
    Patent number: 10436216
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a cooling passage. The cooling passage is arranged along a diffuser surface, which faces a diffuser passage in a compressor housing member. The compressor housing member is constituted by combining a first piece, a second piece, and a third piece, which are produced by die casting or the like. The cooling passage is defined by assembling the first piece and the second piece to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Uesugi, Koichi Yonezawa
  • Turbine engine blade outer air seal with load-transmitting cover plate
    Patent number: 10422240
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a seal arc segment that defines radially inner and outer sides and first and second axial arc segment sides, a carriage that carries the seal arc segment, and a cover that defines first and second axial cover sides. The second axial cover side is adjacent the first axial arc segment side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Turbocharger turbine diffuser with deswirl ribs
    Patent number: 10422344
    Abstract: A turbine diffuser configured for use in a turbocharger is disclosed. The turbine diffuser may comprise a diffuser wall defining the diffuser and circumscribing a central axis of the diffuser, and a plurality of deswirl ribs each extending axially along the diffuser wall. Each of the deswirl ribs may have a first end attached to the diffuser wall, and an opposing second end exposed in an interior space of the diffuser. The deswirl ribs may be configured to reduce rotation of exhaust gas that flows through the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: David George Grabowska