Patents Examined by Logan Kraft
  • Patent number: 10196910
    Abstract: A turbine vane for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The turbine vane includes an inner platform, an outer platform spaced from the inner platform, and an airfoil that extends from the inner platform to the outer platform. The airfoil includes a ceramic-containing web that forms a portion of the airfoil and a metallic load shield that forms another portion of the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Aaron P. Jennings
  • Patent number: 10190495
    Abstract: A disclosed gas turbine engine includes a compressor section including a first compressor disposed axially forward of a second compressor, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section and a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor. The turbine section includes a first turbine driving the first compressor and a second turbine driving the second compressor. An inner shaft defines a driving link between the second compressor and the second turbine and an outer shaft defines a driving link between the first compressor and the first turbine. The inner shaft and the outer shaft are concentric about a common axis of rotation. A bumper is disposed on the inner shaft within an axial region common to an aft portion of the outer shaft for accommodating interaction between the inner and outer shafts during high load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Pedro Laureano, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10189564
    Abstract: A pin configured for use in a rotor blade movable between an aligned position and a folded position and having a rotor blade airfoil contour is provided including a cylindrical body configured to couple a first section and a second section of the rotor blade when the rotor blade is in the aligned position. A handle is mounted to an end of the cylindrical body and has an airfoil contour complementary to the rotor blade airfoil contour. The handle is movable between an open position and a closed position. When the handle is in the closed position, the handle is flush with an adjacent portion of the rotor blade. When the handle is in the open position, the handle is accessible to pull the cylindrical body from the first and second section s of the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. Darrow, Jr., Frank P. D'Anna
  • Patent number: 10190595
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine compressor blade includes an airfoil and a root section connected to a blade platform therebetween and an at least partially curved cropped corner of the blade platform. The corner shape and size may avoid resonance of blade during engine operation. The corner may be J-shaped including a straight section extending from the pressure side edge towards the suction side edge of the platform and a curved section extending from the straight section to an uncropped portion of the platform trailing edge of the platform. A method of designing the cropped corner includes choosing shapes and sizes of the cropped corner for numerically analyzing and determining shape and size for the cropped corner using a numerical model to iteratively numerically analyze aerodynamically the cropped platform with different shapes and sizes of the cropped corner. The numerical model may be validated with engine or component testing of the blade having a cropped platform with at least one of the shapes and sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qiang Li, Aaron Phillip King, Toby George Darkins, Jr., Anthony Joseph Maurer
  • Patent number: 10190427
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle box includes an annular outer ring plate, an annular nozzle unit, and an annular inner ring plate. The annular outer ring plate is operable to be disposed in a turbine such that an outer peripheral surface thereof is adjacent to an inner peripheral surface of an inner casing of the turbine. The annular nozzle unit is disposed adjacent to an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring plate. The annular inner ring plate is disposed such that an outer peripheral surface thereof is adjacent to an inner peripheral surface of the nozzle unit. The nozzle unit includes a plurality of segment blocks circumferentially installed at an arc angle. The segment blocks are disposed at an inlet end of a first-stage nozzle unit, and an outlet end of the first-stage nozzle unit is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dong Woo Kang, Hae Sang Jeong, Cheol Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 10184350
    Abstract: A centralizing assembly for an engine having a plurality or rotatable vanes is provided including an engine casing and at least one unison ring disposed concentrically there about. A spacing gap is formed between the unison ring and the engine casing and is variable between a maximum spacing gap and a minimum spacing gap in response to thermal expansion of the engine casing. A centralizer element includes a plunger element movably mounted to unison ring and spanning the spacing gap. At least one conical spring washer is mounted to the plunger element and exerts a centralizing force through the plunger element onto the engine casing. The at least one conical spring washer maintains the centralizing force between the maximum spacing gap and the minimum spacing gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Hall
  • Patent number: 10184447
    Abstract: The invention is related to a rotor blade for the generation of electrical power. The rotor blade transforms the kinetic energy of a fluid, into rotational movement of a mechanical shaft. The shape of the rotor blade is characterized in that, along an axis, it is longitudinally bound by a root (a) and a tip (b), which are connected through multiples curved segments, called neutral sectional axes [Eni]. All [Eni] generate a continuous or discontinuous curvature called Primary Neutral Axis [En]. The point corresponding to a leading edge and a trailing edge, configure an airfoil [PAij]. The curvature of the blade (e) has an arch of length L, and is defined by the neutral sectional axes [Eni]. The blade (e) is defined by at least one continuous curved section called primary neutral axis [En] having a length [Ln]. The blade's shape has a variable cross section along the Primary Neutral Axis [En].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
    Inventors: César Nieto Londoño, Juan Guillermo García Navarro, Julián Sierra Pérez
  • Patent number: 10184461
    Abstract: A pump has a housing having at least one inlet, one outlet, and an internal track with a given configuration. A piston movably positioned inside the housing has at least one protuberance movably mated to the track. As the piston is reciprocally driven by a motor, it is guided by the movement of the protuberance along the track to move bidirectionally along the housing and selectively rotate such that when the piston is moved to a first position, a fluid path is established through the inlet to enable fluid to be input into the housing. When the piston is moved to a second position, another fluid path is established through the outlet so that fluid is output from the housing. Multiple chambers may be formed in the housing to enable synchronous and selective opening and closing of respective inlets and outlets to enhance fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SMITHS MEDICAL ASD, INC.
    Inventor: Grant Adams
  • Patent number: 10184225
    Abstract: Closed circuit lines (33, 43, 53, 63) for connecting hydraulic cylinders (17, 18, 19) and closed circuit pumps (31, 41, 51, 61) are provided with a charge pressure adjustment apparatus (75) via a charge line (72) to variably adjust the pressure in the charge line (72). An operating device (12) for operating the hydraulic cylinders (17, 18, 19) and the charge pressure adjustment apparatus (75) are connected to a control device (81). In the case of extending the hydraulic cylinders (17, 18, 19), the control device (81) increases a set pressure of the charge pressure adjustment apparatus (75) to be high to increase the pressure in the bottom side of the hydraulic cylinders (17, 18, 19) in accordance with an operating amount of the operating device (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Hiraku, Teppei Saitoh
  • Patent number: 10180125
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining pressure and suction sides, and leading and trailing edges extending in a generally span-wise direction between an inboard region and an outboard region. The inboard region includes a blade root having a rounded trailing edge. Further, the rotor blade assembly further includes at least one airflow separation element mounted to either or both of the pressure or suction sides of the rotor blade within the inboard region and adjacent to the rounded trailing edge. In addition, the at least one airflow separation element corresponds to a contour of the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade. As such, the at least one airflow separation element is configured to provide a fixed airflow separation location in the inboard region during standard operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian A. Carroll, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Stefan Herr
  • Patent number: 10174622
    Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine may include at least two wrapped, serpentine-shaped internal cooling paths. A first one of the serpentine-shaped internal cooling paths may include a first passage that extends radially along a leading edge of the turbine blade from adjacent a root end of the turbine blade to adjacent a tip end of the turbine blade. The first passage may be configured to provide fresh cooling fluid to the leading edge. A second passage downstream of the first passage may be configured to discharge spent cooling fluid from the first passage of the first one of the serpentine-shaped internal cooling paths across a plurality of flow disrupters positioned along an upper span of a trailing edge of the turbine blade before exiting from the trailing edge of the turbine blade. A second one of the serpentine-shaped internal cooling paths may be configured to supply fresh cooling fluid to a lower span of the trailing edge of the turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Luzeng Zhang, Juan Yin, Hee Koo Moon
  • Patent number: 10174711
    Abstract: A piston that moves reciprocally in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine and has a piston skirt that makes sliding contact with the inner wall of the cylinder. Solid lubrication parts are provided on the sliding-contact surface of the piston skirt. The solid lubrication parts include at least one type of silver, silver alloy, copper, or copper alloy, and at least one type of carbon material or carbide ceramics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryotaro Takada, Yositaka Tsujii
  • Patent number: 10174765
    Abstract: An outlet housing for an aircraft cabin air compressor includes a volute comprising radially inner and outer portions, and having first, second, third, and fourth circumferential regions. The first circumferential region is between the fourth and second circumferential region. The second circumferential region is between the first circumferential region and the third circumferential region. The third circumferential region is between the second circumferential region and the fourth circumferential region. A portion of the volute in the first circumferential region has a first wall thickness. A portion of the volute in the second circumferential region has a second wall thickness. A portion of the volute in the third circumferential region has a third wall thickness. A portion of the volute in the fourth circumferential region has a fourth wall thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl A. Colson, Murtuza Lokhandwalla
  • Patent number: 10173767
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided and includes a gearbox housing through which a drive shaft configured to drive propeller rotation extends and a pitch control apparatus. The pitch control apparatus includes a drive element coupled to an exterior of the gearbox housing and an annular electro-mechanical actuator (EMA) configured to convert rotational energy generated by the drive element to thereby control a pitching of propeller blades about corresponding pitch axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: David A. Darrow, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10167734
    Abstract: A seal support and duct assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a seal support housing disposed about a central axis, a duct housing attached to the seal support housing, the duct housing and the seal support housing defining the seal support and duct assembly, an outer annular cavity, an inlet that supplies the outer annular cavity with cooling buffer air, an inner annular cavity disposed radially inward of the outer annular cavity, a first plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the outer annular cavity to the inner annular cavity, and a second plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the inner annular cavity to an area surrounding a bearing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Russell B. Witlicki, Christopher J. Larson, Robert C. Stutz, Eric Charles Mundell, Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 10167085
    Abstract: An aircraft anti-icing system includes an inlet lip that includes an outer shell attached to a bulkhead. The inlet lip encloses an annular housing volume. The system further includes one or more vanes extending from the bulkhead into the annular housing volume. Each vane of the one or more vanes includes a first end coupled to the bulkhead, a free end extending into the annular housing volume, and a vane body extending therebetween. The one or more vanes are positioned downstream from a nozzle configured to direct a high temperature gas stream into the annular housing volume in a first direction. The one or more vanes are configured to redirect the high temperature gas stream through a first turn angle from the first direction to a second direction. The second direction is configured to reduce a direct impingement of the high temperature gas stream on an inner surface of the inlet lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clark George Wiberg, Shiladitya Mukherjee
  • Patent number: 10167874
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of centrifugal pumps, and in particular it relates to a centrifugal pump (303, 403) comprising at least: an impeller (303a, 403a); a rotary shaft (302, 402) secured to said impeller (303a, 403a); a casing (320, 420) having an axial admission passage (325, 425); at least one first bearing (305, 405) supporting said rotary shaft (302, 402) in said casing (320, 420); and at least one dynamic seal (311, 411) around the rotary shaft (302, 402), the impeller (303a, 403a) being situated between the at least one dynamic seal (311, 411) and the axial admission passage (325, 425) of the pump (303, 403). The centrifugal pump (303, 403) also comprises, between the impeller (303a, 403a) and at least one dynamic seal (311, 411), an axial force compensation disk (330, 430) secured to the shaft (302, 402) and presenting a diameter greater than 70% of a diameter of the impeller (303a, 403a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Arianegroup SAS
    Inventors: François Danguy, Jean-Michel Nguyen Duc, Laurent Fabbri, Cëdric Sene
  • Patent number: 10167077
    Abstract: A dome for a rotor 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 towards a top face above the bottom face. The dome includes at least one slot extending between the periphery and the axis of rotation in elevation, each slot passing right through a thickness of the cap by extending in elevation from the bottom face to the top face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: David Alfano, Damien Desvigne, Raphael Fukari
  • Patent number: 10167076
    Abstract: A corrugated lift fan rotor is disclosed. In various embodiments, a rotor includes an upper skin, a lower skin, and an at least partly corrugated core encased between the upper skin and the lower skin. In some embodiments, the core comprises a composite material, such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer composite material, and includes an upper cap portion, a lower cap portion, and a web portion extending between the upper and lower cap portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Cody Patrick Leuck, Bernard F. Ahyow, Zachary Lovering, Ian Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10161412
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plurality of blades with a three-dimensional shape injection-molded at the same time, thereby reducing processes of manufacturing a centrifugal fan assembly. A centrifugal fan assembly includes a blade assembly formed by integrally injection-molding a plurality of blades where at least a part thereof is bent and a fixing portion, and a hub plate to which the fixing portion of the blade assembly is coupled, where the fixing portion includes at least one opening to allow extraction of the blade assembly from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hooi Joong Kim, Ho Choi