Patents Examined by Maxime Adjagbe
  • Patent number: 9080452
    Abstract: A stator vane for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil extending in a radial direction and supported by a platform having a gas flowpath surface. A cooling passage is arranged in the platform and includes a circumferential passage that is fluidly connected to an inlet passage extending through and edge of the platform, and film cooling holes extending from the gas flowpath surface to the circumferential passage, radial extending passage through the edge of the platform. A void is interconnected to at least one of the radially extending passage and the inlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark A. Boeke, Shawn J. Gregg, Sarah Riley, Jeffrey J. DeGray, Richard M. Salzillo
  • Patent number: 9080458
    Abstract: A multi impingement plate assembly for a Blade Outer Air Seal (BOAS) includes a first impingement plate which defines a multiple of first impingement plate holes and a second impingement plate attached to the first impingement plate. The second impingement plate includes a platform section spaced away from the multiple of first impingement plate holes to define a plate cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dmitriy A. Romanov
  • Patent number: 9068818
    Abstract: A rotor hub assembly includes a rotor hub for supporting a telescoping rotor blade having an outboard section; and a drive mechanism associated with the telescoping rotor blade, the drive mechanism including: a motor; a spool driven by the motor; and a strap wound on the spool, the strap coupled to the outboard section of the telescoping rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Todd David Walker, Bryan Kenneth Baskin
  • Patent number: 9068462
    Abstract: A process of welding an article and a welded turbine blade are disclosed. The process includes fusion welding over a primary symmetry line determined from a center of gravity on a first side of the article or blade and fusion welding over the primary symmetry line determined from the center of gravity on a second side of the article or blade. The fusion treating includes multiple fusion treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yan Cui, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam, Brian Lee Tollison, Dechao Lin, David Edward Schick, George Meng
  • Patent number: 9062560
    Abstract: A variable stator vane assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a variable stator vane and a non-structural fairing on the variable stator vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K. Hayford, David P. Dube
  • Patent number: 9062651
    Abstract: A wind power system comprising a vertical tower defining a vertical travel path; a carriage mounted to the tower and configured to move along the travel path; and wind turbine mounted to the carriage and having rotatable blades to convert wind energy into electrical energy. The system may include one or more gear racks secured to the outside diameter of the tower upon which the carriage moves. The system may include a locking mechanism configured to lock the carriage in a working position at a top of the travel path, a maintenance position at a bottom of the travel path, and/or a storm position at a midpoint of the travel path. The turbine may be configured to hold the blades in a vertical alignment parallel to the tower, when the carriage is in the storm position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: GRANT VENT POWER LLC
    Inventor: Herman J. Schellstede
  • Patent number: 9057287
    Abstract: A steam turbine exhaust hood includes an exhaust hood section, and a butterfly plate arranged in the exhaust hood section. The butterfly plate includes a complex curvilinear cross-sectional profile having a first section that extends between a first end portion and a middle portion, and a second section that extends between the middle portion and a second end portion. One of the first and second sections is formed from at least two curvilinear segments including at least one curvilinear segment having a positive curvature and at least one curvilinear segment having a negative curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Antanu Sadhu, Prakash Bavanjibhai Dalsania, Shashwat Swami Jaiswal
  • Patent number: 9039377
    Abstract: In general terms, embodiments of the present invention relate to fan assemblies and methods for installing the same. For example, some embodiments of the present invention include a fan assembly that includes: (a) a rotational member; (b) a connection member structured for connection to the rotational member and including a body portion and a head portion; and (c) a blade arm defining an opening therein, such that the opening includes an open end portion and a closed end portion. In some embodiments, the connection member and the blade arm are configured such that, (a) when the blade arm is positioned in a support state, the head portion of the connection member rests against the blade arm to support the blade arm relative to the rotational member, and (b) when the blade arm is positioned in a secure state, the head portion of the connection member at least partially bears against the blade arm adjacent to the opening defined in the blade arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: LOWE'S COMPANIES, INC.
    Inventors: Curtis Nolan Lagman, Jean Tuck McGregor, James Michael Broughman, John Caleb Dawson, Dominic Louis Sasso
  • Patent number: 9033672
    Abstract: Wind turbine rotor blades with a reduced radar cross sections include a shell having a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, a structural support member that supports the shell and is disposed internal the wind turbine rotor blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, wherein the structural support member comprises fiberglass, one or more cavities internal the wind turbine rotor blade, and a lightweight broadband radar absorbing filler material disposed in at least one of the one or more cavities to provide the reduced radar cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Russell Craig Baucke, John Matthew Prescott, Lesly Sue Walters
  • Patent number: 9033671
    Abstract: Wind turbine rotor blades include a shell having a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, a structural support member that supports the shell and is disposed internal the wind turbine rotor blade between the leading edge and the trailing edge and extends for at least a portion of a rotor blade span length, and a resistive cellular support structure disposed at least partially about the wind turbine rotor blade that physically supports at least a portion of the wind turbine rotor blade and at least partially absorbs radar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Russell Craig Baucke
  • Patent number: 9017035
    Abstract: A blade is provided and includes a platform and a root configured to be connected to a blade carrier. Airfoil portions extend from opposite sides of the platform. Each airfoil portion defines an operating surface being the surface facing the other airfoil portion. An operating surface of one of the airfoil portions defines a suction side and the other operating surface of the other airfoil portion defines a pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Marmilic, Carlos Simon-Delgado, Herbert Brandl
  • Patent number: 9011099
    Abstract: An HVLS fan system uses STOL technology for airfoils and angle of attack thus optimizing air movement efficiency and reducing drag. The HVLS fan system includes wingtip fence end caps to the airfoils for improving efficiency by reducing drag. The HVLS fan system also includes an interconnection of the airfoils to a securing plate thus providing a failsafe and reduced potential for damage or injury resulting from failure of the connection between the airfoil array and a drive unit such as an electric motor and associated gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: SkyBlade Fan Company
    Inventors: John D. Wortman, Jonathon M. Jones, Ivan Russell
  • Patent number: 8998574
    Abstract: A vane assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes extending radially between an outer case and an inner case. A spring-tensioned stator restraining strap is provided around the outer case and surrounding outer ends of the respective vanes. The outer ends of the vanes are received in corresponding openings defined in the outer case and project radially outwardly from the outer case. The spring-tensioned strap compresses the respective vanes radially and inwardly in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: David Harold Menheere, Richard Ivakitch, Andreas Eleftheriou
  • Patent number: 8998564
    Abstract: An example method of reducing loads on a connection shaft includes disengaging a connection shaft from a motor-generator such that the connection shaft is not rotatably coupled to the motor-generator. The method communicates a fluid away from the motor-generator through a communication path established within the connection shaft. An example turbomachine connection shaft is configured to selectively rotatably couple a turbomachine rotor and a motor-generator. The connection shaft establishes a communication path that selectively vents the motor-generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn C. Lemmers, Jr., David S. Behling, Luke Wagner
  • Patent number: 8992171
    Abstract: An energy efficient climate control system for an offshore wind turbine that is integrated with the component cooling system is disclosed. The climate control system includes a cooling circuit adapted to carry heat generated by a component of the nacelle to outside the nacelle. The climate control system also includes an airflow system adapted to receive a warm outflow of coolant from the cooling circuit, across a variable flow control valve, the airflow system supplying clean ambient air to the nacelle at a predetermined relative humidity. The variable flow control valve regulates a flow rate of the coolant through the airflow system to adjust the relative humidity of the air entering the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventor: Peri Sabhapathy
  • Patent number: 8985942
    Abstract: An exhaust duct comprises a shroud body, a forward flange assembly, an aft flange assembly, an intermediate flange assembly, and a first plurality of bleed ports. The forward flange assembly extends radially inward from a forward shroud end for securing the forward shroud end downstream of a final turbine stage. The aft flange assembly extends circumferentially around and radially inward from an aft shroud end for securing the aft shroud end to an engine tail cone. The intermediate flange assembly is disposed forward of the aft flange assembly, and extends circumferentially around and radially inward from the shroud body for securing the shroud body to an engine bearing housing. The first plurality of bleed ports is disposed around the shroud body forward of a junction with the intermediate flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Daniels, John J. Korzendorfer, David A. Debyah, Scott A. Ladd
  • Patent number: 8979476
    Abstract: A pump for solids handling is provided having a suction liner in combination with an impeller. The suction liner has a suction liner spiral design. The impeller has forward curved impeller suction side pump out vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ITT Manfacturing Enterprises, LLC.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Davis, Eugene P. Sabini, Simon Craig Caioneach Bradshaw
  • Patent number: 8961121
    Abstract: A casing of a centrifugal fan includes a suction port forming wall portion, an opposed wall portion opposed to the suction port forming wall portion, and a sidewall portion connecting the suction port forming wall portion and the opposed wall portion. A tongue portion is provided at the sidewall portion. The tongue portion projects into an air passage in the vicinity of a discharge port to form a narrowed air passage portion within the air passage. A leading end surface of the tongue portion is shaped such that the width of the leading end surface increases from the suction port forming wall portion, where the suction port is formed, to the opposed wall portion. The tongue portion is shaped such that the projecting length of the tongue portion into the air passage continuously decreases from the suction port forming wall portion to the opposed wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Yen, Jiro Watanabe, Hiromitsu Kuribayashi, Shigekazu Mitomo
  • Patent number: 8951012
    Abstract: According to at least one exemplary embodiment, an oil-free contra-rotating transmission is disclosed. The contra-rotating transmission may comprise a lower drive unit; and an upper drive unit, wherein the lower drive unit receives power from a motor and is configured to (i) transfer power from the motor to the upper drive unit, and (ii) rotate a first axial fan in a first direction. The upper drive unit may be configured to rotate the second axial fan in a second direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: JVS Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: John Santoro
  • Patent number: 8939720
    Abstract: A volute shaped pump casing (1) for a centrifugal pump includes a chamber for housing at least one impeller (4) mounted on a shaft (2) for rotating the impeller around an axis of rotation (2a), a volute shaped chamber which forms a flow channel divided into a first volute (5.1) and a second volute (5.2), and a first channel (6.1) and a second channel (6.2) connected to the first and the second volute respectively. The first channel is also called long channel and the second channel is also called short channel. In the volute shaped pump casing (1), the first or long channel (6.1) is axially displaced with respect to the second or short channel (6.2) and/or with respect to the second volute (5.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sulzer Pumpen AG
    Inventor: Arnaldo Rodrigues