Patents Examined by Michael L Sehn
  • Pulse-induced cyclic control lift propeller
    Patent number: 11834164
    Abstract: The present application relates to a propulsion device having a motor, a mast connected to the motor, an angle sensing device detecting the angle of the mast, a controller receiving the angle of the mast as an input and outputting a motor torque signal to the motor in response thereto, a hub attached to the mast via a single skewed hinge, and a propeller assembly with one or more blades connected to a hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: IQINETICS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Matthew Piccoli
  • Fan with increased efficiency mode
    Patent number: 11828292
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a fan and a controller configured for controlling the fan to operate in a first mode limiting rotational speed of the fan within a first range of speeds between a first minimum speed and a first maximum speed. The controller is further configured to control the fan to operate in a second mode limiting rotational speed of the fan within a second range of speeds between a second minimum speed and a second maximum speed. The second range of speeds may be narrower than the first range of speeds. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: DELTA T, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Evans, Andrew Koukis, Pete Maley, Christian Taber
  • Fibrous preform for the aerodynamic profile of a turbomachine blade
    Patent number: 11828195
    Abstract: A woven fibrous preform of a hollow aerodynamic profile of a turbomachine vane or blade, has a non-interlinked trailing edge and a draping of two 3D woven fibrous textures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN CERAMICS
    Inventors: Clément Marie Benoît Roussille, Matthieu Arnaud Gimat, Julien André Roger Mateo
  • Blower vane
    Patent number: 11821333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blower vane of a turbomachine, comprising a structure made of composite material which comprises a fibrous reinforcement and a matrix in which the fibrous reinforcement is embedded. The vane comprises a first rigidification insert which extends in a first direction and at least one second insert which is connected to the first in a second direction which is non-collinear with the first direction, the first insert projecting from the vane in order to be connected to a disc of a turbomachine element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Clément Pierre Postec, Vivien Mickaël Courtier, Vincent Joudon
  • Centrifugal compressor with recirculation passage
    Patent number: 11808277
    Abstract: An example centrifugal compressor includes a housing that defines an inlet chamber and includes first and second openings that define a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the inlet chamber. An impeller is disposed within the housing and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis to draw fluid into the inlet chamber. The first and second openings are at different axial locations along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of inlet guide vanes are rotatable and situated in the inlet chamber. The centrifugal compressor includes a ring and a controller for moving the ring along the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position when rotating the inlet guide vanes. The ring obstructs at least one of the first and second openings more in the second position than in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Vishnu M. Sishtla, William T. Cousins
  • Removable trailing edge assembly and system for rotor blade trailing edge actuation
    Patent number: 11794887
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a rotary wing aircraft includes a main rotor blade body comprising an upper blade skin, a lower blade skin, an inboard end, an outboard end, and a trailing edge. The rotor blade assembly further includes a trailing edge actuator assembly. The trailing edge actuator assembly includes an upper actuator skin and a lower actuator skin defining a cavity and a trailing edge flap, a control panel disposed in the cavity and coupled to one of the upper actuator skin or the lower actuator skin and one or more actuators disposed in the cavity and configured to apply force to the control panel to cause the trailing edge flap to deflect. The trailing edge actuator assembly is coupled to the trailing edge of the main rotor blade body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Walter DiPalma, Timothy James Conti, Claude George Matalanis
  • Method for designing vane of fan, compressor and turbine of axial flow type, and vane obtained by the designing
    Patent number: 11795823
    Abstract: Provided are a method for designing a vane, which can reduce peaks of secondary flow losses appearing locally in secondary flow regions and a vane obtained by the designing. The method for designing a vane includes: a step of determining a base vane formed by stacking profiles having airfoil shapes in a spanwise direction along a stacking line which is configured as a smooth curved line having no inflection point or a straight line; and a step of changing the stacking line of the base vane to a smooth wavy curved line which waves in an axial direction of a fan, a compressor or a turbine and has no elbows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juo Furukawa, Masaaki Hamabe, Yasuhiro Okamura, Daisuke Nishii
  • Blowing device and combustion device including same
    Patent number: 11795966
    Abstract: Provided is a blowing device capable of improving a noise reduction effect as compared with a conventional case, and a combustion device including the blowing device is provided. In a rear side shroud of an impeller configuring a blowing device, a first inclined surface portion that is inclined so as to be located frontward toward the radial outer side is formed in a front surface portion of the rear side shroud in a region close to the outer peripheral edge, while a second inclined surface portion that is inclined so as to be located rearward toward the radial outer side is formed in a front surface portion of the rear side shroud in a region closer to the center than the first inclined surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NORITZ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Umakoshi, Mikihiro Iwamoto
  • Fail safety apparatus of air mobility
    Patent number: 11787530
    Abstract: A fail safety apparatus of the air mobility is provided. Locations of propeller modules are adjusted by rotation parts and length adjustment units to evenly distribute thrust of the re-located propeller modules so that the attitude of the air mobility is stabilized. In particular, when one propeller module among a plurality of propeller modules fails, the attitude of the air mobility is normalized by adjusting a location of the failed propeller module and locations of remaining normal propeller modules so that flight safety of the air mobility is secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Youn Sic Nam, Ui Jin Jung, Young Tae Kim, Young Heon Kim
  • Bifurcated fabric architecture for airfoils, methods of manufacture thereof and airfoils comprising the same
    Patent number: 11781435
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ceramic matrix composite airfoil comprising a triple bifurcated ply that defines a suction side, an outer platform, a pressure side and an inner platform of the airfoil, wherein the triple bifurcated ply comprises at least one ply that comprises a consolidated region, wherein the consolidated region is split into two bifurcated regions in three locations in three different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Robin H. Fernandez, John D. Riehl, Aaron Tomich, Steven R. Clarke
  • Hybridized airfoil for a gas turbine engine
    Patent number: 11781436
    Abstract: An airfoil for a gas turbine engine includes a first portion joined to a second portion along an interface such that at least the first portion establishes an airfoil section and the second portion establishes a root section. The airfoil section includes an airfoil body that extends between leading and trailing edges in a chordwise direction, between pressure and suction sides separated in a thickness direction, and from the root section to a tip portion in a spanwise direction. A recessed region extends inwardly from at least one of the pressure and suction sides. The airfoil body includes at least one rib that bounds a respective pocket within a perimeter of the recessed region. The recessed region and the at least one rib are dimensioned to extend across the interface. A cover skin is coupled to the airfoil body along the at least one rib to enclose the recessed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bales, Dmitri Novikov, Robert C. Dolan, Eric W. Malmborg, Steven T. Gordon
  • Fibrous texture for manufacturing a fan blade made of composite material
    Patent number: 11753949
    Abstract: A fibrous texture intended to form the fibrous reinforcement of a turbomachine blade made of composite material including a fibrous reinforcement densified by a matrix, wherein the fibrous texture includes an area of reduced stiffness including warp yarns or strands made of second fibers having a second elongation at break greater than the first elongation at break, the area of reduced stiffness extending in the longitudinal direction from the stilt area and up to a height less than or equal to 30% of the height of the blade, extending in the transverse direction between a first area and a second area, the first area extending over a first length from a first edge of the texture intended to form a leading edge, and the second area extending over a second length from a second edge of the texture intended to form a trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Guillaume Pascal Jean-Charles Gondre, Clément Pierre Postec
  • Woven fibrous preform for producing a composite part, especially a turbomachine blade
    Patent number: 11753948
    Abstract: A fibrous preform obtained by three-dimensional weaving, comprising a first skin, a second skin, and a central portion connecting them and forming a stiffening element. In a transverse plane, transverse threads of the first skin and the second skin are woven in pairs in the first skin and the second skin on either side of the central portion; the threads of a first pair of the first skin and of a second pair of the second skin are separated into two unitary threads at the central portion by being woven with longitudinal threads, and a thread of the first pair crosses a thread of the second pair at least twice in the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventors: Yann Didier Simon Marchal, Dominique Marie Christian Coupe
  • Gas turbine engine components with foam filler for impact resistance
    Patent number: 11746660
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil extending radially relative to a central reference axis. A spar is located within the airfoil and spaced from the airfoil at all radial locations along the airfoil such that a gap is maintained between the airfoil and the spar. A foam is located between the airfoil and the spar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce High Temperature Composites Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Whittle, Stephen Harris
  • Wind energy installation and a method of operating a wind energy installation
    Patent number: 11746748
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind energy installation wherein a rotor has a first rotor blade which can be angularly adjusted, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the rotor blade, and a safety control system. In a normal mode of operation, the first adjustment drive is supplied with energy from a source and is controlled by a first pitch control system. In a failure mode of operation, the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive is switched from the source to an energy storage device and the safety control system monitors a position and/or movement of the first rotor blade. The first rotor blade is adjusted by the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while the safety control system, as a function of the monitored position and/or movement, enables or effects a deactivation of a first power supply shut-off device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Hör, Stefan Behl, Karsten Warfen
  • Voluted hook angel-wing flow discourager
    Patent number: 11746666
    Abstract: In the turbine of a gas turbine engine, disk cavities exist between rotor and stator assemblies. These disk cavities enable hot gas from the hot gas flow path to ingress between the rotor and stator assemblies with detrimental effects to the durability of the turbine. Thus, a flow discourager is disclosed that can be integrated into the platform of a stator assembly that is downstream from a rotor assembly. The flow discourager comprises a continuous external surface that defines a recirculation zone within a disk cavity that is aft to a rotor assembly to circulate the hot gas back out into the hot gas flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Yong W. Kim, John F. Lockyer, Raymond I. Alvarez
  • Woven fibrous preform for manufacturing a fan blade made of composite material
    Patent number: 11739649
    Abstract: A three-dimensional fibrous preform of a fan blade includes a blade root and a blade airfoil between the blade root and a free end of the preform. The airfoil has an area with two skins and a longitudinal stiffener between the skins and, in a transverse plane, transverse yarns of the skins woven in pairs in the first and in the second skin either side of the stiffener, the yarns of a first pair of the first skin are separated into two unit yarns at the stiffener, the unit yarns being woven separately with longitudinal yarns, the yarns of a second pair of the second skin are separated into two unit yarns at the stiffener, the yarns being woven separately with longitudinal yarns, and a yarn of each pair cross over each other twice in the stiffener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventors: Yann Didier Simon Marchal, Dominique Marie Christian Coupe
  • Profiled structure for an aircraft or turbomachine for an aircraft
    Patent number: 11732588
    Abstract: A turbomachine includes a rotor and a stator, the stator having a plurality of profiled structures, each profiled structure being elongated in a direction of elongation in which the profiled structure has a length exposed to an airflow, and having a leading edge and/or a trailing edge, at least one of which is profiled and has, in said direction of elongation, serrations defined by a succession of peaks and troughs and having a geometric pattern transformed, over at least a part of said length exposed to the airflow, by successive scaling, via multiplicative factors, in the direction of elongation and/or transverse to the direction of elongation. The geometric pattern, as defined with reference to a radial distribution of the integral scale of the turbulence, evolves in a non-periodic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, OFFICE NATIONAL D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AEROSPATIALES
    Inventors: Fernando Gea Aguilera, Raphaël Barrier, Mathieu Simon Paul Gruber, Cyril Polacsek, Hélène Dominique Jeanne Posson
  • Ceramic matrix composite turbine vane assembly having minimalistic support spars
    Patent number: 11732596
    Abstract: A turbine vane assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of turbine vanes, an outer vane support, and an inner vane support. The plurality of turbine vanes comprise ceramic matrix composite material and are adapted to interact with hot gases flowing through a gas path of the gas turbine engine during use of the turbine vane assembly. A spar system couples the inner vane support with the outer vane support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel Clark, Michael J. Whittle, Carl Boettcher, David C. Wright
  • Steam turbine hollow blade
    Patent number: 11732615
    Abstract: A steam turbine hollow stationary blade is able to reduce the amount of water droplets captured on a blade surface. The steam turbine hollow stationary blade, which has a cavity therein, includes a partition wall dividing the cavity into a pressure chamber on a leading edge side and an exhaust chamber on a trailing edge side, at least one steam inlet hole connecting the pressure chamber and an outside of the stationary blade to each other, and at least one pressure conditioning hole connecting the pressure chamber and the exhaust chamber. Total opening area of the pressure conditioning hole is smaller than total opening area of the steam inlet hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sasao, Soichiro Tabata, Ryo Takata, Nao Taniguchi