Patents Examined by Michael Sehn
  • Patent number: 9657591
    Abstract: A damping system for a turbomachine slip ring includes a slip ring assembly. The slip ring assembly includes a rotating component which is coupled at one end to a rotor shaft of the turbomachine and a stator component which circumferentially surrounds a rotatable center core portion of the rotating component. The system further includes a static structure which defines a carrier sleeve where the carrier sleeve circumferentially surrounds a portion of the stator component. The system also includes a damping material which extends radially between an inner surface of the carrier sleeve and an outer surface of the stator component so as to dissipate vibrational energy of the slip ring assembly during rotation of the rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Donald W. Shaw, Zachary John Snider
  • Patent number: 9650917
    Abstract: A nacelle for an engine has outer and inner cowl doors that are independently rotatable about offset hinge lines. A connection device is provided for selectively connecting the outer and inner cowl doors so as to cause them to open simultaneously. The inner cowl door is arranged to rotate by a greater angle than the outer cowl door so as to improve access to the engine for maintenance purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SHORT BROTHERS PLC
    Inventors: Timothy Stewart, Alan Tweedie, Michael Hatrick
  • Patent number: 9651022
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing wind turbine blades of variable length with connection elements with the rotor hub. The method includes providing and using enlarged manufacturing molds having a common zone of a predetermined length and, at least, an adaptive zone arranged with the length needed for manufacturing the blades with a desired length, particularly the length required for optimizing the annual energy production (AEP) of a predetermined wind turbine model in a predetermined site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: GAMESA INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
    Inventors: Ion Arocena De La Rua, Eneko Sanz Pascual, Maria Garcia Fernandez Aviles, Raquel Aguilar Melendez
  • Patent number: 9644637
    Abstract: An axial compressor includes a plurality of stator vanes attached to an inner surface of a casing defining an annular flow path and a plurality of rotor blades attached to a rotating rotor defining the annular flow path. A flow path is defined between a pressure surface of a stator vane and a suction surface of a stator vane, the vanes being circumferentially adjacent to each other, or between a pressure surface of a rotor blade and a suction surface of a rotor blade, the blades being circumferentially adjacent to each other. The flow path is formed so that a throat portion at which a flow path width is minimized is provided on the upstream side of 50% of an axial chord length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takahashi, Chihiro Myoren
  • Patent number: 9644541
    Abstract: A turbine engine including at least one shaft and at least one bearing for rotatably guiding the shaft about an axis of the turbine engine, the bearing including a first radially inner ring and a second radially outer ring enclosing rolling members, wherein the first ring is floatingly mounted on the shaft via a fluid damping film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Serge Rene Morreale, Laurent Gille
  • Patent number: 9638207
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump for handling abrasive-laden fluid is described. A centrifugal pump system for handling abrasive-laden fluid includes an impeller including an annular balance ring extending longitudinally on a top side of the impeller and an annular skirt extending longitudinally on a bottom side of the impeller, one of the annular balance ring, the annular skirt or a combination thereof having portions defining a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures form an abrasive-media relief path that bypasses at least a portion of a clearance gap and merges with a primary working-fluid flow path. A centrifugal pump impeller includes a bottom shroud, an annular skirt extending longitudinally upstream from the bottom shroud, the annular skirt encircling a central hub, and the annular skirt having an aperture extending through a thickness of the annular skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Summit ESP, LLC
    Inventors: Shiv Jayaram, Thomas John Gottschalk, Clint Franklin Hall, Wesley John Nowitzki
  • Patent number: 9624781
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a gas turbine blade for an aircraft engine, the gas turbine blade having a flow leading edge, a flow trailing edge, a suction side, and a pressure side, where the suction side and pressure side extend from the flow leading edge to the flow trailing edge, wherein the gas turbine blade has a damping layer on the flow leading edge and the damping layer comprising at least one matrix material and particles held in position by this matrix material. Further embodiments relate to a method of coating a gas turbine blade and a gas turbine incorporating a plurality of gas turbine blades in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: LUFTHANSA TECHNIK AG
    Inventor: Stefan Czerner
  • Patent number: 9611865
    Abstract: A bypass turbojet including a fan wheel carrying blades and surrounded by an annular casing, the casing including an air suction mechanism sucking air from an annular clearance formed between the casing and radially outer ends of the blades of the fan wheel. The air suction mechanism includes an inlet including at least one inlet slot formed in an inside wall of the casing and connected to a suction channel extending downstream. The inlet slot of the suction mechanism is situated axially in register solely with upstream portions of chords of the blades of the fan wheel at their radially outer ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Cedric Morel, Alexandre Alfred Gaston Vuillemin
  • Patent number: 9611784
    Abstract: A seal assembly of an air cycle machine includes a seal plate with an outer diameter. A bore extends axially through a center of the seal plate and a seal land is disposed at least partially within the bore. The seal land includes an inner diameter and a minimum ratio between the inner diameter of the seal land and the outer diameter of the seal plate is approximately 0.1985.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Craig M. Beers, Christopher McAuliffe
  • Patent number: 9605654
    Abstract: A method of operating at least one wind turbine is described, comprising: determining a plurality of stress events of at least one component of the at least one wind turbine; determining at least one accumulated stress from at least two of the plurality of stress events; determining at least one residual lifetime based at least partially on the at least one accumulated stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: Anders Wickström
  • Patent number: 9605543
    Abstract: A turbine engine blade made of composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix is fabricated by a method including: performing three-dimensional weaving to make a single-piece fiber blank; shaping the fiber blank to obtain a single-piece fiber preform having a first portion forming a preform for a blade root and an airfoil, at least one second portion forming a preform for a blade inner platform or for wipers of a blade outer platform, and at least one third portion forming a preform for reinforcing a blade inner platform or for overhangs of a blade outer platform; and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix to obtain a composite material blade having fiber reinforcement constituted by the preform and densified by the matrix, and forming a single piece with an inner and/or outer platform incorporated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: SNECMA, HERAKLES
    Inventors: Romain Nunez, Stephane Blanchard, Guillaume Renon, Dominique Coupe, Clement Roussille
  • Patent number: 9598980
    Abstract: A ram air turbine assembly includes a governor shaft rotatable about an axis and a stop shaft coupled for rotation with the governor shaft. A rotatable housing portion surrounds at least a portion of the stop shaft. A lock plunger extends through an opening in the rotatable housing portion to prevent rotation of the rotatable housing portion and minimize vibration impact loading when stowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Bannon, David E. Russ
  • Patent number: 9599119
    Abstract: A bearing for a turbocharger includes a bearing housing having a bearing portion of the turbocharger, a rotor shaft penetrating the interior of the bearing housing, a floating bush interposed between the bearing portion and the rotor shaft and configured to supply lubricating oil to an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface via an oil supply hole interconnecting the outer and inner peripheral surfaces, and a pressure receiving part for generating pressure by catching the flow of the lubricating oil, which is provided at a position on the inner peripheral surface of the floating bush not communicating with the oil supply hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Keitaro Kamata
  • Patent number: 9587495
    Abstract: A method of assembling a blade array includes the step of inserting a blade having a platform into a rotor. The blade includes a pocket radially beneath the platform that includes an interference feature. The blade corresponds to one of first and second blades that are scaled versions of one another. The method includes the step of selecting a damper seal, and inserting the damper seal into the pocket. The damper seal corresponds to one of first and second damper seals. The first damper seal cooperates with the interference feature thereby permitting the first damper seal to fully seat within the pocket. The second damper seal is obstructed by the interference feature thereby preventing the second damper seal from fully seating within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Beattie, Jeffrey Michael Jacques
  • Patent number: 9574447
    Abstract: A modification process and modified article are disclosed. The modification process includes locating an area in an article, removing the area by machining to form a machined region, inserting a modification material into the machined region, securing the modification material to the article, machining the modification material flush with a geometry of the article, and applying a coating over at least a portion of the article. Another modification process includes locating an area under a suction side leading edge tip shroud fillet of an airfoil, removing the area by machining to form a hole, inserting a modification material having improved material properties as compared to an original base material into the hole, securing the modification material in place, machining the modification material and the airfoil to form a new fillet contour, and applying a coating over at least a portion of the airfoil. Also disclosed is the modified article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Thompson, John David Ward, James Ryan Connor, Mark Lawrence Hunt, Blake Allen Fulton
  • Patent number: 9568022
    Abstract: An impeller which is applied to a fan includes a hub, a plurality of first centrifugal blade and a plurality of second centrifugal blades. The hub is disposed in an accommodating space of the fan. The first centrifugal blades and the second centrifugal blades are connected to the hub. The first centrifugal blades have first ends away from the hub. The second centrifugal blades have second ends away from the hub. A distance between the second end and a center of the hub is larger than that between the first end and the hub center, and the first centrifugal blades and the second centrifugal blades are arranged periodically. Thus, an airflow noise in a constant frequency generated by the impeller can be avoided, and noises in inconstant frequency would not accumulate or generate annoying noise peak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventor: Ing-Jer Chiou
  • Patent number: 9562469
    Abstract: An exhaust gas turbocharger (1) having a compressor (2), a turbine (3) which has a turbine casing (4) in which a wastegate opening (5) is arranged and which has a charge pressure control flap arrangement (6) with a flap plate (7) which can be moved between a closed position and an open position. The flap plate (7) is provided with a guide lever (8) whose first end (9) is connected to a rear side (10) of the flap plate (7) and whose second free end (11) is guided in a curved track (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Silvio Koch
  • Patent number: 9562535
    Abstract: A cross-flow fan (10) including a plurality of impellers (11a to 11g) connected in a direction of a rotation axis, each of the impellers (11a to 11g) including: a plurality of blades (12a to 12r); a first connection portion (13) having at least one projection; and a second connection portion (14) having concavities in a larger quantity than the projection, wherein, in a connection between the first connection portion (13) of one of the impellers (11a to 11g) and the second connection portion (14) of another one of the impellers (11a to 11g), the projection of the one of the impellers (11a to 11g) and one part of the concavities of the other one of the impellers (11a to 11g) are fitted to each other in one fitted state among N (N is an integer not smaller than two) ways of fitted states of having a matched rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Noriko Masuta
  • Patent number: 9546639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic device of reversible type adapted to be used both as a water turbine and a hydraulic pump. Said device has characteristics of simplicity of construction and use. In the case of use as a water turbine it does not require distributors of a particular shape and does not require drops of great heights being adapted to take advantage of the pressure of the fluid and not only of the speed thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: Abdullah Amirian
  • Patent number: 9540955
    Abstract: A stator assembly or a stator stage is disclosed. The stator assembly includes an endless case that is coupled to or includes at least one lug for engaging an anti-rotation stator segment. The anti-rotator segment includes one curved side edge and one straight or linear side edge. The case also accommodates a plurality of middle stator segments, each having curved side edges on both sides. Finally, a third type of stator segment is a “neighbor” stator segment with one curved side edge and one linear side edge that abuttingly engages the linear side edge of the anti-rotation stator segment. The straight or linear side edges of the anti-rotation stator segments and the neighbor stator segments enable an endless case to be loaded with stator segments from an axial direction. None of the stator segments need to be installed from a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark David Ring