Patents Examined by Ned Landrum
  • Patent number: 8915702
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a central body support that provides an inner annular wall for a core flow path. The central body support includes a first mount feature. A geared architecture interconnects a spool and a fan rotatable about an axis. A flex support interconnects the geared architecture to the central body support. The flex support includes a second mount feature that cooperates with the first mount feature for transferring torque there between. A method of disassembling a front architecture of a gas turbine engine includes the steps of accessing forward-facing fasteners that secure a central body support to a flex support, wherein the flex support includes a geared architecture supported thereon, removing the fasteners, and decoupling first and second mount features respectively provided on the central body support and the flex support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Otto, Brian P. Cigal, Sunil Sharma
  • Patent number: 8910562
    Abstract: A pneumatic system controlling a bath crust breaker includes a cylinder defining a piston chamber. A piston is slideably displaced within the cylinder by pressurized fluid directed to either a piston chamber first portion with respect to the piston or a piston chamber second portion oppositely positioned about the piston. A pneumatic valve system includes a first control valve aligned between first control valve first and second positions, the first control valve first position aligned with the first portion, and in the first control valve second position is aligned with the second portion. A second control valve is aligned between second control valve first and second positions. An orifice between a pressure source and first control valve is sized to control fluid flow rate so a pressure reached in either the first or second portion during a crust breaking cycle is less than a pressure source maximum pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: MAC Valves, Inc.
    Inventor: Gilles Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 8905712
    Abstract: A support bar for a steam turbine nozzle assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the support bar includes a hook-shaped portion for engaging a lip portion of a steam turbine diaphragm, wherein the steam turbine support bar is configured to non-affixedly join a steam turbine casing to the steam turbine diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Prashant Prabhakar Sankolli, Dominick Joseph Werther
  • Patent number: 8905716
    Abstract: A sealing system for a gas turbine engine includes an arcuate first ladder seal segment having a central portion, an upstream flange adjoining the central portion, a downstream flange adjoining the central portion opposite the upstream flange, and a plurality of openings. The upstream flange is arranged at an angle ?U greater than 0° and less than 90° relative to a given tangential plane, and the downstream flange is arranged at an angle ?D greater than 0° and less than 90° relative to the given tangential plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Kimberly Pash Boyington
  • Patent number: 8905710
    Abstract: A turbomachine rotor wheel including blades made of composite material; an annular mounting plate; a plurality of composite material blades mounted on the mounting plate, each blade also including a top platform at its tip carrying radial labyrinth teeth; an orientation disk fastened coaxially around the mounting plate and including at its outer periphery a plurality of axial slots that are open at one end, each slot presenting a cross-section that matches the cross-section of a blade root so as to hold it angularly in position by co-operation of shapes; and a variable-diameter spring ring housed in part in an axial notch formed in each blade root and projecting axially relative thereto, the spring ring to come into radial abutment against an inside surface of the orientation disk during radial outward movement of the blades relative to the mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Stephane Blanchard, Alain Gendraud
  • Patent number: 8899913
    Abstract: An assembly with a turbine disk for a gas turbine engine and a bearing-supporting journal, the turbine disk having a radial annular fastening flange secured to a radial annular part of the journal by bolts, the bolts passing successively through fastening bores formed in the radial annular fastening flange of the turbine disk and in the radial annular part of the journal, the radial annular part of the journal having air circulation openings, the openings being formed between the fastening bores of the journal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Damien Bonneau, Fabrice Garin, Maurice Guy Judet, Thomas Langevin
  • Patent number: 8899032
    Abstract: A stator assembly for a torque converter includes first and second blade plates, a one-way clutch assembly disposed axially between the blade plates and a centering plate. The one-way clutch assembly has an inner race with an outer circumferential surface, an outer race with an outer circumferential surface, and a plurality of blocking elements disposed radially between the inner race and the outer race. The centering plate includes a ring portion grippingly engaged with the outer race outer circumferential surface and an annular portion with an inner circumferential surface arranged to radially position the inner race outer circumferential surface. In an example embodiment, at least one of the blade plates is made by stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: William Brees
  • Patent number: 8894349
    Abstract: A turbomachine casing assembly comprises a first casing portion for at least partially encasing one or more rotating aerofoil structures of a turbomachine and a second casing portion; the first casing portion being movable with respect to the second casing portion. One or more resilient elements are arranged so as to resist movement of the first casing portion with respect to the second casing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Cedric B Harper
  • Patent number: 8894348
    Abstract: Wind turbine systems and methods are provided. The wind turbine system includes a plurality of coaxial, counter-rotating turbine assemblies. First and second shroud assemblies define a generally spherical volume containing the first and second turbine assemblies. The first and second shroud assemblies each include a shroud member that can selectively shield or expose portions of the respective turbine assemblies to the wind by changing the rotational position of the shroud members about the system axis. The turbine assemblies are interconnected to a generator for the production of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Andrew Carlton Thacker, II
  • Patent number: 8888436
    Abstract: The present application provides a section cooling system for a steam turbine to limit a leakage flow therethrough. The section cooling system may include a first pressure flow extraction from a first section to a shaft packing location between the first section and a second section and a rotor aperture extending towards the first section. The first pressure flow extraction diverts the leakage flow from the first section into the rotor aperture so as to limit the leakage flow to the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Santhosh Donkada, Howard Brilliant, Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Debabrata Mukhopadhyay
  • Patent number: 8888446
    Abstract: A turbomachine rotor includes: a rotor body having an outer surface; and a patterned abrasive or abradable coating formed over the outer surface of the rotor body, the patterned abrasive or abradable coating for directing a flow of a working fluid across the turbomachine rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sulficker Ali, Vasanth Muralidharan
  • Patent number: 8888444
    Abstract: A steam seal system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the steam seal system includes: a low pressure steam turbine positioned on a shaft; a pair of end packings surrounding the shaft, each of the pair of end packings located proximate an axial end of the low pressure steam turbine along the shaft; and an pair of extraction conduits fluidly connected to the low pressure steam turbine and the shaft, the pair of extraction conduits connected to the shaft at a location axially outward of the pair of end packings and the low pressure steam turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nestor Hernandez Sanchez, Kamlesh Mundra
  • Patent number: 8881515
    Abstract: A damper assembly for a torque converter includes a drive side elastic element arranged for transmitting torque to a turbine for the torque converter in a first direction and a coast side elastic element, separate from the drive side elastic element, arranged for transmitting torque to the turbine in a second direction opposite the first direction. In an example embodiment, a slope of a torque curve for the damper remains constant in a transition region between transmitting torque to the turbine in the first direction and transmitting torque to the turbine in the second direction. In an example embodiment, the damper assembly includes an input damper and an output damper. The elastic elements are disposed in a torque path between the input damper and the output damper. In an example embodiment, the input damper is selectively engaged with a cover for the torque converter and the output damper is drivingly engaged with an output hub for the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick Lindemann, Brian Zaugg, Chad Mieczkowski
  • Patent number: 8882454
    Abstract: A ram air fan bearing housing for a ram air fan assembly includes a bearing section, a disk section, and radial support ribs. The disk section is at one end of the bearing section for connecting the bearing section to the ram air fan assembly. The disk section includes an outer ring with a circumferential support rib; and a disk wall connecting the outer ring to the bearing section. The disk wall includes arcuate cooling slots defined by edges, including an arcuate edge having an arc center at an axis of the bearing housing and positioned adjacent to and radially inward from the circumferential support rib. The radial support ribs extend axially along most of the length of the bearing section and extend radially along the disk wall to the circumferential support rib. The radial support ribs and the cooling slots alternate about the axis of the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Chrabascz, Brent J. Merritt
  • Patent number: 8882449
    Abstract: A shell differential expansion detector and turbomachine including a detector are disclosed. In an embodiment, the shell differential expansion detector device includes a housing; and a first rod including a distal part extending through a first opening in the housing. The first rod further includes a proximal part within the housing. A sleeve surrounds the distal part of the first rod on an exterior of the housing; and an actuator arm is affixed to the first rod. A second rod is disposed in physical contact at a distal end thereof with the actuator arm; and a shell expansion detector is operably connected with the second rod at a proximal end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael Earl Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8881519
    Abstract: A slewing-type working machine capable of reducing back pressure generated during slewing. The slewing-type working machine includes: a base carrier; an upper slewing body; a hydraulic motor including first and second ports and slewing the upper slewing body; a hydraulic pump, a slewing operation device including an operating member; a control valve controlling the hydraulic motor based on the operation signal of the slewing operation device; first and second pipe-lines connecting the first and second ports of the hydraulic motor to the control valve; a communication switching device capable of switching communication and cutting of between both pipe-lines and the tank; and a switching command section operating the communication switching devices, when the upper slewing body is slewed, to bring only a pipe-line, which corresponds to a discharge-side pipe-line of the hydraulic motor, of the pipe-lines into communication with the tank, while bypassing the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8881641
    Abstract: A fluid-driven motor has a manifold with an arcuate seal including first and second valve openings and a sealing surface. A cylinder pivotally mounted on the manifold has a facing surface cooperating with the arcuate seal. The arcuate seal and the facing surface define a position-responsive valve configuration such that, when the cylinder assumes a neutral position, an aperture of the facing surface faces the sealing surface, and when the cylinder is angularly displaced in either direction, the aperture overlaps one or other of the valve openings, thereby connecting to the correspond fluid flow channel in the manifold. A pressure compensation volume underlies the sealing surface and receives fluid pressure from the fluid flow channels through valves, or from the internal volume of the cylinder, so that a pressure within the pressure compensation volume approaches a value no less than a current pressure within the internal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventor: Ehud Nagler
  • Patent number: 8876483
    Abstract: Structural preform layers of multiple rigid unidirectional strength elements or rods are constructed and arranged for use in fabricating load-bearing support structures and reinforcements of wind turbine blades. Individual preform layers include multiple elongate unidirectional strength elements or rods arranged in a single layer along a longitudinal axis of the preform layer. Each preform layer includes one or more fibrous carrier layers to which the multiple strength elements or rods are joined and arranged in the single layer. Each strength element or rod is longitudinally oriented and adjacent to other elements or rods. Individual strength elements or rods include a mass of substantially straight unidirectional structural fibers embedded within a matrix resin such that the elements or rods have a substantially uniform distribution of fibers and high degree of fiber collimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Neptco, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel D. Gruhn, Ethan Franklin, Kameshwaran Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 8876478
    Abstract: A damper pin for a turbine bucket includes an elongated main body portion having a first substantially uniform cross-sectional shape and axially-aligned, leading and trailing end portions having a second relatively smaller cross-sectional shape at opposite ends of the main body portion. A seal element is provided on one or both of the opposite leading and trailing end portions projecting radially outwardly beyond the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Wassynger, Daniel Howard Tragesser, Matthew Durham Collier
  • Patent number: 8876485
    Abstract: The present application provides a turbine nozzle including an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape may have a nominal profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 1. The Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values from 0% to 100% convertible to dimensional distances in inches by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances in inches which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The airfoil profile sections at Z distances may be joined smoothly with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ross James Gustafson, Aaron Gregory Winn