Patents Examined by Peter T Hrubiec
  • Patent number: 10100670
    Abstract: A heat shield assembly for a gas turbine engine includes a first heat shield segment defined about an axis and a second heat shield segment defined about the axis. A double circumferential lap joint is defined between the first heat shield segment and the second heat shield segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Leslie, Neil L. Tatman
  • Patent number: 10100669
    Abstract: A turbo machine, such as a gas turbine, includes a rotor, which rotates about a horizontal machine axis, and which is enclosed by a coaxial enclosure. The turbo machine includes a metal casing, whereby an electrical heating system is provided on the lower half of the metal casing. A safe operation is achieved by having the heating system configured as a redundant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Janos Farkas, Giovanni Cataldi, Matteo Rocchi
  • Patent number: 10082129
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for mounting a rear edge ridge onto a rotor blade of a wind turbine, wherein the rotor blade has a pressure and a suction side and an essentially straight trailing edge. A tongue section projecting to the rear is provided at the trailing edge to form a step each to the pressure side and to the suction side in the area of the tongue section. The rear edge ridge or part thereof is then fitted onto the tongue section, so that it is flush with the suction side or pressure side, respectively, in the area of the step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Andree Altmikus
  • Patent number: 10072518
    Abstract: An abradable liner suitable for a gas turbine engine fan stage, comprising a plurality of abradable layers that are bonded together, wherein at least one visual indicator is embedded in the plurality of abradable layers, the visual indicators can be coloured strips of material and may be at a given depth, and may be in an independent element or layer located in between other layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: William Playford, James O'Toole
  • Patent number: 10066486
    Abstract: A method for designing a turbine having a plurality of stages disposed axially one behind the other in the direction of flow through the turbine, each stage being formed of a stationary row of a plurality of stator vanes and a rotating row of a plurality of rotor blades. The row of rotor blades of at least one of these stages has a plurality of rotor blade clusters each formed of at least two rotor blades (A1, B1; A2, B2) having different airfoil profiles and/or different distances (?A, ?B) from adjacent rotor blades following in the direction of rotation. A vane-to-blade-cluster ratio (V/(B/P)) parameter indicates the ratio of the number of stator vanes (V) to the quotient (B/P) of the number of rotor blades (B) of the stage divided by the number of rotor blades per rotor blade cluster (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Dominik Broszat, Nicolas Thouault
  • Patent number: 10060347
    Abstract: One embodiment is an apparatus comprising a first rotational component including an elongated connecting element fixed thereto and extending axially therefrom through a second rotational component to an end structure. The connecting element is connected to the end structure to compress the second rotational component between the end structure and the first rotational component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy Unton
  • Patent number: 10060448
    Abstract: A fan, in particular an axial fan, comprising a support element with a wall ring and an electric fan motor which is mounted in the wall ring and comprises a fan rotor. The wall ring has on its outer periphery a hinge consisting of a first hinge part that is connected to the wall ring and a second hinge part that can be pivoted about a hinge axis relative to the first hinge part, wherein the second hinge part is designed as a terminal box for receiving electrical connectors. The invention further relates to a support element for such a fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: ebm-papst Mulfingen GmbH & Co. KG, Kelvion Refrigeration GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Heli, Peter Riegler, Joerg Guenther, Gheorghe-Mircea Seculi, Christoph Korinth
  • Patent number: 10047616
    Abstract: A diffuser for a gas turbine including a support structure and a liner connected by holders. The liner includes a plurality of adjacent segments with overlapping borders. The overlapping borders are clamped to one another and slidingly rest one above the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Igor Mihalic, Dubravko Laic, Dubravko Krizancic, Janko Novosel
  • Patent number: 10041358
    Abstract: A blade for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil having a tip with a terminal end surface and multiple squealer pockets recessed into the terminal end surface. A method of cooling a blade includes the steps of providing cooling fluid to a first squealer pocket in an airfoil tip, and providing cooling fluid to a second squealer pocket in the airfoil tip in an amount that is different than that provided to the first squealer pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley, San Quach
  • Patent number: 10029336
    Abstract: A propulsive engine rotor configured for operation within a gas turbine includes a plurality of spaced airfoil blades circumferentially affixed to an outer hoop-style rim. At least two of the airfoil blades have an integral root configured to extend either through or at least radially inwardly from the rim. A woven fiber system provides that the blade roots are interdigitally wrapped by a plurality of woven fibers before impregnation and/or encapsulation of the fibers and wrapped roots within a ceramic or other composite matrix material to form a composite ring. The composite ring defines the interior body of the rotor, includes a bore through which passes the rotational axis of the rotor, and has a lower mass than the rotor rim. The woven fiber interface between the roots increases the tensile load capacity of the airfoil blades relative to the composite ring, and increases the self-sustaining radius of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony R. Bifulco, Damon K. Brown, Nicholas Aiello
  • Patent number: 10030537
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes an airfoil that extends in span from an inner band to an outer band where the inner band and the outer band define outer flow boundaries of the turbine nozzle. The inner band includes a gas side surface that is at least partially covered by one or more inner plates. The inner band also includes a plurality of cooling channels formed within the gas side surface beneath the one or more inner plates. The outer band includes a gas side surface that is at least partially covered by one or more outer plates. The outer band comprises a plurality of cooling channels formed within the gas side surface beneath the one or more outer plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Joseph Anthony Weber, Peter Galen Stevens
  • Patent number: 9995172
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes an airfoil that extends in span from an inner band to an outer band where the inner band and the outer band define inner and outer flow boundaries of the turbine nozzle. At least one of the inner band and the outer band defines a plurality of cooling channels formed and a coolant discharge plenum beneath a gas side surface of the corresponding inner or outer band that is in fluid communication with the cooling channels. The coolant discharge plenum is formed within the inner band or the outer band downstream from the cooling channels and upstream from a plurality of coolant discharge ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandip Dutta, Benjamin Paul Lacy, Gary Michael Itzel, Stephen Paul Wassynger
  • Patent number: 9988916
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cooling structure for a stationary blade, including: an endwall coupled to a radial end of an airfoil; a chamber positioned within the endwall and radially displaced from a radially outer end of the trailing edge of the airfoil, wherein the chamber includes a pair of opposing chamber walls, one of the pair of opposing chamber walls being positioned proximal to the pressure side surface of the airfoil and the other of the pair of opposing chamber walls being positioned proximal to the suction side surface and the trailing edge of the airfoil, and wherein the cooling fluid in the chamber is in thermal communication with least a portion of the endwall positioned proximal to the pressure side surface and the trailing edge of the airfoil; and a plurality of thermally conductive fixtures positioned within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Gregory Winn, George Andrew Gergely, Mary Virginia Holloway, Paul Kendall Smith
  • Patent number: 9976567
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor (90) applied to an extractor-fan assembly (80) for agricultural machines, especially for sugar-cane harvesters, the rotor (90) comprising a set of blades (1) fixed to a hub (2). Each of the blades (1) has such a construction that defines a root angle (3) that may range from 47 to 59 degrees, a medium angle (4) that may range from 53 to 69 degrees and a trailing angle (5) that may range from 66 to 78 degrees. Due to the construction angles of the blades (1), the air flow comes in contact with the rotor (9) smoothly, without any turbulence in its displacement, which results in high efficiency and efficacy of the extractor-fan assembly (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MARCHESAN IMPLEMENTOS E MAQUINAS AGRICOLAS TATU S.A.
    Inventors: Dacio Helene Junior, Valter Palmute
  • Patent number: 9976539
    Abstract: A control method and a control system for a wind turbine are disclosed. The control method comprises measuring wind turbine blade pitch angles; obtaining a wind turbine rotor acceleration value; determining whether a blade pitch runaway fault condition is occurring; and during the blade pitch runaway fault condition, adjusting a pitch angle command based at least in part on the rotor acceleration value, a pitch angle of at least one faulted blade and a pitch angle of a healthy blade; and controlling wind turbine blades based at least in part on the adjusted pitch angle command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Fabiano Daher Adegas, Xiongzhe Huang, Pranav Agarwal
  • Patent number: 9970319
    Abstract: An airfoil body includes an airfoil wall defined between an internal cavity surface and an external airfoil surface. A pad extends from the internal cavity surface. A cooling hole extends from the external airfoil surface, through the airfoil wall and through the pad for fluid communication through the airfoil wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James M. Koonankeil, Edward F. Pietraszkiewicz
  • Patent number: 9963979
    Abstract: A turbine wheel for use in a gas turbine engine having a plurality of blades attached to a rotor disk. Each blade is formed as a composite structure including a number of plies of ceramic-containing material. The blades each include a root to fit within dovetail slots of the rotor disk to couple the blades to the rotor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ted J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 9963221
    Abstract: Unison ring system includes first unison ring portion, second unison ring portion, and bearing. Second unison ring portion is co-axial with first unison ring portion. First unison ring portion includes first unison ring and first bearing location portion and second unison ring portion includes second unison ring and second bearing location portion. First bearing location portion is co-axial with first unison ring and projects axially from first unison ring, while second bearing location portion is co-axial with second unison ring and projects axially from second unison ring. First bearing location portion includes outwardly opening groove, and second bearing location portion includes inwardly opening groove. First unison ring portion and second unison ring portion positioned with first bearing location portion being concentric with second bearing location portion defining annular cavity there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Christopher Michael Grice
  • Patent number: 9957953
    Abstract: A root bushing for a blade root of a wind turbine rotor blade, including a cylindrical bushing body and a flat contact body is provided. The contact body is provided on a face of the bushing body. This has the advantage that due to the provision of the contact body, the contact area between the root bushing and the pitch bearing is increased. In another embodiment, the root bushing includes a central bore which protrudes through the bushing body and the contact body. In another embodiment, an outer wall of the bushing body is provided with a connection structure for connecting the root bushing to a composite material of the wind turbine rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Kasper Koops Kratmann
  • Patent number: 9957835
    Abstract: A fan track liner assembly for a ducted fan engine which provides for ease of installation and replacement. The assembly includes a plurality of panels; and a plurality of fastening members which are arranged to secure the panels to the fan case of the engine, wherein: each fastening member has a base portion and an elongate arm member, and further wherein: the base portion has an attachment portion which is used to secure the fastening member to the fan case; and the arm member extends from the base portion, and each panel has slotted edge portions on opposing edges at one end of the panel which are each arranged to engage with respective arm members of fastening members on either side of the panel when the panel is assembled with the fastening members by sliding the panel onto the fastening members or vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Dale Edward Evans