Patents Examined by William Grigos
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Patent number: 8444390Abstract: A blade for a turbine engine made by the diffusion-bonding/superplastic-forming (DB/SPF) process has a hollow skin made of front and back panels 1, 3 and internal reinforcement in the form of webs 5 extending between the two faces or panels at an angle to the plane of the blade. The cavities are filled with viscoelastic damping filler 7. In order to allow the blade to deform more easily so that the filler can take up the strain, the webs are pre-buckled so as to compress at least some of the webs. When the blade is deformed, the webs straighten or buckle further, applying a deformation to the filler as they do so and thus dissipating energy. The blade is thus well reinforced against impact but still capable of damping vibrations.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventor: Simon Read
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Patent number: 8444386Abstract: An air cooled turbine blade with a number of multiple pass serpentine flow cooling circuits extending around the airfoil surface in which a first leg of each serpentine flow circuit is located against a hot wall surface and the second legs and even the third legs of the serpentine flow circuits being located inward from the first legs. The circuits include two-pass serpentine circuits in the leading edge and trailing edge region that discharge into collection cavities, and the mid-chord section of the airfoil is cooled with three-pass serpentine circuits that discharge into long slots that open onto the blade tip.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: George Liang
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Patent number: 8444380Abstract: The present invention provides engine case systems for gas turbine engines. Embodiments of the engine case systems include a plurality of ring cases and a tie-bolt case. The ring cases may house blades and vanes for the compressor and/or for the turbine. The ring cases may be stacked in series, and may be clamped together by a tie-bolt case.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventors: Nathan Wesley Ottow, Vance A. Mahan, Albert Wong
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Patent number: 8439633Abstract: A steam turbine includes a diffuser that has a bearing cone and an inner plate of a steam guide that define a passage through which steam flows. An outer plate is disposed with respect to the inner plate such that an opening is located between the inner and outer plates. At least one hole is located in the inner plate. A water tube is disposed in the opening, the water tube having water flowing therethrough which condenses at least a portion of a flow of steam flowing in the passage thereby creating at least a partial vacuum within the opening. The vacuum creates a suction effect through the at least one hole in the inner plate that can cause at least a portion of the flow of steam in the passage to attach itself to an inner surface of the inner plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Kamlesh Mundra, Prakash B. Dalsania
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Patent number: 8430635Abstract: A mounting apparatus for mounting a system fan and an exterior fan to a chassis includes a mounting bracket and a plurality of connecting members. The mounting bracket includes a rectangular hollow frame and x-shaped spoke fixed in the rectangular hollow frame. Each of the connecting members includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion extending from an end of the first connecting portion. The system fan is secured to the chassis by the first connecting portion each running through the mounting bracket, the chassis, and the system fan. The exterior fan is secured to the chassis by fastening means each running through the exterior fan and one second connecting portion of the connecting members.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xiao-Zhu Chen, Lei Liu
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Patent number: 8425193Abstract: A rotating blade row is provided for the final stage of a steam turbine has blades with an integrated shroud. The shroud of each blade has a projection in the axial direction, in each case on its pressure side, which prevents droplets in the working fluid of the steam turbine from reaching the shroud fillet of the respective subsequent blade in the flow direction. The shroud fillet is therefore protected against erosion damage caused by droplets impact erosion. The projection is positioned and of such a size that mass equilibrium is ensured between the suction side and the pressure side of the shroud, and stress equilibrium is ensured between the projection on the pressure side and the suction-side shroud. The projection furthermore has a recess between its greatest axial extent and the leading edge.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventors: Pierre-Alain Masserey, Rolf Hunziker, Benedikt Wanner
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Patent number: 8419345Abstract: In one embodiment a system is disclosed that includes an actuation device coupled with a turbomachinery mechanism. The actuation device can include multiple fluid pathways and a valve to alternatively place each of these pathways in fluid communication with a supply port while another of the pathways is in fluid communication with a return port to selectively move an actuation member along a range of travel. A brake valve may also be included to provide pressurized fluid to the actuation member when the actuation device is in an on condition and divert at least a portion of the pressurized fluid away from the actuation member through another pathway when the actuation device is in an off condition. A fluid-powered brake is coupled to this further pathway to selectively apply braking force to the actuation member in response to the diverted pressurized fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Eric Mitchell Arnett, Ross Julian Belloni, Andrew Clifford Dalton
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Patent number: 8419354Abstract: A steam turbine includes two or more rotating blades and a diaphragm outer ring. Each of the rotating blades includes a tip cover, moisture-trapping grooves, a droplet ejection hole, and a drain guide groove. The tip cover is provided to a tip of each of the rotating blades and is connected in contact with another tip cover adjacent to the tip cover. The moisture-trapping grooves are formed in a longitudinal direction of each of the rotating blades. The droplet ejection hole is to connect an outside of the tip cover on a side of the diaphragm outer ring with an inside of the tip cover. The drain guide groove is to connect ends of the moisture-trapping grooves on the side of the tip cover with the droplet ejection hole. The diaphragm outer ring includes a drain pocket which faces the droplet ejection hole.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Norio Sakai, Naoki Shibukawa, Hiroshi Ikeda, Ryozo Udagawa
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Patent number: 8414256Abstract: A compressor drum for an axial turbo-machine includes a hollow body generally symmetrical in revolution about its axis of rotation and forming a shell at the periphery of which are arranged a plurality of parallel rows of vanes, each row corresponding to one stage of the compressor. Each vane includes at its root an attachment platform housed in a corresponding opening made in the shell of the hollow body. The outer surface of each platform is flush with the outer surface of the shell at the edge of the opening and each platform is attached to the hollow body by welding between the outer edge of the platform and the inner edge of the corresponding opening. The platform has the general shape of a parallelogram, a bisector of which corresponds approximately to the main axis of the profile of the vane at the platform.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Techspace Aero, S.A.Inventors: Jean-François Cortequisse, André Lhoest
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Patent number: 8403641Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine blade tip and actuator assembly and method for controlling the speed of a wind turbine rotor blade. The invention consists of a moveable and turnable blade tip, an actuator assembly for turning the blade tip, control rods, cables and springs for controlling the blade tip, a magnet assembly for holding the blade tip in position and a hydraulic damping cylinder for controlling the rate at which the blade tip deploys.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2009Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Inventor: Paul Lewis Gay
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Patent number: 8398360Abstract: A method and a device for counteracting wear from particle bearing drive water in a runner (4) in a water turbine (1), the runner (4) comprising a runner hub (16) and a vane (18), or a runner hub (16), a vane (18) and a runner band (20), the vane (18) being attached to the runner hub (16) in a first attachment area (22) and to the runner band (20) in a second attachment area (24), and where the method comprises: —routing a supply channel (40) for water cleaner than the drive water to at least the first attachment area (22) or the second attachment area (24) and—leading water cleaner than the drive water to flow over at least a portion of the vane (18) surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Dynavec ASInventor: Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug
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Patent number: 8398366Abstract: An annular vane assembly for a gas turbine engine is provided. The assembly includes a vane segment, the vane segment includes an arcuate rail and a vane that extends radially inwardly from the arcuate rail. The assembly also includes a hollow cylindrical casing, the inside curved surface of which an annular groove is formed that receives the arcuate rail. The arcuate rail is secured in the annular groove using a resilient strip interposed between the rail and the groove. The resilient strip includes a planar main body and sprung wings that extend to either side of the main body. The wings are angled with respect to the plane of the main body. The resilient strip is moveable circumferentially between a first position in which the strip exerts a force radially on the arcuate rail and a second position in which the wings occupy recesses in the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Philip Twell
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Patent number: 8398361Abstract: A high-efficiency, multi-stage centrifugal pump and method of assembly. The pump can include three pump stages with each one of the three pump stages including a front casing, a back casing, an impeller, and a bladed diffuser. The front casing and the back casing are removeably coupled around the impeller and the bladed diffuser. In the three-stage pump, the fluid can be pumped at a flow rate between about 300 liters per second and about 500 liters per second with an efficiency between about 86% and about 91%. The method includes separately casting, machining, and polishing each one of the front casing, the back casing, the impeller, and the bladed diffuser.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2009Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Pentair Pump Group, Inc.Inventors: Manjit Sagoo, Arnold Sdano
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Patent number: 8393850Abstract: A wind turbine has an impeller surrounded by a turbine shroud and/or an ejector shroud, wherein the turbine shroud and/or the ejector shroud include inflatable portions and/or flexible inflatable portions. In some embodiments, the turbine shroud and/or the ejector shroud include internal rib members whose shape or length can be changed to alter the characteristics of the wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: FloDesign Wind Turbine Corp.Inventors: Michael J. Werle, William Scott Keeley, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Walter M. Presz, Jr.
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Patent number: 8393851Abstract: A compressor casing includes a casing insert with a flexible element in the force flux between the insert wall contour and the outer compressor casing. The flexible element is assembled from a support ring and ribs, wherein the ribs axially in front of the support ring and the ribs axially behind the support ring are arranged in an offset manner in relation to each other. Due to the arrangement of the ribs in an offset manner, the axial force flux between the insert wall contour and the outer compressor casing is deflected twice, and an axially compliant flexible construction is achieved.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: ABB Turbo Systems AGInventors: Joel Schlienger, Patrick Aberle
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Patent number: 8393866Abstract: A drive device (D) for driving first and second lift rotors (2, 3) of a twin-rotor rotorcraft, includes link elements provided with first and second transmission shafts (5, 6) for synchronizing the first and second transmission members (74, 84) of first and second main gearboxes (7, 8), the first main gearbox (7) being provided with first power combiner element (73) firstly meshing with the first transmission member (74) and secondly mechanically linked with the first transmission shaft (5) and with the second transmission shaft (6), and the second main gearbox (8) being provided with second power combiner element (83) firstly meshing with the second transmission member (84), and secondly mechanically linked with the first transmission shaft (5) and with the second transmission shaft (6).Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: EurocopterInventors: Lionel Thomassey, Eric Magre
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Patent number: 8382441Abstract: A method of manufacturing a blade (20) for a turbomachine by superplastic forming and diffusion bonding a first layer (18), a second layer (16) and a membrane (2), the membrane (2) being disposed between the first and second layers (18, 16), the method comprising: applying a stop-off material in a first predetermined pattern between the first layer (18) and the membrane (2) so as to prevent a diffusion bond from forming between the first layer and the membrane across said first predetermined pattern; and applying the stop-off material in a second predetermined pattern between the second layer (16) and the membrane (2) so as to prevent a diffusion bond from forming between the second layer and the membrane across said second predetermined pattern.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Phillip Brennand, Richard M Jones
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Patent number: 8376699Abstract: The Vortex Hydro Turbine takes water through an inlet from the current in which it is submerged. The water inlet reduces the cross-sectional area for the water that flows into the vortex chamber and thus increases the velocity of the water into a specially designed cylindrical chamber. The top of the chamber is specifically left open allowing the water now traveling at an increased velocity to disperse toward outlet as it rotates around the chamber, and then reintegrate into the existing environmental regime. This expansion creates a low pressure area in the center of the vortex chamber that is applied to the back side of a turbine blade system either directly or through a connecting tube depending on configuration.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Inventor: Martin D Hallett
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Patent number: 8376690Abstract: A three journal bearing supported shaft with a link between two of the bearings may allow for longer spacing between the wheels supported by the shaft. The flexible shaft may move one bending critical speed below the minimum operating speed of the shaft and the next bending critical speed above the maximum operating speed of the shaft, thus extending the speed range significantly. A tie rod may be used as the link in the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Marshall Saville, David G. Elpern
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Patent number: 8371817Abstract: A turbine bucket that includes a pressure side, a suction side opposite the pressure side, and a rib extending between the pressure side and the suction side. A tip cap is attached to the pressure side and the suction side and covers the rib. The tip cap includes a precipitation hardened material and a passage aligned with the rib. A method for assembling a turbine bucket having a pressure side and a suction side and a rib extending between the pressure side and suction side. The method includes receiving a tip cap made from a precipitation hardened material and having a passage in the tip cap. The method further includes locating the rib visually through the passage and aligning the passage with the rib. The method also includes welding the tip cap to the turbine bucket and to the rib.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Gitahi Charles Mukira, Daniel Anthony Nowak, Michael Douglas Arnett, Srikanth Chandrudu Kottilingam