Patents Examined by Woody Lee, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11971044
    Abstract: A compression system comprises a compressor, an inlet duct, a throttling valve installed in the inlet duct, an outlet duct, an anti-surge valve fluidly coupling the outlet duct with a portion of the inlet duct downstream of the throttling valve and a recycle valve fluidly coupling the outlet duct with a portion of the inlet duct upstream of the throttling valve. Keeping the recycle valve open, the anti-surge valve closed and the throttling valve partially closed allows lowering the pressure of the flow entering the compressor during its start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie—S.r.l.
    Inventors: Lorenzo Gallinelli, Laurence Casali, Marco Pelella
  • Patent number: 11970946
    Abstract: A clearance control assembly for a gas turbine engine that defines an axial direction and a radial direction and includes a stage of rotor blades and a shroud hanger. The assembly includes a case configured to be positioned outward along the radial direction from the stage of rotor blades when installed in the gas turbine engine. The case is further configured to be engaged with the shroud hanger at a first location when installed in the gas turbine engine. The assembly also includes a baffle positioned outward along the radial direction from the case to define a chamber therebetween. The baffle has a forward end and an aft end. The forward end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a first seal and the aft end of the baffle is engaged with the case to form a second seal. The baffle, the case, or both define an inlet to allow a fluid to enter the chamber and the case defines an outlet to allow the fluid to exit the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Travis J. Packer, James Hamilton Grooms, David Fasig, Richard William Jendrix, Scott Alan Schimmels, Bradford Alan Tracey, Michael Alan Hile, Thomas Ryan Wallace
  • Patent number: 11971053
    Abstract: A rotor of a fluid machine includes a wheel with a plurality of blades. Furthermore, the rotor includes an inter-blade area defined circumferentially between a first blade and a second blade of the plurality of blades with respect to the axis of rotation. Moreover, the rotor includes a balancing mark on the wheel and within the inter-blade area. The balancing mark is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are stepped axially into the inter-blade area. The balancing mark extends arcuately between the first end and the second end. The balancing mark has a depth that varies as the balancing mark extends arcuately between the first end and the second end. The balancing mark has a width that varies as the balancing mark extends arcuately between the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GARRETT TRANSPORTATION I INC
    Inventors: Quentin Roberts, Karunakaran Ealumalai, Razvan Nedelcu, Alexandru-Silviu Stoicescu, Alexandru Danicescu, Bekir Adanir
  • Patent number: 11970954
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil wall that defines a leading end, a trailing end, and first and second sides that join the leading end and the trailing end. A rib connects the first and second sides of the airfoil wall. The rib defines a tube portion that circumscribes a rib passage, and first and second connector arms that solely join the tube portion to, respectively, the first and second sides of the airfoil wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, David R. Pack
  • Patent number: 11965428
    Abstract: An airfoil cooling structure, an airfoil having the airfoil cooling structure, and a turbine blade/vane element including the airfoil are disclosed. The airfoil cooling structure includes a cooling path formed inside the airfoil and having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and an additive manufactured (AM) feature disposed in the cooling path, manufactured by additive manufacturing, and including a plurality of column parts intersecting with each other so as to abut against the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DOOSAN ENERBILITY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Ju Kim, Ki Don Lee
  • Patent number: 11959487
    Abstract: A centrifugal slurry pump impeller including a back shroud and a front shroud each with opposed inner and outer faces and an outer peripheral edge and a central axis, a plurality of pumping vanes extending between the inner main faces of the back and front shroud, each pumping vane including opposed main side faces, a leading edge in the region of the central axis and a trailing edge in the region of the outer peripheral edges of the back and front shrouds with a passageway between adjacent pumping vanes, each passageway including a blended region between each of the main side faces of the pumping vanes and the inner faces of the front and back shrouds wherein a surface of the inner face of at least one of the front and back shrouds includes a raised portion located between the blended regions of adjacent pumping vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Weir Slurry Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy James Kosmicki
  • Patent number: 11959498
    Abstract: A system includes an isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX) configured to exchange pressure between a first fluid and a second fluid. The IPX includes a rotor configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the rotor. The rotor forms rotor ports arranged substantially symmetrically around the longitudinal axis at a distal end of the rotor. The IPX further includes an end cover configured to be disposed at the first distal end of the rotor. The end cover forms end cover ports. The rotor ports are arranged for hydraulic communication with the end cover ports. The IPX further includes an insert disposed between two of the rotor ports or between two of the end cover ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Energy Recovery, Inc.
    Inventors: Behzad Zamanian Yazdi, Farshad Ghasripoor, Kuo-Chiang Chen, Patrick Morphew, James Elliott McLean, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11959385
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an adjustment mechanism (200) for variable adjustment of an inlet cross-section (321) of a compressor inlet (322). The adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of rotatably mounted baffle elements (210) which are arranged in a circumferential direction (26) and are adjustable between a first position and a second position. At least one baffle element (210) of the plurality of baffle elements (210) comprises an eddy-reducing feature (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Walkingshaw, Sascha Karstadt, Ahmet Coksen
  • Patent number: 11952091
    Abstract: A marine vessel propeller to convert engine rotational power into propulsive thrust is of a built-up propeller (BUP) type having a circular array of propeller blades, wherein each propeller blade is a single piece including a blade part and a base part. The base part has a generally circular inner surface with a number of radially extending cylindrical indents provided with planar end wall and fastening holes arranged through the base part at a location of the indents. A cylindrical insert is provided with a hole parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insert and arranged to fit into the indent, such that the propeller blades are attachable to a propeller shaft using exemplary fastening bolts through the fastening holes and inserts. A propeller blade and method for installing a marine vessel propeller are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: WÄRTSILÄ NORWAY AS
    Inventor: Robert Vogels
  • Patent number: 11952902
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-phase abradable coating including a ceramic matrix and a dislocator phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: RTX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard Wesley Jackson
  • Patent number: 11952916
    Abstract: A coating for a blade root/disk interface includes a layer of soft metal matrix, and a solid lubricant distributed through the soft metal matrix. Examples of materials include CuAl as the soft metal matrix and MoS2 as the solid lubricant, although others are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Pantcho P. Stoyanov, Kelly M. Harrington, Thomas D. Kasprow
  • Patent number: 11946379
    Abstract: A fan case assembly adapted for use with a gas turbine engine includes a fan track liner and an annular case. The fan track liner extends circumferentially at least partway about a central axis of the gas turbine engine. The annular case is configured to support the fan track liner at a radial position relative to the central axis. The fan case assembly further includes an air recirculation duct configured to redirect air around the fan track liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Heeter, Daniel E. Molnar, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11939949
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a blade shell that extends in a spanwise direction from a root end of the blade to a tip end of the blade, the blade shell defining an internal blade volume within which at least one blade feature is located, the blade being provided with an RF position-identification means configured for detection by an RF detection means external to the blade to enable determination of a reference position for the blade and/or the blade feature. Aspects of the invention also relate to a method of detecting a reference position for a wind turbine blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Jermaine Mortimer
  • Patent number: 11933189
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a turbo blanket. Specifically, embodiments are related to a flexible turbo blanket with an alloy layer, insulation layer, and mesh screen layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PTP Turbo Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Youssef Dandachli
  • Patent number: 11933310
    Abstract: A main-body casing having an inlet port or an outlet port, a rotatable rotor shaft, and a rotor coupled to the rotor shaft are provided. A recess portion opened toward the inlet port is formed in the rotor and a fastening portion (a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion) of the rotor shaft is exposed to the recess portion. A cover portion, which is fastened to the fastening portion by a cover-portion fixing bolt and covers at least a part of the recess portion, is formed having a container shape and has a reinforcing portion located in a periphery of the fastening portion that prevents deflection by increasing rigidity. The cover portion also has a contact-pressure generating portion which is pressed by fastening to the fastening portion in a fastening direction and causes a contact pressure to be generated in the fastening direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Edwards Japan Limited
    Inventors: Yohei Ogawa, Yoshiyuki Sakaguchi, Nahoko Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 11933267
    Abstract: A support system may secure a wind turbine above an angled roof. The angled roof may have a first angled surface, an opposite second angled surface, and a peak between the first angled surface and the second angled surface. The support surface may have a first weighted ballast located along a portion of the first angled surface and a second weighted ballast located along a portion of the second angled surface. The support system may have a connector extending between and connecting a portion of the first weighted ballast and a portion of the second weighted ballast. The connector may extend over the peak. The support system may have a mounting portion on the connector for securing a wind turbine to the connector. The first weighted ballast and the second weighted ballast may be sized and weighted to maintain the wind turbine above the peak during wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FLOWER TURBINES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Daniel Farb, Irakli Baitish
  • Patent number: 11933323
    Abstract: A subsea fluid pressure-increasing machine includes an elongated member that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The machine also may include a plurality of impellers each having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a suction side, and a chord line defined by a line between the leading and trailing edges. Each impeller is fixedly mounted to the member such that a chord angle defined by an angle between the chord line and the rotation direction is less than or equal to a stall angle at which a maximum force is exerted on a fluid in a direction primarily parallel to the longitudinal axis when the member is rotated in the rotation direction. At least some of the impellers comprise one or more features that effectively reduce a pressure peak or specific loading of the suction side such that the axial length of the impeller is configured to be reduced without exceeding a desired specific load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited
    Inventor: Bernt-Helge Torkildsen
  • Patent number: 11933315
    Abstract: Provided is an axial fan including: a motor; and an impeller for sending air in an air-blowing direction, wherein the impeller includes: a base covering the motor; and plural blades mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the base, a wind receiving surface of the blade includes a concave portion recessed toward a downstream side in the air-blowing direction, a bottom point of the concave portion is located downstream in the air-blowing direction relative to a first imaginary line perpendicular to the air-blowing direction, the first imaginary line being drawn in a radial direction from a joint position of the blade where the wind receiving surface and the outer peripheral surface of the base merge, and the bottom point is displaced from inward to outward in the radial direction, in going from upstream to downstream in the air-blowing direction, until reaching a radially central part of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: SANYO DENKI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11925986
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a turbine engine blade (16) including an active-surface wall (17) and a passive-surface wall (18) separated from one another, this blade (16) including a tip that has a closing wall grouping together the active-surface (17) and passive-surface (18) walls in the region of this tip to define the bottom (23) of a bathtub tip shape located at the tip of the blade, the method comprising a moulding step implementing a core defining the bathtub tip shape. According to the invention, there is a step of adding metal to the bottom (23) of the bathtub tip by means of a Direct Laser Additive Manufacturing (CLAD) method, to deposit material onto the bottom of the bathtub tip to form therein an inner partition (28) supported by the bottom thereof (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Matthieu Jean Luc Vollebregt, Coralie Guerard, Patrick Emilien Paul Emile Huchin
  • Patent number: 11927202
    Abstract: A fan guard for a fan container includes a housing and a plurality of wings. The housing has a hollow interior defined by a cylindrical inner surface. The housing extends longitudinally between a first housing end and a second housing end. The plurality of wings is positioned within the hollow interior of the housing. Each wing of the plurality of wings extends radially, from a center of symmetry of the cylindrical inner surface to the cylindrical inner surface. Each wing of the plurality of wings is radially curved between the first housing end and the second housing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Chao-Jung Chen, Yu-Nien Huang, Herman Tan