Patents by Inventor Hsin-tuan Liu

Hsin-tuan Liu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7704038
    Abstract: A method for assembling a compressor for use with a turbine is provided. The method includes coupling at least a first stator ring to a second stator ring via at least one fastener sized to extend through at least one stator ring opening. The method further includes coupling a shield assembly to at least one of the first stator ring and the second stator ring to facilitate reducing convection and aerodynamic bleed losses of the at least one stator ring. The shield assembly includes a downstream surface, a retaining portion, and a contoured upstream surface extending from the downstream surface to the retaining portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Ring, Samuel Rulli, Cory Kirk, Hsin-Tuan Liu, Apostolos Karafillis
  • Publication number: 20080120841
    Abstract: A method for assembling a compressor for use with a turbine is provided. The method includes coupling at least a first stator ring to a second stator ring via at least one fastener sized to extend through at least one stator ring opening. The method further includes coupling a shield assembly to at least one of the first stator ring and the second stator ring to facilitate reducing convection and aerodynamic bleed losses of the at least one stator ring. The shield assembly includes a downstream surface, a retaining portion, and a contoured upstream surface extending from the downstream surface to the retaining portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Ring, Samuel Rulli, Cory Kirk, Hsin-Tuan Liu, Apostolos Karafillis
  • Patent number: 6905303
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes coupling an inner engine casing to an outer engine casing such that an annular flow path is defined therebetween, coupling a plurality of circumferentially-spaced support struts between the inner and outer casings, and coupling a plurality of circumferentially-spaced outlet guide vanes within the flow path upstream from the support struts, such that a first circumferential spacing is defined between a first guide vane and a second guide vane, and a second circumferential spacing is defined between the second guide vane and a third guide vane. The guide vanes are arranged such that the second guide vane is between the first and third guide vanes and the second circumferential spacing is different from the first circumferential spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsin-tuan Liu, William Andrew Bailey, John Doane Niedermeier
  • Publication number: 20040265124
    Abstract: A method of assembling a gas turbine engine includes coupling an inner engine casing to an outer engine casing such that an annular flow path is defined therebetween, coupling a plurality of circumferentially-spaced support struts between the inner and outer casings, and coupling a plurality of circumferentially-spaced outlet guide vanes within the flow path upstream from the support struts, such that a first circumferential spacing is defined between a first guide vane and a second guide vane, and a second circumferential spacing is defined between the second guide vane and a third guide vane. The guide vanes are arranged such that the second guide vane is between the first and third guide vanes and the second circumferential spacing is different from the first circumferential spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, William Andrew Bailey, John Doane Niedermeier
  • Patent number: 6508630
    Abstract: A compressor stator includes an outer casing supporting a row of stator vanes extending radially inwardly therefrom. Each vane includes pressure and suction sides extending axially between leading and trailing edges and radially between a root and a tip. The root and tip are twisted relative to a pitch section disposed therebetween. Each vane tip is radially convex adjacent a leading edge for defining an axially concave outer flowpath in the casing for reducing peak velocity of airflow for enhanced efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, Brent Franklin Beacher, Bryan Keith Doloresco, Gregory Todd Steinmetz, Kenneth William Krabacher
  • Publication number: 20020150471
    Abstract: A variable inlet guide vane includes opposite pressure and suction sides extending along a chord between leading and trailing edges and in span from root to tip. The vane has a maximum thickness greater than about eight percent chord length and located less than about thirty-five percent chord length from the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, Brent Franklin Beacher, Robert Bruce Dickman
  • Publication number: 20020141863
    Abstract: A compressor stator includes an outer casing supporting a row of stator vanes extending radially inwardly therefrom. Each vane includes pressure and suction sides extending axially between leading and trailing edges and radially between a root and a tip. The root and tip are twisted relative to a pitch section disposed therebetween. Each vane tip is radially convex adjacent a leading edge for defining an axially concave outer flowpath in the casing for reducing peak velocity of airflow for enhanced efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, Brent Franklin Beacher, Bryan Keith Doloresco, Gregory Todd Steinmetz, Kenneth William Krabacher
  • Patent number: 6457938
    Abstract: A variable inlet guide vane includes opposite pressure and suction sides extending along a chord between leading and trailing edges and in span from root to tip. The vane has a maximum thickness greater than about eight percent chord length and located less than about thirty-five percent chord length from the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, Brent Franklin Beacher, Robert Bruce Dickman
  • Patent number: 6331100
    Abstract: A compressor airfoil includes pressure and suction sides extending from root to tip and between leading and trailing edges. Transverse sections have respective chords and camber lines. Centers of gravity of the sections are aligned along a double bowed stacking axis for improving performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, Robert B. Dickman, Kenneth W. Krabacher, Gregory T. Steinmetz, Brent F. Beacher, Bryan K. Doloresco
  • Patent number: 5279109
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas turbine engine with a circumferentially disposed plurality of pivotal flow splitters between compressor sections to bleed off flow and remove particles, particularly ice in the case of an aircraft fan-jet gas turbine engine, by pivoting the leading edge of the splitter into the compressor flow thereby using the total pressure Q of the flow to drive bleed flows overboard and remove particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, William R. Hines
  • Patent number: 4344737
    Abstract: A crossover duct for providing flow communication between multiple stages of centrifugal compressors and the like. The duct forms a continuous annular path between compressor stages for turning radially outward gas flow to a radially inward direction. The duct includes thin diffuser vanes having aerodynamically contoured leading edges, and a vaneless turning bend having a generally elliptical wall geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: The Garrett Corporation
    Inventor: Hsin-Tuan Liu
  • Patent number: 4251183
    Abstract: A crossover duct assembly for providing flow communication between multiple stages of centrifugal compressors and the like. The duct assembly includes inner and outer wall sections forming a continuous annular flow path between compressor stages for turning radially outward gas flow to a radially inward direction. The duct includes a thin vane diffuser section, a vaneless turning bend having an elongated wall geometry, and a deswirl vane section for enhancing smooth gas flow with minimum pressure loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: The Garrett Corp.
    Inventors: Hsin-Tuan Liu, George L. Perrone, Leo E. Gambee