Patents by Inventor Marc Widmer

Marc Widmer 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).

  • Publication number: 20250382969
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes a housing including a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a rotor arranged in the housing, and including an impeller to convey fluid from the inlet to the outlet and a pump shaft extending from a first end to a second end, the impeller fixedly connected to the pump shaft, a balance disk fixedly connected to the first end of the pump shaft and cooperating with a stationary counter ring, to provide a radial gap between the balance disk and the counter ring, so that a movement of the pump shaft in the axial direction closes or opens the radial gap, and a balance drum fixedly connected to the pump shaft adjacent the second end of the pump shaft and cooperating with a stationary counterpart to provide an axial gap between the balance drum and the counterpart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas Welschinger, Marc Widmer
  • Patent number: 11788533
    Abstract: A multistage centrifugal pump for conveying a fluid includes a pump housing with an inlet to receive the fluid and an outlet to discharge the fluid, a first stage impeller and a last stage impeller to convey the fluid from the inlet to the outlet, a shaft to rotate the first stage impeller and the last stage impeller about an axial direction, a suction chamber arranged upstream of the first stage impeller and in fluid communication with the inlet, a recirculation path for the fluid including a return opening and extending from the return opening to the suction chamber, the return opening located at or in the flow path downstream of the first stage impeller and upstream of the last stage impeller, and a flow control rod disposed in the recirculation path, the flow control rod to adjust a recirculation flow through the recirculation path into the suction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
    Inventors: Marc Widmer, Daniele Cimmino
  • Publication number: 20230011820
    Abstract: A multistage centrifugal pump for conveying a fluid includes a pump housing with an inlet to receive the fluid and an outlet to discharge the fluid, a first stage impeller and a last stage impeller to convey the fluid from the inlet to the outlet, a shaft to rotate the first stage impeller and the last stage impeller about an axial direction, a suction chamber arranged upstream of the first stage impeller and in fluid communication with the inlet, a recirculation path for the fluid including a return opening and extending from the return opening to the suction chamber, the return opening located at or in the flow path downstream of the first stage impeller and upstream of the last stage impeller, and a flow control rod disposed in the recirculation path, the flow control rod to adjust a recirculation flow through the recirculation path into the suction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Marc WIDMER, Daniele CIMMINO
  • Publication number: 20210324862
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump for conveying a fluid includes a pump housing, an impeller to convey the fluid from an inlet to an outlet, a shaft to rotate the impeller, a first sealing device to seal the shaft at a suction side, a second sealing device to seal the shaft at a discharge side, a balance drum connected to the shaft between the impeller and the second sealing device, the balance drum defining a front side facing the at least one impeller and a back side facing the second sealing device, a relief passage between the balance drum and a stationary part, a balance line connecting the back side with the suction side, a discharge opening arranged at the relief passage between the front side and the back side, and a connecting line connecting the discharge opening with the first sealing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Marc WIDMER, Arnaldo RODRIGUES, Daniele CIMMINO, Thomas WELSCHINGER
  • Patent number: 10731490
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a guide vane for a gas turbine, and provides for example an innovative guide vane with improved flexibility leading to a reduction of stresses at the interface between the vane platform and the vane carrier. Exemplary embodiments provide only circumferential line contact or point contact between the guide vane and the guide vane carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Marc Widmer, Herbert Brandl
  • Patent number: 10294978
    Abstract: A locking pin arrangement with a basic element for receiving an insert and a fall-proof locking pin for fixing the insert in the basic element. The locking pin is at least partially inserted into a borehole of the basic element and is pushed towards an opening of the borehole by a spring. The locking pin has a guiding surface for axial guidance in the borehole, an outer thread and a constriction positioned between the outer thread and the guiding surface, wherein the diameter of the outer thread is smaller than the diameter of the guiding surface and the diameter of the locking pin at the constriction is smaller than the diameter of the outer thread. Further, the arrangement comprises an inner thread going from the wall of the borehole into the space formed by the constriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Francesco Garbuglia, Marc Widmer
  • Patent number: 10221709
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a vane for a gas turbine, and more in particular it provides an innovative vane with improved flexibility leading to a reduction of stresses at the transition from the vane trailing edge to the vane platform, without interfering into the cooling scheme of such component. The present invention can increase flexibility of the vane platform by introducing on the vane platform a material cutback confined in the proximity of the trailing edge portion of the vane airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Herbert Brandl, Marc Widmer
  • Patent number: 10012101
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a seal system for a passage between a turbine stator and a turbine rotor, including: a first arm extending radially outwards from the turbine rotor and toward the first seal arranged on the stator, and terminating short of the first seal thereby creating a first gap between the first seal and the first arm. The seal system further includes a second seal arranged on the turbine stator, and a second arm extending axially from the turbine rotor towards the second seal base, and terminating short of the second seal thereby creating a second gap between the second seal and the second arm. The invention further refers to a gas turbine including such a seal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Carlos Simon-Delgado, Christoph Didion, Marc Widmer, Martin Schaefer, Guenter Filkorn
  • Patent number: 9903209
    Abstract: The invention refers to a rotor blade or guide vane airfoil for a gas turbine engine having a longitudinal axis and a source of cooling fluid. The airfoil has a pressure wall, a suction wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge and at least one cooling fluid flow passage. The cooling fluid flow passage is in fluid communication with the source of cooling fluid. Means for directing cooling fluid at least to the trailing edge are provided, whereas the cooling fluid flow passage including: a plurality of axially extending walls, each of the walls extending laterally between the pressure wall and suction wall. The plurality of walls are radially spaced within the cooling fluid flow passage such that adjacent pairs of walls define a channel. The axial spacing between the adjacent walls include in radial direction of the airfoil a pins and a ribs structure, wherein the pins holistic or approximately cover the axial height of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Joerg Krueckels, Marc Widmer
  • Patent number: 9896951
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a vane comprising a platform and airfoil extending form said platform and connected to the platform by a fillet. An impingement tube is inserted into said airfoil delimiting a cooling channel between the impingement tube and the side walls. The vane further comprises a baffle structure positioned adjacent the fillet and which follows the inside contour of the fillet; delimiting a first cooling passage between the fillet and the baffle structure. A first obstruction is arranged on the inside of the airfoil at the connection of the fillet to the side walls for separating the first cooling passage from the cooling channel in the airfoil and to guide the cooling gas from the first cooling passage into the impingement tube. The disclosure further refers to a method for cooling such a vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Emanuele Facchinetti, Guillaume Wagner, Marc Henze, Joerg Krueckels, Marc Widmer
  • Patent number: 9890646
    Abstract: An internally cooled airfoil for a rotary machine, for example, a gas turbine engine includes a suction and pressure side wall each extending in an axial direction, i.e. from a leading to a trailing edge of the airfoil. A suction wall sided cooling channel and a pressure wall sided cooling channel extend in the axial direction. A feed chamber is defined between a first and second inner wall for feeding the suction wall and pressure wall sided cooling channel each by at least one through hole inside of the first and second inner wall. The suction wall sided cooling channel and the pressure wall sided cooling channel extend into the trailing edge region separately. The suction wall sided cooling channel and the pressure wall sided cooling channel join before discharging at the trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ANSALDO ENERGIA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Joerg Krueckels, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Herbert Brandl, Marc Widmer
  • Publication number: 20170081969
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a guide vane for a gas turbine, and provides for example an innovative guide vane with improved flexibility leading to a reduction of stresses at the interface between the vane platform and the vane carrier. Exemplary embodiments provide only circumferential line contact or point contact between the guide vane and the guide vane carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Marc WIDMER, Herbert BRANDL
  • Publication number: 20170023050
    Abstract: Subject matter of the disclosure is a locking pin arrangement with a basic element for receiving an insert and a fall-proof locking pin for fixing the insert in the basic element. The locking pin is at least partially inserted into a borehole of the basic element and is pushed towards an opening of the borehole by a spring. The locking pin has a guiding surface for axial guidance in the borehole, an outer thread and a constriction positioned between the outer thread and the guiding surface, wherein the diameter of the outer thread is smaller than the diameter of the guiding surface and the diameter of the locking pin at the constriction is smaller than the diameter of the outer thread. Further, the arrangement comprises an inner thread going from the wall of the borehole into the space formed by the constriction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: ANSALDO ENERGIA SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Francesco GARBUGLIA, Marc WIDMER
  • Publication number: 20160177760
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a vane for a gas turbine, and more in particular it provides an innovative vane with improved flexibility leading to a reduction of stresses at the transition from the vane trailing edge to the vane platform, without interfering into the cooling scheme of such component. The present invention can increase flexibility of the vane platform by introducing on the vane platform a material cutback confined in the proximity of the trailing edge portion of the vane airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert BRANDL, Marc WIDMER
  • Publication number: 20150267549
    Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a vane comprising a platform and airfoil extending form said platform and connected to the platform by a fillet. An impingement tube is inserted into said airfoil delimiting a cooling channel between the impingement tube and the side walls. The vane further comprises a baffle structure positioned adjacent the fillet and which follows the inside contour of the fillet; delimiting a first cooling passage between the fillet and the baffle structure. A first obstruction is arranged on the inside of the airfoil at the connection of the fillet to the side walls for separating the first cooling passage from the cooling channel in the airfoil and to guide the cooling gas from the first cooling passage into the impingement tube. The disclosure further refers to a method for cooling such a vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Emanuele FACCHINETTI, Guillaume Wagner, Marc Henze, Joerg Krueckels, Marc Widmer
  • Patent number: 9097119
    Abstract: A gas turbine is provided having a secondary combustion chamber and a first guide vane row of a low-pressure turbine, the row being arranged directly downstream of the chamber. The radially outer boundary of the secondary combustion chamber is formed by at least one outer wall segment, which is secured on at least one support element arranged radially outwardly. The flow path of the hot gases is bounded radially outwardly, in the region of the guide vane row, by an outer platform which is secured at least indirectly on at least one guide vane support. A substantially radially extending gap-shaped cavity having a width in the range of 1-25 mm in the axial direction in the inlet region is arranged between the wall segment and the outer platform. At least one step element, which reduces the width by at least 10% in at least one step, extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the hot gas in the cavity, is arranged in the inlet region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas Heinz-Schwarzmaier, Marc Widmer, Selma Zahirovic, Paul Marlow
  • Patent number: 9074488
    Abstract: The invention refers to an arrangement for sealing an open cavity against hot gas entrainment. The open cavity is arranged between two axially adjacent stationary components limiting radially a hot gas path of a rotary flow machine, of which at least the downstream component carries at least one airfoil extending radially into said hot gas path. A multitude of air jets is directed into the open cavity such that hot gas flowing over the open cavity is prevented from penetrating into the open cavity completely. The invention has an arrangement of supply conduits for air jets which are directed into the open cavity with a jet momentum such that hot gas is induced not to enter the open cavity and forming at least one hot gas vortex close to the hot gas path within the open cavity and preventing hot gas from penetrating into the open cavity beyond the extension of the hot gas vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Marlow, Selma Zahirovic, Robert Marmilic, Marc Widmer, Joerg Krückels
  • Publication number: 20150176412
    Abstract: The invention refers to a rotor blade or guide vane airfoil for a gas turbine engine having a longitudinal axis and a source of cooling fluid. The airfoil has a pressure wall, a suction wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge and at least one cooling fluid flow passage. The cooling fluid flow passage is in fluid communication with the source of cooling fluid. Means for directing cooling fluid at least to the trailing edge are provided, whereas the cooling fluid flow passage including: a plurality of axially extending walls, each of the walls extending laterally between the pressure wall and suction wall. The plurality of walls are radially spaced within the cooling fluid flow passage such that adjacent pairs of walls define a channel. The axial spacing between the adjacent walls include in radial direction of the airfoil a pins and a ribs structure, wherein the pins holistic or approximately cover the axial height of the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Joerg KRUECKELS, Marc WIDMER
  • Publication number: 20150176424
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a seal system for a passage between a turbine stator and a turbine rotor, including: a first arm extending radially outwards from the turbine rotor and toward the first seal arranged on the stator, and terminating short of the first seal thereby creating a first gap between the first seal and the first arm. The seal system further includes a second seal arranged on the turbine stator, and a second arm extending axially from the turbine rotor towards the second seal base, and terminating short of the second seal thereby creating a second gap between the second seal and the second arm. The invention further refers to a gas turbine including such a seal system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Carlos Simon-Delgado, Christoph Didion, Marc Widmer, Martin Schaefer, Guenter Filkorn
  • Publication number: 20150159490
    Abstract: The invention refers to an internally cooled casted airfoil for a rotary machine, preferably a gas turbine engine comprising a suction and a pressure side wall each extending in an axial direction, i.e. from a leading to a trailing edge region of said airfoil. At least one suction wall sided cooling channel extends in axial direction confined by the suction side wall and a first inner wall. At least one pressure wall sided cooling channel extends in axial direction confined by the pressure side wall and a second inner wall. At least one feed chamber is defined between the first and second inner wall for feeding said at least one suction and pressure sided cooling channel each by at least one through hole inside of the first and second inner wall. At least one suction wall sided cooling channel and the at least one pressure wall sided cooling channel extend into the trailing edge region separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Joerg KRUECKELS, Brian Kenneth Wardle, Herbert Brandl, Marc Widmer