Patents by Inventor Noel Blair

Noel Blair 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: 20240052846
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor impeller includes a plurality of blades on a front side that extend from a first axial side to an outer radial end of the impeller. The centrifugal impeller includes a back side having a nonlinear backwall. The backwall can include a flat area hear a bore of impeller, a flat area near a tip of the impeller, and a convex surface between the flat areas of the bore and the tip. In some forms the impeller further includes a concave surface between the convex surface and the tip to form an s-shape. A transition or inflection point can denote the change from convex to concave. The convex and/or concave surfaces can take any variety of forms such as constant radius sections and/or compound curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventor: Noel Blair
  • Patent number: 11821434
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor impeller includes a plurality of blades on a front side that extend from a first axial side to an outer radial end of the impeller. The centrifugal impeller includes a back side having a nonlinear backwall. The backwall can include a flat area hear a bore of impeller, a flat area near a tip of the impeller, and a convex surface between the flat areas of the bore and the tip. In some forms the impeller further includes a concave surface between the convex surface and the tip to form an s-shape. A transition or inflection point can denote the change from convex to concave. The convex and/or concave surfaces can take any variety of forms such as constant radius sections and/or compound curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventor: Noel Blair
  • Publication number: 20220381259
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor impeller includes a plurality of blades on a front side that extend from a first axial side to an outer radial end of the impeller. The centrifugal impeller includes a back side having a nonlinear backwall. The backwall can include a flat area hear a bore of impeller, a flat area near a tip of the impeller, and a convex surface between the flat areas of the bore and the tip. In some forms the impeller further includes a concave surface between the convex surface and the tip to form an s-shape. A transition or inflection point can denote the change from convex to concave. The convex and/or concave surfaces can take any variety of forms such as constant radius sections and/or compound curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventor: Noel Blair
  • Patent number: 11408434
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor impeller includes a plurality of blades on a front side that extend from a first axial side to an outer radial end of the impeller. The centrifugal impeller includes a back side having a nonlinear backwall. The backwall can include a flat area hear a bore of impeller, a flat area near a tip of the impeller, and a convex surface between the flat areas of the bore and the tip. In some forms the impeller further includes a concave surface between the convex surface and the tip to form an s-shape. A transition or inflection point can denote the change from convex to concave. The convex and/or concave surfaces can take any variety of forms such as constant radius sections and/or compound curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc.
    Inventor: Noel Blair
  • Publication number: 20210172452
    Abstract: A centrifugal compressor impeller includes a plurality of blades on a front side that extend from a first axial side to an outer radial end of the impeller. The centrifugal impeller includes a back side having a nonlinear backwall. The backwall can include a flat area hear a bore of impeller, a flat area near a tip of the impeller, and a convex surface between the flat areas of the bore and the tip. In some forms the impeller further includes a concave surface between the convex surface and the tip to form an s-shape. A transition or inflection point can denote the change from convex to concave. The convex and/or concave surfaces can take any variety of forms such as constant radius sections and/or compound curves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Noel Blair
  • Patent number: 9587646
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a centrifugal compressor diffuser including a flow path having a first surface and a second surface defining opposite axial sides of the flow path. The centrifugal compressor diffuser also includes multiple vanes extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flow path. A first profile of each vane varies along an axial direction. The centrifugal compressor diffuser further includes multiple vanelets extending from the first surface toward the second surface in the axial direction. A first axial extent of each vanelet is less than a second axial extent of the flow path. In addition, a second profile of each vanelet varies along the axial direction and/or the vanelets form a non-periodic pattern around a circumference of the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Chester V. Swiatek, Mikhail Grigoriev, James Hitt, Noel Blair
  • Patent number: 9551355
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a plurality of detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes attached to a diffuser plate of a centrifugal compressor. In certain embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may be attached to the diffuser plate using threaded fasteners. In addition, dowel pins may be used to align the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes with respect to the diffuser plate. However, in other embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include a tab configured to fit securely within a groove in the diffuser plate. In addition, the tabs of the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include indentions that mate with extensions extending from the diffuser plate, wherein the tabs may slide into slots between the extensions and the grooves of the diffuser plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY
    Inventors: Noel Blair, Charles F. Herr, David N. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20140186173
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a plurality of detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes attached to a diffuser plate of a centrifugal compressor. In certain embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may be attached to the diffuser plate using threaded fasteners. In addition, dowel pins may be used to align the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes with respect to the diffuser plate. However, in other embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include a tab configured to fit securely within a groove in the diffuser plate. In addition, the tabs of the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include indentions that mate with extensions extending from the diffuser plate, wherein the tabs may slide into slots between the extensions and the grooves of the diffuser plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Noel Blair, Charles F. Herr, David N. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20140064953
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a centrifugal compressor diffuser including a flow path having a first surface and a second surface defining opposite axial sides of the flow path. The centrifugal compressor diffuser also includes multiple vanes extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flow path. A first profile of each vane varies along an axial direction. The centrifugal compressor diffuser further includes multiple vanelets extending from the first surface toward the second surface in the axial direction. A first axial extent of each vanelet is less than a second axial extent of the flow path. In addition, a second profile of each vanelet varies along the axial direction and/or the vanelets form a non-periodic pattern around a circumference of the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Chester V. Swiatek, Mikhail Grigoriev, James Hitt, Noel Blair
  • Patent number: 8616836
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a plurality of detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes attached to a diffuser plate of a centrifugal compressor. In certain embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may be attached to the diffuser plate using threaded fasteners. In addition, dowel pins may be used to align the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes with respect to the diffuser plate. However, in other embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include a tab configured to fit securely within a groove in the diffuser plate. In addition, the tabs of the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include indentions that mate with extensions extending from the diffuser plate, wherein the tabs may slide into slots between the extensions and the grooves of the diffuser plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Noel Blair, Charles F. Herr, David N. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 8602728
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a centrifugal compressor diffuser including a flow path having a first surface and a second surface defining opposite axial sides of the flow path. The centrifugal compressor diffuser also includes multiple vanes extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flow path. A first profile of each vane varies along an axial direction. The centrifugal compressor diffuser further includes multiple vanelets extending from the first surface toward the second surface in the axial direction. A first axial extent of each vanelet is less than a second axial extent of the flow path. In addition, a second profile of each vanelet varies along the axial direction and/or the vanelets form a non-periodic pattern around a circumference of the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Chester V. Swiatek, Mikhail Grigoriev, James Hitt, Noel Blair, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120014788
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a plurality of detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes attached to a diffuser plate of a centrifugal compressor. In certain embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may be attached to the diffuser plate using threaded fasteners. In addition, dowel pins may be used to align the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes with respect to the diffuser plate. However, in other embodiments, the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include a tab configured to fit securely within a groove in the diffuser plate. In addition, the tabs of the detachable, three-dimensional diffuser vanes may include indentions that mate with extensions extending from the diffuser plate, wherein the tabs may slide into slots between the extensions and the grooves of the diffuser plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Noel Blair, Charles F. Herr, David N. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20110194931
    Abstract: A system, in certain embodiments, includes a centrifugal compressor diffuser including a flow path having a first surface and a second surface defining opposite axial sides of the flow path. The centrifugal compressor diffuser also includes multiple vanes extending from the first surface to the second surface of the flow path. A first profile of each vane varies along an axial direction. The centrifugal compressor diffuser further includes multiple vanelets extending from the first surface toward the second surface in the axial direction. A first axial extent of each vanelet is less than a second axial extent of the flow path. In addition, a second profile of each vanelet varies along the axial direction and/or the vanelets form a non-periodic pattern around a circumference of the flow path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chester V. Swiatek, Mikhail Grigoriev, James Hitt, Noel Blair, JR.