Patents by Inventor Ronald Wifling

Ronald Wifling 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: 11333070
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes an inlet volume flow control appliance and methods of operating the same are provided. The method includes operating the gas turbine engine with the inlet volume flow control appliance supplying a compressor inlet volume flow that is below a maximum compressor inlet volume flow. A mass flow of a liquid agent is added to a compressor gas mass flow while the gas turbine engine is operated with a compressor inlet volume flow below a maximum compressor inlet volume flow. The mass flow of a liquid agent may be controlled as a function of the pitch of variable inlet guide vanes. The method further comprises adjusting the volume flow control appliance to increase the compressor inlet volume flow and increasing the mass flow of liquid agent added to the compressor gas mass flow while the inlet volume flow control appliance increases the compressor inlet volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald Wifling, Jose Antonio Cuevas-Alvarez, Christophe Doublet, Tarun Kapoor
  • Publication number: 20200173360
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine that includes an inlet volume flow control appliance and methods of operating the same are provided. The method includes operating the gas turbine engine with the inlet volume flow control appliance supplying a compressor inlet volume flow that is below a maximum compressor inlet volume flow. A mass flow of a liquid agent is added to a compressor gas mass flow while the gas turbine engine is operated with a compressor inlet volume flow below a maximum compressor inlet volume flow. The mass flow of a liquid agent may be controlled as a function of the pitch of variable inlet guide vanes. The method further comprises adjusting the volume flow control appliance to increase the compressor inlet volume flow and increasing the mass flow of liquid agent added to the compressor gas mass flow while the inlet volume flow control appliance increases the compressor inlet volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Ronald Wifling, Jose Antonio Cuevas-Alvarez, Christophe Doublet, Tarun Kapoor
  • Patent number: 8043050
    Abstract: A gap seal (9) radially seals a gap (8) which extends axially and radially between two blades (1, 2) of a turbomachine which are adjacent in the circumferential direction (3). The two blades (1, 2) have, in each case, an axially extending longitudinal slot (10, 11), which is open towards the gap (8), on its respective blade root (6, 7). A band-form or strip-form sealing element (12) engages with its longitudinal sides (13, 14) in the two longitudinal slots (10, 11) and bridges the gap (8). The one blade (1) has a projection (15) on its blade root (6), which projects from the blade root (6) in the circumferential direction (3) and extends in the circumferential direction (3) and radially, at least in the region of the respective longitudinal slot (10), and bridges an axial longitudinal end of the gap (8) in the process. The other blade (2) has a step-shaped recess (16) on its blade root (7), complementary to the projection (15) of the one blade (1) and in which the projection engages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Heinz-Schwarzmaier, Sven Olmes, Ronald Wifling
  • Patent number: 7722319
    Abstract: A locking and fixing device for a heat shield element, which heat shield element can be arranged along a heat shield row axially directly next to at least one blade provided in a blade row and has, axially facing the blade, at least two projections of rib-like design which are spaced apart in the circular circumferential direction, are raised above a side wall section facing the blade and define a clear intermediate space which extends in the circular circumferential direction and into which a locking lug provided on the blade can be fitted. Further disclosed is at least one rib-like projection, on its side facing away from the clear intermediate space, providing an extension which extends in the circular circumferential direction, is connected to the projection and the side wall section and rises above the side wall section at most up to the rib height of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Staempfli, Ingolf Schulz, Ronald Wifling, Michael Seemann
  • Publication number: 20080247867
    Abstract: A gap seal (9) radially seals a gap (8) which extends axially and radially between two blades (1, 2) of a turbomachine which are adjacent in the circumferential direction (3). The two blades (1, 2) have, in each case, an axially extending longitudinal slot (10, 11), which is open towards the gap (8), on its respective blade root (6, 7). A band-form or strip-form sealing element (12) engages with its longitudinal sides (13, 14) in the two longitudinal slots (10, 11) and bridges the gap (8). The one blade (1) has a projection (15) on its blade root (6), which projects from the blade root (6) in the circumferential direction (3) and extends in the circumferential direction (3) and radially, at least in the region of the respective longitudinal slot (10), and bridges an axial longitudinal end of the gap (8) in the process. The other blade (2) has a step-shaped recess (16) on its blade root (7), complementary to the projection (15) of the one blade (1) and in which the projection engages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Heinz-Schwarzmaier, Sven Olmes, Ronald Wifling
  • Publication number: 20080181778
    Abstract: A locking and fixing device for a heat shield element which can be connected to a rotor unit of an axial-flow turbomachine is described, which heat shield element can be arranged along a heat shield row axially directly next to at least one blade provided in a blade row and has, axially facing the blade, at least two projections of rib-like design which are spaced apart in the circular circumferential direction, are raised above a side wall section facing the blade and define a clear intermediate space which extends in the circular circumferential direction and into which a locking lug provided on the blade can be fitted. A method for producing a device in this respect is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Matthias Staempfli, Ingolf Schulz, Ronald Wifling, Michael Seemann