Abstract: A rotor blade system. The rotor blade system includes a rotor and a plurality of blades coupled to the rotor. The plurality of blades are arranged in an airfoil distribution pattern. The airfoil distribution pattern includes one or more baseline blades and one or more intentionally mistuned blades including an intentional mistuning feature.

Abstract: A rotor blade system. The rotor blade system includes a rotor and a plurality of blades coupled to the rotor. The plurality of blades are arranged in an airfoil distribution pattern. The airfoil distribution pattern includes one or more baseline blades and one or more intentionally mistuned blades including an intentional mistuning feature.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling gas leakage in a turbine are provided. A plurality of seals may be provided in series, where each of the plurality of seals may be operable to reduce gas backflow from an inlet of a turbine component. Further, one or more channels may be provided that are operable to direct at least a portion of the gas backflow from respective points within the plurality of seals to corresponding points within a gas flow path of the turbine. The at least a portion of the gas backflow may be directed to the points within the gas flow path through the one or more channels. Additionally, the diameters of the plurality of seals may be optimized to at least partially balance the net thrust generated by the gas flow path of the turbine.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for controlling gas leakage in a turbine are provided. A plurality of seals may be provided in series, where each of the plurality of seals may be operable to reduce gas backflow from an inlet of a turbine component. Further, one or more channels may be provided that are operable to direct at least a portion of the gas backflow from respective points within the plurality of seals to corresponding points within a gas flow path of the turbine. The at least a portion of the gas backflow may be directed to the points within the gas flow path through the one or more channels. Additionally, the diameters of the plurality of seals may be optimized to at least partially balance the net thrust generated by the gas flow path of the turbine.

Abstract: The application may further describe a seal guard in a turbine where the turbine include a plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzles, a plurality of circumferentially spaced turbine blades that each include a blade cover, and an opening defined by a trailing edge of the nozzles and a leading edge of the blade covers. The seal guard may include an upstream axial fin positioned at the trailing edge of the nozzles that extends in a downstream direction across at least part of the opening or a downstream axial fin positioned at a leading edge of a blade cover that extends in an upstream direction across at least part of the opening.

Abstract: A rotor body assembly includes a rotor and a containment shell surrounding the rotor, the containment shell having an external peripheral surface provided with a plurality of surface deformations.

Abstract: A rotor body assembly includes a rotor and a containment shell surrounding the rotor, the containment shell having an external peripheral surface provided with a plurality of surface deformations.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine that includes a body, valve seat, closure member, orifice plate and metering device. The closure member and the valve seat define a sealing surface, located on a virtual circle defining a sealing diameter. The orifice plate includes a third surface, a fourth surface and at least one orifice, located on a virtual circle on the orifice plate defining a first radius and between the third and fourth surfaces. The metering device has first and second faces contiguous to a third face. At least one of the first and third faces are spaced from one of the first and second surfaces of the valve seat to define a plurality of passages. Each passage has an outlet located on a virtual circle defining a second diameter greater than at least one of the first and the sealing diameters.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic generator with a reverse-flow ventilation scheme, a baffle structure is provided to guide the outside space block cooling gas all the way to the stator core inner diameter. The baffle structure helps cool the first package by preventing hot air recirculations that conventionally occur at the tip of the flange and next to the first tooth.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic generator with a reverse-flow ventilation scheme, a baffle structure is provided to guide the outside space block cooling gas all the way to the stator core inner diameter. The baffle structure helps cool the first package by preventing hot air recirculations that conventionally occur at the tip of the flange and next to the first tooth.

Abstract: A fuel injector for use in a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine that includes a body, a valve seat, a closure member, an orifice plate and a metering device. The body has an inlet, an outlet and a longitudinal axis. The valve seat is proximate the outlet and has first and second surfaces and a valve seat orifice between the first and second surfaces. The closure member is movable along the longitudinal axis between a first position occluding flow and a second position permitting flow through the valve seat orifice. The closure member and the valve seat define a sealing surface, located on a virtual circle defining a sealing diameter, in the first position of the closure member. The orifice plate is proximate the outlet and includes a third surface, a fourth surface and at least one orifice, located on a virtual circle on the orifice plate defining a first radius and between the third and fourth surfaces.

Abstract: A fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector also includes a multi-layer orifice plate assembly located at the housing outlet. The orifice plate assembly includes a first orifice plate having a plurality of first openings extending therethrough and a second orifice plate disposed proximate to the first orifice plate. The second orifice plate includes a first face having a perimeter, and a plurality of channels extending radially therethrough to the longitudinal axis. The second orifice plate also includes a second face disposed opposite the first face and a plurality of second openings extending between the first face and the second face. The fuel injector also includes an air assist sleeve disposed about the housing proximate to the outlet. The air assist sleeve includes at least one air channel in communication with the plurality of channels. A method of providing a fuel/air mixture is also provided.

Abstract: A method of heating fuel includes providing a fuel injector having an internal heater and a reciprocable needle valve; providing fuel to the fuel injector; passing the fuel through at least one flow-disturbing element; and heating the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel injector is provided. The fuel injector includes a housing having an inlet, an outlet a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, and a seat disposed proximate to the outlet. The seat includes a sealing surface and a passage extending therethrough. The fuel injector also includes a needle being reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. The fuel injector also includes a multi-layer orifice plate assembly located at the housing outlet. The orifice plate assembly includes a first orifice plate having a plurality of first openings extending therethrough and a second orifice plate disposed proximate to the first orifice plate.

Abstract: A metering assembly for a fuel injector having multiple orifice plates is disclosed. The metering assembly includes a valve body, a seat, a needle and a multi-layer orifice plate assembly. The valve body has an inlet, an outlet and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The seat is disposed proximate the outlet and includes a passage having a sealing surface and an orifice. The needle is reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. The multi-layer orifice plate assembly is located at the housing outlet and includes a first orifice plate having a plurality of first openings extending therethrough. The orifice plate assembly further includes a second orifice plate having a plurality of second openings extending therethrough.

Abstract: A method of heating fuel includes providing a fuel injector having an internal heater and a reciprocable needle valve; providing fuel to the fuel injector; passing the fuel through at least one flow-disturbing element; and heating the fuel.

Abstract: A fuel injector with a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and an axially extending fuel passageway from the inlet to the outlet. An armature located proximate the inlet of the valve body. A needle valve operatively connected to the armature. A valve seat proximate the outlet of the valve body. A swirl generator disk located proximate the valve seat. The swirl generator disk having at least one slot extending tangentially from a central aperture. A flat guide disk having a first surface, a second surface adjacent the flat swirl generator disk, a guide aperture, and at least one fuel passage having a wall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The wall includes an inlet, an outlet, and a transition region between the inlet and the outlet that defines a cross-sectional area of the at least one passage. The transition region is provided by a surface of the wall.

Abstract: A heated tip fuel injector includes a housing having a bore formed therein for receiving fuel under pressure; a valve seat mounted at one end of the housing, the valve seat including an orifice; a needle valve having one end mounted to an armature and another end which contacts the valve seat to close off fuel outflow from the bore and which is lifted from the valve seat to inject fuel; a heater disposed in the housing upstream of the valve seat and extending around the needle valve; and at least one flow disturbing element disposed upstream of the heater. The flow-disturbing element enhances heat transfer from the heater to the fuel.

Abstract: A method of preheating fuel in a fuel injector with an internal heater energized to reduce emissions. The heater being a ceramic hollow cylinder disposed within a valve body just upstream of a valve seat where fuel is injected through an orifice into the engine. Conductors for energizing the heater extend into the valve body and are sealed against the escape of pressurized fuel. In one version, the conductors are extended through an O-ring to be sealed. In another version the conductors include pins extending through the valve body sidewall with glass seals fused to the valve body and the pins. The conductors may comprise flat foil strips clamped between the O-ring and an elastomeric washer. The conductors also may be molded into the magnetic coil bobbin and sealed where the conductors emerge into the fuel cavity.

Abstract: A fuel injector has an internal heater energized during cold starting to reduce emissions, the heater being a ceramic hollow cylinder disposed within a valve body just upstream of a valve seat where fuel is injected through an orifice into the engine. Conductors for energizing the heater extend into the valve body and are sealed against the escape of pressurized fuel. In one version, the conductors extend through an O-ring to be sealed. In another version the conductors include pins extending through the valve body sidewall with glass seals fused to the valve body and the pins. The conductors may comprise flat foil strips clamped between the O-ring and an elastomeric washer. The conductors also may be molded into the magnetic coil bobbin and sealed where the conductors emerge into the fuel cavity.