Patents Issued in April 1, 2014
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Patent number: 8684647Abstract: An operating member mounting structure includes a mounting plate having an inner edge defining a mounting hole, and an operating member includes a keytop and a flange which are coupled to each other by a shaft, and the flange is formed with a slit. The diameter of the flange is larger than that of the mounting hole. When the operating member is rotated and pressed down in a state that the slit receives the inner edge of the mounting hole, the flange passes over the inner edge of the mounting hole to be fully brought beneath the mounting plate. An operating shaft of an operated device is inserted into an insertion hole opened on the surface of the flange. By operating the keytop exposed from the top surface of the mounting plate, the operated device can be operated through the operating shaft.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuki Taniguchi, Kumpei Fujita, Kenichi Ikeda
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Patent number: 8684648Abstract: A fastening system for attaching cladding panels to a carrier panel and allowing for differential thermal expansion. The system fastens the two panels together at points in the direction perpendicular to the panel planes. A combination of different carrier panel hole sizes and slots fix the panels together at one point and allow the panels to expand and contract relative to each other while maintaining rectangular alignment. Wall panels and buildings constructed using the fastener are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and CompanyInventor: Barry D. Olson
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Patent number: 8684649Abstract: A grain cart includes front wheels steerable about respective upright and rearwardly inclined steering axes arranged in a trailing self-steering configuration and rear wheel assemblies which are fixed in a forward working direction. The front wheel assemblies are fixed to the main frame of the cart except for the pivotal movement about the steering axes. The rear wheel assemblies are supported on a rear axle support member coupled by a rear suspension to the main frame so as to be arranged for rocking movement about a forward longitudinal axis. The grain cart optionally incorporates a load scale integrally into the main frame, as well as a hitch arm actuator to transfer of some of the load from the grain cart wheels to the towing vehicle by actuating the hitch arm to pivot the hitch arm downward relative to the main frame.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Johan Redekop
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Patent number: 8684650Abstract: A vacuum chamber assembly includes a vacuum chamber containing a reactive material, an inlet fill tube fixedly attached to the vacuum chamber, and an outlet fill tube fixedly attached to the vacuum chamber. The inlet fill tube has a first vacuum tight seal and the outlet fill tube has a second vacuum tight seal.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Alan Bruce Touchberry, Terry Dean Stark
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Patent number: 8684651Abstract: An autonomous mobile robot includes a housing mounted on a track and controllable to move along the track and to stop at each selected location, two side covers pivotally mounted on the left and right sides of the housing and movable by a respective driving motor to close/open the left or right side of the housing, and a mechanism controllable to move a material carrier horizontally leftwards or rightwards to the outside of the housing after opening of the left-sided or right-sided side cover.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Chin-Hsiung Wang
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Patent number: 8684652Abstract: An apparatus for loading and unloading a plurality of shipping containers into a carrier. The containers are arranged according to a predetermined pattern on a fixed staging unit of the apparatus. A first conveyor of the apparatus receives and transports the arranged containers from the fixed staging unit. The first conveyor is movable horizontally. A second conveyor of the apparatus receives the containers from the first conveyor and transports the containers into the carrier. The second conveyor is movable horizontally and vertically. A control unit of the apparatus controls transportation of the containers from the second conveyor into the carrier when the second conveyor is vertically moved to a predetermined position.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLCInventors: Brian Byrne, Douglas McLeester
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Patent number: 8684653Abstract: A swing-away lift is provided. The swing-away lift may allow for mechanized dumping of the contents of a refuse receptacle into a refuse container. Further, the swing-away lift may allow unobstructed access to the refuse container for a refuse-gathering vehicle. The swing-away lift may include a pivot leg, a swing arm, and a lift unit, and may be utilized in conjunction with a refuse container and a refuse receptacle. The swing arm may be pivotably connected to the pivot leg, and may pivot between a first closed position and a second open position. The lift unit may provide mechanized lifting and dumping of a refuse receptacle into a refuse container.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: The Heil Co.Inventors: Blake F. Applewhite, Bryan D. Anderson
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Patent number: 8684654Abstract: A wheel assembly positioning device. The device includes a wheel assembly cradle that holds a wheel assembly. A lifting device is also included that raises or lowers the wheel assembly cradle to allow a technician to dismount or mount a wheel assembly to a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Quality Stainless Products, Inc.Inventor: David A. Bardin
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Patent number: 8684655Abstract: A hay spear accessory apparatus for providing a secure and fixed mounting point for attachments such as ropes, chains, cables and the like, the apparatus being generally comprised of a an open-ended sleeve member having an interior diameter sized for slidable engagement over the distal end of a hay spear, the sleeve having attachment mounting means fixedly connected to the outer surface thereof. The interior of the sleeve has a varied diameter so as to accommodate the receipt of hay spears of various diameters. The apparatus of the subject invention is designed for frictional engagement with a hay spear, but optional securing means are also provided which prevent axial displacement of the apparatus along the hay spear once mounted thereon.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: Ronald Douglas Cannon
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Patent number: 8684656Abstract: A loader mast-to-mounting frame pin arrangement is provided. The pin arrangement has stops added to a shaft that allow the pin to be held in two positions: the locked position and the parked position. In the locked position, a unique slot cut in the mast plate retains the pin by not allowing an eccentric protrusion on the shaft from passing through the slot when the pin is rotated to place the shaft in the top of the slot. When the pin is rotated so the shaft is towards the bottom of the slot, the eccentric protrusion is allowed to pass through the mast plate and the pin can be pulled out until it hits another protrusion on the shaft. At this point, the pin will stay in the mast but the loader can be removed from the tractor. To prevent the pin from rotating by itself, when in the locked position, and the loader coming unlatched, a spring loaded knob engages in the slot which prevents the shaft from being able to rotate to the unlocked position.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Tyler Eugene Hilsden, Scott Robert Jamieson, Henry Friesen
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Patent number: 8684657Abstract: A transfer apparatus of a line end of a folder-gluer for cardboard boxes includes a transfer bed (1) with a double, opposite array of transmission belts (C1a, C1b, C2a, C2b) which define a transfer track for the displacement of flattened, folded boxes, wherein the transfer bed (1) is oscillatingly mounted about a horizontal axis (a-a?) on a U-shaped support structure (21, 22, 24) which is in turn rotatingly mounted according to a vertical axis (b-b?) on a base frame (26), the rotation according to the horizontal axis (a-a?) and according to the vertical axis (b-b?) occurring through a first (M1) and a second (M2 M2?) motor, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Revicart S.r.l.Inventor: Giuseppe Pini
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Patent number: 8684658Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for aligning an item that can be deformed easily, at least in the region of the outer lower edge. The apparatus has at least one aligning device that can be displaced in the direction of the item, and the transport substrate upon which the item is resting, in order to align the item on the transport substrate. For damage-free alignment of the item projecting laterally from the transport substrate contour, the subregion of the aligning device which comes into contact with the lower region of the item projecting laterally includes a stabilizing device. The stabilizing device prevents the item from being deflected, during the alignment process, in the direction of the transport substrate or, respectively, in a downward direction from the lower region of the item projecting laterally beyond the outer contour of the transport substrate.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: MSK-Verpackungs-Systeme Gesellschaft mit beschrankter HaftungInventors: Reiner Hannen, Norbert Vermeulen
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Patent number: 8684659Abstract: The invention concerns a moving blade system for a moving blade sequence of a continuous-flow machine, in particular a thermal gas turbine with at least two moving blade segments, of which each moving blade segment encompasses at least two moving blades that are disposed, in reference to a rotation axis of the moving blade sequence, at least primarily radially between a radially interior and a radially exterior shroud band and are coupled to the shroud bands, wherein at least the radially exterior shroud bands of the two moving blade segments encompass contact surfaces that correspond to one another, wherein radial equilibrium axes of neighboring moving blades of the at least two moving blade segments are disposed in a tilted manner by respectively axially an angle (?a, ?b) relative to their respective base inclination, wherein the angles (?a, ?b) in regard to the base inclination feature opposite signs.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AGInventor: Alexander Böck
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Patent number: 8684660Abstract: A pressure and temperature actuation system is provided having a high-temperature low-pressure zone, a low-temperature high-pressure zone, a boundary, a pressure actuated mechanism, and a temperature mechanism. A gas located in the high-temperature low-pressure zone has a greater gas temperature than the gas located in the low-temperature high-pressure zone. The gas located in the low-temperature high-pressure zone has a greater gas pressure than the gas located in the high-temperature low-pressure zone. The boundary separates the high-temperature low-pressure zone from the low-temperature high pressure zone. The pressure actuated mechanism is located within the boundary and is configured for opening at a specified gas pressure in either the high-temperature low-pressure zone or the low-temperature high-pressure zone.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Carlos Miguel Miranda, Edward William Cummings
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Patent number: 8684661Abstract: A fan module includes a housing and an impeller. The housing has an axial air inlet, a radial air inlet and at least one radial air outlet. The impeller is rotatably disposed in the housing and has a first air-guiding blade, a second air-guiding blade and a partitioning member. The partitioning member separates an interior space of the housing into a first air channel and a second air channel. The first air-guiding blade is located in the first air channel, and the second air-guiding blade is located in the second air channel.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., LtdInventors: Alex Horng, Wen-Kuan Chen
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Patent number: 8684662Abstract: A ring segment for a gas turbine engine includes an outer panel defining a structural body for the ring segment. An outer side of an inner panel is attached to an inner side of the outer panel at an interface, and an inner side of the inner panel defines a portion of a hot gas path through the gas turbine engine. An outer side of the outer panel, opposite from the interface, is in communication with a source of cooling air. A plurality of impingement holes extend through the outer panel from the outer side to the inner side of the outer panel for directing impingement air to the outer side of the inner panel. The outer and inner panels define a plurality of flow channels at the interface for effecting convective cooling of the outer panel along the flow channels between the outer and inner panels.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Nan Jiang, Samuel R. Miller, Jr., Friedrich Rogers, Hubert Paprotna
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Patent number: 8684663Abstract: A steam turbine is provided having a relief groove which is arranged in the region of the equalizing piston and extends in the circumferential direction of the rotor. The relief groove, with regard to an inlet passage, is arranged in the axial upstream direction so that it is arranged on the rotor outside a region in which the steam flow enters the bladed flow path via the inlet passage. The relief groove, with regard to the first blade row, is arranged in a region in which the greatest thermal stresses can arise in the rotor. As an option, the relief groove has a cover for reducing vortex flows, and also devices for reducing heating of the groove or devices for active cooling. The steam turbine allows an increased number of risk-free running up and running down operations of the steam turbine with minimum detriment to the turbine performance.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.Inventors: Rabiye Bekyigit, Philipp Brunner, Jian Chen, Rolf Dobler, Jozo Drmic, Andreas Ehrsam, Maurus Herzog, Davor Kriz, Thomas Mokulys, Martin Reigl, Luca Ripamonti, Thomas Schreier, Giorgio Zanazzi
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Patent number: 8684664Abstract: A platform cooling configuration in a turbine rotor blade that includes platform slot formed through at least one of the pressure side slashface and the suction side slashface; a removably-engaged impingement insert that separates the platform into two radially stacked plenums, a first plenum that resides inboard of a second plenum; a high-pressure connector that connects the first plenum to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; a low-pressure connector that connects the second plenum to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Wesley Harris, Jr., Scott Edmond Ellis, Xiaoyong Fu, Adrian Lional Scott
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Patent number: 8684665Abstract: A turbine ring sector comprising a wall presenting an inside face and an outside face, in which the inside face defines an axially oriented airflow passage through which gas flows; and a multiply-perforated metal sheet situated on the side of the wall that is opposite from the airflow passage is disclosed. The multiply-perforated metal sheet has a bottom, and the space between the outside face of the wall and the bottom of the multiply-perforated metal sheet defines a gap. The variation in the value of the gap over the entire axial extent thereof decreases from a first maximum value towards a minimum value and then increases from the minimum value to a second maximum value.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Jean-Luc Bacha, Emmanuel Berche, Didier Jeannel
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Patent number: 8684666Abstract: A low pressure cooling system for a turbine engine for directing cooling fluids at low pressure, such as at ambient pressure, through at least one cooling fluid supply channel and into a cooling fluid mixing chamber positioned immediately downstream from a row of turbine blades extending radially outward from a rotor assembly to prevent ingestion of hot gases into internal aspects of the rotor assembly. The low pressure cooling system may also include at least one bleed channel that may extend through the rotor assembly and exhaust cooling fluids into the cooling fluid mixing chamber to seal a gap between rotational turbine blades and a downstream, stationary turbine component. Use of ambient pressure cooling fluids by the low pressure cooling system results in tremendous efficiencies by eliminating the need for pressurized cooling fluids for sealing this gap.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventor: John J. Marra
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Patent number: 8684667Abstract: A low-pressure steam turbine includes an inner casing, an outer casing arranged outside the inner casing so as to cover the inner casing, a heat carrier heating channel between the inner casing and the outer casing so that a heat carrier flows therethrough, a heat carrier inlet passage for introducing the heat carrier into the heat carrier heating channel, and a heat carrier chamber in the inside of at least one of stationary blades to receive the heat carrier that has passed through the heat carrier heating channel. The at least one of stationary blades is heated by the heat carrier which has been heated by passing through the heat carrier heating channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Takashi Maruyama
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Patent number: 8684668Abstract: A sequential impingement cooling insert for a turbine stator vane that forms a double impingement for the pressure and suction sides of the vane or a triple impingement. The insert is formed from a sheet metal formed in a zigzag shape that forms a series of alternating impingement cooling channels with return air channels, where pressure side and suction side impingement cooling plates are secured over the zigzag shaped main piece. Another embodiment includes the insert formed from one or two blocks of material in which the impingement channels and return air channels are machined into each block.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Russell B Jones, Judson J Krueger, William L Plank
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Patent number: 8684669Abstract: A measuring assembly for use in a gas turbine engine includes an indicia portion that extends radially inwardly from an inner surface of a ring seal structure to a location radially inwardly from tips of blades mounted on a rotor. The indicia portion of the measuring assembly comprises a section that is abraded by the blades during rotational movement of the rotor to provide a visual indication of a distance between the tips of the blades and the inner surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Abdullatif M. Chehab, Kevin L. Hines, Barton M. Pepperman, Matthew D. Bogdan
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Patent number: 8684670Abstract: A sealing mechanism includes a pair of space forming rings which face each other and are configured for surrounding a shaft body, an outer bellows-joint having one end connected to an outer periphery of one of the space forming rings and another end connected to an outer periphery of the other of the space forming rings, and an inner bellows-joint having one end connected to an inner periphery of one of the space forming rings and another end connected to an inner periphery of the other of the space forming rings. Each of the inner bellows-joint and the outer bellows-joint is a corrugated plate. The space forming rings space the inner bellows-joint and the outer bellows-joint apart from each other such that the inner bellows-joint and the outer bellows-joint do not come in contact with each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Ryokichi Hombo, Tamiaki Nakazawa, Rimpei Kawashita
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Patent number: 8684671Abstract: A turbomachine casing forming a continuous annular ring extending over 360° around a bladed wheel and serving as a propagation medium for rotating waves, each rotating wave being generated by two standing waves of the same frequency, and the casing including at least one longitudinal stiffener at its outer periphery that is dimensioned and positioned in such a manner as to separate the frequencies of the two standing waves of at least one given rotating wave.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Bruno Froissart, François Maurice Garcin, Delphine Hermance Maxime Parent, Vincent Roy
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Patent number: 8684672Abstract: A brake system comprising a brake disc is disclosed. The brake system comprises at least one flexible portion. The at least one flexible portion is configured for compensating expansion of the brake disc and/or absorbing the expansion of the brake disc. The brake system is especially for a wind turbine generator.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Soeren Oemann Lind
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Patent number: 8684673Abstract: A seal structure for a gas turbine engine, the seal structure including first and second components located adjacent to each other and forming a barrier between high and low pressure zones. A seal cavity is defined in the first and second components, the seal cavity extending to either side of an elongated gap extending generally in a first direction between the first and second components. A seal member is positioned within the seal cavity and spans across the elongated gap. The seal member includes first and second side edges extending into each of the components in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and opposing longitudinal edges extending between the side edges generally parallel to the first direction. The side edges include a groove formed therein for effecting a reduction of gas flow around the seal member at the side edges.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Santiago Salazar, Andrew Gisch
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Patent number: 8684674Abstract: A shroud for turbine engines. The shroud has an integrated anti-rotation device that prevents circumferential movement of the shroud during normal engine operation, and which allows for circumferential installation in split annular case designs. Since the anti-rotation device is an integral part of the shroud and/or annular split turbine case, no additional parts are necessary for assembly or disassembly. Moreover, existing annular split turbine cases can be reworked to accept the anti-rotation device and yet still be backwards compatible with original shroud designs.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: George Joe-Kueng Chan, Victor Hugo Silva Correia
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Patent number: 8684675Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine wheel mounted within a turbine housing and connected to a compressor wheel by a shaft. The turbine housing defines an exhaust gas inlet connected to a volute that surrounds the turbine wheel, and an axial bore through which exhaust gas that has passed through the turbine wheel is discharged from the turbine housing. The turbine housing further defines an annular bypass passage surrounding the bore and arranged to allow exhaust gas to bypass the turbine wheel. An annular bypass valve is disposed in the bypass passage. The bypass valve includes a fixed annular valve seat and a rotary annular valve member arranged coaxially with the valve seat. The valve member is disposed against the valve seat and is rotatable about the axis for selectively varying a degree of alignment between respective orifices in the valve seat and valve member.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Alain Lombard, Michael Ladonnet, Michel Thirion
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Patent number: 8684676Abstract: A centrifugal fan that includes an impeller having fan blades with notched tabs extending through slots in a pair of disc shaped base elements with the notches engaging the ends of the slots to secure the fan blades upon the impeller.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Inventor: William E. Kirkpatrick
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Patent number: 8684677Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted on a turbine shaft within a housing assembly for rotation about a turbine axis, the housing assembly defining a gas flow inlet passage upstream of the turbine wheel; an annular wall member defining a wall of the inlet passage and which is displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis to control gas flow through the inlet passage; at least one moveable rod operably connected via a first end of the rod to the annular wall member, the rod being moveable to control displacement of the annular wall member, the rod extending in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis; wherein the rod is provided with a region of reduced radius which extends only partly around the rod, the region of reduced radius being remote from a second end of the rod to which a component of an actuator assembly for moving the rod is connectable.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies LimitedInventors: Stuart J. Mann, John Frederick Parker, Martin David Taylor, Robert Morphet
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Patent number: 8684678Abstract: An exhaust gas turbocharger, comprising: a turbine rotor rotatably mounted in a housing, which is associated with at least one guide apparatus forming a radial inlet channel, wherein the guide apparatus includes at least one of a guide vane bearing ring, a plurality of guide vanes radially surrounding the turbine rotor and located in the inlet channel and a guide vane cover ring. The inlet channel is axially delimited by the guide vane bearing ring and the guide vane cover ring wherein the guide vane bearing ring and the guide vane cover ring are moveably mounted at least one of axially and radially relative to each other and to the housing. The guide apparatus is subjected to at least one of an axial and radial preload, wherein a line of axial preload flux runs through the guide apparatus substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the turbine rotor.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Bosch Mahle Turbo Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Claus Fleig, Matthias Stein, Timo Tries, Andreas Wengert
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Patent number: 8684679Abstract: Enhanced abrasion resistance in well fluid wetted assemblies is described. The bearing set of the invention provides an enhanced abrasion resistance that is better capable of withstanding friction from solids in electric submersible pump (ESP) well production applications. The flutes, grooves, sectors and intersections of the invention provide improved fluid and solid flow through assembly components, which improves cooling while the assembly is in operation and reduces body wear, thereby increasing the lifespan of the ESP system.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Summit ESP, LLCInventors: Steven Keith Tetzlaff, Freddie George Walton, David Thomas Jolly, Shiv Jayaram
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Patent number: 8684680Abstract: A gas turbine engine shroud includes a plurality of shroud segments disposed circumferentially one adjacent to another to form a full, circumferentially segmented ring about the rotor. The radial seal between each pair of adjacent shroud segments is positioned on the back side of the shroud platform. Cooling underneath the radial seals may be done by conduction heath transfer through the platform of the shroud segments.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Yves Martin, Franco Di Paola
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Patent number: 8684681Abstract: An air cycle machine including a housing with a compressor housing portion and a turbine housing portion secured to one another by fasteners. The compressor and turbine housing portions each provide a surface. An insulator plate is provided between and engages the surfaces. The fasteners extend through circumferentially arranged holes in the insulator plate. The insulator plate has an axial width, an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The outer diameter to the inner diameter provides a first ratio of 1.19-1.21, and the inner diameter to the width provides a second ratio of 53-59. In one example, the insulator plate is a composite structure constructed from 9-12 carbon fiber laminations with each layer having directional carbon fibers oriented transversely relative to the carbon fibers of an adjacent layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Lawrence Binek, Brent J. Merritt, Darryl A. Colson
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Patent number: 8684682Abstract: A power generating apparatus of renewable energy type includes a tower, a nacelle which is supported rotatably by a tip portion of the tower; a main shaft rotatable with a blade; a hydraulic pump which is housed in the nacelle and is driven by rotation of the main shaft; a hydraulic motor which is driven by operating oil supplied from the hydraulic pump; a generator which is coupled to the hydraulic motor; an operating-oil line which is provided between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor and through which the operating oil circulates; a cooling-medium line through which cooling medium for cooling the operating oil circulates via an intermediate heat exchanger; and a main heat exchanger which cools the cooling medium by heat exchange with cool water source around a base portion of the tower, and one of the operating-oil line.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yu Akashi, Takeshi Matsuo, Shinsuke Sato, Takuro Kameda, Yoshiyuki Morii, Fumio Hamano
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Patent number: 8684683Abstract: A turbine nozzle attachment assembly includes an outer turbine component (a shroud or a turbine shell) formed with a circumferential groove open in a forward-facing axial direction; a nozzle segment including a vane extending between inner and outer bands, the outer band provided with an upstanding annular hook formed with a hook element extending in an aft-facing axial direction and received in the circumferential groove. The upstanding annular hook and hook element are formed with a circumferentially-oriented slot. An anti-rotation block is located in the circumferentially-oriented slot, and an anti-tipping plate having a circumferential width greater than a corresponding circumferential width of the circumferentially-oriented slot substantially covers a forward face of the anti-rotation block. The anti-rotation block and the anti-tipping plate are fastened directly to the outer turbine component.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas James Brunt, Robert Walter Coign, Gregory Thomas Foster
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Patent number: 8684684Abstract: A turbine apparatus includes: A first nozzle comprising an array of first vanes each including a concave pressure side, a convex suction side, and leading and trailing edges; A rotor downstream from the first nozzle comprising a plurality of blades carried by a rotatable disk; and a second nozzle disposed downstream from the rotor comprising an array of second vanes each including a concave pressure side, a convex suction side, and leading and trailing edges; wherein the first and second vanes of the first and second nozzles are circumferentially clocked relative to each other such that, in a predetermined operating condition, wakes discharged from the first vanes are aligned in a circumferential direction with the leading edges of the second vanes, wherein a stacking axis of the first vanes is nonlinear. An inner band of the first nozzle is contoured in a non-axisymmetric shape.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey Donald Clements, Vidhu Shekhar Pandey, Ching-Pang Lee
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Patent number: 8684685Abstract: A system includes a rotary machine including, a stator, a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator, a plurality of axial grooves disposed along a circumference of the stator or the rotor, a plurality of blade segments disposed along the circumference, wherein each blade segment of the plurality of blade segments comprises a blade coupled to a mounting base supported in a respective axial groove of the plurality of axial grooves, and the plurality of blades has a non-uniform blade spacing about the circumference.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: John McConnell Delvaux
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Patent number: 8684686Abstract: An improved automotive pump assembly includes a volute pumping chamber configured to operably contain a rotatable impeller which, when driven, draws fluid into a fluid inlet and pumps the fluid to and through a fluid outlet. The volute chamber has an exterior sidewall with a constant internal first radius over a first sidewall portion and transitions to a second sidewall portion of increasing radius. The chamber's second sidewall portion defines a first end at a sidewall transition point tangent to the constant radius sidewall segment to define a second end which is tangent to the volute chamber's fluid outlet with a second radius that is greater than the first radius.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Bowles Fluidics CorporationInventors: Shridhar Gopalan, Alan Romack, Chunling Zhao
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Patent number: 8684687Abstract: A fan assembly includes a device for creating an air flow and an air outlet for emitting the air flow. The air outlet is mounted on a stand for conveying the air flow to the air outlet. The fan assembly also includes a tilt mechanism for tilting the air outlet relative to at least part of the stand. The tilt mechanism comprises a flexible hose defining, at least in part, an air passage through the tilt mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Dyson Technology LimitedInventors: James Dyson, Ian John Brough
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Patent number: 8684688Abstract: A series-connected fan frame module includes a plurality of frames, an engaging assembly and an anti-rotation assembly. The frames are arranged in series. The engaging assembly is arranged on each of the frames to couple the frames in series. The anti-rotation assembly is arranged on each of the frames and includes at least one position-fixing member and at least one blocking member arranged on portions of adjacent two of the frames where the adjacent two of the frames are coupled together. The at least one position-fixing member is engaged with the at least one blocking member to prevent relative radial rotation between the adjacent two of the frames.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., LtdInventors: Zhe-Hao Wu, Chih-Ming Chang
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Patent number: 8684689Abstract: An example turbomachine shroud assembly includes an annular shroud configured to receive a rotating component. A radially outer surface of the annular shroud establishes positioning slots and relief slots. The positioning slots are configured to receive a support finger that limits radial movement of the annular shroud. The relief slots are different than the positioning slots.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Changsheng Guo, Dustin Frame, Tania Bhatia Kashyap, Paul F. Croteau
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Patent number: 8684690Abstract: A variable chord morphing helicopter rotor blade is disclosed. The variable chord morphing helicopter rotor blade includes an extensible quasi-static chord section connected to the rotor blade, an adjusted airfoil chord length of the rotor blade corresponding to extension of the quasi-static chord section relative to a baseline airfoil chord length, the adjusted airfoil chord length determined according to helicopter flight conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignees: Agustawestland North America, IncInventor: Farhan Gandhi
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Patent number: 8684691Abstract: A squealer tip formed from a pressure side rib and a suction side rib extending radially outward from a tip of the turbine blade is disclosed. The pressure and suction side ribs may be positioned along the pressure side and the suction side of the turbine blade, respectively. The pressure and suction side ribs may include chamfered leading edges with film cooling holes having exhaust outlets positioned therein. The film cooling holes may be configured to be diffusion cooling holes with one or more tapered sections for reducing the velocity of cooling fluids and increasing the size of the convective surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Shantanu P. Mhetras, Glenn E. Brown
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Patent number: 8684692Abstract: A turbine blade assembly in a turbine engine. The turbine blade assembly includes a turbine blade and a first snubber structure. The turbine blade includes an internal cooling passage containing cooling air. The first snubber structure extends outwardly from a sidewall of the turbine blade and includes a hollow interior portion that receives cooling air from the internal cooling passage of the turbine blade.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.Inventors: Clinton A. Mayer, Christian X. Campbell, Andrew Whalley, John J. Marra
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Patent number: 8684693Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the angle of attack of a rotor blade of a wind power plant, comprising a flexible clad drive train that can be moved by a driving wheel, wherein the rotor blade can be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof by said drive train in opposite directions. According to the invention, the clad drive train can be moved only in a single plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the driving wheel and engages on a pivot bearing ring forming an end piece of the rotor blade, and the driving wheel is connected to a motor/transmission unit, which is mounted on the hub of the rotor blade, for the individual adjustment of the rotor blade.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Vensys Energy AGInventors: Andreas Mascioni, Jürgen Rinck
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Patent number: 8684694Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel (R) of the Francis type that comprises a ring (1) with revolution symmetry about the rotation axis (Z) of the wheel (R), and curved blades (21, 22) connected to the ring (1) and each having an outer peripheral edge (212, 222) and an inner central edge (211, 221). The connection points (B21, B22) between the ring (1) and the inner central edges (211, 221) of the blades (21, 22) are located on a same circle (C20) centered on the axis (Z). The connection points (A21, A22) between the ring (1) and the outer peripheral edges (212, 222) of the blades (21, 22) are located on at least two distinct circles (C21, C22) (D21, D22) centered on the axis (Z).Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2009Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Alstom Renewable TechnologiesInventors: Farid Mazzouji, Michel Henri Couston, Jean Bernard Houdeline, Sylvain Lavigne, Claire Segoufin
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Patent number: 8684695Abstract: A bucket pair in a turbomachine includes a first bucket having an airfoil and a shank; a second adjacent bucket having a second airfoil and a second shank adjacent the first shank; a first axial slot in the first shank; and an elongated, straight damper pin adapted to seat in the first axial slot, the damper pin formed with slanted forward and aft end faces.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jalindar Appa Walunj, Mark Honkomp
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Patent number: 8684696Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine main engine rotor. Still another embodiment is a unique method for assembling a gas turbine engine main engine rotor. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and gas turbine rotors. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Robert A. Ress, Jr.