Patents Issued in July 15, 2014
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Patent number: 8777534Abstract: In the case of a connection system having a housing (10) and a nut (16) which can be arranged on the housing (10), the aim is to provide a solution by means of which it is possible to prevent the nut (16) from being released inadvertently from the housing (10). This is intended to be achieved in that the nut (16) is formed from an elastic material and latching elements (24) are formed on the nut (16), which latching elements (24) can be latched to mating latching elements (26) which are formed on the housing (10).Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Olaf Wallbaum, Jens Gerullis
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Patent number: 8777535Abstract: A system for fastening a cover to a body of an explosion-proof enclosure using a plurality of fastening devices. Each fastening device can include a first load distributing member disposed on a body flange of a body of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can also include a second load distributing member disposed on a cover flange of a cover of the explosion-proof enclosure. Each fastening device can further include a fastener positioned atop the first load distributing member, where the fastener traverses the first load distributing member, the cover flange, and the body flange. Each fastening device can also include a fastener receiver positioned under the second load distributing member and mechanically coupled to the fastener.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Cooper Technologies CompanyInventor: Joseph Michael Manahan
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Patent number: 8777536Abstract: A cable lug and a method of use is provided. The cable lug has a receiving tube section for a cable, a flat piece-connecting section that is molded on and is provided with a bore, and a nut which is captively and preferably rotatably mounted on the flat piece-connecting section. The nut does not penetrate the flat piece-connecting section while being mounted by a shaped mounting material section of the flat piece-connecting section, which extends into an undercut in the nut. The mounting material section is in the undercut with an axial clearance. The mounting material section is rooted in a lowered in a step-type manner in the flat piece-connecting section. The lowered area is rotationally symmetrical and is provided with a conical section which opens outward and vertically and encompasses at least one conical area.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Gustav Klauke GmbHInventor: Egbert Frenken
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Patent number: 8777537Abstract: A fastener is disclosed including a threaded male fastener and a shear bushing for coupling thin walled structures together. The shear bushing having an internal through opening and a shear ring constructed to project across an interface of adjacent walls is operable for absorbing shear loads transmitted into the fastener from a fastened structure. The male fastener includes a threaded portion extending through the shear ring for engaging a threaded female receiver.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Theodore J. Fritsch
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Patent number: 8777538Abstract: A bonding fastener having two components which electrically bonds metallic surfaces through serrated metal teeth on the underside of the head of the first component and on the inside surface of the second component which embed into each metal surface as a fastener is tightened. In one embodiment, the fastener is a nut and bolt combination, and in another embodiment the fastener is a two-part rivet. A sealing material circumferentially outward from the teeth on both the first component and second component creates an air-tight and water-tight seal around the teeth, protecting the bonding location from air and water infiltration from the outside. The second component also has an internal seal, sealing around the shank of the first component to prevent axial infiltration of air or water along the shank and protecting the bonding locations from corrosion from contaminants entering along that route.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Renewable Energy Holdings, LLCInventors: Michael Strizki, Jason Snyder, James Strizki
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Patent number: 8777539Abstract: A lower sealing valve unit for a charging system of a shaft furnace includes a housing having a pair of inlets and at least one outlet; a valve seat associated with each inlet; and a flap associated with each valve seat and adapted for, in a closed position, engaging the valve seat to sealingly close the inlet, each flap being supported by a pivotable shaft allowing displacement between the closed position and an open position off the associated valve seat, where a common structure, mounted to one side of the housing, includes a pair of drive mechanisms, each connected to one of the pivotable shafts for independent actuation thereof, the shafts passing coaxially though the housing side and being supported by the common structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Ettore Rizzuti, Jeannot Loutsch
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Patent number: 8777540Abstract: An apparatus for storing contamination-sensitive flat articles, in particular for storing semiconductor wafers, comprises a plurality of box-like compartments stationary arranged on a fixed mounting rack. The compartments are open on a front side and are arranged in rows and columns side by side and one above the other on the fixed mounting rack. The compartments each have a plurality of slotted holders for receiving the flat articles, and they surround a first handling unit configured for automatically inserting and removing the flat articles into and out of the slotted holders. A closed housing forms a clean room where both the plurality of compartments and the first handling unit are arranged.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2008Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Dynamic Microsystems Semiconductor Equipment GmbHInventors: Lutz Rebstock, Michael Meichsner
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Patent number: 8777541Abstract: A conveyor control apparatus of liquid crystal panel substrates and a control method thereof is disclosed. The apparatus has multiple first side pillars and multiple second side pillars mounted opposite to the first side pillars. A movement control assembly is mounted outside the first side pillars and the second side pillars. The movement control assembly is used to move to a slot where the liquid crystal panel substrate is to move is inserted, and control the certain liquid crystal panel substrate inserted in the slot to move out from the conveyor control apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wen-da Cheng
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Patent number: 8777542Abstract: The advanced life has brought the use of strollers, wheelchairs and carriers for easing the life and human care. However, handling these objects in and out of a vehicle has turned to be a practical problem. Commonly these units are lifted for placement in the trunk or inside a vehicle, however, manipulation of these units which have a noticeable weight and a rough shape are difficult and labor intensive. Particularly, by some mothers that does not have enough reserve doing other chores. This activity will increase the pain of those who just had C-sections or it can cause a new back and joint pains or worsen the existing ones. This application introduces methods and means to allow such a process to be done easily. This application introduces new units and methods which allows strollers and carriers and similar units to be placed inside a box means which is attached to the rear of a vehicle by use of a door that opens and stands on the ground to function as a ramp.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: Yousef Daneshvar
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Patent number: 8777543Abstract: A rollback carrier includes a vehicle chassis, a truck bed assembly supported on the vehicle chassis and displaceable between a transport position and a loading position, and a front actuating arm acting between the truck bed assembly and the vehicle chassis. The front actuating arm dampens a tilt position of the truck bed relative to the vehicle chassis.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Jerr-Dan CorporationInventors: Sanjeev T. Kuriakose, Jeffrey L. Addleman
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Patent number: 8777544Abstract: A storage means and transportation method for at least one (1) motorcycle is herein disclosed, comprising a platform plate supported at corner locations by rotating casters. A vertical edging is provided along the long edges of the platform to prevent the motorcycle from rolling off. At least one (1) handles is provided along the long edge to aid in manipulating each motorcycle along a floor surface for shipping or storage. At each end portion of the platform are fold-down ramps to allow each motorcycle to be rolled on and off of the platform. Each ramp comprises a support to anchor the platform against the floor surface by lifting the casters slightly off of the floor. Once the platform is secured in this fashion, each motorcycle can be rolled on and off the platform safely. Each motorcycle is covered by a fiberglass hard cover which is attached thereto the platform for long-term storage and/or shipment.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: Robert H. Carpenter
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Patent number: 8777545Abstract: A multi-lift mast for a forklift has hydraulic circuitry that provides free lift and negative lift capabilities for the forklift. The mast comprises a stationary member, at least one extensible member slideable on the stationary member and a carriage slideable on an extensible member. The extensible mast members are raised and lowered by double acting hydraulic actuators extending between the stationary member and an extensible member. The carriage is raised and lowered by a positively connected double acting carriage hydraulic actuator extending between an extensible mast and the carriage. The circuitry employs identical pairs of counterbalance valves controlling the supply and exit of hydraulic fluid for the bore and rod ends of the actuators, set to cause the carriage to fully extend before the extensible mast members extend, providing free lift, and set to cause the extensible mast members to fully lower before the carriage lowers.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Bright Coop, Inc.Inventor: Francois Roux
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Patent number: 8777546Abstract: A carrier is provided for releasably attaching a tool to the lift arms of a work machine. The carrier comprises a lift arm attachment point for attachment to the lift arm, a tool attachment point for releasable attachment of the tool to the carrier, and a contact pad, for contacting the tool in use. In use, the lift arm and contact pad lie in the same vertical plane. Providing a contact pad between the carrier and tool in line with the lift arm removes any transverse bending forces on the carrier.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Henry A. Lanting, Scott R. Jamieson, Radu T. Guja
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Patent number: 8777547Abstract: A substrate transporting robot apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to transport a substrate to and from a chamber of an electronic device processing system. The apparatus may include an upper arm rotatable in an X-Y plane, a forearm rotatable relative to the upper arm in the X-Y plane, and a wrist member rotatable relative to the forearm in the X-Y plane, the wrist member including an end effector adapted to carry a substrate. The wrist member may be subjected to independent rotation such that various degrees of yaw may be imparted to the wrist member. In some aspects, the independent rotation is provided without a motive power device (e.g., motor) being provided on the arms or wrist member, i.e., the wrist member may be remotely driven. Systems and methods using the robot apparatus are also provided as are numerous other aspects.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Izya Kremerman, Jeffrey C. Hudgens
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Patent number: 8777548Abstract: A pick-and-place apparatus for handling glass substrate is disclosed and which comprises a chassis and a transportation platform which includes a transferring device disposed on the chassis and includes a first frame and a plurality of transferring rods rotationally disposed across the first frame along a first reference direction. A vertical displacing mechanism is provided for moving the transportation platform to move vertically to a pre-determined height. And a horizontal displacing device is provided for moving the transportation platform to more along the first reference direction such that the transferring device can be moved in and out of the cartridge, wherein the first transferring rods rotationally move the glass substrate into the cartridge or out of the cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., LtdInventors: Weibing Yang, Chun Hao Wu, Kun Hsien Lin, Yongqiang Wang, Erqing Zhu, Xiande Li
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Patent number: 8777549Abstract: A system and method for partially or completely inverting (rotating) a die and subsequently returning the die to its normal operating position. Systems of the invention include a roll-over unit that engages a roll frame or similar structure to which a die of interest is temporarily secured. The roll-over unit includes a drive motor that is used to rotate the roll frame and the die that is releasably coupled thereto. A deceleration assembly is provided to bring rotation of the die to a slow and controlled stop in one or both rotational directions. When the drive motor is a hydraulic motor, the deceleration assembly may include deceleration valves that are actuated by a rack gear that is caused to move linearly during rotation of the drive motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dustin M. Shock, Johnrobert J. Teets
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Patent number: 8777550Abstract: A stacking device includes a drive mechanism coupled to a movable band. The movable band is configured to move along an orbital path, and a twin roller with first and second portions engages the movable band and folds the movable band into at least two portions. In some cases, the drive mechanism can also include, or be attached to, two additional rollers that are inside the band and move along the orbital path. A stacking device may also include a roller set with first and second portions that press against a band. A mechanism may cause the band to orbit along a path such that it causes the band to receive a stackable item and move it to a predetermined location. At the predetermined location, the band releases the stackable item while continuing to orbit along the path, but while having zero total velocity.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: Niklas Pettersson
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Patent number: 8777551Abstract: An apparatus for separating and moving a selected number of items, such as a sheets, boards or blanks is provided in which a robotic arm is constructed with forks capable of securely compressing a desired number of items therebetween for displacement from a stack of the items. The items to be grasped by the arm are initially separated from the remainder of the stack by a separation mechanism that can be mounted directly to the arm or to a support structure for the stack of items. The separation mechanism engages and lifts the desired number of items from the stack to enable the forks on the arm to engage each side of the items. The apparatus can be quickly reconfigured to engage and remove any desired number of items from the stack and/or to accommodate changes I the shape, size and/or thickness of the items.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Automatan, Inc.Inventors: Kevin Widder, Daniel Davis, Joseph Clussman, Daniel Schneider
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Patent number: 8777552Abstract: A method of forming layered stacks of bundles includes providing a gripping appliance comprising a first gripping assembly and a second gripping assembly. The first gripping assembly is configured for grasping one or more first bundles and the second gripping assembly is configured for grasping one or more second bundles. The first and second gripping assemblies are configured such that first and second bundles grasped thereby may be reoriented relative to one another. The method further includes retrieving from a first location one or more first bundles with the first gripping assembly and one or more second bundles with the second gripping assembly and transporting the first and second bundles to a second location, During transport of the first and second bundles, the bundles are reoriented relative to one another. The bundles are deposited at a selected position in the second location to form at least a partial layer of a layered stack of bundles.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: J&L Group International, LLCInventors: Christopher Ward, Craig Gendreau
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Patent number: 8777553Abstract: Adverse effects when a carrier is open, such as particles adhesion to the substrate or natural oxidation film deposits on the substrate, as well as a rise in oxygen concentration and contamination of the substrate transfer chamber are prevented. Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes a carrier in which a cover unit is provided on a substrate loading/unloading opening for loading and unloading a substrate, a carrier open/close chamber continuously arranged to the carrier, a substrate transfer chamber continuously arranged to the carrier open/close chamber, a substrate processing chamber continuously arranged to the substrate transfer chamber, an exhaust means for exhausting the atmosphere in the carrier open/close chamber by suction, and an exhaust quantity adjuster means for adjusting the suction exhaust quantity of the exhaust means.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.Inventors: Makoto Hirano, Akinari Hayashi, Makoto Tsuri, Haruyuki Miyata
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Patent number: 8777554Abstract: A fan system is disclosed having a forward fan stage configured to pressurize an airflow and an aft fan stage having a tip-fan configured to pressurize a first portion of a pressurized air flow from the forward fan stage wherein the aft fan stage is driven by a second portion of the pressurized airflow.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: John Lewis Baughman
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Patent number: 8777555Abstract: A tidal turbine system includes yaw drive for rotating the turbine between a first position associated with tidal flow and a second position associated with tidal ebbs. The yaw drive is capable of moving the tidal turbine to a position where the tidal turbine is pointed substantially directly into the tidal flow in the first position and substantially into the tidal ebb in a second position. A method for harvesting tidal energy includes rotating the tidal turbine between one of the first position and the second position.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2013Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Benjamin Balbir, Richard J. Handwerg, Tejbir Arora, Richard P. Clark
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Patent number: 8777556Abstract: The CWE Concepts are designed to extract the maximum possible wind energy passing through a given square footage area of influencing machine interface at given calculated velocities, to deliver that energy to two power take off shafts for end user's useful work (electrical power generation and other requirements). A multi-bucket “S” rotor, airfoils, baffles and cowling combined, utilize one hundred percent of that moving air volume most efficiently. Our strategies are to use smaller units, yielding more power than existing designs while being installed at much lower levels, urban friendly, less visible, nearly-enclosed rotating machinery, quieter, and safer for indigenous wildlife populations. We plan to market for commercial and residential customers, in turn providing HVAC and electrical power augmentation to utility companies—a reliable and robust addition to the national power grid. Our goals—reduce dependency on foreign oil and provide a clean alternative.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: John Lee O'Neil
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Patent number: 8777557Abstract: The present invention provides a controllable compound rotor system for the WECS, with a pilot rotor working under low wind speed conditions and a main rotor working under high speed conditions. By proper switching of the clutch, the WECS can not only achieve a greater starting torque under low wind speed conditions, as well as to capture and utilize the low wind-speed wind energy after being started, but also give full play to the advantage of the main rotor having the excellent wind capturing efficiency under high wind speed and high turning speed conditions. Thus the WECS can capture and utilize wind energy under both low and high wind speed conditions, which greatly expands the speed and zone range wherein the WECS can be applied, facilitating wide application of the WECS.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignees: Shanghai Forevoo Windpower Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Powerfood Energy System Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yunlong Zhang, Hongying Zhang
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Patent number: 8777558Abstract: A casing for a turbomachine rotor wheel includes a plurality of circumferential grooves, each of substantially constant section, with the section areas of the circumferential grooves decreasing from upstream to downstream on going from the first groove to the last groove. By treating the casing in this way, the efficiency of the rotor wheel is optimized and its surge margin is improved.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: SNECMAInventors: Antoine Robert Alain Brunet, Olivier Stephane Domercq, Laurent Jablonski, Vincent Paul Gabriel Perrot
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Patent number: 8777559Abstract: A cooling system of ring segment is provided with: a collision plate that has a plurality of small holes; a cooling space that is enclosed by the collision plate and a main body of the segment body; a first cavity that arranged is the upstream end portion of the segment body in the flow direction of the combustion gas so as to be perpendicular to the axial direction of a rotating shaft; a first cooling passage that communicates from the cooling space to the first cavity; and a second cooling passage that communicates from the first cavity to a fire combustion gas d gas space in the downstream end portion of the segment body in the flow direction of the combustion gas.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Hidemichi Koyabu, Satoshi Hada
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Patent number: 8777560Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing a selected tonal noise generated by a fan operating in a non-uniform flow by locating at least one obstruction in the non-uniform flow such that the at least one obstruction generates a noise that is out of phase with the selected tonal noise. The noise generated by the at least one obstruction interferes with the selected tonal noise, thus reducing the selected tonal noise. It is also contemplated to use additional obstructions to reduce other tonal noises generated by the fan.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignees: Socpra—Sciences et Genie, S.E.C., Universite de Poitiers, Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueInventors: Anthony Gerard, Alain Berry, Patrice Masson, Yves Gervais, Michel Besombes
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Patent number: 8777561Abstract: An example compressor shroud assembly includes a shroud body extending along an axis and having a hollow bore. An enlarged flange is located at one axial end of the shroud body. The enlarged flange provides a rotating surface for a retention plate on a first side and a rotating surface for a drive ring on an opposing, second side. The enlarged flange establishes a channel that receives the retention plate. The channel has a ratio of the channel depth to the channel width that is between 0.0216 and 0.0251.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand CorporationInventors: Craig M. Beers, Brent J. Merritt
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Patent number: 8777562Abstract: An air seal for use with rotating parts includes a thermal barrier coating layer adhered to a substrate. An abradable layer is adhered to the thermal barrier coating layer. The abradable layer comprises a matrix of agglomerated hexagonal boron nitride and a metallic alloy. Another hexagonal boron nitride is interspersed with the matrix.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: United Techologies CorporationInventors: Christopher W. Strock, Melvin Freling
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Patent number: 8777563Abstract: A brush seal assembly for turbomachinery having a rotor can include a stationary seal component, a floating seal component coupled to the stationary seal component and circumferentially angled bristles arranged in a bristle pack, disposed in the floating seal component and extended axially with respect to the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Neelesh Nandkumar Sarawate, Norman Arnold Turnquist, William Edward Adis, Robert Gerard Baran, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger, Robbert Christiaan Pannekeet, Keith Michael Parker, Xiaoqing Zheng
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Patent number: 8777564Abstract: Airfoils according to embodiments of this invention result in a hybrid controlled flow concept that reduces leakage loss by creating a different vortexing concept near endwall regions of the airfoils than at the core region of the airfoils. Specifically, a turbine static nozzle airfoil is disclosed having a variable, non-linear, throat dimension, s, divided by a pitch length, t, distribution (“s/t distribution”) across its radial length. In one embodiment, a plurality of static nozzle airfoils are provided, with each static nozzle airfoil configured such that a throat distance between adjacent static nozzle airfoils is larger proximate the hub regions of the airfoils than proximate the core regions of the airfoils, and the throat distance between adjacent static nozzle airfoils is smaller proximate the tip regions of the airfoils than proximate the core regions.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Xiaoqiang Zeng, Jonathon Edward Slepski
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Patent number: 8777565Abstract: A steam turbine has an outer casing that is divided into an upper casing and a lower casing (a lower block) on a horizontal plane through which a rotor passes. The upper casing is divided into a middle block having a through hole and an upper block having a top panel, that is, into a portion including at least a part of the through hole through which the rotor penetrates. With this configuration, machining of a bellows fitting unit provided in an end-plate cone portion can be performed in existing facilities such as a factory, in a state that the lower block and the middle block are assembled without assembling the upper block.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Kondo, Tamiaki Nakazawa, Takashi Nakano, Yasuyuki Tatsumi
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Patent number: 8777566Abstract: A casing includes an inner shell and an outer shell that surrounds the inner shell and comprises a plurality of inflection points. An annular flange is between the inner shell and the outer shell, and a plurality of joints attach the inner shell to the annular flange. A connector is between the annular flange and the outer shell at each of the plurality of inflection points. A method for assembling a casing includes joining a plurality of curved sections to one another to generally define an arcuate inner shell and surrounding the arcuate inner shell with an outer shell. The method further includes attaching the arcuate inner shell to an annular flange at first attachment points and connecting the annular flange to the outer shell at second attachment points spaced approximately equidistantly from the first attachment points.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Stephen Christopher Chieco, Henry Grady Ballard, Ian David Wilson, Martel Alexander McCallum, Kenneth Damon Black, Christopher Paul Cox
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Patent number: 8777567Abstract: A turbine blade includes a first side wall including a first tip edge, a second side wall opposite the first side wall and including a second tip edge, a tip wall between the first and second side walls, the tip wall recessed from the first tip edge of the first side wall and the second tip edge of the second side wall forming a coolant cavity, a tip recess cavity, a first parapet wall on the first side wall, and a second parapet wall on the second side wall, the coolant cavity defined by the tip wall, and the tip recess cavity defined by the tip wall, and the first and second parapet walls, a step formed between the first tip edge and the tip wall, a cooling hole through the first parapet wall, the step, and the tip wall, the cooling hole including an open and a closed channel section.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Kin Poon, Malak Fouad Malak, Ardeshir Riahi, David Chou
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Patent number: 8777568Abstract: A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform at an interface between an airfoil and a root, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage that in operation, includes at least a high-pressure coolant region and a low-pressure coolant region, and wherein the platform includes a platform underside. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a plate that comprises a plate topside; a channel formed on the plate topside, the channel comprising an upstream end and a downstream end, and being open through the plate topside such that, upon attaching the plate to the platform, the platform underside comprises a channel ceiling; a high-pressure connector that connects the upstream end of the channel to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage; and a low-pressure connector that connects the downstream end of the channel to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Scott Edmond Ellis, John Wesley Harris, Jr., Adrian Lional Scott
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Patent number: 8777569Abstract: A turbine stator vane with cooling air cavities each having an impingement cooling insert secured therein, and an impingement cooling insert secured within each cavity. A leading edge impingement insert and a mid-chord impingement insert have a section on the pressure side wall with impingement holes forming a parallel flow of impingement cooling air and a section on the suction side wall with a sinusoidal shaped piece that forms a series of impingement cooling holes that produces impingement cooling on cooler surfaces of the airfoil but with less cooling air flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: George Liang
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Patent number: 8777570Abstract: A stator vane with endwalls having film cooling diffusion slots that open onto the hot gas surface. Each diffusion slot is formed as a row of one or more separated diffusion slots each having a serpentine flow channel and one or more metering inlet holes to supply spent cooling air from an impingement chamber to the diffusion slots. The metering inlet holes meter the flow of cooling air into the serpentine channels, the serpentine channels provide convection cooling for the endwalls, and the diffusion slots diffuse the cooling air into a layer of film cooling air onto the hot gas surface of the endwalls.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: George Liang
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Patent number: 8777571Abstract: An air cooled turbine airfoil with a leading edge region having rows of diffusion slots opening onto the airfoil surface. Each diffusion slot is connected to a plurality of metering and diffusion holes that meter the cooling air flow and provide for a first diffusion of the cooling air. The metering holes and diffusion holes are angled in order to improve the cooling effectiveness of the passages. The metering and diffusion holes and diffusion slots are formed from a metal printing process that can produce features that cannot be formed from an investment casting process that uses a ceramic core.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc.Inventor: George Liang
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Patent number: 8777572Abstract: A rotor blade has a radially extending aerofoil body having pressure and suction sides. The rotor blade further has squealer tip. The squealer tip includes a peripheral wall surrounding a cavity which is open at the radially outward end of the blade and at the trailing edge of the aerofoil body. The peripheral wall has at least one first region which extends radially from the aerofoil surface which has a first outer surface. The peripheral wall further has, along at least part of at least one of the pressure and suction sides, at least one second region inclined outwardly of the cavity with respect to the radial direction of the blade which has a second outer surface which extends obliquely outwardly of the blade. A radially outer portion of the second outer surface turns towards the radial direction to truncate the outward extension of the second outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLCInventors: Bryan Chee Yuen Cheong, Stephen C Diamond, Gurmukh S Sehra
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Patent number: 8777573Abstract: Wind turbine blade comprising two or more blade sections each of which defines a non-joint zone and, at one or each of its ends, a joint zone. The blade sections are connected in pairs such that the joint zones of each pair are connected at a joint, whereby the joint is positioned between two non-joint zones. At least one of the joints have an increased thickness and a wider chord relative to the thickness and the chord of the two non-joint zone between which the joint is positioned so as to increase the second moment of inertia in the area of the joint.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Paul Hibbard, Mark Hancock
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Patent number: 8777574Abstract: A windmill pitch driving apparatus is provided, which is capable of achieving improved durability as well as improved output torque and reduced size. The apparatus includes a fixing mechanism for fixing the output pinion to the output shaft. The fixing mechanism includes a positioning portion and a pressure-applying fixing portion. The positioning portion positions the other end side of the pinion with respect to the output shaft side. The pressure-applying fixing portion biases the pinion toward the output shaft in the direction of the axis P of the output shaft from the one end side and is fixed to the output shaft while applying pressure to the pinion.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Nabtesco CorporationInventors: Yoji Asano, Haruo Kodama, Katsuhiko Yokoyama
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Patent number: 8777575Abstract: This invention relates to a method and a Propeller Pitch Control Arrangement, comprising a propeller hub (1) having a number of interface fittings (10) for adjustable pitch positioning of a propeller blade, a positioning device (3), within said hub (1), having a number of propeller control interfaces (34) and an actuator arrangement (2, 4, 55) arranged to move and position said positioning device (3) to enable varying pitch for said propeller blades, characterized in—that said actuator arrangement includes a rotatable shaft (2) with threads (20) interacting with mating threads (30) at said positioning device (3), and,—that said rotatable shaft (2) is driven by a motor device (4, 5) positioned adjacent said hub (1).Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce AktiebolagInventor: Jan-Olov Forsstrom
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Patent number: 8777576Abstract: A platform is provided for use between adjacent fan blades joined to a rotor disk to provide an inner flowpath boundary. The platform includes: a metallic arcuate body with opposed forward and aft ends and opposed lateral edges; and a pair of frangible wings that extend from the lateral edges laterally and radially beyond the body.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nicholas Joseph Kray, Gregory Allen Platz, Jr., Matthew Robert Hastings, Gary Willard Bryant, Jr., Justin Jeffrey Kral
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Patent number: 8777577Abstract: With a hybrid fan blade, the supporting structure (1) in fiber-composite material is enclosed by an enveloping structure (2) only in an area of the airfoil, with a suction-side sheet-metal cover of the enveloping structure being pre-stressed in tension and a pressure-side sheet-metal cover of the enveloping structure being pre-stressed in compression. This reduces the hazard of delamination between the enveloping structure and the supporting structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2007Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KGInventor: Karl Schreiber
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Patent number: 8777578Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar (1) for a wind turbine blade steps of providing at least two caps (2a, 2b), each cap forming an intermediate portion (4) between two end portions (5), where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion (6) along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion (7) of the spar, providing at least two webs (3a, 3b), each web being provided with web joint surface portions (8) along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The at least two caps are configured for attachment to a blade shell so that the intermediate portion of one of the caps faces towards or forms part of a windward surface of the blade and the other one of the caps faces towards or forms part of a leeward surface of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Mark Hancock, Andrew Hedges, Tomas Vronsky
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Patent number: 8777579Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a spar (1) for a wind turbine blade. The method comprises steps of providing at least two caps (2a, 2b), each cap forming an intermediate portion (4) between two end portions (5), where the end portions each forms a cap joint surface portion (6) along a longitudinal extending edge of the end portion and the intermediate portion forms an outer surface portion (7) of the spar, providing at least two webs (3a, 3b), each web being provided with web joint surface portions (8) along opposite and longitudinally extending edges, and connecting the joint surface portions of the caps with the joint surface portions of the webs to form a tubular configuration of the spar. The intermediate portions and the end portions are provided so that they comprise different materials.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Mark Hancock, Andrew Hedges, Tomas Vronsky
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Patent number: 8777580Abstract: An airfoil (26, 62, 64) is mounted on a chordwise stall fence (28) of a wind turbine blade (22). The airfoil may be an aerodynamic slat (26) positioned over a forward portion of the suction side (38) of the blade or a flap (63) disposed near a trailing edge (34) of the blade. The stall fence may be at least as high as the thickness of the boundary layer (39) of air passing over the blade. The slat or flap may be twisted between an inboard end (26A) and an outboard end (26B) to compensate for the radially varying angle of the relative air inflow (46A, 46B).Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Drew Eisenberg
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Patent number: 8777582Abstract: Hybrid components containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the components are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the components. The components includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has a nub and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent is attached to the first subcomponent by a compression fit and encapsulation of the second subcomponent on the nub of the first subcomponent. The nub has a compliant coating system that provides thermal expansion compliance between the metallic material of the second subcomponent and the ceramic-based material of the first subcomponent.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Toby George Darkins, Jr., John Peter Heyward, Eric Alan Estill, Joshua Brian Jamison, James Herbert Deines, Mark Willard Marusko, James Thomas Hawkins
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Patent number: 8777583Abstract: A hybrid turbine airfoil component containing a ceramic material, in which detailed features of the component are formed of materials other than ceramic materials, yet result in a robust mechanical attachment of the ceramic and non-ceramic portions of the component. The component includes a first subcomponent formed of a ceramic-based material, and a second subcomponent formed of a metallic material. The first subcomponent has an airfoil portion and a nub, and the second subcomponent is separately formed and attached to the first subcomponent by casting the metallic material around the nub of the first subcomponent. The second subcomponent includes a blade tip shroud portion having at least one off-axis geometric feature that results in the second subcomponent having a more complex geometry than the first subcomponent.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Toby George Darkins, Jr., Joshua Brian Jamison, John Peter Heyward, Chad Daniel Kleinow, Roger Lee Doughty
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Patent number: 8777584Abstract: An energy saving three pump waste water pump station design that eliminates the high energy usage of traditional waste water pump stations, reduces maintenance costs to the pumps and increases the useful lives of the pumps by having a primary pump running continuously, a second pump mining during high demand periods and a third pump functioning primarily as a back up pump. Unlike conventional pump-station designs, the Energy Saving Green Pump Station Design utilizes a single float switch panel. Whereas independent float switches trigger start-stops in conventional pump station designs, the Green design incorporates a remote controllable panel for rotating the primary, secondary and third pumps on a schedule. This design also provides a process for determining in-flow rates for a pump station and efficiency operating points of pumps so that the most efficient pumps with the lowest horsepower can be selected.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Inventor: Nasser Fred Mehr