Patents Issued in January 6, 2015
  • Patent number: 8926242
    Abstract: A device for securing a mobile device in an aircraft cabin includes a first connection element having a bar receiving member. The device further has a second connection element which includes a bar which is suitable for co-operating with the bar receiving member of the first connection element, the bar being moveable between an unlocking position and a locking position, in which the bar of the second connection element is able to be brought into engagement with the bar receiving member of the first connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Gerhard Giesa, Dieter Behlich, Thomas Rathmann-Ramlow
  • Patent number: 8926243
    Abstract: An aircraft cargo restraint has a base configured for attachment to a cargo deck. A housing is rotatably mounted to the base about a first axis and is movable between an erect position and a stowed position. A head is movably disposed in the housing, and is movable between an extended position and a contracted position in directions that are substantially parallel to the first axis. The restraint includes a lock configured to releasably secure the housing in the erect position when the head is in the contracted position, and to permit movement of the head from the erect position to the stowed position when the head is in the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Greg Schulze
  • Patent number: 8926244
    Abstract: A member fastening structure has an installation member (for example, grommet) and a leg member (for example, pin). A projecting part, having at least one inclined surface, and a projecting wall, for contacting with the inclined surface of the projecting part and guiding in a direction of removing the leg member (for example, pin) from the installation member (for example, grommet) in a case when the leg member (for example, pin) is rotated in a state where elastic leg pieces are spread open, are provided between the installation member (for example, grommet) and the leg member (for example, pin).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yuji Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8926245
    Abstract: An assembly includes a support fastened to a structure by a fastening element extending along a fastening axis. and includes a bore for the passage of the fastening element. The fastening element includes a surface for driving in rotation. The assembly includes a device for locking the fastening element in rotation including a moveable end resting against the surface for driving in rotation the fastening element. The locking device is configured so that, at rest, the moveable end enters into the volume normally occupied by the surface of the fastening element. The locking device is placed between the support and the fastening element so as to be deformed elastically by the surface when the fastening element is put in place in the bore of the support. The moveable end includes locking shapes capable of interacting with the external shapes of the driving surface to stop the fastening element from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jacques Fournie, Thony Dupas
  • Patent number: 8926246
    Abstract: There is provided a bolt support structure which can absorb displacement of a bus bar and prevent the bus bar from bending during fastening of bolt, having a bolt including a head portion and a shaft portion and a mount portion to which the head portion is mounted movable in an axial direction of the shaft portion. The mount portion includes a bottom and upper plates between which a large-diameter portion of the head portion is positioned. The shaft portion and a small-diameter portion of the head portion are passed through a notch of the upper plate. A gap between the bottom and upper plates is larger than the thickness of the large-diameter portion. After the head portion is mounted to the mount portion, the nut is attached to the shaft portion so that the bus bar and the terminal clamp are sandwiched between the head portion and the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Sunsoku I, Hiroaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 8926247
    Abstract: A washer assembly is configured to isolate a work-piece from a fastener and/or another structure. The washer assembly includes a rubber isolator having at least one protuberance configured to directly contact a surface of the work-piece, and a metal strengthening member permanently secured to the rubber isolator. The protuberance(s) is configured to be compressed during a normal operating condition. The metal strengthening member is configured to be compressed during a peak operating condition in which greater force is exerted into the washer assembly than during the normal operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Schaser, Jason D. Holt
  • Patent number: 8926248
    Abstract: The invention refers to a family of fastening devices including at least two fastening elements (101, 121), each one of said elements including a shaped end portion (105), a frontal face (106) of the shaped end portion (105) having a cavity (107) extending as far as a bottom (108), the fastening elements having different maximum grips (Gmax), the family being configured so that the distance (109?) between the bottom (108) of the cavity (107) and the limit (170) between the body and the shaped end portion is identical for all the fastening elements (101, 121). The invention refers moreover to a unit (100) including such a family of fastening devices and a check gauge (150), as well as a method for checking of the choice of the length of a fastening element (101, 121), by means of the check gauge (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Lisi Aerospace
    Inventors: Nicolas Guerin, Sebastien Langlais
  • Patent number: 8926249
    Abstract: A screw includes a shank, at least one end cutting groove, a first thread, and a second thread. The shank includes a lower section disposed near an insertion end thereof and an upper section disposed near a head end thereof. The lower section has triangular transverse cross sections, and the upper section has circular transverse cross sections. The end cutting groove is formed in the lower section of the shank, and an included angle between 3 and 9 degrees is formed between an extending direction of the end cutting groove and a longitudinal axis of the shank. The first thread is disposed on the lower section of the shank and includes a plurality of asymmetrical thread convolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Fushang Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Nan Lin
  • Patent number: 8926250
    Abstract: A device for fastening a first object to a second object, including a fastening element and a ring element. The ring element has a predetermined bending point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Foser, Wolfram Schwertner, Guenther Domani
  • Patent number: 8926251
    Abstract: The present invention provides a container storage facility in which inert gas can be supplied to a container in a container storage section that can be moved between the storage position and the transfer position while preventing deterioration of the gas supply line and generation of dust to the extent possible. The container storage section of the container storage facility in accordance with the present invention includes a container support provided to be movable with respect to the fixed frame member between a storage position and a transfer position for transferring the container to and from a transporting device. The gas supply line of gas supply system for supplying the inactive gas to the container supported by the container support of the storage position includes a fixed side portion and a moving side portion which can be moved in unison with the container support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Iizuka, Suguru Shibata
  • Patent number: 8926252
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel transportable silo systems for storage of materials. The invention relates to self-erecting silo storage systems for use in the oil and natural gas mining and drilling industries. The silo storage systems of embodiments of the instant invention are uniquely designed to improve storage capabilities and mobility while at the same time reducing space requirements at well sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Solaris Oilfield Site Services Operating LLC
    Inventors: Terry McIver, John Cunningham
  • Patent number: 8926253
    Abstract: A platform lift trailer includes a chassis to which a lift device is mounted. The chassis is configured to be coupled to a standard motor vehicle trailer hitch or the like using a coupler. Some embodiments of the coupler provide protection against larges torsional forces applied between a motor vehicle and coupled trailer when they are angularly displaced relative to one another. One or more ground-engaging wheel assemblies are mounted to the chassis to assist in supporting the weight of the lift and any cargo thereon. The platform lift trailer is highly adaptable so that a wide variety of lifts can be mounted to the platform lift trailer and thus to smaller motor vehicles. Adaptation of mobility lifts and the like to a larger array of motor vehicles is therefore possible. One or more embodiments of a trailer coupler use torque-limiting apparatus so that vertical angular displacements of a motor vehicle and a coupled trailer do not apply large forces directly between the motor vehicle and the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Bruno Independent Living Aids, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott K. Uttech, William W. Belson, III, Andrew A. Bayer, Timothy G. Schwarz, Adam C. Hooper
  • Patent number: 8926254
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle having a power-actuated ramp includes a vehicle body having a roof, front portion, rear portion, opposed side portions, and a floor that cooperate to define a passenger area. At least one door provides boarding and alighting relative to the passenger area, which defines a flat area of the floor adapted to receive a mobility device. A ramp cartridge is operatively supported by and received within a recessed section of the floor and includes a frame assembly having a main deck and cooperating with and being substantially coplanar with the flat area to provide a substantial flatness of the floor, a ramp assembly having a ramp that is adapted to be retained in a stored position below the main deck, and a drive assembly adapted to actuate the ramp between the stored position and a first ramp position and between the stored position and a second ramp position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Mobility Ventures LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Pocobello, David Barnhart
  • Patent number: 8926255
    Abstract: A component transfer apparatus and method includes a mounting member on which a lower frame of a rack can be mounted and which is driven to move up and down in order to take out or retrieve components from the rack in which the components can be aligned and accommodated in a vertical direction; an upper push member that is arranged to face the mounting member from above and driven to move up and down in order to push the upper frame of the rack from above; and a carrying hand that can reciprocate between a retracted position where it faces the upper push member from below and a protruding position where it protrudes from the upper push member in a horizontal direction and that is driven to move up and down so as to enter a space below the upper frame to carry and suspend the rack at the protruding position and so as to move down the rack onto the mounting member at the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hirata Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Tachibana, Yoji Shinozaki, Soichi Tateno
  • Patent number: 8926256
    Abstract: A front lifting device for a tractor, for hitching a tool thereto and controlling the same, includes: a chassis to be attached to the bodywork of the tractor; two lower arms hinged to the chassis and including, at the end thereof furthest from the chassis, a hitching element for the tool; at least one working jack in which one of the elements, a cylinder or rod, is connected to the chassis and in which the other element, a rod or cylinder, is connected to one of the coupling arms, the working jack providing the movements of the arm or arms in a working stroke between a bottom position and a raised position; the device includes a length-adjustable linking member between one of the elements, a cylinder or rod, of the working jack and one of the parts made up of the chassis or an arm, the linking member being held in an extended state during normal working mode, and in a retracted state to enable the arm or arms to enter a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Hubert Defrancq
  • Patent number: 8926257
    Abstract: A work machine includes a pivotable arm having a first gripping device formed therein, the arm operatively connected to an attachment for securing an object between the first gripping device and the attachment. A second gripping device is removably securable to the arm near the first gripping device, the second gripping device configured to at least partially secure an object between the second gripping device and the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Bradley, Matthew J. Hennemann, Michael R. Heiar, Bradley O'Connor, David J. Sanning, Matthew Wagenbach
  • Patent number: 8926258
    Abstract: A substrate supporting apparatus includes a substrate support that supports a substrate. A first connecting member is connected to the substrate support and includes a first magnet. A second connecting member faces the first connecting member and is connectable to a transport robot for transporting the substrate to a substrate holder. The second connecting member includes a second magnet magnetically coupled with the first magnet. A spacer is configured to hold an interval between the first connecting member and the second connecting member. The first connecting member and the second connecting member are relatively movable in a plane direction of the substrate via the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Yoshizuka, Satoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8926259
    Abstract: A technology related to a pick-and-place apparatus for electronic device inspection equipment is provided. The pick-and-place apparatus includes the guiding unit that can interact with a loading element and can guide the picker to load the electronic devices at a correct position on the loading element. Therefore, the pick-and-place apparatus can allow the electronic devices, for example, semiconductor devices having a ball type of electrical contact lead (BGA, FBGA, etc.), to electrically contact the tester in a stable manner when the tester inspects the electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: TechWing., Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Sung Na, In-Gu Jeon, Dong-Hyun Yo, Young-Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 8926260
    Abstract: An automated, high volume container manipulator and process useful with an agricultural seed box. In an exemplary application, the manipulator removes an upper ring of a seed box, rotates the ring 180 degrees and places the ring over the lower seed box base in a nested condition. Container lid removal, transport and replacement devices and processes are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Green-Age Products and Services, LLC
    Inventors: Harold W. Parslow, II, Terry Pelc
  • Patent number: 8926261
    Abstract: A turbine assembly is provided assembly having rotor defines a plurality of recesses disposed about an axis of rotation (Ar). Each of the recesses having a wide end and a narrow end. The recesses are disposed in the alternating orientations such that the wide ends and the narrow ends of the adjacent recesses are proximate to one another to minimize wake turbulence, thereby optimizing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: 4sphere LLC
    Inventor: David Michael Patrick
  • Patent number: 8926262
    Abstract: A CMC turbine stator blade 1 includes a blade 2 of a ceramic matrix composite material formed or a metallic material, and a band 5 formed of a ceramic matrix composite material and supporting the blade 2. The blade 2 includes a first fitting portion 3 to which the band 5 is fitted outside. The band 5 includes a second fitting portion 7 to which the first fitting portion 3 is fitted inside. A flexible wire 8 is disposed between the fitting portions 3, 7 to fix the blade 2 and the band 5. A first groove 3a in the outer peripheral surface of the first fitting portion 3 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the blade 2. A second groove 7a in the inner peripheral surface of the second fitting portion 7a extends along the first groove 3a. The wire 8 is disposed between the grooves 3a,7a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Tanahashi, Akira Takahashi, Hiroyuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 8926263
    Abstract: A turbomachine casing assembly including: a first casing element arrangeable adjacent to one or more rotating aerofoil structures of a turbomachine; a second casing element provided at a radially outer position with respect to the first casing element; and an infill member disposed between the first and second casing elements, wherein an end of the infill member is set back from an end of the first casing element such that a void is provided between the first and second casing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Julian M. Reed, Cedric B. Harper
  • Patent number: 8926264
    Abstract: In order to improve a turbo compressor comprising a compressor housing, in which an incoming gas volume flow is supplied to an impeller channel through an inlet channel, is compressed in the impeller channel by an impeller and is discharged from the impeller channel via an outlet channel, and a flow diversion channel which is provided in the compressor housing, extends outside of the impeller channel and the inlet channel, opens into the inlet channel with an opening on the inlet side and into the impeller channel with an opening on the impeller side and conveys a diversion volume flow between the openings as a function of a difference in pressure, in such a manner that it can be operated optimally with volume flows which are far below the volume flow provided for the design point it is suggested that the flow diversion channel have a cross-sectional flow area increasing in size up to the opening on the inlet side proceeding from the opening on the impeller side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Piller Industrieventilatoren GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Ring, Joel Kofi Adomako
  • Patent number: 8926265
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of an IBH system that has a single conduit, which is positioned close to a downstream end of a silencer section. This arrangement may reduce the overall pressure drop associated with the inlet system. This arrangement may also promote a substantially uniform mixing between the cooler ambient air and the warmer heated air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Valery Ivanovich Ponyavin, Hua Zhang
  • Patent number: 8926266
    Abstract: A multi-inlet vacuum pump includes a first pump device (10) including a first rotor element (18) with a plurality of first rotor disks (20) serially arranged in the conveying direction (36), and a second pump device (12) including a further rotor element (26) with a plurality of second rotor disks (28) serially arranged in the conveying direction (36). A diameter of the second rotor disks (28) is at least partially larger than a diameter of the first rotor disks (20). A main inlet (32) sucks in a first fluid stream (34) with the first pump device (10). The first fluid stream (34) is conveyed in the direction of the further pump device (12). An intermediate inlet (38) sucks in a second fluid stream (40) with the second pump device (12). The second fluid stream (40) is conveyed in the direction of a pump outlet. A process of merging the two fluid streams (34,40) will occur within the second pump device (12), preferably between two adjacent second rotor disks (28) of the second pump device (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Beyer, Markus Henry, Heinz Englaender
  • Patent number: 8926267
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including: an ambient-air cooling circuit (10) having a cooling channel (26) disposed in a turbine blade (22) and in fluid communication with a source (12) of ambient air: and an pre-swirler (18), the pre-swirler having: an inner shroud (38); an outer shroud (56); and a plurality of guide vanes (42), each spanning from the inner shroud to the outer shroud. Circumferentially adjacent guide vanes (46, 48) define respective nozzles (44) there between. Forces created by a rotation of the turbine blade motivate ambient air through the cooling circuit. The pre-swirler is configured to impart swirl to ambient air drawn through the nozzles and to direct the swirled ambient air toward a base of the turbine blade. The end walls (50, 54) of the pre-swirler may be contoured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Kok-Mun Tham, Eric Schroeder, Jamie Meeroff, Samuel R. Miller, Jr., John J. Marra
  • Patent number: 8926268
    Abstract: An assembly for reducing compressor noise includes a compressor and an acoustic shield. The compressor has a rotor with a plurality of blades mounted thereto. Additionally, the compressor has one or more bleed slots therein. The acoustic shield is disposed adjacent to the one more bleed slots and spaced at a distance therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Fishler, Jay M. Francisco
  • Patent number: 8926269
    Abstract: A seal carrier for a seal used between rotating and non-rotating components includes an arcuate sheet metal seal carrier body formed to include a stepped, conical configuration wherein an inner diameter at a forward end is larger than the diameter at an aft end, with plural stepped sections defined by alternating radial and axial portions between the forward end and the aft end. Each axial portion is adapted to carry a seal element, preferably a honeycomb seal. Mounting flanges are provided at the forward end and the aft end of the arcuate sheet metal seal carrier body to enable attachment to the non-rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Jackson Dillard, Gregory Thomas Foster, Niranjan Gokuldas Pai
  • Patent number: 8926270
    Abstract: A turbine flowpath apparatus is provided for a gas turbine engine having a centerline axis. The apparatus includes: an annular flowpath member of low-ductility material, the flowpath member having a flowpath surface and an opposed back surface, and having a cross-sectional shape comprising a generally cylindrical forward section and an aft section that extends aft and radially outward at a non-perpendicular, non-parallel angle to the centerline axis; an annular stationary structure surrounding the flowpath member; and an annular centering spring disposed between the stationary structure and the flowpath member, the centering spring urging the flowpath member towards a centered position within the stationary structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, William Hasting, Michael Hogan
  • Patent number: 8926271
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure seal (7) of a turbomachine stator, said seal (7) comprising a first abradable surface opposite a rotor portion of the turbomachine and a second surface in contact with an inner shroud (3) of the stator, said seal (7) comprising a plurality of component units (10), each component unit (10) having, on its first abradable surface, a circumferential step (9) creating an obstacle in the circumferential direction of the inner shroud (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventor: Stéphane Hiernaux
  • Patent number: 8926272
    Abstract: A rotor blade for an aircraft includes an airfoil skin, an active element, and an actuator configured to operate the active element. A heat pipe is configured to promote heat transfer from the actuator to the airfoil skin. The heat pipe has a slope gradient such that a centrifugal force generated during rotation of the rotor blade promotes travel of a condensed working fluid within the heat pipe to move from a condenser end of the heat pipe toward an evaporator end of the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Troy C. Schank, Monte A. McGlaun
  • Patent number: 8926273
    Abstract: A steam turbine with a drum rotor utilizing individual nozzle ring assemblies in the IP section incased by a single shell. In one embodiment, a steam turbine has a high pressure (HP) section with a double shell drum and an intermediate pressure (IP) section with a single shell drum, with the IP section including a plurality of individual nozzle ring assemblies axially spaced along the single shell casing, such that each nozzle ring assembly surrounds the drum rotor. In other embodiments, a low pressure section (LP) of the steam turbine can have a single-flow or dual-flow connection to a condenser, and the condenser can be positioned to the side, vertically below, or axially aligned with the LP section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gerard Baran, Kenneth Michael Koza, Richard James Miller, Jr., James Edward Olson, Robert James Piechota, Kevin John Lewis Roy, Fred Thomas Willett
  • Patent number: 8926274
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing housing body group (1) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger, having a housing (2) for a bearing arrangement of a rotor shaft (3); having a turbine wheel (4) on one end (5) of the rotor shaft (3); having a compressor wheel (6) on the opposite end (7) of the rotor shaft (3); and having a compressor-wheel-side housing cover (8) which can be fixed by means of a fastening device (9) in a compressor-wheel-side housing opening (10), wherein the fastening device (9) is designed as a bayonet connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Hildwin Kuzi, Thomas Fitting
  • Patent number: 8926275
    Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes an electric motor, an impeller driven by the motor and a pump housing having an impeller chamber, an inlet in communication with the impeller chamber via an opening, and first and second outlets in communication with the impeller chamber. The impeller chamber has an interference structure which forms first and second flow channels in communication with the first and second outlets. The interference structure directs the fluid in the impeller chamber to flow through the first outlet via the first flow channel when the impeller rotates in a first direction or to flow through the second outlet via the second flow channel when the impeller rotates in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Awade Badafem, Min Li
  • Patent number: 8926276
    Abstract: Turbomachines having close-coupling flow guides (CCFGs) that are designed and configured to closely-couple flow fields of adjacent bladed elements. In some embodiments, the CCFGs may be located in regions extending between the adjacent bladed elements, described herein as coupling avoidance zones, where conventional turbomachine design would suggest no structure should be added. In yet other embodiments, CCFGs are located upstream and/or downstream of rows of blades coupled to the bladed elements, including overlapping one of more of the rows of blades, to improve flow coupling and machine performance. Methods of designing turbomachines to incorporate CCFGs are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Concepts ETI, Inc.
    Inventor: David Japikse
  • Patent number: 8926277
    Abstract: A fan casing for a turbofan engine including an annular casing component of composite material including a body portion having an outwardly directed stiffening flange at one end, the stiffening flange being connected to the body portion by a radially outwardly stepped region, the fan casing also including a metallic ring which is coaxial with the annular casing component, the metallic ring being situated at least partially within the stepped region and being secured to the annular casing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Edward A. Walters
  • Patent number: 8926278
    Abstract: A fan has a fan, an impeller and a motor. The impeller is disposed in the fan frame, and the motor is disposed in the fan frame for driving the impeller. The fan frame has a housing, a base and at least one connecting element. The housing has an inlet and an outlet, and the base is disposed in the housing and at the outlet. The connecting element is disposed between the housing and the base. The base has a first airflow guiding structure disposed on the circumference of the base. The housing has a second airflow guiding structure disposed on the inner circumference thereof and adjacent to the outlet. The first airflow guiding structure and the second airflow guiding structure are correspondingly disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shun-Chen Chang, Shuo-Shiu Hsu
  • Patent number: 8926279
    Abstract: A hub of a propeller with variable-pitch blades for a turbine engine, for example for a propfan engine. The hub of the propeller includes a polygonal ring with substantially radial cylindrical recesses distributed about a central axis of the ring for receiving the blades, a turbine rotor element of the turbine engine, and a securing flange that is attached to the ring so as to connect the ring to the rotor element. The hub further includes a plurality of back-up hooks inserted with clearance in openings, the back-up hooks being connected either to the ring or to the rotor element, and the openings being connected to the other one of the two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Eric Jacques Boston, Michel Andre Bouru, Laurent Jablonski, Philippe Gerard Edmond Joly
  • Patent number: 8926280
    Abstract: A rotor blade in a fiber-reinforced composite design for a tail rotor of a rotary wing aircraft (helicopter), with a blade section (5; 5?) having a blade skin (a, r) and a blade body (b . . . g, s, t), which blade section (5; 5?) forms an aerodynamically effective profile, with a blade tip (6) that faces away from the hub of a drive device of the rotor; and with a coupling section (9, 11; 9?, 11?) which faces towards the hub, with an attachment device (2) for a tension-torque-transmission element (3) and for a control tube (4) is improved in that the blade section (5; 5?) and the coupling section (9, 11; 9?, 11?) include spar tapes (a . . . g) that go all the way through and that are made of unidirectional fiber material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Kuntze-Fechner
  • Patent number: 8926281
    Abstract: A rotary system includes a retention member and a flexible yoke having an opening forming a bridge. The rotary system is further provided with two bearing assemblies, a first bearing assembly extending through the opening of the yoke and configured to secure a rotor blade to the retention member and a second bearing assembly extending through the opening of the flexible yoke and configured to secure the rotor blade to the bridge. The second bearing element includes a bearing element having a first surface forming a spherical contouring and an opposing integral second surface forming a conical contouring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Frank B. Stamps, Bryan Wade Marshall, Terry K. Thompson, Orion Braziel, David Popelka, Patrick Tisdale
  • Patent number: 8926282
    Abstract: By providing a tube of deformable material which can be located within a hollow cavity of a blade it is possible to provide an element which through friction engagement can absorb vibration energy and therefore damp vibration in a hollow blade. The tube incorporates a number of cuts and/or grooves in an appropriate pattern in order to define a deformation profile once the tube is expanded in location. The tube is secured in position internally upon an expandable element which is typically an inflatable device. Once in position the tube is retained in its expanded deformable profile and the engagement between the tube and the hollow cavity wall surface results in energy absorption through vibration episodes. It is possible to provide a tube formed from a shape memory alloy which will expand in location to engage the hollow cavity wall surfaces for energy absorption during vibration episodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventor: David Miller
  • Patent number: 8926283
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine, including: a plurality of blades (60) assembled into an annular row of blades and partly defining a hot gas path (26) and a cooling fluid path (24), wherein the cooling fluid path extends from a rotor cavity (22) to the hot gas path; an angel wing assembly (99) disposed on a side (74) of a base (76) of the row of blades; and pumping features (130) distributed about the angel wing assembly configured to impart, at a narrowest gap (42) of the cooling fluid path, motion to a flow of cooling fluid flowing there through. The plurality of pumping features, the angel wing assembly, and the base of the row of blades are effective to produce a helical motion to the flow of cooling fluid as it enters the hot gas path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Kok-Mun Tham, Paul H. Vitt, Eric Schroeder
  • Patent number: 8926284
    Abstract: An assembly for the removal of contaminants from a contact zone between respective contact surfaces 6, 8 of a first component 2 and a second component 4. At least one of the contact surfaces has a low friction element 10 provided with grooves 12 which extend through the contact zone such that, in operation, a pressure difference across the contact zone causes contaminants entering the grooves 12 to be expelled along the grooves 12 from the contact zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Dimelow, Ian C. D. Care
  • Patent number: 8926285
    Abstract: A turbine blade fastening is provided. The turbine blade fastening include a blade root implemented in a fir tree design, which includes anchoring teeth implemented toward the blade casting tip such that the height of the anchoring teeth is reduced toward the blade casting tip. The anchoring teeth are designed for fitting into corresponding recesses in a rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christoph Hermann Richter
  • Patent number: 8926286
    Abstract: A propeller fan with two blades includes a blade and a blade, and a connection portion connecting the blades together. Each blade has a peripheral edge portion extending in an arc having a diameter D with a center axis as a center thereof, a front edge portion arranged on a forward side in a rotational direction, a rear edge portion arranged on an opposite side in the rotational direction, and a leading blade edge portion connecting the front edge portion and the peripheral edge portion. A plane which includes each intersection between the rear edge portion and the peripheral edge portion and is perpendicular to the center axis is defined as ?. When the propeller fan is viewed in a direction parallel to a plane including the leading blade edge portions and the center axis, a distance H between plane ? and a connected portion between the front edge portion of the blade and the rear edge portion of the blade, on a line of the center axis, satisfies 0.028?H/D?0.056.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasukata Takeda
  • Patent number: 8926287
    Abstract: An article of manufacture having a nominal airfoil profile substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in a scalable table, the scalable table selected from the group of tables consisting of TABLES 1-2, wherein the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z are non-dimensional values convertible to dimensional distances by multiplying the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z by a number, and wherein X and Y are coordinates which, when connected by continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each Z height, the airfoil profile sections at each Z height being joined with one another to form a complete airfoil shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Dutka, Pinak Pani Gogoi, Christopher Edward LaMaster, Venkata Siva Prasad Chaluvadi, Pradeep Mahadevappa
  • Patent number: 8926288
    Abstract: A rotor blade (1), in particular of a main rotor of a rotary-wing aircraft, made of fiber-reinforced plastic includes a blade section (10) and a connecting section (12) for fastening the rotor blade (1) to a drive device (18) which includes a sleeve-shaped connecting device (14), is further developed in that the connecting device (14) includes flat fiber layers (S1 to S18) running substantially in the plane of extension of the connecting section (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Kuntze-Fechner, Elif Ahci, Christine Muller, Alois Wagner
  • Patent number: 8926289
    Abstract: An airfoil includes a blade having a pocket recess therein and one or more features disposed within the pocket recess. The one or more features are configured to disrupt pressure oscillations within the pocket recess. In another embodiment, a blade is disclosed having a first wall and a second wall. The first wall is disposed on a suction side of the blade and the second wall is disposed on a pressure side of the blade. The second wall is connected to the first wall at a leading edge of the blade. Together the first wall and the second wall form a portion of a pocket recess and the pocket recess is disposed asymmetrically with respect to a camber line of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Loc Quang Duong, Xiaolan Hu, Nagamany Thayalakhandan, Gao Yang
  • Patent number: 8926290
    Abstract: An attenuation bracket is provided and includes an annular body having an annular attenuation arm defining first through-holes and an annular base defining second through-holes. A cross-section of the attenuation arm includes a flange, a connector opposite the flange and a curvilinear section extending between the flange and the connector. A cross-section of the base includes a first side corresponding with the flange and a second side opposite the first side and corresponding with the connector. The second side is connectable with the connector such that each of the first through-holes is defined in positional alignment with a corresponding one of the second through-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Clifford Hart, Tushar Sharadchandra Desai, John Herbert Dimmick, III, Matthew Paul Forcier, Chunlian Han, Charles Alexander Smith
  • Patent number: 8926291
    Abstract: A liquid pump control system for dry run avoidance and re-prime detection. Pump dry run conditions can be detected with improved sensitivity by measuring pump cycle speed. Pump cycle speed is determined from sensors including pressure sensors, diaphragm end of stroke indicators, check valve movement sensors, and other techniques. A controller closes a valve to reduce pump cycle speed by reducing drive air pressure or by deadheading the pump liquid outlet. When the pump re-primes, the valve is opened, pump cycle speed increases, and pumping volume flow rate increases until a dry run condition is again encountered. Time delays can be introduced to delay shutting down or restarting the pump, for example to give a liquid source tank time to refill. The improved control sensitivity provides improved shut-down and re-start performance, reducing wear on the pump and reducing wasted drive air and energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Orndorff, Scott Driscoll, Jevawn Roberts