Patents Issued in March 2, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170058827
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a core engine that has at least a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section disposed along a central axis. A fan is coupled to be driven by the turbine section. A fan nozzle is aft of the fan and defines an exit area. The fan nozzle has a body that defines an airfoil cross-section geometry. The body includes a wall that has a controlled mechanical property distribution that varies by location on the wall in accordance with a desired flutter characteristic at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Oliver V. Atassi, Oleg Petrenko
  • Publication number: 20170058828
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with a thrust reverser of an aircraft, comprising: a plurality of cascade vanes configured in accordance with a substantially arc-tangent profile, where a leading edge of a first of the cascade vanes has a first width, and a trailing edge of the first of the cascade vanes has a second width that is different from the first width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Landy Dong
  • Publication number: 20170058829
    Abstract: Aspects are directed to a system configured for use in connection with a thrust reverser of an aircraft, comprising: a first subset of cascade vanes having a first forward turning angle, and a second subset of cascade vanes having a second forward turning angle that is different from the first forward turning angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Landy Dong
  • Publication number: 20170058830
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan rotor, a gear train defined about an engine axis of rotation, a first nacelle which at least partially surrounds a second nacelle and the fan rotor, the fan section configured to communicate airflow into the first nacelle and the second nacelle, a first turbine, and a second turbine followed by the first turbine. The first turbine is configured to drive the fan rotor through the gear train. A static structure includes a first engine mount location and a second engine mount location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Christopher M. Dye, Steven B. Johnson, Frederick M. Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20170058831
    Abstract: An apparatus for the control of fluid flow in a gas turbine engine comprises a first plurality of inlet guide vanes disposed upstream of a fan, a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine; at least one airflow splitter adapted to split air admitted through the first plurality of inlet guide vanes into a core airflow which flows through the fan, the compressor, the combustor, and the turbine and a bypass airflow which flows through the fan; wherein the first plurality of inlet guide vanes comprise a radially-inward first portion adapted to direct air admitted through the first plurality of inlet guide vanes to the core airflow and a radially-outward second portion adapted to direct air admitted through the first plurality of inlet guide vanes to the bypass airflow, and wherein the first portion comprises a fixed vane and the second portion comprises a variable vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: William Barry Bryan, Edward C. Rice, Douglas David Dierksmeier, Kyle Jameson Martin, Charles L. McNeil
  • Publication number: 20170058832
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A fluid passage is defined between the splitters. The turbofan engine has a plurality of high pressure fluid jets originating from a trailing edge of the upstream splitter, the jets restricting the migration of the core stream into the bypass stream through the fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls Royce North American Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170058833
    Abstract: A turbofan engine has a fan portion in fluid communication with a core stream and a bypass stream of air separated by splitters disposed both upstream and downstream of the fan portion. A fluid passage is defined between the splitters. The turbofan engine has a plurality of vortex generators, each of the vortex generators positioned on the leading edge of a respective fan blade proximate the upstream splitter and the core stream restricting the migration of the core stream into the bypass stream through the fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls Royce North American Technologies Inc
    Inventor: Edward C. Rice
  • Publication number: 20170058834
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a shaft comprising a first compressor, a fan assembly, and a power circuit that provides power to the shaft in a closed-loop system. An inner housing houses at least a portion of the shaft, the first compressor for compressing a core stream of air, and a combustor. A baffle encloses a portion of the inner housing and forms a first air passageway therebetween. A nacelle encloses a portion of the baffle and forms a second air passageway therebetween. A heat exchanger is positioned in the second air passageway that rejects heat from the power circuit into a heat rejection stream of air passing through the second air passageway. Air is accelerated as streams in parallel and via the fan assembly as the core stream into the inner housing, as a bypass flow stream of air through the first volume, and as the heat rejection stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Vaisman, Thomas E. Bastnagel
  • Publication number: 20170058835
    Abstract: A jet engine includes an inlet that takes air, and a combustor that burns fuel using the air. The combustor includes a fuel injector and an igniter for igniting a gas mixture of the air and the fuel. The igniter ignites and activates automatically by heat and pressure created by compression of the air that has been taken in through the inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshihiko UENO, Tasuku SUZUKI, Shojiro FURUYA
  • Publication number: 20170058836
    Abstract: A feed system for feeding a rocket engine with a liquid propellant includes a feed circuit, and a device to vary a volume of gas in the feed circuit. The device is configured to cause a volume of gas in the feed circuit to vary while the rocket engine is in operation. The device to vary gas volume includes at least one variable-flow-rate gas injector to inject gas into the liquid propellant in the feed circuit. Methods of suppressing a POGO effect are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicants: SNECMA, CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES CNES
    Inventors: Alain KERNILIS, Nicolas LEMOINE, Ludivine BOULET, Serge LE GONIDEC
  • Publication number: 20170058837
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a system for pressurizing a fluid. The system includes a source of liquid fuel, a pressure build chamber in fluid communication with the source of liquid fuel such that the pressure build chamber is configured to receive a volume of liquid fuel from the source, wherein the pressure build chamber is configured to heat a portion of the volume of liquid fuel to a sufficient temperature to convert the portion of the volume of liquid fuel into a gaseous fuel or supercritical fluid, and wherein the pressure build chamber is configured to increase a pressure of a fluid in the pressure build chamber to a threshold pressure to inject the gaseous fuel or supercritical fluid into an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. Fiveland, David Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20170058838
    Abstract: A fuel system includes an air and fuel mixer configured to mix air and fuel provided to a combustion engine and a fuel path coupled to the air and fuel mixer. The fuel path includes an electronically controlled fuel control valve configured to regulate an air to fuel ratio of an air/fuel mixture provided to the engine, a gas pressure regulator disposed upstream of the fuel control valve and configured to control a pressure of the fuel in relation to an air pressure of the air and fuel mixer, and a manual adjust valve disposed downstream of the gas pressure regulator and configured to mechanically tune a performance of the fuel path to minimize an adjustment by the electronically controlled fuel control valve to regulate the air to fuel ratio. The fuel system is configured to operate with different fuels that differ in physical and chemical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory Walter Sorge, Michael Thomas Roll, Jerrold Arthur Pratt
  • Publication number: 20170058839
    Abstract: An insert for engine intake gaseous fuel mixing device. A body defines a longitudinal axis, leading end, trailing end, and exterior surface profile from the leading to the trailing end. Supports extend radially from the body, each support extending parallel to the axis to define separate longitudinal intake passages. The exterior surface profile of the body includes a nose section in which diameter increases from a minimum value at the leading end to a maximum value at a downstream end of the nose section. The nose section is followed by a flat section and a curved tapering section in which the profile converges toward the axis at an increasing rate from the flat section in a direction of the axis toward the trailing end. The diameter at the trailing end is at least 15 percent less than a maximum diameter of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Mohamed Moustafa El Gammal, Mark Vincent Casarella
  • Publication number: 20170058840
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block defining a cylinder and a cylinder head mounted to the block. The cylinder head supplies air and fuel to the cylinder for combustion therein. The engine also includes an exhaust manifold operatively connected to the cylinder head and having first and second outlets configured to exhaust post-combustion gasses from the cylinder. The engine also includes a turbocharging system including a low-flow turbocharger driven by the post-combustion gasses from the first outlet to pressurize the airflow and a high-flow turbocharger driven by the post-combustion gasses from the second outlet. The turbocharging system also includes a flow control device for selectively directing the post-combustion gasses to the low-flow and high-flow turbochargers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ko-Jen Wu, Jason G Kohler
  • Publication number: 20170058841
    Abstract: A charge air cooler (CAC) device includes a body including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a plurality of passages extending between the inlet end and the outlet end. At least one of the plurality of passages is covered by an inlet blocking member at the inlet end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher C. Nyeholt, James A. Lasecki, John D. Wyatt, Ian D. Butcher
  • Publication number: 20170058842
    Abstract: Provided are heat exchangers for internal combustion engines wherein a first fluid, preferably a hot gas, gives off its heat to a second fluid, preferably a coolant liquid. The presently disclosed heat exchangers include caps that limit the heat exchange capacity of the exchanger without causing differential expansions between elements or parts of these elements that may damage the device or reduce its service life due to thermal fatigue. A device of the presently disclosed subject matter can be sized for the engine having a higher rated power, and the same heat exchanger, can be adapted for operating with engines having a lower rated power without the velocity of the gas to be cooled being reduced, thereby preventing the accumulation of particles therein or fouling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: José Antonio Grande Fernández, Germán Troncoso
  • Publication number: 20170058843
    Abstract: A heater control apparatus of a fuel filter for a vehicle includes a heater mounted within a fuel filter; a relay for a heater power source supplying or interrupting power of a battery to or from the heater; a fuel temperature detection sensor mounted on an engine and detecting a temperature of a fuel; and an engine electronic control unit (ECU) for switching on and off the relay based on a detection signal of the fuel temperature detection sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Chang Ho HAM, Dong Myoung RYOO
  • Publication number: 20170058844
    Abstract: An intake manifold integrated vacuum solenoid comprising a vacuum solenoid integrated into an intake manifold is provided. The solenoid includes a body and a pair of opposed attachment arms extending from the body. The body further includes an atmosphere port and a vacuum port defined by an annular collar. The collar includes at least one peripheral groove in which a sealing member is fitted. A conically-shaped bore is formed through the collar. The manifold includes an inlet into which the collar of the solenoid is fitted. The manifold further includes arm attachment posts to which the arms of the solenoid are attached. The arrangement for attaching the arms to the posts includes spools with each spool having a peripheral groove formed therein. Each spool is attached to its respective arm attachment post by a mechanical fastener. An end of each of the attachment arms is fitted into its respective spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: John Carl Lohr
  • Publication number: 20170058845
    Abstract: A turbo duct is disclosed that includes a primary body having an inlet end, an outlet end, and an internal air passageway that communicates therebetween. An anti-crush ring is operably associated with at least one of the inlet and outlet ends. The inlet and outlet ends of the primary body are dimensioned to receive a cuff for connection of the turbo duct within an engine assembly. The anti-crush ring is situated on an outside surface of the turbo duct so as to form an intermediate anti-crush structure between the contact surfaces of the turbo duct and the cuff attached thereto. Also provided is a process for manufacturing the turbo duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Michael STEMM
  • Publication number: 20170058846
    Abstract: A vacuum pump suitable for mounting to an engine includes a casing, a cavity in the casing having with an inlet and an outlet, a moveable member arranged for rotation inside the cavity, wherein the movable member is movable to draw fluid into the cavity through the inlet and out of the cavity through the outlet so as to induce a reduction in pressure at the inlet, an oil supply conduit for supplying oil from a reservoir to the cavity, and a check valve having a check valve body arranged in the oil supply conduit. The check valve meters the oil flow to the cavity dependent on an oil pressure so that on exceeding an upper oil pressure threshold the supply of oil to the cavity is stopped by means of the check valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: David Heaps, Phillip Saxton, Peter Todman
  • Publication number: 20170058847
    Abstract: A valve body unit (11) in which a plurality of valve bodies (17) which open and close intake passages (10) are attached on a rotational shaft (16) is inserted into inner sides of housing passages (28) of a housing (12) and, thereafter, a holder (13) is mounted in the housing (12) to rotatably support the valve body unit (11). A flange (14) is fixed onto an upper surface of the housing (12) on the holder (13) by means of a vibration welding and the holder (13) is retained with this flange (14) and the housing (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: MAHLE FILTER SYSTEM JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi KAWANO
  • Publication number: 20170058848
    Abstract: A fuel supply device includes a return fuel utilization buffer jar that conducts fuel into a fuel inlet port of a first three-way valve including a one-way check valve to allow the fuel to flow, uni-directionally, from the fuel inlet port to a fuel outlet port. Return fuel from an engine is conducted in through a return fuel inlet port of the return fuel utilization buffer jar. Fuel vapor in the return fuel utilization buffer jar is guided from a gas inlet port of a second three-way valve through a gas outlet port to a fuel tank. Vapor pressure in the return fuel utilization buffer jar is regulated by a ventilation port that is mounted in the second three-way valve and includes a one-way check valve in a direction toward the gas inlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Wan Kang Shen
  • Publication number: 20170058849
    Abstract: A fuel pump includes a housing provided with an axial bore defining a compression chamber. The pump is further provided with a cylindrical piston slidably arranged in the bore, the piston extending from a top extremity that is inside the bore, defining a high pressure extremity, to a lower extremity, defining a low pressure extremity. The piston is able to reciprocally slide between a lower position where fuel at low pressure enters the compression chamber via an inlet and, a top position where fuel present in the compression chamber is pressurized before being expelled via an outlet. The piston is also provided with a recess surrounded by a peripheral wall arranged on its high pressure extremity, the recess and peripheral wall enabling the piston to expand radially when fuel in the compression chamber is pressurized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: BEN MARSDEN, ANDREAS PANAYIOTOU, ADAM MERCER
  • Publication number: 20170058850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispenser nozzle for high pressure injection, of which injection pressure and efficiency are largely improved and the product lifespan is increased, and in which a tappet 100 has a leading end portion 101 formed in a conical shape, and a nozzle 110 includes a funnel-shaped accommodation part 111 formed for maintaining a predetermined gap G from an outer circumferential surface of the leading end portion 101 of the tappet 100, a funnel groove 112 formed in the center of a bottom surface 111a of the funnel-shaped accommodation part 111 such that the leading end portion 101 of the tappet 100 is inserted into the funnel groove 112 by a predetermined length, and an injection hole 113 penetratingly formed in the center of the funnel groove 112.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Gu-Hwan LEE
  • Publication number: 20170058851
    Abstract: A fluid delivery system capable of impeding fluid flow along its outer surface is disclosed. According to the examples of the disclosure, the fluid delivery system features deflection features designed to deflect fluid flow from one location away from another location. The fluid delivery system's ability to impede fluid flow along its surface prevents damages to other parts of the system, the system operator, or other objects caused by the fluid flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Corey Jay COLVIN
  • Publication number: 20170058852
    Abstract: A starter for an engine is provided which includes an electromagnetic brake device and a pinion thrust mechanism. The electromagnetic brake device holds a planetary carrier from rotating. The pinion thrust mechanism converts rotational motion of an internal gear into linear motion of a pinion when the rotation of the planetary carrier is locked. The pinion thrust mechanism includes a cylindrical cam cylinder, a starter housing, a thrust collar rotatable relative to the pinion, and an engaging pin. The cam cylinder is joined to the internal gear and has a circumferential extending cam groove. The starter housing has a straight groove traversing the cam groove. The engaging pin engages both the cam groove and the straight groove and is moved linearly with rotation of the cam cylinder. This enables the linear movement of the pinion regardless of a helix angle of the spline mounted on the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshito TAKAGI, Eitaro TANAKA, Kazuya ENOKIZONO
  • Publication number: 20170058853
    Abstract: A starter control apparatus outputs a conduction command to a starter relay when an engine start request is generated and starts driving of a starter. After the engine is started, when a condition for executing the failure diagnosis processing is satisfied, the starter control apparatus outputs a non-conduction command to a starter cutoff relay and diagnoses the starter cutoff relay for failure. The starter control apparatus determines that the starter cutoff relay is normal when a voltage applied to the starter after notification of the non-conduction command to the starter cutoff relay does not exceed a predetermined voltage. The starter control apparatus determines that the starter cutoff relay is abnormal when the voltage applied to the starter exceeds the predetermined voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Kouji NAGATA
  • Publication number: 20170058854
    Abstract: An ECU outputs an ignition signal and a discharge waveform control signal. An ignition device performs a closing operation of an ignition switching device while the ignition signal is input into the ignition device. The ignition device adjusts a current flowing through a primary coil to a discharge current command value determined based on the discharge waveform control signal, by performing an opening-closing operation of a control switching device in a period in which the discharge waveform control signal is input into the ignition device after an input of the ignition signal into the ignition device is stopped. The ECU sets the discharge current command value that is a command value for a discharge current of a spark plug to a higher value as a rotation speed is higher, and prolongs a duration, in which discharge controller controls the discharge current, as the rotation speed is lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKAMURA, Takashi YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20170058855
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes an ignition device and an electronic control unit. The ignition device includes an ignition plug that is provided in a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, and an ignition coil that is connected to the ignition plug. The electronic control unit is configured to: (i) acquire a temperature of the ignition device, and ii) make a discharge time of the ignition plug longer when the acquired temperature is low than when the acquired temperature is high.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20170058856
    Abstract: A high frequency generating device used in a plasma ignition apparatus according to embodiments includes an output unit and a control unit. The output unit outputs a high frequency to an antenna that irradiates the high frequency into a combustion chamber of an internal-combustion engine. The control unit instructs the output unit to output the high frequency on the basis of an ignition signal that controls a spark discharge by an ignition plug and a control signal that controls output of the high frequency. Moreover, the control unit determines, when one of the ignition signal and the control signal is input, whether or not the other signal is input within a predetermined detection period, and detects abnormality in an input path of the ignition signal or in an input path of the control signal when the other signal is not input within the predetermined detection period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke MASUDA, Masashi SHIBAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20170058857
    Abstract: The double-regulated turbine comprises a spherical hub, adapted to rotate around a first rotation axis, and blades, which are each able to be swivelled relative to the hub around a second rotation axis, transversal to the first rotation axis, by respective coupling flanges that are mounted fixedly on the spherical hub and that include each an attachment surface for a corresponding blade. The attachment surface of the coupling flanges includes a flat portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Hai Trieu Phan
  • Publication number: 20170058858
    Abstract: The MagnaFloat, an energy generation device using gravity, buoyancy, pressure differentials, speed controls and linear motors to control the movement of buoyant canisters over and through a series of open, non-restricted pathways. Each canister has a magnet inside. While moving downward through Air (Drop Phase), ascending through Fluid (Floatation-ascent Phase), and upward through Air, these magnet-canisters pass through permanently attached inductors and electricity is produced. At conclusion of Floatation-ascent Phase, canisters exit Fluid and continue moving upward through Air into Pivot Bucket; Pivot Bucket is then rotated and canisters are ejected onto Inclined Platform. At bottom of overall device Passive Roller System changes direction of travel for canisters from downward vertical motion to horizontal motion, then later to upward vertical motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Robert David Moose
  • Publication number: 20170058859
    Abstract: A floating power plant with paddle-wheels for the production of electricity, which will be utilized in the hydro power industry and mainly in the production of electricity from flowing waters, rivers, and channels. The created facility is a pontoon-type “trimaran”, including three floating bodies with vertical sides and in the shape of two mirror curvatures which connect to each other with a straight portion, and where the two end floating bodies are identical and symmetrical to the middle floating body. Each end body is half the size and shape of the middle floating body. Between the floating bodies there are two identical grooves, each groove holding a paddle-wheel. The three floating bodies are connected by a common deck, on which an electric generator is placed, coupled with a reduction gear, and connected to the major axis of each of the paddle-wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Tsonyu Mihaylov Konstantinov, Mihail Tzonev Mihaylov
  • Publication number: 20170058860
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed a method for repairing a rotor blade of a wind turbine. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the rotor blade may be constructed, at least in part, of a thermoplastic material reinforced with at least one fiber material. Thus, the method includes identifying at least one defect on the rotor blade. For example, in certain embodiments, the defect(s) as described herein may include a crack, creep, void, hole, distortion, deformation, scratch, or any other blade defect. The method also includes applying at least one of heat, pressure, and/or one or more chemicals to the defect(s) for a predetermined time period until the defect is repaired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum, James Robert Tobin
  • Publication number: 20170058861
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine may generally include a first blade component formed from a first fiber-reinforced composite including a first thermoplastic resin material and a second blade component configured to be coupled to the first blade component at a joint interface. The second blade component may be formed from a second fiber-reinforced composite including a second thermoplastic resin material. The second fiber-reinforced composite may include a low fiber region and a high fiber region, with the low fiber region having a fiber-weight fraction that is less than a fiber-weight fraction of the high fiber region. In addition, the first thermoplastic resin material of the first fiber-reinforced composite may be welded to the second thermoplastic resin material contained within the low fiber region of the second thermoplastic composite to form a welded joint at the joint interface between the first blade component and the second blade component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum
  • Publication number: 20170058862
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine may generally include a first blade component formed from a first fiber-reinforced composite including a first thermoplastic resin material and a second blade component configured to be coupled to the first blade component at a joint interface. The second blade component may be formed from a second fiber-reinforced composite including a second thermoplastic resin material, wherein the second thermoplastic resin material differs from the first thermoplastic resin material. The rotor blade may also include an additional layer(s) of thermoplastic resin material positioned on or integrated into the second fiber-reinforced composite at the joint interface that differs from the second thermoplastic resin material. Moreover, the first thermoplastic resin material of the first fiber-reinforced composite may be welded to the additional layer(s) of the thermoplastic resin material to form a welded joint at the joint interface between the first and second blade components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum, James Robert Tobin
  • Publication number: 20170058863
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade may generally include a blade root, a blade tip opposite the blade root and a body shell extending between the blade root and the blade tip. The body shell may include a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge and may define an outer shell surface. The rotor blade may also include a leading edge cap coupled to the body shell at the leading edge. The leading edge cap may be formed from a fiber-reinforced composite including an inner surface extending directly adjacent to the body shell along a portion of the outer shell surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The fiber-reinforced composite may include a plurality of fibers surrounded by a thermoplastic resin material, with the thermoplastic resin material extending throughout the fiber reinforced composite from the inner surface to the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum, James Robert Tobin, Christopher Daniel Caruso
  • Publication number: 20170058864
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a modular rotor blade constructed of thermoset and/or thermoplastic materials for a wind turbine and methods of assembling same. The rotor blade includes a pre-formed main blade structure constructed, at least in part, from a thermoset material. The rotor blade also includes at least one blade segment configured with the main blade structure. The blade segment(s) is constructed, at least in part, of a thermoplastic material reinforced with at least one fiber material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum
  • Publication number: 20170058865
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing a modular rotor blade for a wind turbine. The method includes providing a plurality of resin systems for manufacturing a plurality of blade components for the modular rotor blade. Each of the resin systems includes at least one of a thermoset material or a thermoplastic material, optionally a fiber reinforcement material, and at least one additive. Thus, the method includes determining a resin system for each of the blade components based on a location and/or function of each blade component in the rotor blade. In addition, the method includes forming each of the blade components of the rotor blade from one of the plurality of resin systems and securing each of the blade components together to form the modular rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum, James Robert Tobin
  • Publication number: 20170058866
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade for a wind turbine having improved stiffness. The rotor blade includes a main blade structure, at least one thermoplastic blade segment configured with the main blade structure and defining the outer surface of the rotor blade, at least one spar cap configured at a first location on an internal surface of the at least one blade segment, and at least one pultruded stiffener configured at a second location on the internal surface of the at least one blade segment. Further, the pultruded stiffener is constructed, at least in part, from a thermoplastic resin system. Thus, the pultruded stiffener can be easily welding to the internal surface of the thermoplastic blade segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum
  • Publication number: 20170058867
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine having a pultruded component at an interface of a shear web and a spar cap. More specifically, the rotor blade assembly includes an upper shell member having an upper spar cap configured on an internal surface thereof and a lower shell member having a lower spar cap configured on an internal surface thereof. A shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. Further, the shear web includes a first end and a second end. The first end is secured to the upper spar cap at a first interface and the second end is secured to the lower spar cap at a second interface. In addition, the shear web includes at least one pultruded component configured at either or both of the first or second interfaces between the first and second ends and the upper and lower spar caps, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron A. Yarbrough, Christopher Daniel Caruso
  • Publication number: 20170058868
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine having an improved shear web configuration. The rotor blade assembly includes an upper shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal surface thereof and a lower shell member having a spar cap configured on an internal surface thereof. The shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. Further, the shear web includes at least one pultruded component defining a hollow cross-section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough
  • Publication number: 20170058869
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a conduit assembly for securing a lightning protection cable of a wind turbine lightning protection system within an internal cavity of a wind turbine rotor blade. The conduit assembly includes one or more conduit members arranged together to define an open passageway configured to receive at least a portion of the lightning protection cable along a length thereof. Further, the conduit member(s) include one or more weldable surfaces. Thus, the weldable surface(s) are configured for securement within the internal cavity of the rotor blade to at least one of a blade segment, opposing spar caps, a shear web of the rotor blade, or any other suitable blade component. More specifically, the weldable surface(s) are constructed, at least in part, of a thermoplastic material such that the conduit members can be easily welded to one or more of the blade components as described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Daniel Caruso, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum, James Robert Tobin
  • Publication number: 20170058870
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating the surface condition of a blade rotating about a rotational axis in an air or fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Fabio BERTOLOTTI, Jens VAN SCHELVE
  • Publication number: 20170058871
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for mitigating ice throw from one or more rotor blades of a wind turbine during operation. The method includes monitoring one or more ice-related parameters of the wind turbine. Thus, the ice-related parameters are indicative of ice accumulation on one or more of the rotor blades. In response to detecting ice accumulation, the method also includes implementing an ice protection control strategy. More specifically, the ice protection control strategy includes determining a yaw position of the wind turbine and determining at least one of a power set point or a speed set point for the wind turbine based on the yaw position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Bernardo Adrian Movsichoff, Ejaz J. Sabir, Karthikeyan Appuraj, Kunal Vora, Joerg Middendorf, Gert Torbohm
  • Publication number: 20170058872
    Abstract: A linear telescopic actuator (1) comprising: a cylinder (2); a sliding part (3); a spring seat (4); and a first compression spring (5) capable of resiliently opposing the sliding part (3) approaching the spring seat (4). The spring seat (4) presents an outer annular groove (6) and the cylinder (2) includes an inner annular groove (7), the actuator (1) also presenting a blocking part (8), the actuator (1) being adapted to adopt selectively an assembled configuration and a disassembled configuration, the blocking part (8) in the assembled configuration being engaged inside the inner and outer annular grooves (6, 7), and the blocking part (8) in the disassembled configuration being disengaged from one of the grooves so as to allow spring seat (4) to slide in the cylinder (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Gary ATAMAN
  • Publication number: 20170058873
    Abstract: A motive force generation device for generating a net resultant propulsive force vector through reactionless drive means. The device includes a reactionless drive that rotates one or more masses about an axis, decreases the radius about the axis without causing external torque on the system therefore increasing the energy level of the mass, continues to rotate mass at the higher energy level, then increases the radius about the axis to its original distance. The work required to rotate mass at a higher energy state is greater than the work to rotate mass at the original state, causing an unbalanced system resulting in the net propulsive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Lauch
  • Publication number: 20170058874
    Abstract: A method to operate a steam turbine, a steam turbine, and a concentrated solar power plant with at least a first turbine module with a first stage and at least one second stage, wherein the stages are successively arranged in the flow direction of the steam, a main inlet for channelling steam to the first stage and a bypass arranged parallel to the main inlet for channelling steam to the at least one second stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Olov Schill
  • Publication number: 20170058875
    Abstract: A resistively heated shape memory polymer device is made by providing a rod, sheet or substrate that includes a resistive medium. The rod, sheet or substrate is coated with a first shape memory polymer providing a coated intermediate unit. The coated intermediate unit is in turn coated with a conductive material providing a second intermediate unit. The second coated intermediate unit is in turn coated with an outer shape memory polymer. The rod, sheet or substrate is exposed and an electrical lead is attached to the rod, sheet or substrate. The conductive material is exposed and an electrical lead is attached to the conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: John E. Marion, III, Jane P. Bearinger, Thomas S. Wilson, Duncan J. Maitland
  • Publication number: 20170058876
    Abstract: A port plate for a swashplate type axial piston pump is described herein. The port plate includes an inlet port, a discharge port, and a first metering notch in fluidic communication via a first passage with a metering notch area adjustment valve configured to adjust the effective area of the metering notch. The first metering notch is disposed at a leading edge of one of the inlet port or the discharge port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Graf, Kaimei Sun, Hongliu Du