Patents Issued in January 29, 2019
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Patent number: 10190391Abstract: A valve for inclusion or insertion in a tubular includes a substantially cylindrical outer valve housing; an inner sliding sleeve mounted axially movable inside the valve housing; and a seat arranged for receiving a drop ball, dart or falling device. The seat is built in such a way that it can partially or completely be removed or drilled out from the valve. The inner sliding sleeve includes a first profile arranged at a first end of the inner sliding sleeve and a second profile arranged at a second end of the inner sliding sleeve, wherein the first profile and the second profile are configured to be engaged with an activating or shifting tool inserted and run in the tubular after the seat has been partially or completely removed or drilled out from the valve in order to operate the valve from an open to a closed position and/or vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: TRICAN COMPLETION SOLUTIONS ASInventors: Roger Antonsen, Kristoffer Braekke, Geir Lunde
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Patent number: 10190392Abstract: An automated landfill gas wellhead monitoring and control system includes a field monitoring and control system (FMCS) that receives landfill gas condition data and that controls an automated gas control valve on a wellhead as a function thereof. A remote monitoring control system (RMCS) is in communication with the FMCS and provides other data obtained from sources outside of the landfill. This additional data is used by the FMCS to control the gas control valve and the system provides a preventative configuration based on a predicted condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2013Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: OptiRTC, Inc.Inventors: Robert Bachus, Marcus Quigley
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Patent number: 10190393Abstract: A drill pipe mountable wellbore cleaning tool apparatus is of an improved configuration that enables attachment to a drill pipe joint having first and second connector end and a cylindrically shaped portion between the connector ends. The drill pipe joint with attached debris cleaning tool or tools is made part of a drill string. The apparatus includes a support sleeve mounted to the drill pipe joint between the connector ends. The support sleeve abuts without invading the integrity of the cylindrical portion. Centralizers are attached to the opposing ends of and are overlapping a portion of the support sleeve. The support sleeve carries one or more debris cleaning tools in between the centralizers to remove debris from a wellbore. At least one locking clamp is attached to the cylindrical portion next to a said centralizer, which prevents the support sleeve from moving longitudinally along the drill pipe joint.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Odfjell Well Services Norway ASInventors: Simon Leiper, Kevin Robertson
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Patent number: 10190394Abstract: A system for harvesting energy from the operation of a downhole jar is disclosed. The system converts the kinetic energy associated with the operation of the jar to electrical energy by associating the relative movement between a magnet and a coil to the relative movement between a movable member and a stationary member in the jar. Electrical energy is generated in the coil as a result of the relative motion between the magnets and the coil. This electrical energy may be stored in an electrical energy storage subsystem and provided to a downhole tool for use in the wellbore. The downhole tool may be used to power other tools, to take measurements, to communicate with other devices, to actuate other devices, and to otherwise control such other devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2013Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Lianhe Guo, Christian S. Mappus
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Patent number: 10190395Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of computer-implemented methods, computing systems, and program products for analyzing a flood operation on a hydrocarbon reservoir. For example, an embodiment of a computer implemented method of determining a value of injected fluid includes, for a first injection well of the hydrocarbon reservoir: receiving injection rate data for the first injection well and production rate data for at least one production well communicating with the injection well, running capacitance resistance modeling using the received data to generate an interwell connectivity for each injection well and production well pair, determining a value of injected fluid for each injection well and production well pair using the generated interwell connectivity for the well pair and an oil-cut value for the production well of the pair, and aggregating the generated values of injected fluid per pair to determine a value of injected fluid for the first injection well.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventor: Morteza Sayarpour
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Patent number: 10190396Abstract: A downhole tool, surface equipment, and/or remote equipment are utilized to obtain data associated with a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, fluid contained therein, and/or fluid obtained therefrom. At least one condition indicating that a density inversion exists in the fluid contained in the reservoir is identified from the data. Molecular sizes of fluid components contained within the reservoir are estimated from the data. A model of the density inversion is generated based on the data and molecular sizes. The density inversion model is utilized to estimate the density inversion amount and depth and time elapsed since the density inversion began to form within the reservoir. A model of a gravity-induced current of the density inversion is generated based on the data and the density inversion amount, depth, and elapsed time.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Yi Chen, Kang Wang, Oliver C. Mullins, Youxiang Zuo
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Patent number: 10190397Abstract: A closure device is provided to close a surge pressure reduction tool disposed in a deviated wellbore. The closure device may include a tubular body, a fin, and a rupture disk disposed in the tubular body. The closure device may be pumped downhole to close the tool.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLCInventors: Marcel Budde, Mark Baas, Norman Vladimir Parra Mayorga
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Patent number: 10190398Abstract: A technique facilitates controlled detonation in well environments and other types of environments. Electronics for controlling detonation of a pellet of explosive material are mounted on a structure, such as a circuit board. The pellet is operatively coupled with the electronics and positioned to extend outwardly from the structure. Another explosive component is arranged across the pellet at a predetermined angle, e.g. a right angle, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pellet. In well applications or other applications utilizing shaped charges, the explosive component may be coupled to the shaped charge via a detonator cord.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth Goodman, James Guilkey
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Patent number: 10190399Abstract: A traveling valve assembly adapted to be coupled to a southern end of a pump plunger wherein the traveling valve has an elongated body and two ball valves, one positioned at the northern end of the traveling valve and another positioned at the southern end of the traveling valve. The traveling valve prevents pumped fluid that has slipped downwardly past the pump plunger from continuing to slip further down into the pump barrel. The traveling valve captures that pumped fluid that has slipped downwardly so that it may be produced upwardly through the pump.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Inventor: Michael Brent Ford
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Patent number: 10190400Abstract: A process for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation and in which are situated an upper injection well and a lower production well is presented. The region between the wells is preheated by circulating hot solvent through at least part of both of the wells until hydraulic communication between both wells is achieved. Solvent is injected into the upper injection well at or above its critical temperature and the solvent is pentane or a mixture of butane and pentane. A hot solvent chamber is created consisting of solvent vapor and liquid. Bitumen and solvent are mixed at the boundary of the solvent chamber so formed. The hydrocarbon and solvent are caused to be mixed to drain downwards by gravity and sideways by pressure gradient towards the lower production well. The mixture is produced to the surface through the lower production well.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: STATOIL ASAInventors: Jostein Alvestad, Aurelie Lagisquet, Eimund Gilje
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Patent number: 10190401Abstract: A wellbore (1) surrounded by a formation has a horizontal section provided with a non-cemented perforated liner (3), thereby forming an annular space (4) between the liner and the formation. The annular space is divided into zones (zone 1, zone 2, zone 3) isolated from each other by means of respective external packers (6, 7, 8) arranged externally on the liner. Selective access to the zones is provided by means of an internal pipe (9) arranged inside the liner and provided with internal packers (10, 11, 12) corresponding to the respective external packers. For each of the zones, the internal pipe is provided with a valve (14, 15, 16) providing access between the inside of the internal pipe and the corresponding zone. Stimulation of the near-wellbore is performed by pumping acid or the like reactive fluid through the internal pipe into the wellbore and is performed simultaneously in adjacent zones of the annular space.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Total E&P Danmark A/SInventors: Jens Henrik Hansen, Sreejith Pulloor Kuttanikkad
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Patent number: 10190402Abstract: Techniques for controlling a bottom hole assembly (BHA) include determining a first candidate BHA control signal; generating an input to a BHA control, the input comprising a perturbation signal superimposed on the first candidate BHA control signal; controlling the BHA using the input to the BHA control; determining a change in an objective value as a function of the perturbation signal, based on a received downhole sensor measurement; and generating, based on the change in the objective value, a second candidate BHA control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Jason D. Dykstra, Yuzhen Xue
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Patent number: 10190403Abstract: Predicting and visualizing drilling events. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including: receiving data indicative of location of a first wellbore; identifying an offset well, the offset well within a predetermined distance of the first wellbore, the identifying by the computer system based on the data indicative of location of the first wellbore; reading data associated with the offset well, the reading by the computer system; generating a value indicative of probability of occurrence of a drilling event based on the data associated with the offset well; plotting the value indicative of probability of occurrence of the drilling event associated with a direction relative to the first wellbore, the plotting on a display device coupled to the computer system; and then adjusting a drilling parameter of the first wellbore based on the value indicative of probability of occurrence of the at least one drilling event.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Robello Samuel, Umesh N. Reddy
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Patent number: 10190404Abstract: A method includes conveying a pipe inspection tool including one or more sensors into a wellbore having at least one pipe, transmitting an excitation signal from the pipe inspection tool and measuring response signals with the sensors, and processing the response signals to obtain measured responses. A map of the pipe is then generated based on the measured responses, where the map is divided into pipe ranges extending along the length of the pipe and each pipe range corresponds to a percentage of metal loss in the pipe. A photorealistic image is assigned to each pipe range based on the percentage of metal loss, and a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) image is then generated as a combination of each photorealistic image. The 2D or 3D image is then graphically visualized.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Reza Khalaj Amineh, Burkay Donderici
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Patent number: 10190405Abstract: An example method includes polling a plurality of reference nodes distributed along one or more reference wells. The method also includes steering a bottomhole assembly in another well based at least in part on information obtained from said polling. A related system includes a plurality of reference nodes distributed along one or more reference wells. The system also includes a bottomhole assembly in another well. The system also includes a surface controller. The surface controller polls the plurality of reference nodes to obtain position information regarding the bottomhole assembly and directs a steering module of the bottomhole assembly based on the obtained position information.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Richard T. Hay, Mac Upsahll
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Patent number: 10190406Abstract: A method for conducting an earth reservoir process includes receiving a stress field of a reservoir that includes a pore pressure field for a rock volume, selecting a search radius extending from a grid cell of interest, and substituting a pore pressure from a plurality of surrounding grid cells within the selected radius for the pore pressure of the grid cell of interest and determining if a critical stress state exists for each of the substituted pore pressures. The method further includes determining a shortest distance to a grid cell in the plurality of surrounding grid cells having a pore pressure that yields a critical stress state when substituted in the grid cell of interest and conducting the earth reservoir process with earth reservoir process apparatus using a parameter related to the determined shortest distance.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLCInventors: Marc Holland, Wouter Van Der Zee
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Patent number: 10190407Abstract: A method for evaluating inflow or outflow in a subterranean wellbore includes acquiring first and second axially spaced pressure measurements in the wellbore. The pressure measurements may then be processed to obtain an interval density of drilling fluid between the measurement locations. A tool string including a large number of axially spaced pressure sensors (e.g., four or more or even six or more) electronically coupled with a surface processor via wired drill pipe may be used to obtain a plurality of interval densities corresponding to various wellbore intervals. The interval density may be measured during static conditions or while drilling and may be further processed to compute a density of an inflow constituent in the annulus. Changes in the computed interval density with time may be used as an indicator of either an inflow event or an outflow event.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: John Rasmus, William Lesso, John James
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Patent number: 10190408Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for monitoring a drilling operation includes receiving a signal via a first pair of antennas positioned on a surface of the earthen formation. The signal received by the first pair of antennas has a first signal characteristic. The method includes receiving the signal via a second pair of antennas positioned on the surface at a different location than that of the first pair of antennas. The signal received by the second pair of antennas has a second signal characteristic. The method includes identifying which of the first signal characteristic and the second signal characteristic of the signal received by the respective first and second pairs of antennas is a preferred signal characteristic. The method can include decoding the signal received by one of the first and second pairs of antennas that has received the signal with the preferred signal characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: APS Technology, Inc.Inventor: Andrew Roberts
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Patent number: 10190409Abstract: A system that is usable with a well includes a telemetry network; a plurality of receivers that are arranged in groups; and a plurality of concentrators that are associated with the groups of receivers. A given concentrator is adapted to acquire data from an associated group of the receivers, and the concentrators communicate the data to an Earth surface of the well using a plurality of frequencies that are allocated among the concentrators.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Daniel Golparian
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Patent number: 10190410Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating acoustically within a wellbore and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes methods of conserving power in the acoustic wireless network.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Scott William Clawson, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
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Patent number: 10190411Abstract: Systems and methods using multi-electrode configurations for characterizing fluids in subterranean formations during various treatment operations are provided. In certain embodiments, the methods comprise: placing a tubular base structure having a multi-electrode configuration disposed thereon in at least a portion of a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the multi-electrode configuration comprising at least first and second electrodes with a dielectric layer between the tubular base structure and the electrodes; collecting electromagnetic measurements using the multi-electrode configuration; and processing the electromagnetic measurements to obtain a characterization of at least one fluid in an annulus between the tubular base structure and an inner wall of the well bore. The first and second electrodes of the multi-electrode configuration may be oriented along non-parallel planes and/or positioned at different heights from an outer surface of the tubular base structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Mark Roberson, Charles Bartee, Scott Goodwin
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Patent number: 10190412Abstract: An electromagnetic telemetry system can be used for determining a resistivity of a portion of a wellbore drilled through a subterranean formation. For example, the electromagnetic telemetry system can include a computing device and a downhole transceiver positioned on a well tool in the wellbore. The computing device can receive, from the downhole transceiver, a signal indicating a load impedance across an electrically insulating segment of the downhole transceiver. The computing device can determine a resistivity associated with a portion of the wellbore based on the load impedance. The computing device can determine a corrected resistivity by modifying the resistivity associated with the portion of the wellbore using a correction factor.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Matthew Hui Chong, Yijing Fan, Glenn Andrew Wilson, Paul Andrew Cooper
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Patent number: 10190413Abstract: Methods for determining the hardness and/or ductility of a material by compression of the material are provided as a first aspect of the invention. Typically, compression is performed on multiple sides of a geologic material sample in a contemporaneous manner. Devices and systems for performing such methods also are provided. These methods, devices, and systems can be combined with additional methods, devices, and systems of the invention that provide for the analysis of compounds contained in such samples, which can indicate the presence of valuable materials, such as petroleum-associated hydrocarbons. Alternatively, these additional methods, devices, and systems can also stand independently of the methods, devices, and systems for analyzing ductility and/or hardness of materials.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Inventor: Michael Smith
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Patent number: 10190414Abstract: A round internal combustion engine (10) comprising: a stationary toroidal combustion chamber (44); a first (24A) and a second (24B) shaft member, each for connecting thereof to at least one piston (26A1, 26A2, 26B1, 26B2) disposed within the stationary toroidal combustion chamber (44); and a positioning mechanism (60), for changing angular positioning and velocity between the first (24A) and second (24B) shaft members, for increasing and decreasing a distance between the pistons (26A1, 26A2, 26B1, 26B2) of the shaft members (24A, 24B), the positioning mechanism (60) comprising: at least one rotatable wheel (28i, 28ii, 28iii) disposed eccentrically (58) within the first shaft member (24A); and at least one rotatable connecting-rod (56i, 56ii, 56iii) disposed between the first (24A) and second (24B) shaft members, for directly connecting an eccentric anchor (36A) of the at least one rotatable wheel (28i, 28ii) to an eccentric anchor (36B) of the second shaft member (24B).Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Inventor: Asaf Gitelis
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Patent number: 10190415Abstract: A turbocharger has a shaft with a rotational axis, a radial/axial turbine wheel which is arranged in a turbine housing and which is connected to the shaft in a non-rotatable manner, and a bearing housing which adjoins the turbine housing and which contains a lateral wall facing the turbine housing. A sub-region of the lateral wall of the bearing housing forms a sub-region of the rear wall of the turbine housing. The sub-region of the bearing housing has two sub-sections, one of which runs diagonally to the rotational axis in an inflow direction of an exhaust gas flow conducted into the turbine housing and the second of which runs in a radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the shaft and parallel to the rear wall of the turbine wheel. The two sub-sections are connected to each other via an exhaust gas flow separation edge of the bearing housing.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Holger Faeth, Marc Hiller, Ivo Sandor
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Patent number: 10190416Abstract: A blade cascade for a turbomachine, in particular a gas turbine, including multiple identical blade groups which are situated next to each other and which each include a first individual blade (10) having a vane (12) having a blade profile and a first side wall (11), and a second individual blade (20), which differs from the first, having a vane (22) having a blade profile and a second side wall (21), the first and second side walls (11, 21) having different contourings.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AGInventor: Carsten Zscherp
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Patent number: 10190417Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include turbine buckets and systems employing such buckets. Various particular embodiments include a turbine bucket having: an airfoil having: a suction side; a pressure side opposing the suction side; a leading edge spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge and spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a base connected with a first end of the airfoil along the suction side, pressure side, trailing edge and the leading edge, the base including a non-axisymmetric endwall contour proximate a junction between the base and the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lee Larned Brozyna, Mehmet Suleyman Ciray, Mark Andrew Jones
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Patent number: 10190418Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique turbine blade for a gas turbine engine. Another embodiment is a unique gas turbine engine. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for gas turbine engines and turbine blades for gas turbine engines. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.Inventor: Okey Kwon
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Patent number: 10190419Abstract: Introducing a through hole into a substrate (4) before coating, and performing the removal thereafter, shortens the machining times for producing a through hole (18) with a diffuser (13) and also subjects the intermediate layers to less stress.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Bahadir Basdere, Diana Felkel, Andrea Massa, Rolf Wilkenhöner, Adrian Wollnik
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Patent number: 10190420Abstract: An airfoil according to an example of the present disclosure includes, among other things, an airfoil section having an external wall and an internal wall. The internal wall defines a reference plane extending in a spanwise direction along a surface of the internal wall, a first cavity and a second cavity separated by the internal wall, and a plurality of crossover passages within the internal wall and connecting the first cavity to the second cavity. Each of the plurality of crossover passages defines a passage axis. The passage axis of each of the plurality of crossover passages is arranged at a radial angle relative to a localized region of the reference plane such that the radial angle of at least some of the plurality of crossover passages differs in the spanwise direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher King, San Quach, Steven Bruce Gautschi
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Patent number: 10190421Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include turbine buckets and systems employing such buckets. Various particular embodiments include a turbine bucket having: an airfoil having: a suction side; a pressure side opposing the suction side; a leading edge spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge and spanning between the pressure side and the suction side; a base connected with a first end of the airfoil along the suction side, pressure side, trailing edge and the leading edge; and a tip shroud connected with a second end of the airfoil along the suction side, pressure side, trailing edge and the leading edge, the tip shroud including a tip shroud fillet connecting the airfoil and the tip shroud and having a non-uniform thickness across an axial length of the airfoil.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Neil Ristau, Zachary James Taylor, David Wayne Weber
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Patent number: 10190422Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine may include an outer, peripheral wall extending along a suction side and a pressure side of the blade from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the blade and from a root end to a tip end of the blade, a substantially vertical bifurcating internal wall extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the blade in between the suction side and the pressure side of the blade, a plurality of pressure side cooling fluid passages defined between the peripheral wall on the pressure side of the blade and the bifurcating internal wall and extending at least part way from the root end to the tip end of the blade, and a plurality of suction side cooling fluid passages defined between the peripheral wall on the suction side of the blade and the bifurcating internal wall and extending at least part way from the tip end to the root end of the blade.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Solar Turbines IncorporatedInventors: Luzeng Zhang, Juan Yin, Hee Koo Moon
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Patent number: 10190423Abstract: A turbine blade for a gas turbine engine comprises a platform, a blade root, an airfoil portion defining pressure and suction sides, and a shroud provided at a tip of the airfoil portion opposite to the blade root. The shroud includes a body having a radially outer face opposite to the airfoil portion, upstream and downstream generally parallel fins extending outwardly from the outer face, and two ribs extending outwardly from the outer face. Each of the fins has an end disposed toward the pressure side and another end disposed toward the suction side. The ribs extend from and connecting the upstream fin to the downstream fin at locations other than the ends of the upstream and downstream fins. The ribs converge toward the downstream fin at an angle of between about 10 and about 45 degrees. A shroud for a blade is also presented.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Ghislain Plante, Remy Synnott, Jaideep Gahlawat
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Patent number: 10190424Abstract: A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system, comprises one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines; a CNC control system controlling the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to form a heated prepreg thermoplastic composite material into a 3D thermoplastic composite pultrusion, the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines include a plurality of motion control CNC rotational motors and CNC actuators operatively coupled to the motion control CNC rotational motors, a flexible chilled band shapeable by the CNC actuators to form the heated prepreg thermoplastic composite material into the thermoplastic composite pultrusion, and bearings that the motion control CNC rotational motors pivot the actuators about and hold the actuators in position during a consolidation process.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Ebert Composites CorporationInventors: David W. Johnson, Scott A. Garrett, Stephen G. Moyers
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Patent number: 10190425Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes an engine static structure that has a fluid port. A turbine vane is supported relative to the engine static structure and includes a cooling passage. A flow splitter is provided between the engine static structure and the turbine vane. The flow splitter is configured to divide a flow upstream from the flow splitter into a first fluid flow provided to the fluid port and a second fluid flow provided to the cooling passage.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher Drake, Christopher B Lyons
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Patent number: 10190426Abstract: A sector for a turbine stator includes vanes made of composite material, each including an airfoil extending between first and second ends. The sector has first and second platforms made of composite material, the first platform having openings in which the first ends of the vanes are engaged, and the second platform having openings in which the second ends of the vanes are engaged. The openings in the first platform present dimensions greater than the dimensions of the first ends of the vanes engaged in the openings so as to leave clearance between the first end of each vane and the opening. Each vane first end engaged in an opening presents dimensions that are less than the dimensions of the airfoil so as to define a shoulder extending around the first end. The shoulder presents dimensions that are greater than the dimensions of the openings in the first platform.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignees: SAFRAN CERAMICS, SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventor: Elric Fremont
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Patent number: 10190427Abstract: A turbine nozzle box includes an annular outer ring plate, an annular nozzle unit, and an annular inner ring plate. The annular outer ring plate is operable to be disposed in a turbine such that an outer peripheral surface thereof is adjacent to an inner peripheral surface of an inner casing of the turbine. The annular nozzle unit is disposed adjacent to an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring plate. The annular inner ring plate is disposed such that an outer peripheral surface thereof is adjacent to an inner peripheral surface of the nozzle unit. The nozzle unit includes a plurality of segment blocks circumferentially installed at an arc angle. The segment blocks are disposed at an inlet end of a first-stage nozzle unit, and an outlet end of the first-stage nozzle unit is open.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., LtdInventors: Dong Woo Kang, Hae Sang Jeong, Cheol Hong Kim
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Patent number: 10190428Abstract: A seal for a gas turbine engine includes a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a back and a front. The back is parallel to the front and the left side is parallel to the right side such that a non-square shape is formed by the intersection of the back, the left side, the front and the right side. The top includes a first vane mating surface and the bottom includes a second vane mating surface.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Bradley T. Duelm, Randall J. Brown, Nathan A. Shirk, Lewis M. Holby
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Patent number: 10190429Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for use between an inner shaft and an outer shaft within a turbine engine is presented. The seal assembly includes a sealing ring, centrifugal retaining plates, and end rings. The sealing ring further includes a plurality of asymmetric ring segments whereby each asymmetric ring segment further includes a vertical flange and horizontal flanges extending from the vertical flange in a non-symmetric arrangement. At least one slot is disposed along each horizontal flange. The sealing ring is interposed between the centrifugal retaining plates. Each centrifugal retaining plate includes a plurality of tabs extending therefrom. Each tab is engaged by one slot. The sealing ring and the centrifugal retaining plates are interposed between the end rings. Each centrifugal retaining plate is directly interposed between one horizontal flange and one end ring. The vertical flange extends from between the end rings in the direction of the outer shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 10190430Abstract: A turbine engine, a turbojet, or a turboprop engine, including an annular combustion chamber defined by an inner shell and an outer shell, a turbine distributor arranged downstream of the combustion chamber, with a downstream end of the outer shell and/or of the inner shell of the chamber including a radial rim arranged opposite a radial rim of an upstream end of the distributor, a sealing mechanism including at least one strip extending between the rims to provide a seal between the combustion chamber and the distributor. The sealing strip extends axially and circumferentially between the rims and bears sealingly against free ends of the rims.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2013Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINESInventors: Francois Leglaye, Emeric D'Herbigny
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Patent number: 10190431Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary machine is provided. The seal assembly includes a plurality of seal segments disposed circumferentially intermediate to a stationary housing and a rotor, where each of the plurality of seal segments includes a stator interface element and a shoe plate movably supported by the stator interface element. The shoe plate includes one or more labyrinth teeth, a load-bearing surface, and one or more supply ports for facilitating supply of high pressure fluid toward the rotor. In one embodiment, the shoe plate also includes a radially extending portion that is in contact with a portion of the ring movably supported into the stator interface element. In another embodiment, each of the plurality of seal segments includes a plurality of overlapping spring-loaded leaf seal plates in contact with the stator interface element and the radially extending portion. Method of operating the seal segment is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Rahul Anil Bidkar, Christopher Edward Wolfe, Bugra Han Ertas, Adolfo Delgado Marquez, Nathan Evan McCurdy Gibson
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Patent number: 10190432Abstract: A brush seal assembly is operable to seal a gap between a diaphragm and a rotor of a turbine. A brush seal assembly includes: a brush configured to have one end inserted into one side of a diaphragm and the other end protruding toward a rotor; a support strip configured to support one side of the brush; and a back plate configured to support one side of the support strip.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., LtdInventor: Mahmut Faruk Aksit
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Patent number: 10190433Abstract: A shaft sealing mechanism (11) that partitions an annular space (14) that is formed between a fixed part (12) and a rotating shaft (13) into a high-pressure-side region and a low-pressure-side region, that obstructs the flow of a fluid (G), and that is provided with: a plurality of annularly laminated thin-plate seal pieces (22) that are fixed to an annular seal housing (21) that is provided to the fixed part and are in sliding contact with the rotating shaft; and an annular low-pressure-side plate (26) that is sandwiched and held such that a low-pressure-side gap (?L) is formed between the seal housing and a low-pressure-side side edge part (22d) of the thin-plate seal pieces. The thin-plate seal pieces have a thick part (31) that is formed further to the inside in the radial direction of the rotating shaft than an inner-circumferential-side tip part (26a) of the low-pressure-side plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Kohei Ozaki, Azumi Yoshida, Hidekazu Uehara, Tanehiro Shinohara, Hiroharu Oyama
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Patent number: 10190434Abstract: A turbine shroud for a gas turbine engine includes an annular metallic carrier, a blade track, and a cross-key connection formed between the annular metallic carrier and the ceramic blade track. The cross-key connection is formed between the annular metallic carrier and inserts included in the blade track.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc., Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: William Westphal, Aaron D. Sippel, Ted J. Freeman
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Patent number: 10190435Abstract: Turbine and compressor casing abradable component embodiments for turbine engines vary localized porosity or abradability through use of holes or dimple depressions of desired polygonal profiles that are formed into the surface of otherwise monolithic abradable surfaces or rib structures. Abradable porosity within a rib is varied locally by changing any one or more of hole/depression depth, diameter, array pitch density, and/or volume. In various embodiments, localized porosity increases and corresponding abradability increases axially from the upstream or forward axial end of the abradable surface to the downstream or aft end of the surface. In this way, the forward axial end of the abradable surface has less porosity to counter hot working gas erosion of the surface, while the more aft portions of the abradable surface accommodate blade cutting and incursion with lower likelihood of blade tip wear.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Ramesh Subramanian, Kok-Mun Tham
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Patent number: 10190436Abstract: A power transmission system for use with a turbine, a turbocharger, or a compressor has a housing, a first shaft mounted within the housing, a second shaft rotatably mounted within the housing and positioned exterior of the first shaft, a second set of blades affixed to the first shaft, and a second set of blades affixed to the second shaft. The first set of blades is positioned adjacent to the second set of blades. The first set of blades are rotatable in a direction opposite to the second shaft and the second set of blades. A shroud is affixed to an outer periphery of one of the sets of blades so as to have a portion overlying at least a portion of an outer periphery of the other of the first and second sets of blades. A power receiver is driven by the second shaft so as to convert rotational energy of the second shaft into energy or motion.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Inventor: Jay Haskin
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Patent number: 10190437Abstract: A test bench for an aircraft turbojet engine is provided. The test bench comprises a U-shaped configuration with a passage in the form of an elongated corridor, an inlet duct, and an outlet duct. The corridor comprises a fixing zone with a fixing arm for holding a turbojet engine during testing. The passage furthermore has an upstream shutter with vertical pivoting air guides and a downstream shutter with an inflatable balloon in a collector tube. In the event of fire, the shutters close to confine the turbojet engine in order to suffocate the fire rapidly. A method for managing a fire in a test bench with a passage is also provided. Shutters are placed in the passage, where they deploy.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Safran Aero Boosters S.A.Inventor: Gaetano Taccogna
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Patent number: 10190438Abstract: A turbine engine includes a compressor, a combustion chamber, first and second turbines downstream from the combustion chamber, a first rotary shaft constrained to rotate at least with the compressor and the first turbine, a second rotary shaft constrained to rotate with the second turbine, the second rotary shaft nevertheless being free to rotate relative to the first rotary shaft, and a regulator for controlling the feed of fuel to the combustion chamber. The regulator cuts off the feed of fuel to the combustion chamber if the speed of rotation of the second rotary shaft exceeds a maximum threshold that varies as a function of at least one indicative physical parameter associated with mechanical power being extracted from the combustion gas by the second turbine. A method of regulating the turbine engine is also presented.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINESInventors: Stephen Langford, Fabien Lescher
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Patent number: 10190439Abstract: A frangible mounting arrangement between a bearing and a bearing support in a gas turbine engine comprises a plurality of frangible bolts connecting mounting flanges of the bearing and the bearing support. The bolts are disposed on a circle. A distance on the circle between a first pair of adjacent bolts is greater than a distance on the circle between a second pair of adjacent bolts. The bolts are configured to break when subjected to a breaking load above a predetermined value. The breaking load results from at least one of a bending moment and a shear load on the mounting flanges. When subjected to the breaking load, the first pair of adjacent bolts breaks before the second pair of adjacent bolts. A method of providing a frangible mounting arrangement between a bearing and a bearing support is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Oleg Korshikov, Czeslaw Wojtyczka, David Denis
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Patent number: 10190440Abstract: A gas turbine engine is provided with a controller configured to detect a spool shaft failure and to initiate an engine shut-down in response to the shaft failure. The controller evaluates the compressor speed probe, the speed probe continuity, P30 pressure and compressor surge to determine whether a shaft failure has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Argote, John K. Harvell