Patents Issued in August 18, 2020
  • Patent number: 10745991
    Abstract: An overpressure safety system for use with a distribution of pressurized fluid associated with hydrocarbon production operations includes a safety valve in fluid communication with a main bore of a fluid control manifold assembly. The safety valve has a blocking condition where the safety valve blocks a flow of pressurized fluid through the safety valve, and a venting condition where the safety valve provides a fluid flow path for the pressurized fluid at a set overpressure to pass through the safety valve. A valve member is moveable within the safety valve between a first position where a pressure side of the valve member blocks the flow of the pressurized fluid at a pressure below the set overpressure from passing through the safety valve, and a second position where the valve member provides a fluid flow path for the pressurized fluid at any pressure to pass through the safety valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS PRESSURE CONTROL LP
    Inventors: Saurabh Kajaria, Robert Ripple, Travis Kyle McEvoy, Keith M. Adams, Gerald Schofield
  • Patent number: 10745992
    Abstract: An energizing ring for setting a downhole sealing element includes a passage extending through a width of the energizing ring and a wing extending radially outward from a body of the energizing ring, the wing includes a sealing arm coupled to the body at a joint and a slot arranged between at least a portion of the sealing arm and the body, wherein the sealing arm is configured to pivot relative to the joint in response to a fluid pressure within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS PRESSURE CONTROL LP
    Inventors: Samuel Heung Yeung Cheng, Wei He, Kevin O'Dell, Joseph Pallini
  • Patent number: 10745993
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling wellsite equipment, including a cementing unit comprising a plurality of sensors operable to generate information related to operational status of the cementing unit and a controller comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code. Communication is established between the cementing unit and the controller. The controller is operable to operate the cementing unit to automatically perform: a pressure calibration of the cementing unit, a pressure test of the cementing unit, an over pressure shut-down test of the cementing unit, a low rate pumping test of the cementing unit, a hydraulic horsepower test of the cementing unit, and/or a mixing test of the cementing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Carlos Urdaneta
  • Patent number: 10745994
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a system for determining a valve member position. The system includes a valve having a flow passage extending therethrough. The system also includes a valve member positioned in a cavity that intersects the flow passage, the valve member coupled to a valve stem that axially translates the valve member between an open position and a closed position. The system includes an actuator coupled to the valve stem, the actuator providing a motive force to drive the axial movement of the valve member via the valve stem. The system includes a closure cap coupled to the actuator, the closure cap comprising a sensor feature arranged within an interior portion of the closure cap, the sensor feature arranged to react to an input from an actuator piston indicative of an actuator piston position within the interior portion of the closure cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS PRESSURE CONTROL LP
    Inventors: Lauren Michelle Valera, Travis McEvoy, Keith Adams
  • Patent number: 10745995
    Abstract: A technique which enables construction and operation of a subsea landing string system having a system manifold or manifolds unprotected by a dielectric fluid compensated enclosure. The manifolds contain directional control valves and corresponding solenoids which are able to operate while being exposed to environmental fluids such as seawater. The ability to operate manifolds in an unprotected environment enables the manifolds to be positioned in a variety of locations along the subsea landing string system or in cooperation with the subsea landing string system. The subsea landing string system also may be a modular system in which manifolds are added or removed according to the parameters of a given operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Tej Bhadbhade, Ahmed Zeouita, Adam Tusing
  • Patent number: 10745996
    Abstract: A method of controlling fluid flow through a circulation valve disposed in a borehole includes flowing a fluid at a first flowrate through a first jet and a second jet disposed in a throughbore of a sliding sleeve disposed in a housing of the circulation valve, flowing the fluid at a second flowrate through the first jet and the second jet to actuate the sliding sleeve from a first position to a second position, and flowing the fluid from the throughbore of the sliding sleeve through a housing port of the housing in response to actuating the sliding sleeve from the first position to a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DRLG Tools, LLC
    Inventor: Luc Deboer
  • Patent number: 10745997
    Abstract: A tubing pressure insensitive failsafe wireline retrievable safety valve including a tool housing, a flow tube disposed within the tool housing, an actuation piston disposed in the tool housing and operably connected to the flow tube, the actuation piston having an actuation pressure side and a relatively lower pressure chamber side, a fluid pathway between a potential leak site for the valve and the relatively lower pressure chamber side of the piston. A borehole system having a tubing pressure insensitive failsafe wireline retrievable safety valve. A tubing pressure insensitive failsafe wireline retrievable safety valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: John Burris, Jason Edwards
  • Patent number: 10745998
    Abstract: A technique facilitates operation of an actuator via an operating module. The actuator and the operating module are constructed to enable operation in a wide variety of environments and applications. The operating module is coupled to the actuator and is operable in a plurality of modes, such as an electro-hydraulic mode, a pure hydraulic mode, and a mechanical mode. A desired mode of operation is selected and the operating module enables shifting of the actuator via the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerome Prost, Emrah Gokdag
  • Patent number: 10745999
    Abstract: A downhole tool and method for orienting a tool string within a passage, such as a wellbore or a tubular disposed in the wellbore. The downhole tool may be operable for detachably connecting with the tool string and orienting the tool string within the passage. The downhole tool may include a frame comprising a first frame portion and a second frame portion, wherein the first and second frame portions may be detachably connectable with each other around the tool string to detachably connect the frame with the tool string. The downhole tool may further include a first orienting feature rotatably connected with the first frame portion along a first axis of rotation and a second orienting feature rotatably connected with the second frame portion along a second axis of rotation. The first and second axes of rotation may be radially offset from a central axis of the tool string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: IMPACT SELECTOR INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: James Patrick Massey
  • Patent number: 10746000
    Abstract: A power supply can regulate the power from a wide-input power source. The power supply can provide regulated voltage and current and can work in either a constant-current mode or a constant-voltage mode. The power supply includes a switchable charging path and a switchable discharging path, each coupled to the output in series with a current sensor and in parallel with a voltage sensor, wherein the current sensor and voltage sensor provide signals to a control circuit for controlling the switchable charging path and the switchable discharging path. The power supply can rapidly and dynamically switch between a charging state, a freewheeling state, and a discharging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jianying Chu
  • Patent number: 10746001
    Abstract: A system includes a pair of wellbore tubulars coupled together via a casing collar. A hold down collar is arranged circumferentially about the casing collar. An actuating piston of the system includes an actuating body, the actuating piston being axially movable along the wellbore axis between an activated position and a deactivated position. Slip elements are arranged downstream of the actuating piston, the slip elements receiving the actuating body in a space formed between the slip elements, wherein the actuating body drives the respective slip elements in opposite radial directions when in the activated position to secure the wellbore tubulars within the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS PRESSURE CONTROL LP
    Inventors: Joseph Shu Yian Liew, Hoong Man Ng
  • Patent number: 10746002
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to perforating systems for perforating the casing of a wellbore. The perforating systems contain insensitive high explosives. The disclosure also relates to shaped charges containing insensitive high explosives for use in such perforating systems. The disclosure further relates to methods of using such perforating systems to perforate the casing of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James Marshall Barker, Thomas Earl Burky
  • Patent number: 10746003
    Abstract: A perforating short gun for use in a horizontal well casing. The gun includes a gun carrier and a charge holder to carry shaped charges. The charge holder is inserted into the gun carrier and a selected length of the gun carrier includes internal features created therein to a depth in an inside wall of the gun carrier. The internal features are located and configured to align with a shaped charge, creating a standoff between the shaped charge and the internal feature such that when the charge is detonated it creates an opening through the internal feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, James A. Rollins, Philip Martin Snider, John Thomas Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10746004
    Abstract: A perforating gun for use in a well casing includes a gun carrier extending along a longitudinal axis; plural charges located inside the gun carrier, in groups of 3, a group of 3 charges being positioned in a first single plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a charge holder configured to carry the plural charges, the charge holder configured to be inserted into the gun carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wenbo Yang, James A. Rollins, Philip Martin Snider, John Thomas Hardesty, David S. Wesson
  • Patent number: 10746005
    Abstract: A downhole tool system includes a downhole tool string configured to couple to a downhole conveyance that extends in a wellbore from a terranean surface through at least a portion of a subterranean zone, the subterranean zone including a geologic formation; and a heating device coupled with the downhole tool string, the heating device configured to transfer heat to the geologic formation in the wellbore at a specified temperature sufficient to adjust a quality of the geologic formation associated with a rock strength of the geologic formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Khaled A. Al-Buraik
  • Patent number: 10746006
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a plasma source. The plasma source includes: (i) a plasma emitter having a first electrode and a second electrode defining an electrode gap therebetween; (ii) stands disposed adjacent to the electrode gap and the plasma emitter; (iii) emitter openings configured such that shockwaves generated by the plasma source are directed through the emitter openings and radially from the plasma emitter, wherein adjacent emitter openings of the emitter openings are separated from each other by at least one stand of the stands; (iv) an enclosure housing at a distal end of the plasma emitter and having a delivery device configured to introduce a conductor through an opening in the second electrode and into the electrode gap; and a device housing at a proximal end of the plasma emitter and having a transformer, a capacitor unit, and a contactor. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NOVAS ENERGY GROUP LIMITED
    Inventors: P. G. Ageev, A. A. Molchanov
  • Patent number: 10746007
    Abstract: A system for recovery of gas trapped by fluid and particulate matter in a well includes a device with a lower valve for controlling flow of fluid into the cavity and an upper valve for controlling flow of the fluid and suspended solids out of the cavity. The device also includes: a gas line for providing a stream of pressurized gas to push on fluid in the cavity in a compression stroke which closes the lower valve and opens the upper valve and to exhaust contained gas from the cavity during an exhaust stroke when infiltration of fluid into the cavity raises the fluid level; an effluent line for allowing exit of the fluid and suspended solids during the compression stroke; and a probe line providing powering pair of probes for initiating and halting entry of the stream of pressurized gas into the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: OPTIMUM PETROLEUM SERVICES INC.
    Inventor: James G. Gettis
  • Patent number: 10746008
    Abstract: A method of forming a wellbore with a drill string and that includes continuously and automatically measuring a TARE value of the drill string. The TARE value of the drill string is measured while the drill string is rotating, fluid is circulating in the drill string, and after the drill string has been axially stationary for a set period of time. The TARE value is designated as an average of the measured hook load over the latter half of the set period of time. Knowing the measured TARE value and a designated weight on bit (“WOB”) of the drill string, a hook load for supporting the drill string is calculated. Matching the force applied that supports the drill string to the calculated hook load results in an actual WOB that matches the designated WOB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Hermann F. Spoerker
  • Patent number: 10746009
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for controlling a trajectory of a borehole being drilled into the earth are provided. The apparatus includes a drilling system including a drill tubular, a disintegrating device, and a steering system coupled to the drill tubular configured to steer the drilling system, the drilling system configured to drill the borehole by receiving control outputs from at least one control unit for controlling parameters of the drilling system, the at least one control unit configured to provide the control outputs to the steering system, the at least one control unit being configured to provide depth-based control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Hoehn, Michael Neubert, Andreas Peter, Ingolf Wassermann, Bilel Said
  • Patent number: 10746010
    Abstract: A method of forming a wellbore with a drill string and that includes continuously and automatically measuring a TARE value of the drill string. The TARE value of the drill string is measured while the drill string is rotating, fluid is circulating in the drill string, and after the drill string has been axially stationary for a set period of time. The TARE value is designated as an average of the measured hook load over the latter half of the set period of time. Knowing the measured TARE value and a designated weight on bit (“WOB”) of the drill string, a hook load for supporting the drill string is calculated. Matching the force applied that supports the drill string to the calculated hook load results in an actual WOB that matches the designated WOB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Hermann F. Spoerker
  • Patent number: 10746011
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for ranging operate to use a wireline active ranging system to initially determine a relative distance and relative direction from a first well (e.g., ranging well) to a second well (e.g., target well) and an EM azimuthal logging tool to maintain or adjust the distance from the target well while drilling the ranging well. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Hsiang Wu, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 10746012
    Abstract: A system 10 for controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig 12 includes a receiver 16 for receiving sensed data related to the drilling operation. A processor 18 is in communication with the receiver 16, the processor 18 processing the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone 20 in which the drill rig 12 is active. The processor 18 is configured to operate as a decision engine 22 to optimize the drilling operation automatically by changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation based on the at least one geological property of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin McHugh, Eric William Nettleton
  • Patent number: 10746013
    Abstract: A method for selecting drilling parameters for drilling a borehole penetrating the earth with a drill string includes: varying a frequency of an excitation force applied to the drill string using an excitation device controlled by a drill string controller and measuring vibration-related amplitudes of the drill string due to the applied excitation force using a vibration sensor to provide amplitude measurements. The method further includes determining one or more modal properties comprising one or more eigenfrequencies of the drill string using the amplitude measurements and selecting drilling parameters that apply an excitation force at a frequency that avoids a selected range of frequencies that bound the one or more eigenfrequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Andreas Hohl
  • Patent number: 10746014
    Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring a condition of an elastic element used in a downhole tool are provided. The method comprises acquiring an output signal from a flexible-type sensor installed in the elastic element, the sensor sensing at least one of strain and stress of the elastic element, and estimating a condition of the elastic element based on the output signal from the sensor. The system comprises a flexible-type sensor installed in the elastic element, the sensor sensing at least one of strain and stress of the elastic element and a processor to acquire an output signal from the sensor and estimate a condition of the elastic element based on the output signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaei Ito, Manuel Marya, Tsutomu Yamate, Osamu Osawa
  • Patent number: 10746015
    Abstract: A monitoring system can include a dashboard including a graphical user interface display space. The monitoring system can also include a digital twin validation (DTV) system. The DTV system can be configured to perform operations including rendering, in the graphical user interface display space, a visual representation of an output value of a digital model of an oil and gas industrial machine, and an interactive graphical object characterizing an input value of the digital model. The operations can also include receiving data characterizing user interaction with the interactive graphical object. The data characterizes the user interaction indicative of the input value of the digital model. The operations can also include updating the digital model to generate an updated output value representative of an operational characteristic of the oil and gas industrial machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies, GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Munda, Nimrod Ohad, Arun Subramaniyan
  • Patent number: 10746016
    Abstract: Downhole fiber optic interrogation systems are described. The systems include a fiber optic control system, a first sensing system, a second sensing system, an optical fiber disposed within a well, and an optical switch arranged between the optical fiber and the first and second sensing systems, wherein the fiber optic control system performs time division multiplex control of the optical switch wherein the first sensing system is operably connected to the optical fiber and the second sensing system is not connected to the optical fiber, and further controls the optical switch such that the second sensing system is operably connected to the optical fiber and the first sensing system is not connected to the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Michael Barry, William Albert Johnston, Ian Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10746017
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first fluid property data from a first location in a hydrocarbon reservoir and receiving second fluid property data from a second location in the hydrocarbon reservoir. The method includes performing a plurality of realizations of models of the hydrocarbon reservoir according to a respective plurality of one or more plausible dynamic processes to generate one or more respective modeled fluid properties. The method includes selecting the one or more plausible dynamic processes based at least in part on a relationship between the first fluid property data, the second fluid property data, and the modeled fluid properties obtained from the realizations to identify potential disequilibrium in the hydrocarbon reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youxiang Zuo, Kang Wang, Andrew E. Pomerantz, Soraya S. Betancourt Pocaterra, Jerimiah Forsythe, Cosan Ayan, Hadrien Dumont, Vinay Mishra, Jesus Alberto Canas, Daniel M. Tetzlaff, Anish Kumar, Vladislav Achourov, Thomas Pfeiffer, Shu Pan, Yi Chen, Armin Kauerauf, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Patent number: 10746018
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a likelihood that a reservoir of a geological formation received a secondary charge of hydrocarbons of relatively very different thermal maturity of composition are provided. One method includes positioning a downhole acquisition tool in a wellbore in a geological formation and testing one or more fluid properties of the formation fluid. Data processing circuitry may identify whether a relationship of the one or more fluid properties exceeds a first threshold that indicates likely asphaltene instability. When this is the case, data processing circuitry may be used to model the geological formation using a realization scenario in which multiple charges of hydrocarbons of substantially different thermal maturity or substantially different composition, or both, filled a reservoir of the geological formation over geologic time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hadrien Dumont, Vinay K. Mishra, German Garcia, Li Chen, Thomas Pfeiffer, Soraya S. Betancourt Pocaterra, Jerimiah Forsythe, Andrew Emil Pomerantz, Youxiang Zuo, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Patent number: 10746019
    Abstract: A method includes pumping fluid from outside of a downhole tool through a flowline of the downhole tool with a pump. The method further includes taking a first plurality of measurements over time using at least one sensor and estimating a future saturation pressure of the fluid within the flowline at constant time increments via a processor based at least in part on the first plurality of measurements and a saturation pressure model. The method further includes adjusting the flowline pressure to maintain the pressure of the flowline above the estimated future saturation pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Indo, Julian J. Pop, Ji Qi, Sepand Ossia
  • Patent number: 10746020
    Abstract: A vertical lifting type drum coal-mining machine without a rocker arm includes a central control box, left and right cutting and lifting reduction gear boxes, left and right guide rail fixing box bodies, left and right traction reduction gear boxes, and left and right traveling gear boxes. The left and right cutting and lifting reduction gear boxes are provided with slideways in fit with lifting guide rails of the left and right guide rail fixing box bodies. Lifting cylinders drive the left and right cutting and lifting reduction gear boxes to make lifting motion. A cutting gear reduction mechanism adopts two-stage fixed-axle gear transmission and two-stage planetary gear transmission, is free from multiple idler pulley groups and has simple transmission chain. The fit between the lifting guide rails and the slideways enables the entire machine to be compact in structure, and the reliability and stability of operation are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventor: Yimin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10746021
    Abstract: A combination bit and bit holder assembly includes a bit holder having a forward body portion and a shank. The forward body portion includes an upper end and a lower end. An insert is mounted in the bore of the upper end of the body portion. The insert also includes a central bore that receivingly retains a receiving cup. The receiving cup includes a bottom portion and an annular flange that extends from the bottom portion and defines a hollow forward portion. A bit is mounted in the hollow forward portion of the receiving cup which is configured to have a ductility that provides impact absorption to the bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Sollami Company
    Inventor: Phillip Sollami
  • Patent number: 10746022
    Abstract: The Helical segmental lining is an invention in tunneling industry wherein segments are designed in helical shape that are connected by interlocking system. The proposed helical tunnel lining method allows for segment erection and excavation to be completed concurrently and continuously by Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) which will result in increasing the tunneling speed. The segments have tongue projection on the two trailing sides (circumferential and radial) and similar groove recess in the opposite two leading sides. This forms a tongue-and-groove joint at both circumferential and radial joints. The system allows for optional post-tensioning (PT) strand to be inserted into the leading circumferential side of the segments. The optional PT strand is fitted into a continuous groove located at the leading circumferential side of the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Inventors: Behzad Khorshidi, Jamal Rostami
  • Patent number: 10746023
    Abstract: An engine block for an opposed-piston engine includes a first center section and a second center section. The first center section defines a first cylinder half bore having a first longitudinal axis and a first plurality of fastener bores. The second center section defines a second cylinder half bore having a second longitudinal axis and a second plurality of fastener bores that extend from a first end thereof to a second end thereof. The second center section is configured to abut the first center section such that: the first and second cylinder half bores are in fluid communication with one another to collectively form a single cylinder; the first and second longitudinal axes are offset from one another; and the first and second pluralities of fastener bores are aligned with one another for receiving a first plurality of fasteners to join the first and second center sections to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: AVL Powertrain Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Vasile Frasinel
  • Patent number: 10746024
    Abstract: A fan noise-lowering structure includes a fan frame main body and a connection section. The fan frame main body has a bottom side and a frame peripheral wall. The frame peripheral wall is perpendicularly annularly disposed on the outer rim of the bottom side. The inner rim of the frame peripheral wall defines an airflow passage. Two ends of the airflow passage respectively have an inlet and an outlet. The connection section is disposed in the frame peripheral wall. Two ends of the connection section are connected with the frame peripheral wall. The two ends of the middle passage are an inlet end and an outlet end in communication with the airflow passage. The connection section serves to guide the high-pressure air of the outlet to jet toward the inlet so as to achieve multiple noise-lowering effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Hao Liu
  • Patent number: 10746025
    Abstract: Suction surfaces of blades of this radial turbine each have: a leading edge side of blade tip including a leading edge and the boundary between the suction surface and the tip; and a trailing edge side of blade tip including a trailing edge and the boundary between the suction surface and the tip. The leading edge side of blade tip forms a concave curved surface which is recessed towards the side opposite to the rotation side in a radial view. The trailing edge side of blade tip forms a convex curved surface which protrudes towards the rotation side in a radial view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.
    Inventors: Toyotaka Yoshida, Takao Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10746026
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component includes an airfoil that includes a trailing edge feed cavity. A baffle is located in the trailing edge feed cavity and includes a plurality of pressure side cooling openings in fluid communication with a corresponding one of a plurality of pressure side cooling passages. A plurality of suction side cooling openings are in fluid communication with a corresponding one of a plurality of suction side cooling passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicholas M. LoRicco
  • Patent number: 10746027
    Abstract: A blade airfoil for an internally cooled turbine rotor blade has suction-side and pressure-side side walls, which, extending from a common leading edge to a common trailing edge and in a span direction from a root-side end to a tip-side end, at least partially enclose a cavity. The tip-side end includes a tip wall which delimits the cavity at the tip side. At least one cooling hole for the discharge of cooling fluid that can be caused to flow in the interior is provided. In the cavity, at least one rib which extends from the tip wall in the direction of the root-side end projects from the inner surface, surrounding the rib, of the suction-side side wall and/or from the inner surface of the pressure-side side wall. An inflow-side end, in relation to the cooling fluid, of the at least one cooling hole opens out laterally in the respective rib.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Tobias Buchal
  • Patent number: 10746028
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for cooling a gas turbine. The system for cooling a gas turbine cools a turbine disk unit by individually supplying cooling air to each of a plurality of turbine disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kyung Kook Kim
  • Patent number: 10746029
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a rotor blade for a turbomachine. The rotor blade includes an airfoil having a leading edge and a trailing edge and defines a chord extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A tip shroud couples to the airfoil and includes a leading edge wall and a trailing edge wall and defines a tip shroud cavity. The tip shroud cavity includes a leading edge portion at least partially defined by the leading edge wall and positioned largely upstream of fifty percent of the chord. The tip shroud cavity also includes a trailing edge portion at least partially defined by the trailing edge wall and positioned largely downstream of fifty percent of the chord. An intermediate portion of the tip shroud cavity fluidly couples the leading edge portion of the tip shroud cavity and the trailing edge portion of the tip shroud cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Clarence Jones, Robert Alan Brittingham
  • Patent number: 10746030
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacture of a composite blade with an airfoil and a root, wherein the blade comprises a core of chopped fibre composite material and a textile composite material encasing the chopped fibre core. The method comprises: forming a blade insert using chopped fibre composite; surrounding the blade insert with a plurality of layers of a textile in a textile composite material; and thermoforming the blade insert and the surrounding textile composite material in a thermoforming mould in order to consolidate the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventors: Kévin Le Meur, Patrice Brion, Ludovic Prunet
  • Patent number: 10746031
    Abstract: An annulus filler may include an outer lid defining an airflow surface for air being drawn through the engine in an axial airflow direction and a support structure configured to connect the outer lid to a rotor disc. The annulus filler may include a composite material including a plurality of relatively high-modulus reinforcement elements, a plurality of relatively tough polymer-based reinforcement elements, and a matrix material substantially encapsulating the plurality of relatively high-modulus reinforcement elements and the plurality of relatively tough reinforcement elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Heeter, Matthew J. Kappes
  • Patent number: 10746032
    Abstract: A compressor section for a gas turbine engine includes an upstream portion that includes at least one upstream rotor stage. A downstream portion includes at least one downstream rotor stage configured to rotate with the upstream rotor stage. A transition duct separates the upstream portion from the downstream portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keith J. Kucinskas
  • Patent number: 10746033
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine includes at least one airfoil that has a radially inner end and a radially outer end. A platform includes a radially outer surface that is attached to the radially inner end of the airfoil. A radially inner side of the platform includes a forward surface and an aft surface. A pocket is recessed into at least one of the forward surface and the aft surface. A cover plate covers the pocket and a seal is attached to the cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brandon W. Spangler, Jose R. Paulino
  • Patent number: 10746034
    Abstract: An airfoil assembly for a turbo machine, the airfoil assembly including an airfoil defining a leading edge and a trailing edge, and further defining ends separated along a span of the airfoil; a shaft extended from the end of the airfoil; and a button surrounding at least a portion of the end of the airfoil, the button comprising a composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Mielke, Heidi Stegemiller
  • Patent number: 10746035
    Abstract: Flow path assemblies and methods for forming such flow path assemblies for gas turbine engines are provided. For example, a method for assembling an airfoil with a boundary structure to form a flow path assembly is provided. The method includes machining an opening into the boundary structure. The opening is sized to receive an airfoil or other component. The method also includes machining a cutout into the boundary structure proximate the opening. A locking feature is inserted into the cutout. When the airfoil is inserted into the opening, the locking feature interlocks the airfoil with the boundary structure. To seal the airfoil with the boundary structure, the airfoil is pressed against or into the boundary structure. When the airfoil is pressed, the locking feature is compressed such that a seal is formed between the airfoil and the boundary structure to seal the flow path assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Alan Frey, Kirk Douglas Gallier, Daniel Patrick Kerns, Brandon ALlanson Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10746036
    Abstract: A low-pressure compressor for a turbine engine, such as an aircraft turbojet engine includes a rotor with two rows of rotor blades between which two annular ribs are positioned; and one annular row of stator blades between the rotor blades. An internal shroud is connected to the stator blades. The internal shroud includes abradable material collaborating with the annular ribs, and annular teeth made of an abradable material and which extend radially towards the rotor, so as to provide sealing. The system may be used in a method for manufacturing a bypass turbojet engine compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN AERO BOOSTERS SA
    Inventor: Stéphane Hiernaux
  • Patent number: 10746037
    Abstract: An assembly adapted for use in a gas turbine engine has a carrier component and a supported component. The assembly including a mounting system for coupling the supported component to the carrier component and a seal adapted to resist the movement of gasses between the supported component to the carrier component. In an illustrative embodiment, the assembly is a turbine shroud segment for blocking gasses from passing over turbine blades included in the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron D. Sippel, Ted J. Freeman
  • Patent number: 10746038
    Abstract: An airfoil includes an airfoil piece that defines at least a portion of an airfoil profile. The airfoil piece has a radial end and a first radial slot in the radial end. An end section has a second radial slot adjacent the first radial slot. The first radial slot and the second radial slot together form a radial seal slot. A seal is disposed in the radial seal slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracey A. Propheter-Hinckley, Michael G. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 10746039
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a side ring and a cartridge. The side ring comprises an annular piece of solid material. The cartridge is affixed to the side ring and comprises a shoulder, a beam connected to and extending from the shoulder, a shoe attached to an end of the beam, and a rotary seal disposed on a bottom portion of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Conway Chuong, Tara L. D'Ambruoso, Joey Wong
  • Patent number: 10746040
    Abstract: A steam turbine system includes: a steam turbine having a casing into which steam is fed from an outside of the casing and a rotating shaft that is provided within the casing so as to be rotatable around a central axis; a deaerator that is connected to the steam turbine and that deaerates leaked steam that has leaked from a gap between the casing and the rotating shaft to the outside of the casing; a vacuum pump that is connected to the deaerator and that lowers a pressure within the deaerator; and a shaft sealing device that is connected to the deaerator and that seals the gap between the casing and the rotating shaft. The shaft sealing device has a seal member having a seal body, a housing, a biasing member, and a negative-pressure introduction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nogami, Takuro Koda