Impeller Making Patents (Class 29/889)
  • Patent number: 11897065
    Abstract: A rotor for a turbomachine and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes providing a lug with a lug body and an interface material disposed on the lug body. The method also includes friction welding the lug to a hub member via the interface material to define a projected structure for an outer radial area of a disc assembly of the rotor. The projected structure is configured to support a first side of a rotor blade of the rotor in cooperation with a second projected structure of the disc assembly supporting a second side of the rotor blade. The lug body and the hub member are made from different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Mark Morris, Paul Kurlak, Stuart Harman, Daira Legzdina, Jason Smoke
  • Patent number: 11788515
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cable guiding assemblies for wind turbine power cables. A cable guiding assembly comprises an outer part and a central part. Each part has a top surface, a bottom surface, a laterally inner surface and a laterally outer surface. The laterally inner surface has a plurality of recesses suitable for receiving power cables. An outer portion of the central part is configured to be attached to an inner portion of the outer part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Joel Maignan, Sébastien Digard Brou De Cuissart, Alan Pfeiffer, Patrice Denis
  • Patent number: 11725520
    Abstract: An airfoil for use in a gas turbine engine is formed to define cavities formed in the airfoil and a passage that extends between and fluidly interconnects the cavities. The airfoil further includes damping fluid located in the cavities and the damping fluid is adapted to flow between the cavities via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel E. Molnar, Jr., Christopher D. Hall
  • Patent number: 11719227
    Abstract: A method for mounting a blade root of a blade on a blade flange of a wind turbine rotor, the method comprising: attaching a control line between a hold structure at the blade flange and the blade root; lifting the blade with a blade lifting crane while the blade root is guided towards the blade flange by use of said control line, and connecting said blade root to said blade flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Ivar J. B. K. Jensen, Gunnar K. Storgaard Pedersen, Christian Skov Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 11674686
    Abstract: A coating occlusion resistant effusion cooling hole to form a film of a cooling fluid on a surface of a wall. The cooling hole extends along a longitudinal axis. The cooling hole includes an inlet section defined so as to be spaced apart from the surface. The inlet section is to receive the cooling fluid. The cooling hole includes a metering section fluidly coupled downstream of the inlet section. The cooling hole includes an outlet section fluidly coupled downstream of the metering section. The outlet section includes an overhang portion, a recessed portion, a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall interconnect the overhang portion with the recessed portion along a portion of the outlet section, and the first sidewall and the second sidewall converge and diverge in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Nagaraja Rudrapatna, Rodolphe Dudebout
  • Patent number: 11661922
    Abstract: Disclosed is a support element for a lightning protection system of a wind turbine blade comprising: a first surface configured to face towards the suction side or the pressure side of the wind turbine blade; a second surface opposite the first surface; a root side surface configured to face towards the root of the wind turbine blade; and a tip side surface configured to face towards the tip of the wind turbine blade; wherein the first surface comprises a first receptor base recess configured to receive a first receptor base for coupling with a first receptor of the lightning protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LM WIND POWER INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY II APS
    Inventors: Mathilde Aubrion, Boas Eiriksson
  • Patent number: 11661924
    Abstract: A lock for preventing rotation of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotatable lock pin, a pin support supportable in a nacelle of the wind turbine and a mechanism for rotating the lock pin. The pin support has a hub-facing face proximate a rotor hub. The rotatable lock pin is rotatably mounted on the pin support. The lock pin has a cammed portion extending away from the hub-facing face toward the hub. The lock pin inserted into a complementary rotor lock aperture on the rotor hub when the pin support is supported in the nacelle. Rotation of the lock pin causes engagement of an exterior surface of the cammed portion with an interior surface of the rotor lock aperture to immobilize the lock pin against the interior surface to prevent relative motion between the lock pin and the aperture to prevent rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Liftwerx Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Glen D. Aitken, Hubert Boter
  • Patent number: 11434879
    Abstract: A lock for preventing rotation of a rotor of a wind turbine has a rotatable lock pin, a pin support supportable in a nacelle of the wind turbine and a mechanism for rotating the lock pin. The pin support has a hub-facing face proximate a rotor hub. The rotatable lock pin is rotatably mounted on the pin support. The lock pin has a cammed portion extending away from the hub-facing face toward the hub. The lock pin inserted into a complementary rotor lock aperture on the rotor hub when the pin support is supported in the nacelle. Rotation of the lock pin causes engagement of an exterior surface of the cammed portion with an interior surface of the rotor lock aperture to immobilize the lock pin against the interior surface to prevent relative motion between the lock pin and the aperture to prevent rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: LiftWerx Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Glen D. Aitken, Hubert Boter
  • Patent number: 10865807
    Abstract: A compressor rotor for a gas turbine engine is described which includes sets of blades having different airfoil thickness distributions, each including a frequency modifier forming a thickness differential relative to a baseline blade thickness. The frequency modifiers provide different natural vibration frequencies for each of the blades, and facilitate modifying natural vibration frequency separation between adjacent blades of the compressor rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ignatius Theratil, Krishna Prasad Balike, Sean Michael Kelly, Richard Ivakitch, Peter Townsend, Ronald Dutton, Paul Stone, Robert Venditti, Daniel Fudge, Milica Kojovic, Aldo Abate
  • Patent number: 10830204
    Abstract: A counterweight system for mounting a rotor blade on a balanced rotatable hub of a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotatable hub can have at least one blade root region configured to receive a blade root of the rotor blade, and also have a pitch system configured to rotate the rotor blade around a pitch axis. The counterweight system can have at least one support structure having a proximal end spaced apart from a distal end with the proximal end mountable to at least one blade root region of the rotatable hub. The at least one counterweight mass can be at least partially filled with fluid and coupled to the distal end of the at least one support structure. The at least one support structure can be arranged substantially parallel to the pitch axis such that the pitch system rotates the counterweight mass about the pitch axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ulrich Werner Neumann, Ryan Michael Sunyak, Alexander William Vossler, Darren John Danielsen, Santiago Tomas
  • Patent number: 10794193
    Abstract: An air foil includes a body and a filler. The body may include a chamber formed therein and includes a first metallic material. The filler may at least partially occupy the chamber of the body and may include a second metallic material. The second metallic material may have a comparatively more negative electrode potential than the first metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Bernard Kupratis, Mary Colby, Paul R Hanrahan, Frederick M Schwarz
  • Patent number: 10634169
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine is disclosed which includes alternating first and second set of rotor blades, the first set of rotor blades having a baseline profile and the second set of rotor blades having a profile with a cutback relative to the baseline profile, the cutback removing a portion of the baseline profile surrounding a maximum deflection point of a natural vibration mode. The cutback may be a leading edge cutback at a span position located a distance away from the hub between 50% and 90% of the total span length. The natural vibration mode may be a natural vibration mode higher than the 1st natural vibration mode, more specifically may be the 4th natural vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ignatius Theratil, Krishna Balike
  • Patent number: 10458436
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine is disclosed which includes alternating first and second set of rotor blades, the first set of rotor blades having a baseline profile and the second set of rotor blades having a profile with a cutback relative to the baseline profile, the cutback removing a portion of the baseline profile surrounding a maximum deflection point of a selected natural vibration mode. The cutback may be a leading edge cutback at a span position located a distance away from the hub between 50% and 90% of the total span length. The selected natural vibration mode may be a natural vibration mode higher than the 1st natural vibration mode, more specifically may be the 4th natural vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ignatius Theratil, Krishna Balike
  • Patent number: 10392940
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system for balancing a turbine disk stack, including a high pressure turbine disk stack. A flange is grooved to accommodate and orient a slip ring. Balancing weights are attached to the slip ring to balance the turbine disk stack during rotation of a gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Mariano, John Berrey
  • Patent number: 10287885
    Abstract: A rotor component for a rotor assembly of a fluid energy machine, particularly of a gas turbine, a steam turbine, a compressor or the like, wherein the rotor component is at least partly made of a material susceptible to corrosion and/or oxidation and can be arranged concentrically to a rotation axis of the rotor assembly. The rotor component includes a circular surface for checking concentricity of the rotor component with respect to the rotation axis. The rotor component includes at least one additional circular surface for checking concentricity of the rotor component with respect to the rotation axis, wherein the additional circular surface is coated with a corrosion and/or oxidation protection coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Glynn Milner
  • Patent number: 10161095
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assembling a structure constructed from components, in particular a wind turbine. The device includes a lift placed on a surface for the purpose of placing a component on an available support structure, wherein a boom of the lift is provided with a main hoisting cable with a hoisting tackle for releasable attachment of the component for lifting to the boom. The boom further includes a guide device for the hoisting tackle, the guide device is connected to the boom for displacement along a longitudinal axis of the boom using a displacing device, and the guide device is configured to limit movement of the hoisting tackle in at least one direction. The invention likewise relates to a method which makes use of the invented device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: High Wind N.V.
    Inventor: Etienne Clymans
  • Patent number: 10066491
    Abstract: A composite fiber component for a rotor blade of a wind power plant including a first sandwich core and a second sandwich core arranged next to each other, each having an inside facing a rotor blade interior and an outside facing a rotor blade exterior. A first fiber-containing laminate layer is arranged on the inside of the first sandwich core and on the outside of the second sandwich core. A second fiber-containing laminate layer is arranged on the outside of the first sandwich core and on the outside of the second sandwich core. And, a third fiber-containing laminate layer is arranged on the inside of the first sandwich core and on the inside of the second sandwich core. Also disclosed is a rotor blade for a wind power plant having a composite fiber component as disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Enno Eyb, Urs Bendel, Hendrik Mester
  • Patent number: 10040545
    Abstract: A dome for a rotor of a rotorcraft, the dome comprising a cap extending radially from an axis of rotation in elevation towards a periphery and in azimuth over 360 degrees, the cap extending in thickness from a bottom face for facing a hub of the rotor towards a top face above the bottom face. At least one of the top and bottom faces is an undulating face that undulates at least in azimuth between the periphery and the axis of rotation in elevation, by including in azimuth along at least one internal circle a succession of bulges and of recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventors: David Alfano, Damien Desvigne, Raphael Fukari
  • Patent number: 10024165
    Abstract: A de-oiler balance weight for a rotor disk stack susceptible to collecting oil is provided. The rotor disk stack is configured for use in a gas turbine engine. The de-oiler balance weight comprises a front wall having a first mounting aperture and a first outboard end. An aft wall has a second mounting aperture and a second outboard end. An inboard wall connects the front wall and the aft wall and defines a recess therebetween that is configured to receive a flange portion of a rotor disk in the rotor disk stack. A channel extends at least partially through the de-oiler balance weight for directing the oil away from the rotor disk stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John D. Frish
  • Patent number: 10006530
    Abstract: A torque converter, including: an axis of rotation; a cover arranged to receive torque; an impeller including a shell non-rotatably connected to the cover; a turbine in fluid communication with the impeller and including a turbine shell including a radially outermost segment including a radially outermost end of the turbine shell, at least one blade connected to the turbine shell and an entirety of which is located radially inward of the radially outermost segment; a vibration damper including at least one spring and at least one tab directly engaged with at least one circumferential end of the at least one spring and non-rotatably connected to the turbine shell; at least one rivet passing though the radially outermost segment and fixedly connected to the radially outermost segment; and a torque converter clutch arranged to transmit torque from the cover to the damper when the torque converter clutch is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Sayre, Matthew Smith
  • Patent number: 9915154
    Abstract: A Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) airfoil segment for a gas turbine engine includes a box-shape fiber geometry which defines a rectilinear pressure side bond line and a rectilinear suction side bond line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas M. Berczik, Gabriel L. Suciu, Brian D. Merry, Alvanos Ioannis, Christopher M. Dye
  • Patent number: 9845688
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine airflow member including a blade core portion, a shroud tip portion extending from the blade core portion, and an airfoil portion formed exteriorly to the blade core portion, where the blade core portion and the shroud tip portion are constructed as a first unitary structure and the airfoil portion is constructed as a second structure. A method of forming a gas turbine engine component is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: Rolls-Royce Corporation, Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Thomas, Ted J. Freeman, Richard C. Uskert, Larry A. Junod, Joseph Lamusga
  • Patent number: 9797253
    Abstract: A system and method for repairing a blade are provided. The system includes an induction heating coil configured for heating a platform and slash face of the blade. The induction heating coil extends under the platform and is adjacent to the slash face to provide substantially uniform localized heating to both the platform and slash face of the blade. The induction heating coil is configured so that the platform is visible during a repair or welding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric Robert Burlee, Ronald Lee Souther
  • Patent number: 9713861
    Abstract: Provided are a manufacturing system and a method for fabricating a component. The manufacturing system includes a wire delivery assembly arranged and disposed to deliver a wire feed to a fabrication assembly arrangement; the fabrication assembly arrangement includes a wire manipulation assembly, the wire manipulation assembly being arranged and disposed to convert the wire feed into a wire segment and position the wire segment on a workpiece positioner to form a workpiece stack; an energy beam source assembly arranged and disposed to direct one or more energy beams toward one or more aligned surfaces of adjacent wire segments within the workpiece stack, to weld the wire segments together. The method includes delivering a wire feed to a fabrication assembly; cutting and positioning a wire segment; and directing an energy beam toward one or more aligned surfaces of adjacent wire segments to weld the wire segments together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yuefeng Luo, William Edward Adis
  • Patent number: 9587509
    Abstract: A structural assembly for a fluid-flow machine includes a main flow path boundary, a row of relatively rotating blades with a gap existing between the blade ends and the main flow path boundary. A secondary flow duct is connected to the main flow path via the two openings spaced apart in the flow direction. A structural assembly has at least one support component and at least one replaceable plug connected directly or indirectly to the support component. The replaceable plug includes a part-section of a secondary flow duct, where the part-section complements at least one further part-section of the secondary flow duct extending outside the plug in the structural assembly to form a secondary flow duct which is continuous between its openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventor: Volker Guemmer
  • Patent number: 9453413
    Abstract: A rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine including a circumferential array of regularly spaced apart features provided on the disk which are each configured for receiving a balancing weight. The circumferential array of features has an angular orientation relative to the circumferential array of blades such that the features are each located at an at least substantially same offset angle from a stacking line of a respective adjacent blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: David Denis, Amir Maria
  • Patent number: 9441491
    Abstract: Disclosed are a shroud impeller of a centrifugal compressor and a method of manufacturing the same where the shroud impeller includes a rotary hub connected to a driving shaft, a plurality of blades radially provided about a rotational axis of the rotary hub, and an integral shroud bonded onto top ends of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: DOOSAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES & CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Kook Kim, Sang Eon Lee
  • Patent number: 9283609
    Abstract: The present invention provides a metal forming system, comprising a platform and a gantry means, in which the platform is provided with a plurality of lower mold bases bearing sheet metals, while the gantry means is provided with at least one upper mold base and a toggle unit. The gantry means is performing lateral displacement on the platform, so as to be displaced to a location above the lower mold base which is predetermined to operate. The toggle unit is for adjusting the longitudinal position of the upper mold base so as to change the distance between the upper mold base and the lower mold base, resulting in determining whether a mold-closing state or a mold-opening state. A metal forming operation is performed on the sheet metal between the upper mold base and the lower mold base so as to manufacture a metal formed part when the mold-closing state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Chi-Jui Huang
  • Patent number: 9205496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool holder comprising a tool receptacle in the form of a sleeve part, which comprises a tool receptacle opening comprising a mating surface which is concentric with the axis of rotation of the tool holder and on which the shaft of a tool inserted in accordance with the intended purpose thereof into the tool receptacle opening of the sleeve part can be fixed in a press fit, wherein the sleeve part comprises a number of circumferential recesses from the side of the mating surface, wherein the recesses divide the mating surface into several mating surface segments which are comparable to each other and which are substantially inherently rigid in the axial direction, wherein the radial depth of the recesses is selected such that the press fit releases substantially uniformly on all mating surface segments under the influence of heat applied over the outer circumference of the sleeve part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Franz Haimer Maschinenbau KG
    Inventors: Franz Haimer, Joseph Haimer, Bernhard Regau
  • Patent number: 9062562
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a turbomachine blade or vane of composite material including fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix is disclosed. The method includes: making a one-piece fiber blank by three-dimensional weaving; shaping the fiber blank to obtain a one-piece fiber preform having a first portion forming a blade airfoil and root preform and at least one second portion forming a blade platform preform; and densifying the preform with a matrix to obtain a composite material blade or vane having fiber reinforcement constituted by the preform and densified by the matrix, forming a single part with at least one incorporated platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignees: HERAKLES, SNECMA
    Inventors: Dominique Coupe, Clement Roussille, Jonathan Goering, Julien Mateo, Nicolas Eberling-Fux, Guillaume Renon, Antoine Jean-Philippe Beaujard, Elric Georges Andre Fremont
  • Publication number: 20150135534
    Abstract: A system and method for uptower machining of a wind turbine to accommodate a load control system, such as an Advanced Load Controls (ALC) system is disclosed. The load control system includes a plurality of load control components, such as one or more proximity sensors. The method includes designating a first machining location on a rotor lock plate of the wind turbine; mounting a machining device within the wind turbine proximate to the first machining location; machining the first machining location on the rotor lock plate via the machining device; and, installing the load control system within the wind turbine such that at least one of the load control components is installed proximate to the first machining location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Drake Joseph Viscome, Ryan Spencer Close, Philip James Verzella, Andrew Thompson
  • Publication number: 20150132135
    Abstract: A rigid template for aligning surface features on a rotor blade is disclosed. The rigid template is shaped to correspond to the surface of the rotor blade. Further, the rigid template includes a base end and a tail end opposite the base end. The base end is configured to connect to an alignment structure, the alignment structure being fixed relative to the rotor blade. The tail end includes at least one marker configured to locate at least one surface feature on the surface of the rotor blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Booth, Scott Gabell Riddell, Megan Michela Wilson
  • Publication number: 20150125303
    Abstract: Provided is an impeller in which a through hole is provided in a center of a base member of the impeller and a plurality of recessed parts are formed on a bottom surface of the base member. Meanwhile, a jig using in a cutting work of the impeller includes a seating part having a seating surface, a shaft part is erected from a central part of the seating part and is engageable with the through hole of the impeller, and protruded parts are formed on the seating surface and are engageable with the recessed parts provided on the base-member bottom surface of the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Takashi MASAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20150118056
    Abstract: A rotor turning system includes a fixture plate configured for attachment to a gearbox, a locking mechanism configured for attachment to the fixture plate, and a reaction fixture configured for attachment to the locking mechanism. The rotor turning system is configured to permit rotation of the rotor only when rotational torque is applied to the locking mechanism, and this rotation is in only one rotational direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Francis Rose, JR., Jeffrey Eric Bergman, Brent Hamilton Holloway, Drake Joseph Viscome
  • Patent number: 9009964
    Abstract: A method for mounting a wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub by use of a crane boom is provided. The orientation of the blade is kept substantially horizontal when the blade is lifted off the ground and mounted to the rotor hub. Control wires which connect the blade via the crane boom to a winch arrangement are used for keeping the blade orientation substantially horizontal in addition to at least one bearing wire for bearing the blade weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henrik Fomsgaard Lynderup, Jesper Moeller
  • Patent number: 9003656
    Abstract: A securing device for securing a rotor of a turbomachine against tilting is provided, the rotor being arranged perpendicular in relation to a horizontal plane. The securing device includes a support surface enabling the rotor to be laterally supported in relation to the securing device. The rotor or the tie rod, arranged in an essentially vertical manner, are oriented vertically such that during an alignment, the support surface on which the rotor or the tie rod support, are displaced such that rotor is perpendicular in relation to the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Floter, Armin Hülfenhaus, Claus Vögelin
  • Publication number: 20150098806
    Abstract: A turbine engine assembly is provided. The turbine engine assembly includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly having a rotor disk coupled to a plurality of rotor blades, the plurality of rotor blades extending radially outward from the rotor disk. The assembly also includes a casing that at least partially circumscribes the plurality of rotor blades. The assembly also includes a dynamic sealing device coupled to the stator assembly. The at least one dynamic sealing device is configured to insert a seal between the casing and the plurality of rotor blades to facilitate reducing a clearance gap defined between the plurality of rotor blades and the casing while the rotor assembly is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Michael John Bowman
  • Patent number: 8998569
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a gas turbine engine internal compartment structure having an integral passageway. Wiring is routed through the integral passageway of the gas turbine engine internal compartment structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Russell B. Witlicki
  • Patent number: 8973263
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a carbon composite duct assembly includes providing a first carbon composite fabric layer having a first section. The first section is formed into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is separately moveable relative to the second portion. The first portion overlaps the second portion to define a first corner of the first carbon composite fabric layer. The first carbon composite fabric layer is formed into at least a portion of a duct extending along an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony Rivera
  • Patent number: 8967078
    Abstract: A method of masking a component includes installing a flexible gasket over a portion of a component masking area leaving an unmasked area exposed. A backer is installed over the flexible gasket to compress the flexible gasket between the backer and the portion. The flexible gasket and the backer are secured to the component to provide an assembly. The assembly is deposited into a slurry with an abrasive media to polish the unmasked area, in one example. The flexible gasket and backer prevent abrasive media from reaching the masked area. The flexible gasket and backer can be removed from the component and reused on other similarly shaped components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald R. Soucy, Richard W. LaFranchise
  • Patent number: 8966753
    Abstract: A method for mounting a wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub by use of a crane boom is provided. An orientation of the blade is kept substantially horizontal when the blade is lifted off the ground and mounted to the rotor hub. Control wires, which connect the blade via the crane boom to a winch arrangement, are used for keeping the blade orientation substantially horizontal in addition to at least one bearing wire for bearing the blade weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henrik Lynderup Hansen, Jesper Moeller
  • Patent number: 8956487
    Abstract: A rotor blade of a turbine engine comprising a body made of composite material consisting of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin and a connecting yoke designed to be attached to a fastener of a rotor disc of the said turbine engine, the said blade characterized in that the connecting yoke comprises a metal reinforcement and a casing made of composite material encasing the said reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Francois Gallet
  • Publication number: 20150040570
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas turbine engine component includes a foam based core and a composite skin member. Both the foam based core and the composite skin member can be used to structurally support the gas turbine engine component. The composite skin member can be a CMC material and is used to partially encapsulate the foam core. The gas turbine engine component can take the form of an airfoil member such as a blade or a vane, a combustor liner, etc. A first portion of the composite skin member includes a first surface extending past an edge of the component creating a step approximate an edge section. In another embodiment, composite skin members can be used to form a continuous shape for the edge section such that the foam core forms part of a gas path surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Richard C. Uskert, Ted J. Freeman, David J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20150026978
    Abstract: A blade gripping device for gripping a rotor blade of a wind turbine is provided. The device comprises a first frame which is essentially horizontally aligned in a designated operating position and a second frame which is essentially horizontally aligned in the designated operating position and a blade gripping assembly with a number of blade gripping tools. Thereby, the first frame and the second frame are connected to each other via a swivel or other similar type connection, the connection realized to permit a yawing movement of the second frame relative to the first frame. The first frame comprises a rectangular carrying structure with at least four connectors for connection to a lifting device, which connectors are positioned essentially at the corners of the rectangular structure. Further, the invention concerns a method of operating a blade gripping device for gripping a rotor blade of a wind turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: STEEN MATTRUP HANSEN, JESPER MOELLER, KENNETH HELLIGSOE SVINTH
  • Patent number: 8935853
    Abstract: An exemplary turbine engine assembly includes a first shaft that is rotatably driven by a second shaft of a gas turbine engine, a compressor hub driven by the second shaft, the compressor hub within a compressor section of the gas turbine engine, an epicyclic gear train that is driven by the first shaft, and a common attachment point that secures the first shaft and the compressor hub to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 8925200
    Abstract: An example method of repairing an airfoil includes the steps of securing additional material to a worn airfoil and limiting movement of the additional material with a guide. The method alters some of the additional material to form a desired airfoil contour. Another example method of forming a portion of an airfoil includes the steps of securing additional material to an airfoil, limiting movement of the additional material with a guide, and altering some of the additional material to form a desired airfoil contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hasselberg, James J. Moor, David A. Gaudreau
  • Publication number: 20140373353
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an installation tool for assembling a main rotor shaft unit and an assembly method thereof. The installation tool comprises a first element for supporting the generator end of the rotor shaft and a rotatable support plate is coupled to a second element of the installation tool via engaging coupling elements. The rotor shaft is rotated by a single crane unit via lifting elements mounted to the generator end, and then lifted out of the installation tool and placed on a floor. The bearing units are then mounted to the outer surface of the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is afterwards lifted onto the installation tool so that the coupling element is brought into engagement and the rotor shaft is rotated on to the first element. This provides an installation tool that eliminates the need for two crane units to rotate the rotor shaft and reduces the amount of man-hours needed to assemble the rotor shaft unit by up to six hours.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Jan WESTERGAARD
  • Publication number: 20140375063
    Abstract: A novel oscillator comprises a curved sheet structure. The curved sheet structure comprises a curved sheet and a tensioner. The curved sheet structure oscillates when the tensioner of the curved sheet structure is extended between two rigidly or semi rigidly fixed points and the curved sheet structure is exposed to a fluid flow. The oscillation results in oscillating tension in the tensioner and oscillating motion of the tensioner in directions perpendicular and parallel to the direction of fluid flow. Energy conversion devices to couple the energy out of the oscillator include a coupling in line with the tensioner and a coupling generally perpendicular to the extension of the tensioner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: RICHARD NEIFELD
  • Publication number: 20140369814
    Abstract: A diffuser pipe for a gas turbine engine comprises a hollow pipe body including a first end, a second end fluidly connected to the first end, and at least one flattened area proximate to the second end. A ring is connected to the second end. The ring is an outlet of the diffuser pipe. At least one stiffener is disposed on the at least one flattened area. The ring and the at least one stiffener reduce vibratory stresses at the second end of the pipe body. A method of manufacturing a diffuser pipe of a gas turbine engine is also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: IGNATIUS THERATIL, ALDO ABATE, KRISHNA PRASAD BALIKE
  • Patent number: RE45423
    Abstract: A method of extending the life of an extruder screw by affixing tiles of wear-resistant material along the crest of the extruder screw flighting threads, and optionally grinding the hardened material to remove any sharp edges. In another configuration of the present invention, plates of wear-resistant material are secured to the leading edges of the extruder screw threads to further prolong the life of the extruder screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Good Earth Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Williams, Alan Eugene Kirkland