Assembling Individual Fluid Flow Interacting Members, E.g., Blades, Vanes, Buckets, On Rotary Support Member Patents (Class 29/889.21)
  • Patent number: 8769817
    Abstract: A seal assembly includes a body having two circumferential sides, a leading end, and a trailing end. At least one of the circumferential sides includes a first channel sidewall, a second channel sidewall, and a channel bottom wall that together define a seal channel for receiving a seal. The seal channel includes a slot that cooperates with a tab on the seal to facilitate securing the seal within the seal channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Bridges, Jr., Tracy A. Propheter-Hinckley
  • Patent number: 8763248
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing turbine engine casings having at least one boss includes, in one exemplary embodiment, forming an engine casing having an outer wall, machining a tapered opening through the casing outer wall, and machining a tapered portion in a metal plug where the tapered portion is sized to mate with the tapered opening in the casing outer wall. The method also includes inserting the metal plug into the tapered opening in the casing outer wall, and welding the metal plug to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles William Carrier
  • Publication number: 20140173899
    Abstract: Method of assembling a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine having a plurality of components. The method comprises in one aspect calculating the bending forces due to the mass distribution along the rotor. In another aspect, an optimization routine iterates different rotor arrangements, comparing the calculated bending moments to determine a set of component positions that minimizes the bending forces. In another aspect, mass corrections are optimized to balance the rotor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: CAMERON WALTERS
  • Patent number: 8756808
    Abstract: In a method for producing a cellular wheel made of metal, the following steps are conducted consecutively: (a) providing a sheet metal strip (26) having a length (1) that corresponds at least to the length of a circumferential line of an intermediate sleeve and a width (b) that corresponds at least to the length of the cellular wheel; (b) placing disks (16) in predetermined locations in predetermined quantities on both sides of the sheet metal strip (26) perpendicular to the sheet metal surface and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sheet metal strip (26) and connecting the disks (16) to the sheet metal strip (26) by welding or brazing; (c) bending the metal strip (26) equipped on both sides with the disks (16) and connecting the two ends of the sheet metal strip (26) by welding or brazing to form the intermediate sleeve; (d) placing a first tubular sleeve that is concentric to the intermediate sleeve as an outer sleeve, and a second tubular sleeve that is concentric to the intermediate sleeve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: MEC Lasertec AG
    Inventor: Karl Merz
  • Publication number: 20140169934
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gas turbine engine including a plurality of inlet guide vanes. The gas turbine engine further includes an inlet case supporting each of the plurality of inlet guide vanes, and the inlet case is provided with at least one passageway in communication with a source of fluid. The at least one passageway is configured to communicate the fluid to each of the plurality of inlet guide vanes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Publication number: 20140169970
    Abstract: An attached duct propeller system may include at least one propeller blade having at least one blade tip. A duct having an inner wall may surround the at least one propeller blade. The at least one propeller blade may attach to the inner wall of the duct. In certain embodiments, the attached duct propeller system may include a propeller shaft attached to a bore of the at least one propeller blade. In certain embodiments, the at least one blade tip may be trimmed to allow alignment within the duct and allow for the attachment of the at least one blade to the inner wall of the duct. The attached duct propeller system may be used for vehicles that use at least one propeller for propulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Michael A. Celentano
  • Publication number: 20140147265
    Abstract: The present application relates to the stator blades of an axial turbomachine intended to be fitted on a ferrule in an annular row of identical blades. Each blade includes a platform with opposed lateral edges and a means of attachment to the ferrule. The contour of the platform has, at each of the lateral edges, an angular profile designed to mate with the contiguous edge of the platform of an adjacent blade. This feature enables the angular position or pitch of the blade to be set. The present application also relates to a stator comprising the blade row. Mechanical clearances J1, J2 and J3 and the means of clamping cause an average angular orientation error. The blades are made with a compensatory angle to offset the angular orientation error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Biemar
  • Patent number: 8732948
    Abstract: A resinous blade-supporting rotator is prepared to rotate around a rotational axis. The blade-supporting rotator has rotator weld parts including rotator weld surfaces formed on one side surface in the axial direction. A plurality of resinous blades are disposed annularly around the axis. The plurality of resinous blades have hollow spaces formed in the blade interiors, and blade weld parts with blade weld surfaces. The blade weld surfaces and the rotator weld surfaces are inclined with respect to each other when facing each other in the axial direction. An axial pressure load is applied to opposite axial ends of the blade-supporting rotator so as to compress the blades in the axial direction such that the blade weld surfaces and the rotator weld surfaces are no longer inclined with respect to each other. The blade weld surfaces are fixed to the rotator weld surfaces by laser welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisanori Nishino
  • Patent number: 8720061
    Abstract: A method for forming an inclined-blade blower wheel is provided by arranging a plurality of blades about respective circumferences of first and second end caps. The plurality of blades extend longitudinally between the first and second end caps and parallel to an axis defined by respective centers of the first and second end caps. The first end cap is rotated with respect to the second end cap a predetermined amount, therein skewing the plurality of blades at a desired longitudinal pitch between the first end cap and second end cap. The first end cap and second end cap are then rotated in unison while crimping the circumferences of the first end cap and second end cap, therein securing the plurality of blades to the first and second end caps and fixing the desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades from the first end cap to the second end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Beckett Air Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth Joseph Behner, Joseph Harry Andulics, Mark Stuart Resar, Stephen Joseph Amerla
  • Publication number: 20140127020
    Abstract: A bucket assembly includes a plurality of first buckets, and a pair of transition buckets. Each first bucket includes a bucket cover including a pair of lateral edges each having a first configuration. Each transition bucket includes a transition cover including a first lateral edge having the first configuration and a second lateral edge having a second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Tai Joung Kim, Timothy Scott McMurray, John Thomas Basirico
  • Publication number: 20140127027
    Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of turbine rotors for a thermal electric power station and the subject of the invention is, more particularly, a rotor of a turbine for a thermal electric power station, said rotor comprising a plurality of blades, each comprising at least one root and a vane; and at least one rotor disk secured to a shaft able to be in rotation about a reference axis, the rotor disk comprising on its periphery outgrowths in which to fit the blades, so that the vanes of the blades are arranged radially with respect to the reference axis; said rotor being one wherein: the rotor disk comprises a groove opening axially and having a lower face and an upper face, the lower face of the groove of the rotor disk being situated on the periphery of said rotor disk and the upper face of the groove of the rotor disk being situated on the outgrowths and facing the lower face; each of the blades comprises, at its root, a lateral projection directed axially, said lateral projection having, in its
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Christophe Berquier, Andre Batot
  • Publication number: 20140127018
    Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades, at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis and at least one pitch retention system, wherein a pitch retention system comprises a cam profile and a cam follower, and one of the hub and a blade comprises said cam profile and the other of the hub and blade comprises said cam follower, and wherein the cam follower comprises a pushing member and a contact member, wherein the pushing member is arranged to push the contact member towards the cam profile, and the cam profile comprises a local depression, and wherein the cam follower and cam profile are arranged such that when the blade is in a pitch position at or below nominal wind speed, the contact member can be retained in said local depression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM RENOVABLES ESPAÑA, S.L.
    Inventors: Pierre Pasquet, Santiago Canedo Pardo, Marc Cavallé
  • Publication number: 20140119927
    Abstract: An airfoil attachment according to one example of this disclosure includes an airfoil and a disk supporting the airfoil. Further, there are primary contact surfaces and secondary contact surfaces between the airfoil and the disk. The secondary contact surfaces are not engaged during a normal operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: David P. Houston
  • Publication number: 20140109548
    Abstract: A rotor disk for a gas turbine engine is disclosed and formed to enable operation at high rotational speeds in a high temperature environment. The rotor disk is formed to include a bore, a live rim diameter and an outer diameter related to each other according to defined relationships.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: United Technologies Corporation
  • Patent number: 8701286
    Abstract: A method is provided of rotationally balancing a rotating part. A rotor hub or ring and a plurality of rotor blades for assembly onto the hub or ring are provided, each blade having an unfilled internal cavity. The respective masses and moment weights of the blades with filled internal cavities are then predicted. Next, the rotor blades are assembled onto the hub or ring to form the rotating part. The relative positions of the assembled blades are determined on the basis of their predicted masses and moment weights with filled internal cavities. The internal cavities of the assembled rotor blades are then filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Oliver M. Strother
  • Publication number: 20140101939
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrally bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine according to one aspect, includes a 3-dimensional scanning process to generate a 3-dimensional profile of individual blades before being welded to the disc of the rotor. A blade distribution pattern on the disc is then determined in a computing process using data of the 3-dimensional profile of the individual blades such that the fabricated integrally bladed rotor is balanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventor: Visal ING
  • Publication number: 20140105725
    Abstract: A fish mouth seal carrier for a guide vane arrangement of a gas turbine comprises a first half-shell element and a second half-shell element bonded to it, which together form a box profile with two axial arms and two radial arms. A sealing element is arranged on one of the axial arms of the box profile. At least one of the two half-shell elements has an integrally formed axial flange for forming, with a guide vane platform, a fish mouth seal accommodating an axial flange of an adjoining moving blade radially between the guide vane platform and the axial flange of the seal carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Frank STIEHLER
  • Publication number: 20140099203
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a vertical axis wind turbine may be constructed to better survive wear and tear while being more energy efficient. A turbine blade may capture air movement to generate power. A blade arm may hold the turbine blade parallel to a rotating shaft. The blade arm may transmit torque from the turbine blade to the rotating shaft to drive a rotor of an electrical power generator. A moment-free connector may connect the turbine blade to the blade arm to transmit a stress maxima to a structural strongpoint of the turbine blade away from the moment-free connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: WIND HARVEST INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: ROBERT NASSON THOMAS, JULIAN RICHARD STILL, PHILLIPPE PARMENTIER, ALIN-LONUT MUNTEANU
  • Patent number: 8683688
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for balancing a wind turbine. The method includes the steps of a) measuring at least one property that is dependent on a motor workload of at least one yaw motor 52 of a soft yaw system 5 during a period of time, b) calculating an unbalance based on the measurement of step a), c) determining a pitch offset angle for at least one turbine blade 41 based on the calculation of step b), and d) changing the pitch of the at least one turbine blade according to the pitch offset angle of step c) for decreasing the unbalance. The present invention also relates to a system for balancing a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ulf Axelsson, Mikael Bjork, Christian Haag
  • Publication number: 20140072422
    Abstract: The method for removing an inner casing from a machine such as a turbine or compressor includes providing supports between the outer casing and the inner casing of the machine, removing a top part of the outer casing, then removing a top part of the inner casing, then connecting a ring sector to a bottom part of the inner casing to replace the removed top part of the inner casing, then rotating the reciprocally connected ring sector and bottom part of the inner casing around the longitudinal axis to make the bottom part of the inner casing accessible, then removing the bottom part of the inner casing, guiding the reciprocally connected ring sector and bottom part of the inner casing during rotation, to prevent movement along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Tobias Christoph HUBER, Gerard Froidevaux, Daniel Seng, Karsten Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20140072432
    Abstract: A blade arrangement for a turbo engine, in particular a gas turbine, with a rotor and several blades fastened thereto, which are configured to be systematically different, wherein at least two adjacent blades have systematically different shrouds (12, 22) and/or inner blade platforms (11, 21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Woehler, Harald Schoenenborn
  • Patent number: 8667680
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for replacing an inner disk element of a blade integrated disk wherein the blade integrated disk has a plurality of recesses in the form of axial through-bores in the joining area. The method begins with filling the axial through-bores, after which the inner disk element of the blade integrated disk is separated from the remaining blade ring. Next a new inner disk element is inserted into the remaining blade ring and the new inner disk element and the remaining blade ring are joined. Finally the axial through-bores are restored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Erwin Bayer, Karl-Hermann Richter
  • Publication number: 20140064922
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system includes a first housing, a second housing, a seal, and a spring system. The first housing includes a first volume of fluid. The first housing is capable of connecting to a first element and to a second element, and is also capable of reducing an amount of movement transferred from the first element to the second element. The second housing is connected to the first housing. The second housing includes a second volume of fluid and a volume of gas. The first volume of fluid is in fluid communication with the second volume of fluid. The seal is capable of separating the second volume of fluid from the volume of gas. The spring system is capable of applying pressure to the first volume of fluid and the second volume of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps, Maurice D. Griffin
  • Publication number: 20140064875
    Abstract: A drive lever arrangement is provided. The drive lever arrangement includes a unison ring which has a groove; a drive lever having connection means for connecting the drive lever to the unison ring; a drive lever pin having a transversal throughbore hole; and a clip, wherein the drive lever pin connects the drive lever to the unison ring, and wherein the clip is inserted in the groove through the throughbore hole of the drive lever pin, and engages with the groove of the unison ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Philip Twell
  • Publication number: 20140064976
    Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine engine includes an annular structure having a blade slot. A hub engagement feature is provided on the annular structure. The hub engagement feature includes first and second surfaces transverse to one another and joined by a fillet that is recessed with respect to the first and second surfaces. A method of manufacturing a rotor includes the steps of machining an annular hub engagement feature into a rotor. The hub engagement feature includes first and second surfaces transverse to one another and is joined by a fillet that is recessed with respect to the first and second surfaces. The method includes the step of peening the fillet, and grinding the first and second surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Kevin L. Corcoran, Jody M. Grosso
  • Patent number: 8661641
    Abstract: A rotor blade assembly tool for coupling a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotor blades to a rotor disc of a turbine rotor assembly, includes a base ring with an array of circumferentially spaced resilient fingers axially extending from the base ring. The resilient fingers are configured each to radially abut a blade seal, damper or other engine component against radially inner facing surfaces of platforms of the respective blades when the blades are being seated onto the disc during an assembly procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph Daniel Lecuyer, Bruno Chatelois
  • Patent number: 8662851
    Abstract: A method for joining a cast metal material blade ring and a metal material hub structure into a turbine rotor. One of the blade ring and the hub structure is mounted in a holder and the other is mounted in a rotation holder for being rotated. At least one of these mountings is heated, and then they are pressed together with a selected force while rotating to weld the ring interior wall and the disk side to form the assembled structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Said Izadi
  • Patent number: 8661668
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for assembling a rotor of a wind turbine at sea. The device has a support structure that is provided with a rotating table for rotating the hub of a rotor around the hubs longitudinal axis. The support structure is further adapted to be connected to an offshore platform such that the rotating table may be positioned outside the periphery of the platform. The invention also relates to an assembly of an offshore platform and the device, connected thereto. The invention further relates to a method for assembling a rotor of a wind turbine at sea, and to a method of assembling a wind turbine at sea, using the device and assembly. The device and method provide a more efficient assemblage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GeoSea N.V.
    Inventors: Luc Vandenbulcke, Koen Vanderbeke
  • Publication number: 20140053563
    Abstract: A method for assembling a nozzle and an exhaust case of a turbomachine is disclosed. The exhaust case includes a hub and an outer ferrule connected to each other by a plurality of arms. The nozzle is attached to the outer ferrule of the exhaust case substantially at the trailing edges of the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Mario Cesar DE SOUSA, Baghdad Achbari, Luc Henri Claude Daguenet, Benoit Debray
  • Publication number: 20140050563
    Abstract: A stacked wheel assembly for a turbine system includes a plurality of wheels. A stud includes a forward end having a circumferential surface with at least one relatively planar portion and a first groove extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the circumferential surface. A first nut is disposed proximate a forward face of one of the plurality of wheels to receive the forward end of the stud. A resilient arcuate member is configured to fittingly reside within the first groove. A lock plate having at least one slotted region is disposed proximate an outer surface of the lock plate to fittingly engage at least one lug disposed on a forward region of the first nut for rotationally retaining the stud and a second groove is disposed within an inner surface of the lock plate to receive the resilient arcuate member for axially retaining the lock plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Anil Mishra, Meelan Ravindra Nanivadekar
  • Patent number: 8650754
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing an impeller includes providing a disc and a cover separate from the disc, one of the cover and the disc having integrally formed blades and the other one of cover and the disc having a first joint surface, joining the disc and the cover to each other by brazing in a state in which a first brazing filler metal is interposed between the first joint surface and a second joint surface provided on the blades, and during the joining operation, maintaining a space between the first joint surface and the second joint surface by providing a spacer on an outer periphery side of the impeller. The thickness of the spacer is smaller than the thickness of the first brazing filler metal before melting. The spacer is formed integrally with the blade or is formed integrally with said other one of the cover and the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koshiro Niihara, Hiroki Takagi
  • Patent number: 8651462
    Abstract: A lift construction for lifting and lowering a blade of a windmill is described herein. The lift construction for lifting and lowering a blade of a windmill to and from its mounted position at a rotatable cone of the windmill comprises a first yoke mountable at the inside of the blade and a second yoke mountable in the cone of the windmill, wherein the first yoke and the second yoke are arranged to cooperate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dutch Heavy Lift Concepts B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Marianus Maria Van Berlo, Adrianus Gerardus Maria Versteeg
  • Publication number: 20140044550
    Abstract: A restraint mechanism for rotor blades of a turbo engine on a rotor disk having blade root receptacles for radial guidance of the rotor blades is disclosed. The restraint mechanism has a plurality of axial securing elements, each having at least one web for positioning in a blade root receptacle, such that each web has a retaining section at one end for establishing a form-fitting design to a mating brace of another axial securing element. A method for axially securing rotor blades on a rotor disk and a turbo engine are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Felix KERN, Frank Stiehler, Stephan Klaen
  • Patent number: 8646177
    Abstract: An installation system and a method for mounting a rotor blade to a hub on a wind turbine are disclosed. The method includes coupling a rotor and a stator together, the rotor rotatably connected to the hub. The method further includes rotating the stator in a first direction, wherein rotation of the stator causes the rotor and the hub to rotate in the first direction. The method further includes securing the hub to prevent rotation of the hub. The installation system includes a coupling device configured to releasably couple a stator and a rotor together and a securing device configured to releasably secure the hub. The installation system further includes at least one stator drive device operably connected to the stator, the stator drive device configured to rotate the stator between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Suresh S. Tirumalai, Bharat Bagepalli, Kurt J. Goodwin
  • Patent number: 8640335
    Abstract: A broaching apparatus (200, 400) includes; a broach (300, 600) having a cross-section corresponding to a geometry of slot (115) between adjacent steeples (110) of a turbine rotor (100), and a mechanism (210, 220, 230, 410, 420, 430) which moves the broach (300,600) through the slot (115) in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of extension of the slot (115).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Kight
  • Publication number: 20140026415
    Abstract: Methods of assembling a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine having a plurality of components. The method comprises, in one aspect, determining a static unbalance force of each component using the mass and the center of mass location, and determining an optimum assembly arrangement minimizing static unbalance forces. Optimal component stacking positions, among other things, may then be established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Bruce CALVERT, Jiemin Wang, Richard Benoit, Harry Harris, Ronald Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140023504
    Abstract: A first stage compressor disk of a gas turbine engine includes a body. The body includes a forward end, an aft end, and an outer surface. The body also includes a plurality of forward balancing holes through the outer surface. The forward balancing holes align circumferentially about the body. The body further includes a plurality of aft balancing holes through the outer surface. The aft balancing holes align circumferentially about the body and are located aft of the forward balancing holes. The first stage compressor disk also includes a radial flange at the aft end of the body. The radial flange extends radially outward from the body. The radial flange includes slots for mounting airfoils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Dover M. Fernandez, Cory Patrick Muscat, Gary Paul Vavrek, James Eric Miller
  • Patent number: 8631576
    Abstract: A method for attaching a rotor of a wind turbine generator and a method for constructing a wind turbine generator are provided, with which the rotor blades can be prevented from breaking and with which the construction costs can be reduced. The present invention includes: an assembly step (S1) in which a plurality of wind-turbine rotor blades are attached to a rotor head to assemble the rotor on the ground; a wire attaching step (S2) in which a first wire is attached to a first hoisting portion provided on a rotation axis of the rotor and in which a second wire is attached to a second hoisting portion provided at a position away from the rotation axis; a hoisting step (S3) in which the rotor is hoisted with the first wire; a rotor raising step (S4) in which the first wire is extended so that the rotor is hoisted with the second wire; and a rotor attaching step (S6) in which the rotor hoisted with the second wire is attached to the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
    Inventor: Tomohiro Numajiri
  • Patent number: 8631578
    Abstract: A balancing weight clip with a mass adapted to balance a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine, includes a weight portion, a first flange engaging portion and a second flange engaging portion extending from the weight portion, each being engageable with a sidewall of at least one recess located on an edge of a flange of a disc of the rotor assembly. Each flange engaging portion is provided with a hook engageable with a mating groove provided on a face of the flange. At least one of the first and second flange engaging portions is resiliently biased so that the first and second flange engaging portions are elastically moveable away from one another to removably secure the balancing weight clip to the flange and engage each hook with the mating groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: David F. Glasspoole, Francois Caron
  • Patent number: 8631577
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrally bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine according to one aspect, includes a 3-dimensional scanning process to generate a 3-dimensional profile of individual blades before being welded to the disc of the rotor. A blade distribution pattern on the disc is then determined in a computing process using data of the 3-dimensional profile of the individual blades such that the fabricated integrally bladed rotor is balanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Visal Ing
  • Patent number: 8631575
    Abstract: Method of assembling a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine having a plurality of components. The method comprises in one aspect calculating the bending forces due to the mass distribution along the rotor. In another aspect, an optimization routine iterates different rotor arrangements, comparing the calculated bending moments to determine a set of component positions that minimizes the bending forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Cameron Walters
  • Publication number: 20140010646
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a frame coupled to a ground surface, a bearing housing supporting a rotor bearing and a sleeve assembly attached to the frame and the bearing housing. The sleeve assembly includes an outer sleeve with a first flange on a first end that is positioned in an opening in the bearing housing and a second end that abuts the shim, an inner sleeve positioned within a portion of the outer sleeve and a bolt positioned within the inner sleeve and threadably coupled to the frame, wherein the bolt compressively loads the inner sleeve thereby loading a portion of the outer sleeve at the second end between the inner sleeve and the frame and wherein a first gap dimension is substantially maintained between the first flange and bearing housing as the bolt is preloaded and coupled to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Khoa Cao, Kenneth Damon Black
  • Publication number: 20140003949
    Abstract: The invention concerns an interblade platform (3) of a turbomachine fan, characterized in that it is produced: in an aluminum alloy belonging to the 7xxx series that has undergone full-temper heat treatment of the T7x type, or in an aluminum alloy belonging to the 2xxx series that has undergone heat treatment of the T6x or T8x type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Virginie ADAM, Guillaume Fribourg
  • Patent number: 8616853
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a guide vane. The method produces a fiber preform by 3D weaving a single piece, the preform including a first portion extending along the longitudinal axis and constituting the preform for an airfoil of the vane, and at a longitudinal end of the first portion, a second portion constituting the preform for the platform of the vane, the second portion being produced as a first layer and a second layer facing the first layer and separated from the first layer by unlinking without cutting while producing the preform; folding the first and second layers such that each of them lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, substantially symmetrically to each other relative to the first portion, and such that a first region of the first layer covers a second region of the second layer in front of a front edge of the first portion; conforming the preform in a mold; and densifying the preform with a polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Olivier Belmonte, Jean Noel Mahieu, Xavier Millier
  • Patent number: 8607454
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite-material turbomachine blade having platform incorporated therein includes separately making a blade platform element that includes rigidified fiber reinforcement and that has a shape close to that of a platform of the blade to be fabricated, with at least one opening being formed through the platform element. The opening has the shape of the profile of the airfoil of the blade to be fabricated. Three-dimensional weaving is used to make a flexible fiber blank as a single piece that includes blade airfoil-and-root preform portions. The platform element is engaged, via its opening, on the flexible fiber blank while deforming it so as to assemble the platform element with the fiber blank. The fiber blank is shaped together with the platform element assembled thereon to obtain a blade preform of a shape that is close to the shape of the blade to be fabricated. After shaping, the blade preform is consolidated in its shape in a shaper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: SNECMA, Herakles
    Inventors: Stephane Pierre Guillaume Blanchard, Eric Bouillon, Dominique Coupe, Hubert Illand, Clement Roussille
  • Patent number: 8608446
    Abstract: A compressor disk for a turbine engine includes a plurality of blades mounted about the circumference. To assemble the blades onto the disk a lock assembly is inserted within a blade slot on the disk. A blade is assembled into the blade slot and slider seals are inserted between the blade and the disk to limit air from entering the blade slot. Additional blades are assembled until the end of the slider seals are reached. The process is repeated until all the blades have been assembled onto the disk. After the last blade has been assembled a spacer seal is placed at each lock assembly to take up the slack. Once all the blades and spacer seals are assembled the lock assemblies can be moved to a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Pickens, Stanley J. Szymanski
  • Publication number: 20130330195
    Abstract: The present application provides a turbine rotor and blade assembly for a steam turbine. The turbine rotor and blade assembly may include a rotor, a number of buckets positioned about the rotor and a locking blade positioned about the rotor. The locking blade may include a base, a first side hook, and a second side hook. The locking blade may include a first side pilot hole defined between the base and the first side hook and a second side pilot hole defined between the base and the second side hook.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Thomas Basirico, Timothy Scott McMurray, Laurence Scott Duclos, Robert James Bracken
  • Publication number: 20130328309
    Abstract: A matrix converter apparatus for wind-power generation according to an embodiment includes a matrix converter and a controller. The controller adds information about a voltage phase of the power grid or information about a voltage phase of the generator to a power-grid-side power factor to generate information about a current phase, and generates a control signal for controlling the matrix converter based on the information about the current phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Junji FUJII, Hitoshi YAMAMOTO, Tetsuo OOYAMA, Takashi TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8601690
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for a variable capacity exhaust gas turbine whereby, a gap in a tongue section allowing exhaust gas to flow into an inner circumferential scroll section can be formed at a minimum, and a cover section near a ring can be mounted with high precision. In the method: exhaust gas turbine component members comprise a cover section and a reduced-diameter plate section extending the inner diameter side towards the shaft following the gap between a bearing housing and the turbine rotor; the cover section and the reduced-diameter plate section are integrally formed; a molded surface of the cover section is protruded to form a protrusion corresponding to the tongue section and formed in an intake equivalent portion of the inner circumferential scroll section of the cover section; and the protrusion undergoes cutting, and a cut surface and the tongue section are assembled maintaining the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoki Ebisu, Shingo Yokota
  • Patent number: 8602738
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention can provide methods and apparatus to repair a rotor disk for a gas turbine. In one embodiment, a method to repair a rotor disk for a gas turbine is provided, wherein the rotor disk can include a base and at least one dovetail slot between a pair of dovetail walls. The method can include identifying one or more cracks on the base of the rotor disk, and removing one or more cracks by providing one or more fillets on the base of the rotor disk. Further, the method can include providing one or more conic cuts on the base of the rotor disk between the pair of dovetail walls of at least one dovetail slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rathina Rajarajan, Desai Tushar Sharadchandra, Santhanagopalakrishnan Babu, Akkur Marigowda Satish, Michael Byron Neikirk